Ardattin’s award-winning film producer shines at Carlow Fringe

Multi-award-winning film producer Fergus Dowd is still beaming after his latest project was showcased at the 2026 Carlow Fringe Arts Festival.

'The Charlie O'Leary Story - From Johnny Cullen's Hill to The Olympic Stadium Rome' was screened at the Seven Oak Hotel to kickstart the festival, with the film receiving rave reviews.

Dowd, who lives in Ardattin, along with Dublin director, Joe Lee, began working on the project in 2022, which chronicles the extraordinary life of one of the most recognisable and beloved figures in all of Irish sport, Charlie O’Leary.

What unfolds is a journey through a truly amazing life, exploring O’Leary’s 102 years; from establishing the Street Leagues in Dublin’s North Inner City, to rising through the ranks to become one of the first FIFA-affiliated Irish referees, to joining Jack Charlton’s back-room staff at the FAI in the 1980’s and all the wonderful times that came after that.

The film is a beautiful and charming tribute to very special person. 'The Charlie O'Leary Story’ premiered at the Light House cinema in February as part of the Dublin International Film Festival, but Dowd says there was “something special” about bringing the film to Carlow.

“It was nice to show it to local people, and it was great to have it screened as part of the Fring Festival, because the Carlow Arts had supported the film and the Carlow District League also; and Adrienne Wallace, the local County Councillor (People Before Profit), she had supported the film and she was there as well,” Mr Dowd told The Nationalist.

“It’s nice to say we’ve now taken the film across different parts of the UK and Ireland, but it was nice to do one locally where you drive in and you’re there in five or ten minutes. And I think it’s the first time the Fringe has ever screened a film – so that was great too.” 

Following the screening, Mr Dowd conducted a Q&A session with those in attendance, where he said he got a wonderfully positive response.

It has been a busy few weeks for Dowd, who is chairman of the Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund. O’Connell has the kind of legacy very few footballers could even dream of; he was the first Irishman to captain Manchester United; he managed Barcelona, saving the iconic club during the Spanish Civil War when he took them on a tour to Mexico; and he remains the only Irish manager to win La Liga, lifting the trophy with Real Betis in 1935.

Guiding Betis to their one and only La Liga title earned O’Connell legendary status in South Spain club, with a bust of the iconic manager now housed at Betis's stadium museum at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville.

Tragically, O’Connell “died penniless in London and was in an unmarked grave for 57 years,” which led Fergus Dowd to his work with the Memorial Fund, part of which included the aforementioned bust.

As part of Betis' trip to Dublin to take on Arsenal, a club delegation, led by CEO Ramón Alarcón paid tribute to O'Connell, visiting his boyhood home on Fitzroy Avenue in Drumcondra. "Don Patricio" was surely watching on with pride as his beloved Real Betis beat Arsenal in his home town, with a 3-1 win at the Aviva.