McSweeney joins Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Eileen Walsh (Catastrophe) and Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) in West the Road, a new comedy film that will begin production in Kerry later this year.
West The Road is the directorial debut of London-based Irish writer-director Ita Fitzgerlad (Doctors, Grand Designs), who has a background in television production.
The film follows a group of women brought together by the death of a childhood friend. When they discover that she was forced to give her daughter up for adoption at the age of 15, the group embarks on a journey from the west of Ireland up the Wild Atlantic coastline, accompanied by a donkey called Thatcher, in search of the child.
Matthew James Wilkinson and Patrick Tolan will produce for Stigma Films and John Wallace and Alan Maher will produce for Cowtown Pictures. Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green will serve as executive producers for Bankside Films, who will be introducing buyers to the project at Cannes.
“West The Road is a wonderful celebration of life and the indomitable force of female friendship,” said producer Kelliher speaking to Screen Daily. “We are thrilled to be able to tell this story with such a talented cast and crew who will deliver a film that is full of laughter, joy and a great deal of emotion."
Niamh Fagan is executive producer for Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland. The film is produced with production support from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.
