Suspicion, murder and mayhem in Kerry: The true story behind The Field 

Tonight we get to see the documentary made by Billy Keane about the bitter dispute made famous by his father and the subsequent film with Richard Harris an 

Richard Harris as Bull McCabe in the 1990 film, The Field.  The Real Field documentary screens on RTÉ One next Tuesday. 

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Field, Jim Sheridan’s gripping tale of murder, rural codes and an unholy obsession with land. The movie became an instant classic on release, in particular due to unforgettable performances by Richard Harris as 'Bull' McCabe and John Hurt as his sidekick 'The Bird' O’Donnell.

The film was based on a stage play by John B Keane of the same name, which premiered in 1965 – directed by Barry Cassin and starring Ray McAnally as The Bull. The Listowel playwright drew inspiration for the play from an unsolved murder case from his hinterland in north Kerry several years beforehand. The fallout from the cold case still resonates more than 60 years later, which is explored in a fascinating documentary entitled The Real Field.