A powerful documentary exploring the life of Owney McGoldrick, a 94-year-old man from Donegal, has been critically acclaimed at an international film festival.
‘Echoes of an Irish Lifetime’, created by Frances Maguire, is a moving short film that follows her uncle, Owney McGoldrick from Pettigo, as he reflects on his life nearing its end.
The documentary received an Honourable Mention at the East Village Film Festival in New York last month. It is also scheduled to be screened and considered for awards at the Florence Film Awards in Italy, the London Movie Awards, the International Gold Awards, the Paris Film Awards, and the South Cinematic Academy Film & Arts in the USA in the coming months.
Owney McGoldrick in a still from ‘Echoes of an Irish Lifetime’ and, inset, filmmaker Frances Maguire.
Having spent a significant part of her career at the local Gallagher’s Post Office, Ms. Maguire states she always harbored a desire to work in film.
“My father and Owney were both wonderful storytellers – it had a huge impact on us growing up,” she explains.
“I always visualized the stories I heard and wanted to study film. When my youngest child entered Transition Year (TY), I attended college at ATU Letterkenny to study digital media and film production. This film was created for my dissertation.”
Through his thoughtful narration, Owney intimately shares cherished memories of his lifelong home – rural Crilly, near Pettigo – creating a profound sense of gratitude and peaceful solitude.
“His words possess a bittersweet quality, filled with wisdom and longing, as he offers touching advice to younger generations: to slow down, appreciate the beauty of the world around them, and value the simple blessings life has to offer,” reads the documentary’s description.
A portrait of Owney in his younger days sits proudly in his Pettigo home.
With a strong feeling of gratitude for all he has experienced, Owney’s story serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of thankfulness and the transient nature of time.
Speaking with Donegal Daily, Ms. Maguire described her uncle as a ‘very quiet man’ who was surprised to learn his story would be shared with audiences worldwide.
“Local people recalled stories from Owney’s house. He’s from an era that will fade away if we don’t preserve it,” she stated.
“Owney is a very quiet man, but he is delighted that the documentary about his life is being selected for international film festivals.”
She also hopes to showcase the documentary locally in Pettigo and is currently working on several comedy scripts set in rural Ireland. Stay tuned!
You can watch ‘Echoes of an Irish Lifetime’ by clicking on the image below:
Watch: Powerful documentary on Donegal man, 94, to be screened worldwide was last modified: June 6th, 2025 by
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