Film on Debenhams dispute to be screened in Limerick

The Debenhams dispute which encompassed Limerick and branches across the nation was the longest trade dispute in the history of Ireland

placeholder image — The Debenhams dispute which encompassed Limerick and branches across the nation was the longest trade dispute in the history of Ireland

A NEW FILM which charts the plight of Debenhams staff who lost their jobs in the pandemic will play in Limerick from this week.

Omniplex at Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle is to host a number of screenings of '406 Days', an extended documentary focusing on the retail staff who lost their jobs at Debenhams Ireland after its British parent company pulled support in April 2020.

The film premiered at the Dublin international film festival in March, with hopes a screening would follow in Limerick, where 110 people lost their jobs, and an around-the-clock protest took hold.

Now, this is exactly what is happening, with screenings commencing on Friday, May 26.

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Following the showing on Tuesday, May 30, at 8pm, there will be a panel discussion featuring two of the Limerick workers who took part in what is the longest industrial dispute in the history of the State.

Former stock room worker Mike McNamara will join fellow staff member Aisling O'Gorman for a discussion on how the dispute impacted their lives.

They will be joined by Mary Immaculate College lecturer Susan Liddy, a member of the Irish Film Institute board, film producer Fergus Dowd and its director Joe Lee.

The film charts the reaction of workers from when they realised their jobs were gone at Easter 2020, to the long standoff which saw picket lines set up outside the Debenhams store in O'Connell Street in the city centre.

For more information on screen times, call 061-574 320.