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17th December 2015
03:19pm GMT

The Boys who ran away to New York.In 1985 two boys from Darndale in Dublin, Keith Byrne (10) and Noel Murray (13),... Posted by Rare Irish Stuff on Tuesday, 15 December 2015
Director Garret Daly. Picture credit: Jason O’Callaghan
“I secured the rights to the story two years ago and Conor (Ryan) has been working on the screenplay for the last six months. We went into collaboration with Keith and Noel to tease out the story and we discovered that there was so much more to tell,” Garret said.
“The screenplay is fantastic and it’s hilarious, which is no surprise given the story that’s it based on.”
“It’s so funny,” Garret added. “I know the story inside out now but there was so many occasions reading the screenplay that I just kept laughing and thinking - this is actually happened.”
Garret has already had a number of offers from studios looking to take on the project, which is currently in the pre-production stage. There is no definitive timeline as to when it will be ready for the big screen just yet, but 2016 is set to be a massive year for Garret and everyone involved.
“We’ve had a number of offers, here and abroad, and the story is catching people’s attention,” Garret said.
“Casting will be key as there will be two new young leads and a significant lead actor in the US. I think 2016 will be a big year as we move forward on this.”
One of the most rewarding elements of being involved in the movie from Garret’s perspective to date is that it has helped to reunite the two key characters in the story, Keith and Noel, after years without contact.
Keith Byrne (left) and Noel Murray (right), reunited 30 years on from their remarkable journey. Picture credit: Garret Daly
Childhood friends three years apart in Darndale, they gradually drifted apart as teenagers and in later life, but having both consented to take part in the movie, their reminiscences have been crucial to the telling of what is truly a remarkable tale.
“When we met them in the hotel, they were catching up right in front of us and it was so great to see,” Garret recalls.
“It was terrific to get them together to chat about their adventures. They hadn’t seen each other in years and suddenly they were remembering things that happened. There is so much people haven’t heard about it and it will all be in there.”
Asked about the type of movie that it’s going to be, Garret replied: “We want to make an Irish movie, because first and foremost it’s an Irish story. The fact that it’s a true story as well makes it incredibly appealing.
“We worked really hard to get a brilliant screenplay out of it, there’s plenty of interest in it here and abroad and thankfully, it has all started falling into place.”
We can’t wait to see the finished product.
Main image via Dermot O'Shea/The Irish TimesExplore more on these topics: