A DAUGHTER of Irish showband legend Brendan Bowyer is carving out her own career in the movie world.
Los Angeles-based actress and producer Clodagh Bowyer premiered her new movie, The Ferry, at the Galway Film Fleadh on Friday.
“I’m so proud of Clodagh,” Brendan yesterday told the Sunday World from his home in Las Vegas.
“When the writer/director Niall McKay brought Clodagh the script, she was so moved by the story she felt it needed to be told and she agreed to produce, finance and star in it.”
The movie, which also stars Aoife Duffin (Moone Boy) and Deirdre Donnelly (Ballykissangel), has its foundation in the mother and baby homes.
“It’s from a dark time in Irish history, but it’s very much a love story between mothers and daughters,” Clodagh said yesterday. “It’s beautifully told with a gorgeous ending.”
Speaking about the influence of her father Brendan, whose iconic hits with the Royal Showband include The Hucklebuck, Clodagh said she caught the showbiz bug growing up watching him perform in Las Vegas.
COMPASSION
“I got caught up watching him enjoying acting his songs,” Clodagh told me. “I would say to him, ‘you’re an actor, dad, you sing songs with such commitment, compassion and tenderness’.
“I did theatre in college and then I came to Ireland for two years and trained at the Gaiety School of Acting.”
Clodagh said that growing up she was proud of her Waterford-born father, who was then a star on The Strip in Las Vegas.
“Dad has had an amazing career, and there aren’t many entertainers who can say that Elvis came to their show,” she pointed out.
“Dad used to do an Elvis medley in his set and one night The King himself turned up to see him.
“Then he later socialised with Elvis at The Hilton hotel. My mum and aunt were at home and dad called them to join himself and Elvis, saying: ‘Get dressed up and come now.’
“They were over in a shot and it’s a night they’ll never forget. They also went up to Reno once as Elvis’s guests and went backstage to meet him. It was an incredible time.”
Despite her upbringing in Vegas, Clodagh said she never lost her Irish identity.
“Vegas is such a melting pot, but we grew up around the Irish community there and it gave us a sense of identity. Dad is 80 now and he’s slowing down, as he says, and it’s difficult for him to travel.
“He misses Ireland, but he’s happy and he and my mum have a good life in Las Vegas. He doesn’t perform anymore, but he gave us a good sing-song at Christmas!”