Anthony Monaghan, director, and producer of Rednecks + Culchies, was in Ireland this week with his film crew to make the trailer for his upcoming and eagerly awaited documentary on Ireland.

Originally from the West of Ireland, Anthony Monaghan owns and operates Irish Construction, a successful masonry company in St. Louis, Missouri. He is better known, however, as the founder of Monaghan Productions and as the director and producer of Rednecks + Culchies, the internationally acclaimed feature-length documentary that takes a hard look at the struggles of the American working class with addiction.

Now, Anthony is in preproduction for a new documentary, and this one will be filmed in his homeland. Long before crossing the Atlantic in pursuit of the American Dream, Anthony was a struggling immigrant.

At the tender age of 15, he had no choice but to leave his happy home in Ireland to find work. His first job abroad was picking potatoes in England where he encountered relentless racism and was subsequently underpaid and treated with hostility. Sadly, this has been the story of the Irish for countless generations.

Today, Anthony has a horse farm in his hometown of Belmullet, County Mayo where he visits, at least, twice a year. It is apparent to him that the tragic necessity to emigrate is still a harsh reality in Ireland and is only getting worse. He is confounded that such a beautiful country, so rich in resources and abundant in willing and able men and women, cannot provide enough jobs for its own citizens, forcing them to move to foreign lands. He is angered that the politics and media of Ireland, with their own hidden and often shared agendas, do not support the Irish people, especially the working class. With the help of fellow countrymen, both recognized and unknown, Anthony Monaghan will be addressing these injustices in-depth in My Ireland, a documentary by the Irish for the Irish.

Following the successful Rednecks + Culchies, Anthony is determined to do justice to the issue of Irish emigration with a brilliant production. He is also inviting anyone from Ireland with a strong story that resonates with this topic to contact Monaghan Productions directly for a chance to be in the upcoming film. To share personal experiences and/or contribute monetarily, please visit Monaghan Productions, and stay tuned for My Ireland! 

Pictured here is Tony in conversation with me, Jillian Godsil. He is also interviewing other Irish activists and actionists including Brian Reilly and Eve Earley from Right2Hones, Tom Darcy from BIGI, Senator David Norris and Fr Peter McVerry.

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