In 2021, The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper sat down with Nicholas Ryan Purcell.
It is fair to say that Nicholas is one of the kindest humans around and a more obliging young man you wouldn’t meet.
Apart from that, he is one of the best film makers about.
At thirteen years of age he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, while also faced with mental health challenges brought on by early trauma.
Nicholas overcame a series of obstacles to complete his Leaving Certificate and then undertake, and graduate, from a three year course in TV production at Ballyfermot College in Dublin.
It was in 2021 that Nicholas published his book ‘Anything is possible’ which received wonderful reviews and also reported great sales. He was later to publish ‘Underdog horse Gordon Lord Byron’
His 230 page book dealt with living with Autism and became nationally known after releasing his film ‘This is Nicholas: Living with Autism’ ( 2018) . That film led to Nicholas appearing on a panel on The Late Late Show.
And now, the Tipperary film maker is making headlines once again as his latest feature film hits the cinema screens.
His latest work, ‘100 Years of Change’ tells the story of a lady in her 100th year and the societal changes that she has witnessed since 1923.
The lady, Mabel Wallace tells of the changes that she has witnessed herself that include what education was like in her youth, remembering the first family car, what road conditions were like a century ago, the threshing season on the farm, making butter in the home, going to the races in a pony and trap and sending cattle by train.
Down Memory Lane with Mabel Wallace – 100 Years of Change will be screened at the IMC cinema in Kilkenny on November 13.
The film has been shown in numerous cinemas in recent weeks and has received a hugely positive reaction.
