A macabre slice of Lurgan folklore has gone worldwide, as dark comedy short Lived Once Buried Twice was given an online release on Easter Sunday.
Funded by Northern Ireland Screen, the film – written and directed by Lurgan’s own Olivia Beatty – retells the notorious local legend of Margorie McCall.
As the story goes, Margorie died after a vicious fever and, for fear of spreading the disease, was waked and buried in haste. But even the grave couldn’t quieten talk of the rock on her finger – and two greedy graverobbers are quick to see a chance to get rich.
Shot over two days in January 2025, the production brought together a talented cast and crew, filming on location at the Ulster Folk Museum as well as in Lurgan’s The Cellar Bar and Shankill Graveyard – where Margorie’s famous headstone still stands.
The short has enjoyed a highly successful festival run. It premiered at the Louth International Film Festival, where Marcellus Kearney earned a nomination for Best Actor. Earlier this month it wrapped its circuit in style at the Cinemagic On The Pulse Film Festival in Belfast’s QFT, lifting the Best Live Action (Fantastical) award.
In between, this “wee film” has travelled far beyond Lurgan, screening everywhere from Roscommon, Donegal and Kerry to Chicago, Omaha and Toronto.
Now, fittingly enough, on Easter Sunday “the dead shall rise again” as Lived Once Buried Twice became available to watch online worldwide.
You can watch the short film here.
