Film about Donegal’s defective blocks crisis picks up more awards

A film about Donegal's defective blocks crisis has picked up more awards.

Galar was directed by Donegal man Niall Duffy, and scenes from it were filmed in the county.

The film was awarded Best Irish Short Film and Best Actor for Mark Loughran at the Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival.

Loughran also picked up another Best Actor award at the Disappear Here Film Festival in Ballyliffin when the awards from the festival were announced on Friday.

Last month, the film was named as Best International Film at the Worcester International Film Festival in England.

“The film went down really well at both festivals, with a great turnout in Ballyliffin too,” Mr Duffy said.

“We also took part in a Donegal Short Film Production panel there, chatting about how we made Galar alongside other local filmmakers, and Aideen Doherty from the Donegal Film Office.

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Galar is based on the real-life events of homeowners in Donegal, where a determined father fights to save his crumbling home amidst a neglected housing crisis. The story follows Michael Gallagher, a rural homeowner whose life is upended by the discovery of defective building blocks in his house.

As Michael grapples with the physical decay of his home and the battles with government bureaucracy, he also faces a personal health crisis.

The film delves into themes of resilience, community, and the fight for justice amidst adversity.