Blood Fruit, a documentary directed by Sinead O’Brien, tells the story of a
strike in Ireland which led to the ban of selling South African goods as a protest
against apartheid. The film will receive its’ world premiere at the Galway Film
Fleadh, Ireland’s leading film festival, on 10 July.
In the early 1980’s workers at Dunnes Stores along with support from Nelson
Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jesse Jackson moved Irish government
to legislate a complete ban on South African imports. Years later O’Brien and the
strikers travelled to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral, an immensely
emotional experience for the Dunnes Store veterans who had never been to the
country before.
The film is produced by Noel Pearson (My Left Foot) for Ferndale Films and
features a large contribution from Archbishop Tutu, who said in a statement to
be read out at the screening, “I am delighted that these extraordinary people
seem to be finally getting the recognition they so richly deserve. You are part of
the history of South Africa’s struggle for freedom. Your stand was a beacon of
hope during dark days in our history.’
View the Blood Fruit trailer
