#ArTeilifis: Virgin Media Television supports Irish Film and Drama with a week of Irish content

To coincide with the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Virgin Media Television will continue to support Irish film and drama, with a week of home -grown movies and feature film specials airing on Virgin Media Three from Saturday 16^th February to Saturday 23^rd February.

Kicking off on Saturday 16^th February at 9pm Virgin Media Three will air Irish box-office hit, Cardboard Gangsters. The film was the highest grossing Irish film of the year in 2017. Directed by Mark O’Connor and staring John Connors (Love/Hate, King of the Travellers) in the lead role as Jay Connolly the story follows a part-time DJ and low-level drug dealer.

On Sunday 17^th February the 1995 classic, Circle of Friends airs at 10.05pm followed by Domhnall Gleeson’s Irish Short Noreen at 12.05am. Noreen stars Domhnall’s father Brian Gleeson and the story surrounds two guards who are called to investigate a house where there has been reports of a gunshot.

Then, on Monday 18^th February contemporary thriller Pursuit starring Brendan Gleeson airs at 9pm. The film is inspired by the Irish legend ‘The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne’, a tale of love, betrayal and revenge, and the desire for a life beyond crime.

My Name is Emily, starring Evanna Lynch airs on Tuesday 19^th at 9pm. On her 16th birthday, Emily escapes from her foster home and with the help of Arden, the boy who loves her, she sets out to find her father Robert, a visionary writer locked up in a psychiatric institution.

On Wednesday 20^th February, Marian Keyes’ Watermelon will air at 9pm. The Irish classic starring Anna Friel is the funny story of what happens when a tangled web of deceit pitches one woman, two men and a baby into a romantic minefield.

Irish star, Barry Keoghan stars in Mammal on Thursday 21^st at 9pm. Following the loss of her teenage son, Margaret, a separated woman living alone in Dublin, develops an unorthodox relationship with Joe, a homeless youth. Their tentative trust is threatened by his involvement with a violent gang and the escalation of her ex-husband’s grieving rage.

On Friday 22^nd, Pat Shortt’s comedy, Man About Dog airs at 9pm. The comedy classic is set in the world of greyhound racing in which three Belfast losers (Mo Chara, Scud Murphy and Cereberal Paulsy) try to take on the bookies with no money and a greyhound that runs only when it suits him.

Darren Thornton’s award-winning drama, A Date for Mad Mary, airs on Saturday 23rd at 9pm. The film tells the story of “Mad” Mary McArdle (Seána Kerslake) returning to her small Irish home town after a short spell in prison- for something she’d rather forget. But everything and everyone seems different. Her best friend Charlene (Charleigh Bailey),  is about to get married and Mary is maid of honor. When Charlene refuses Mary a “plus one” on the grounds that she probably couldn’t find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. Her attempts at dating are a disaster and she winds up feeling more alone… until she meets Jess (Tara Lee), the lesbian wedding photographer and everything changes.

To finish off the week of home-gown specials, Virgin Media One will air the classic Irish movie The Snapper on Sunday 25^th February at 9pm starring Tina Kellegher, Colm Meaney and Brendan Gleeson.

Tune into Virgin Media Television from Saturday 16^th February to Saturday 23^rd February for a week of great Irish movies and film shorts.