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Going home to visit his mother in Kildare, Feargal Ward began to see placards outside an old farmhouse along the way. As a film director and press photographer, he has an eye for detail, so this of course grabbed his attention each time he passed. After a few such encounters, he decided to investigate.
What Feargal discovered captivated him totally and it was to become the basis for his latest documentary film, The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid. “Thomas came out of the house and we started talking across the garden wall and this went on for months,” explains Feargal.
“Just getting to know each other, him getting to know me, because he didn’t know where I was coming from or what my agenda was. After slowly building up the relationship and a bit of trust, I then started asking him about the possibility of doing something with him to try and get his story, his predicament, out to the world.”
The predicament Feargal refers to is the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) placed on Thomas’s 72-acre farm, which adjoins the factory of computer chip manufacturer Intel in Leixlip.
Thomas fought the CPO all the way to the Supreme Court, where he won his appeal, ultimately getting to keep his farm and house. This David v Goliath battle is the foundation of Feargal’s film, which is showing in select cinemas across the country and starting to screen in theatres too.
Although it is branded a documentary film, The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid does not adhere to the parameters of a documentary as such. Feargal spent a vast amount of time with Thomas, so it appears much more like a movie. Some of the scenes were also recreated.
“We re-enact all the major court and legal scenes with actors and sometimes with Thomas acting in them himself,” outlines the director. “This is not very conventional for a documentary film, so I obviously had to convince Thomas to trust me, that this is the way to tell his story and that this will work, that he won’t look foolish or silly because of it.”
The film’s Irish premier was earlier this year at the Dublin International Film Festival. Since its release in cinemas a month ago, it has resonated with audiences and Feargal feels this is for a number of reasons; the David v Goliath theme, the examination of two colliding worlds and Thomas himself not having a price.
“It’s the ultra-modern encroaching upon the staunchly traditional. Thomas on one side, his house is from the 18th century, his tractor could be from the 1950s or 40s. It’s almost ageless, if you look at his farm and himself, it’s hard to know what era you’re in. It’s really beautifully traditional,” says Feargal.
“Next door to him is probably the most technologically advanced multibillion dollar processing factory, where people walk around in space suits. That was a really nice thing for us to explore in this film. These two vastly different worlds coming up against each other.
“Also, what resonates with people is this idea of incredible principles, not having any interest in money. Turning down the opportunity to become a multi-millionaire, because he values tradition and the land, the farm that was passed down to him, over any amount of money or any larger farm.”
The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid shows audiences these struggles through Thomas’s eyes and also gives a flavour of his personal experience. “It really affected his sleep and his mood, he was completely consumed by it,” reflects the director.
“His house was just full of legal documents, he got every transcript from every hearing, every affidavit. He would just pour through it by candlelight to see what exactly was going on.
“Thomas has a really good heart and he’s really open. He spends a lot of time on his own and has his work cut out for him on his farm, it’s very labour intensive. He does a lot of things by hand, it’s a tough gig. He has a big herd of cattle, it’s just him on his own.
“I think people – when they see the film – they’ll notice, if there is such a thing, he’s not your normal expected farmer, he’s quite a complex character. He’s got a fantastic knowledge and taste of 1980s music, he’s got great humour and obviously he’s a bit of a firebrand.”
The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid is showing in select cinemas and will be screening at various locations across the country in the coming months. For a full list of screenings see www.lonelybattle.com
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