Prison Escapes to Feature at Sligo Gaol during Heritage Week 2011

The popular drama-documentary series ‘Éalú’ created for TG4 by Magamedia is a series reliving the stories behind Ireland’s greatest prison escapes. The series features reconstructions and firsthand accounts of notorious prison escapes from the 1920’s through to the 1980’s as told by the men and women who conceived, planned, and executed their daring bids for freedom.

During Heritage Week 2011, Cinema North West will screen the prison escape stories of Linda Kearns and Frank Carty in the unique setting of Sligo Gaol. Sligo-woman Linda Kearns, a politician and nurse, made history when she fled over the walls of Dublin’s Mountjoy jail, becoming the first women to escape from prison in Ireland.

On 26 June 1920, a party of approximately 100 volunteers from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) undertook a raid on Sligo Gaol with the aim of liberating Frank Carty, the OC of the South Sligo Brigade of the IRA. The IRA members forced open the main gate of the gaol and the inner doors. They then forced the nightwatchman to turn over the keys to the cells and they released Carty who was taken away in a waiting motor car.

The drama-documentaries were directed by Paddy Hayes and produced by Ciara Nic Chormaic of Magamedia. The Linda Kearns documentary, filmed in 2009, has been previously screened on TG4. The Frank Carty documentary was filmed during early 2011 and will be shown as part of TG4’s forthcoming autumn schedule.

Siobhán Ryan, Heritage Officer with Sligo County Council, added that ‘we are building on the huge success of the Sligo Gaol Open Days held during Heritage Week last year by bringing Cinema North West to Sligo Gaol to showcase the hugely interesting prison escape stories of Linda Kearns and Frank Carty. Sligo Gaol is a historic building of national importance and it is important that we have opportunities to strengthen the links between local communities, our historic buildings and the stories that they can tell.’

The Linda Kearns and Frank Carty stories will be screened on Monday 22nd August at Sligo Gaol as part of Heritage Week 2011. Screenings will take place at 1pm, 3pm (both lasting 50 minutes and are suitable for a general audience (GA)). A further screening of the Frank Carty story only will also take place at 5pm on Monday 22nd August (duration 25 minutes and GA). Admission is free, but booking is essential. To book your place at any of the screenings above email heritage@sligococo.ie

   
- Sligo man Frank Carty who escaped from Sligo and Derry Jails during the war of independence

   
- Linda Kearns (on right)