Ballymun Lullaby

Release Date: 16 December 2011
Director: Frank Berry
Details: Ireland / 72mins (G).

Ballymun - you wouldn't go up there at night, would you? You'd do your best to avoid it during the day too, right? Nothing but drug dealers and junkies and menacing teens in hoods knocking about. Berry's documentary is here not only to follow the travails of music teacher Ron Cooney, composer Daragh O'Toole and numerous residents as they put together, with the help of the RTE Concert Orchestra, a "world class" EP of music highlighting life in Ballymun, but also challenging the negative views the public have of the area. Done and done, Frank.

Opening with footage from the 1963 housing protests, director Frank Berry announces the building of the Ballymun flats with a herald of horns. However, the horns hit a bum note as no shops are built in the promised town centre, drugs move in and it's not long before anti-social behaviour takes hold. We all know the story of Ballymun by now, but after this quick intro, Berry wastes no time reiterating what we all know and sidesteps all the nastiness (stopping only to have a go at the media's own nasty portrayal of the area: "Every time the news wanted to show deprivation, they showed Ballymun."), to bring the sweetness and light.

Most of that comes from the beaming smile of Joe Cooney, who has been working in Ballymun as part of its music programme for fifteen years. He sees something more than menace in the kids that hang about on the streets and is determined to unlock their music talents. Two in particular – songwriter Darren Scully and singer Wayne Beatty - find in themselves something they never knew they had. Ron Cooney's unabashed enthusiasm for the project is always ready to lift the documentary and give it life when it threatens to go a little quiet, as although the teens interviewed are happy to be involved and interviewed they are also a little cautious as to how their involvement will be perceived on the streets.

A series of talking heads Ballymun Lullaby may be but Berry has a knack of keeping things moving. Sure, there are static shots of the likes of bus drivers and former resident Glen Hansard, but for the most part Berry shoots his interviewees on the move as they traverse the Ballymun streets.

The music isn't bad either.

Review by Gavin Burke

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Your Comments

brenda kenny

attended the premiere of this glorious film last night. what a joyous , life affirming film this proved to be.frank berry, daire o toole, and ron cooney have collaborated to produce a truly memorable film . the cinematography was beautiful, as was the inspiring music composed by daire, and lyrics by some of the students who had attended ron's music classes. i would recommend this film to everybody, especially those needing the cockles of their hearts warmed at this time of the year.

Posted 17/12/2011 15:03:12

Irishroc

I can't wait to see this documentary. Just seen the trailer and read the reviews and it's a movie i didn't expect in 2012. One reason i want to see this movie. I used to work in h

Posted 20/01/2012 02:50:17

Irishroc

I can't wait to see this documentary. Just seen the trailer and read the reviews and it's a movie i didn't expect in 2012. One reason i want to see this movie. I used to work in house removals and the company i worked for got the contract to move Ballymun flats all to there new homes. If i'm honest i was so nervous going out to work there. When we started the job every kid in the place wanted to help!!! Yeah i hear u say that's kids,but no matter where else i worked (Crumlin,Malahide,Dalkey,or anywhere in Ireland) the kids were never like Ballymun kids,they were the best kids you could ever meet. Our contract for moving Ballymun was over 10years and i have to say with all my heart it was a pleasure working out there and moving all those down to earth familys. I hope the movie and all who was involved have the most wonderful time with there fame and hope you's have all the luck in the future. Irishroc/Crumlin

Posted 20/01/2012 03:03:21

Ash G

Anyone know where this is showing?? Would love to see it :)

Posted 20/01/2012 22:34:18

rentton

WOW!!! I have just seen the film/documentary on RTE and I must admit, there were moments of nostalgia, happiness, sadness, enlightenment but most of all, I was overcome with a sense of pride. I grew up in Ballymun, an area that was the butt of many peoples jokes. An area that was ostracised by those who had never been there and all because of the negative media attention that only served to cover the dark aspects of an area that was (and still is) so full of light. Thank you so much for restoring my pride and I will do all that I can to promote this amazing piece of film, although, I have a feeling my help won't be required. Thank you to RTE for airing this on TV, so that the entire country can see for themselves. Congratulations to the film maker Frank Berry, the children that wrote, sang and played, the parents that encouraged those children to continue to believe and most of all, to Ron Cooney..........what an inspiration!!!!

Posted 06/03/2012 23:53:17

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