Southpaw

This documentary depicts two years in the life of Francis Barrett, a young traveller from Galway.

Coached from an early age by Chick Gillen, a local barber, Francis shows a rare talent for boxing. Despite training in a rickety gym outside the caravans where his family live, he qualifies for the Irish Olympic team for Atlanta in 1996 and gets to carry the Irish flag during the opening ceremony.

He wins his first bout easily. Although beaten in his second, he is already a national hero and relishes the chance to represent the travelling people in the media glare.

  • 1999 | Treasure Entertainment
  • Director: Liam McGrath
  • Cast: Francis Barrett, Chick Gillen, Eamonn Hunt
  • DoP: Cian de Buitléar
  • Editor: James Dalton