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Rave Culture Meets Troubles: Skintown Hits Screen
14 Aug
Summary
- Ciarán McMenamin's novel 'Skintown' premieres at EIFF.
- The film depicts 1990s rave culture as an escape.
- It is set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Actor and author Ciarán McMenamin's debut novel, 'Skintown,' is making its screen debut this weekend at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Based on his hometown of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the film centers on friends seeking to escape small-town life amidst 1990s rave culture.
Directed by Kieron Walsh, 'Skintown' draws heavily from McMenamin's experiences growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He describes the film's world as his own and that of his friends, highlighting the escapism and community found in rave scenes.
The film's soundtrack features iconic 90s artists like Prodigy and Happy Mondays, aiming to immerse audiences in the era. While sharing a similar time period and sense of humor with 'Derry Girls,' McMenamin emphasizes 'Skintown' as a distinct dramatic work.
McMenamin expressed pride in bringing his hometown, Fermanagh, which has rarely been depicted on screen, to a wider audience. He finds writing about home, despite living in England, offers a unique storytelling perspective.