Comedian PJ Gallagher Joins Indie Film “Sludge” as Shooting Begins in Louth
Comedian and Nova radio presenter PJ Gallagher, one of Ireland’s best-loved entertainers, has joined the cast of the dark thriller “Sludge,” which is currently filming in Dundalk and surrounding areas this summer. The film is directed by Gallagher’s longtime collaborator Sinéad Murphy for her start-up production company, Oriel Films. PJ Gallagher will portray the character Frank Roach, a thug.
Murphy, who recently directed Gallagher in the acclaimed documentary “Changing My Mind” about his mental health struggles, has a rich history of collaboration with him, including projects like RTÉ’s sitcom “Meet Your Neighbours” and Channel 4’s “Trojan Donkey.” She has also worked on the RTÉ science series “10 Things to Know About” and produced and directed the documentary series “My Uni Life.”
In 2022, Murphy produced and directed the documentary “Border Memories,” funded by Northern Ireland Screen and Create Louth. “I’m absolutely delighted that PJ has agreed to come on board. I know how difficult it was for him to film ‘Changing My Mind,’ publish a book, become a father to twins last year, and work full-time. If anything, he needs a holiday, but he is supporting our little micro-budget film, and that means so much,” Murphy said.
PJ Gallagher explained his decision to join the project after reading the script. “I thought it was deadly. I’ve worked with Sinéad on loads of things; she has a proven track record of making great TV shows. When she says something is going to be good, I trust her on it. I really enjoyed the script and jumped at the chance to play someone different. People will be surprised to see me as the nasty thug, Frank the Roach. It’s also great to be involved in something that’s independently made, and I know Sinéad and the team in Dundalk are working really hard to pull this together,” he said.
The film aims to showcase local talent and locations, with scenes shot in Louth and South Armagh, particularly along the dockside in Dundalk. Murphy emphasized the community-driven nature of the project, highlighting the support from Louth County Council, An Táin Arts Centre, and the local college, DkIT. “This community support really reinforces our drive to make an exceptional film, and having PJ on board cements that drive,” she added. Filming locations include The Spirit Store, Toales, Ridleys, and McChara.
“Sludge” is a dark thriller that delves into themes of grief, loss, and societal displacement, focusing on a young woman’s struggle for redemption. Murphy’s previous works include the horror short “Repossession” and the period horror “Expulsion,” funded by Screen Ireland.
Oriel Films is seeking funding to support the production, encouraging public contributions through a GoFundMe page here. “We are a community-made film, collaborating with local artists, actors, filmmakers, and musicians. We are also providing young people from Mad Youth Theatre and students from DKIT with firsthand film experience. The cast and crew are giving freely of their time with negligible monetary gain. We need to raise enough to cover film equipment, transport, catering, accommodation, and expenses,” Murphy said.
