SWING BOUT  is an intense crime/thriller set backstage at a major boxing event, tracing Tony Gale’s (Ciara Berkeley, The Deceived, Normal People ) tumultuous journey from the dressing room to her ring walk in a night of deceit, betrayal, and life-altering decisions. Here producer & actress Sinead O’Riordan talks about this exciting new Irish film.

 

Congratulations on your feature, what made you decide on a boxing film and a female one at that?
As soon as Maurice pitched the idea, I was hooked. I loved the concept of a female-driven boxing film, which felt timely given the recent popularity of female boxing and our very own Katie Taylor. The project was unique, bold, and ambitious, and I was immediately drawn to it both as a producer and an actor. Maurice wrote a compelling role for me, making it hard to refuse the part of the scheming Coach Emma.

The cast is a great ensemble of emerging and well-known Irish talent, how was it working together?
The cast collaborated effortlessly from the start, which was a relief after weeks spent on the casting process.  We aimed to cultivate a set that encouraged pushing boundaries, fostering creative freedom, and inspiring everyone to give their best. By asking the team to trust us, we created an atmosphere where everyone felt empowered to contribute fully, resulting in remarkable camaraderie.

How long did it take to film ?
We shot for 21 days at the iconic Supervalu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. We were fortunate in that it was a quiet time for the stadium but we were limited in the sense that we needed to get everything shot in this timeframe because the GAA season was about to kick off very soon which meant we had to be militant in the pre-production process.

What research did you undertake on Swing Bouts in the boxing world?
I first looked up “Swing Bout” to understand it. In boxing, quick knockouts can create gaps in the TV schedule, filled by Swing Bouts with boxers ready to step in. I watched YouTube videos to start understanding the world of boxing. We aimed to create a film with high production values that looked more polished than our financial limitations suggested. I soon realized that making a boxing film would be my toughest challenge yet.

As an actor, I trained with top boxing coaches in Ireland alongside the other ‘Swing Bout’ actors. Since my character is a boxing coach, I had to learn techniques like warming up fighters and calling the right shots. I needed to stay ahead of the boxer, anticipating the next shot to call which was challenging, and sometimes I mistakenly called one shot while thinking of another, resulting in a punch to the face!

How did you feel when Swing Bout premiered at the DIFF ?
I knew we were onto something special when Swing Bout sold out super qickly after tickets went on sale. The atmosphere was electrifying, and the energy was through the roof particularly when we got a standing ovation.

What’s next up for you film-wise?
I’m hoping to be filming a new project in a couple of weeks which is very exciting. Just waiting on that green light! It’s a fantastic role and opportunity and really, that’s all I can say about that! Maurice is currently developing a six-part TV series which we hope to start pitching shortly and I have a few other projects for which I’m hoping to get funded..

Did you get great support from Cork whilst filming?
As a proud Cork woman, I was so touched by the incredible support we received. SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh went above and beyond for us, and local businesses were equally supportive. The people of Cork always rally around their own and I particularly can’t wait to bring this to Cork cinemas especially considering half the cast are from there.

 

SWING BOUT is at cinemas from Sept 20th