IN TIME: DÓNAL LUNNY
Presented in association with University College Dublin, Creative Futures Academy
Saturday, February 28 • 12:05 PM • T1
The screening will be followed by a special guest Q&A with director Nuala O’Connor moderated by P.J. Mathews, Professor of Irish Literature, Drama, and Culture at University College Dublin and Director of the UCD Creative Futures Academy.
Documentary Feature | North American Premiere | Woman Writer & Director | Award Winner
Screening generously sponsored by Patrick & Darlene Meskell
A tender and intimate portrait, this documentary chronicles the life and work of one of the most iconic and influential Irish musicians of his generation, Dónal Lunny. A founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band, and Moving Hearts, Lunny played a central role in reviving and transforming Irish traditional and folk music for new generations. The film reflects his creative process and peerless contribution to Irish music and culture, featuring rare and powerful performances by many of Ireland’s most celebrated musicians—including a moving reunion with music icon Christy Moore.
DIR Nuala O’Connor; PROD Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill; CAST Dónal Lunny, Eoghan MacGiolla Bhríde, Zoë Conway, Graham Henderson, Christy Moore, Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich, Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, Liam Bradley, Judy Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Matt Molloy, Andy Irvine, Cora Venus Lunny, Peter Moran & students of the Creative Futures Academy, UCD, Hugo Hamilton, Frank Harte, Pauline Scanlon, Frank Tate, William Matthews, Hideko Itami, Sola Itami, Angela Singleton; DOP Colm Hogan; SCORE John Brennan, Matthew Thompson. Ireland, 2025, b&w, 95 min. In English. NOT RATED
AWARDS: Best Documentary Feature: Kerry International Film Festival
"Few documentaries this year were more bewitching than Nuala O’Connor’s lovely, monochrome Dónal Lunny: In Time." - The Irish Times
Funded by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, University College Dublin Creative Futures Academy, and South Wind Blows.
🎟 For further information regarding bookings:
Please call 301-495-6720 between M-F, 9 AM - 5:30 PM or email silverinfo@AFI.com
Nuala O’Connor is an Emmy Award-winning writer and director whose work in music and arts documentary filmmaking spans more than three decades. She is the co-founder of South Wind Blows, a creative production company established with Philip King and Tina O’Reilly to make high-quality films exploring culture, music, and the arts.
Nuala began her career as a radio producer with RTÉ before moving into television, where she was a researcher and writer on the landmark BBC/RTÉ series Bringing It All Back Home (1987). She went on to author the companion book Bringing It All Back Home – The Influence of Irish Music, and in 1994 won a Primetime Emmy Award for her script for a one-hour standalone version of the documentary.
P.J. Mathews is a Professor of Irish Literature, Drama and Culture at University College Dublin and Director of the UCD Creative Futures Academy. He is the author of Revival: the Abbey Theatre, Sinn Féin, the Gaelic League and the Co-operative Movement (Field Day); co-editor with Declan Kiberd of Handbook of the Irish Revival (Abbey Theatre Press); editor of the Cambridge Companion to J.M. Synge, and Executive Producer of the feature documentary, In Time: Dónal Lunny (South Wind Blows Productions), which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2025. Prof Mathews previously served as a Naughton Visiting Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, Academic Director of the W.B. Yeats Winter School in Sligo (2017-20), and the Parnell Summer School in Avondale (2002-05).
DINNER AND A MOVIE DEAL
Our festival partner, McGinty's Public House, has generously offered an ongoing discount from February 27 through March 2 for all CIFF ticket holders! When you dine at the restaurant, show your CIFF ticket or pass for a 10% off discount on your bill. Located just around the corner from AFI Silver Theatre, McGinty's (911 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring, MD 20910) is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat between screenings.
The Capital Irish Film Festival is supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Culture Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Embassy of Ireland, Northern Ireland Bureau, Northern Ireland Screen, and the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme supported by Culture Ireland. Solas Nua is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
