Shamrock Spitfire: the Story of a Legendary Irish War Hero
Director: Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins (All That Remains)
Writer: Dominic Higgins, Ian Higgins (Screenplay)
Cast
- Shane O’Regan (The Watchers)
- Eoin Lynch (Silent Witness)
- Bethany Billy
- Emily Outred (Johnny English Strikes Again)
- Sophia Eleni (Dungeons & Dragons Honour Among Thieves)
- Chris Kaye (Edge of Extinction)
Plot: The story of Irish fighter pilot Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, who at the age of just 21, became the youngest ever Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force, and one of its greatest and most celebrated fighter aces during World War Two.
Runtime: 1 Hour 48 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Shamrock Spitfire starts as the war is raging on through Europe and the Irish have stayed neutral. However, young Brendan Finucane (O’Regan) wants to do his part. He signs up for the RAF and is given his father’s blessing.
Brendan struggles at first to learn the skills to pilot. However, his determination starts to take over and once he gets put into a Spitfire, everything changes. He joins another group of outsiders as they look to become a tight unit in the fight. It doesn’t take long before Brendan leads the unit and they get branded the Demolition Squad because of their ruthless ability.
Verdict on Shamrock Spitfire
Shamrock Spitfire is a biographical drama following the life of Irish fighter pilot Brendan Finucane. It follows his quiet life in Ireland before he decides to do his duty and fight in World War II as an RAF pilot.
Like many stories of the heroes of war, we get to see their struggle to make it in the first place. While also highlighting the strengths they brought to the battle and inspiration to the people around them. There is a focus on Brendan and his love away from the war, showing the conflict he faces during the war. Elsewhere, the battles are easy enough to watch, even if they never feel as intense as dogfights in many other movies.
Where to Watch
Shamrock Spitfire is Released on digital and DVD 11 March 2024.
Final Thoughts – Shamrock Spitfire is a strong biopic, showing the heroics of Brendan Finucane.