Tin Castle

On a rural roadside in Tipperary, Ireland, the O’Reilly clan—Paddy and Lisa, and their 10 children—all live together in their mobile home. Despite its modest trappings, it remains their “tin castle,” a place of wonder, warmth, and constant pandemonium, with kids of all ages helping with the chores, roaming wild through the hills, or joyfully speeding along the rolling roads on their two-wheeler horse-drawn “trap.” But the bucolic existence of this family of Irish Travelers (a distinct Indigenous ethnic group in Ireland) is under threat of eviction. How long can they hold onto their way of life?

Shot over a period of six years, this immersive and captivating documentary chronicles the O’Reillys’ daily experiences with lots of fondness and little judgement, even as Paddy faces criminal charges and questions about the long-term sustainability of their traditions become more urgent. Filmmaker Alexander Murphy creates a tender and touching elegy for a family and a culture at a crossroads.