Wind that Shakes the Barley and Jim Allen

When I first heard of the new Ken Loach film on the Irish Republican movement and the Irish Civil War I was immediately reminded of Days of Hope - a BBC series written by Jim Allen. This was a hard-hitting series from 75 that dealt with the early Labour Party with action focussing on the Black and Tans and the General Strike. It was incredibly moving and I would like to see it again - maybe its on DVD. Anyway Jim Allen was writing with Ken Loach and did Land and Freedom - Loach's movie on the Spanish Civil War but sadly died in 1999 or he would no doubt have been on the credits for this film. Article on him here. My parents were very taken with Days of Hope and wrote to Jim and got a nice letter in reply. Days of Hope book
Jim Allen archive
Incidentally The Wind was filmed in Bandon County Cork - here's a piece from Time Out on the filming.