A NEW film about a young North Belfast football team on the eve of the Troubles is to be screened on TG4 next month.
Réalt na Mara – An Peil, Na Triblóidí agus an Iarmhairt (Star of the Sea – The Football, the Troubles and the Aftermath) tells the story of the cross-community football team in the late 1960s and the lives of its players as they navigated the increasingly turbulent years of the Troubles.
Players included Terry Nicholl and Michael Acheson who left the club and joined the UVF. Also on the team was Bobby Sands who would later join the IRA. Bobby Sands led the 1981 hunger-strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and died after refusing food for 66 days. During the hunger-strike he was elected MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone.
Réalt na Mara enjoyed a sold-out world premiere at the Galway Film Festival in July.
At the end of this month it has been selected for the Worcester International Film Festival plus being nominated for the Best Film Documentary at the festival and also been selected for the British Irish Film Festival in France in October.
On October 20, it is being screened on TG4 before heading to Foyle Film Festival in November and New York Film Festival in March.
Victims campaigner Raymond McCord was also part of the team. His son, Raymond Jr was murdered in 1997 by the UVF. Part of the film focuses on the murder of Raymond Jr and the campaign for justice.
Speaking to the North Belfast News, Raymond said: "It is a very emotional film. As 16-year-old teenagers, we just went out and played football, the team consisted of Protestant and Catholic lads whose only interests was playing football, winning and girls.
"The film shows the unity and fifty-odd years of never ending friendships. Myself and three other former players, one Protestant, Georgie Hussey and two Catholics, Dennis Sweeney and Desi Black, who are all in the film, remain firm friends to this day.
Raymond McCord, Dessie Black, James Wynne (Producer), Georgie Hussey and Willie Caldwell
"I was the last Protestant to play for Star of the Sea as the others had left due to the violence of the Troubles.
"Our team showed without thinking about it our politicians today that cross-community is the one and only way forward. Success without sectarianism or politics. Emblems, badges, religion and politics were banned in the Star of the Sea club in 1969.
"The Troubles destroyed our team but the film shows it didn't destroy our friendships.
"For me, it was the the best football team I ever played in with great memories of all the players.
"We defeated sectarianism. The Troubles defeated the club. As players, we are still standing.
"From the successful team of 1969 to those still here in 2026 who share the memories together before the Troubles took over.
"This is a fantastic film of an incredible team of kids from both Protestant and Catholic families. We won every tournament and cup we played for. I am proud to say I played on that team."
Realt Na Mara is produced and directed by Dublin-based filmmaker James Wynne.
