Inspiring, provoking – Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story

Director: Sinead O’Shea Featuring: Edna O’Brien Running Time: 99 minutes


Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story is a moving documentary about the life and works of one of Ireland most talented writers. Directed by Sinead O’Shea, the documentary highlights how Edna O’Brien defied censorship, challenged societal norms, and redefined a woman’s place in literature with her raw portrayals of women’s lives, desires and oppression. But beyond her writing, her story is one of passion, defiance, and unwavering commitment to the truth- themes that hold true far beyond the literary world. 

Walking into the Light House Cinema screening, I didn’t not know a thing about Edna O’Brien other than her name and that like me, she’s from the county Clare. That’s why I can tell you with absolute confidence that whether you’re familiar with the works of Edna O’Brien, or you’ve never heard the name before, this documentary is a compelling watch.

The documentary spans across her lifetime; from her strict Catholic upbringing in rural West Ireland, to her marriage and subsequent rise as one of the most provocative and celebrated writers of both Ireland and the 20th century. Through intimate interviews, archival footage and dramatized excerpts from some of her novels, Sinead O’Shea paints a portrait of a woman who refused to to be silenced. We see some of the key moments that shaped her; from the outrage surrounding her debut novel The Country Girls– which was banned, burned and branded scandalous in 1960 to the personal and professional fallout of an affair with a prominent British politician and subsequent decades long hiatus.  However, despite her censorship, exile and controversy, O’Brien remained steadfast in the pursuit of the truth, continuing to write, push boundaries and in the process, she changed the landscape of Irish literature for the better.

So if you’re a book lover, a history buff, or just drawn to stories of resilience, Blue Road will inspire you, provoke you and leave you thinking about Edna O’Brien long after the credits roll.  

4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

1 comment / Add your comment below

  1. Edna O’brien personified in her poetry and prose the magesty and beauty of the English language as only the great Irish literary figures do. I wish I had had the pleasure of meeting her if only to hear her heavenly voice. Fortunately there shall always remain her poetry and prose to uplift the soul. She shall always be a jewel of the emerald irel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *