Wally, a film by Ann Marie Kelly.

Broadcast date: RTE One, Tuesday 2nd April 2013 10:35 p.m.

This one off documentary tells the story of a young Portlaoise man Wally O Loughlin. Wally, a rapper, has struggled to overcome mental health problems and has attempted suicide. This story documents his journey to recovery.

Filmmaker Ann Marie Kelly followed Wally for two years, and this is his story of survival. At the end of the documentary, a very different man appears on the same couch crying his eyes out.this time there are tears of joy, as he holds his newborn baby boy. It’s all about self belief..and it’s all on tape.

Ann Marie Kelly said: “My original idea was just to get his story on camera after his suicide attempt but as things started going right for him, I couldn’t stop filming. Everybody loves a happy ending and this story aims to give hope to people who are suffering with depression/addiction. This documentary intends to reach those who may feel ignored by the media, family, and society, the ‘real people’. There are no psychiatrists here quoting statistics, this is a man opening up his heart, letting us in to see how he survived and got himself out of the hole he was in.”

For more info visit: RTE

The documentary is based on Wally O’Loughlin, a well known rapper from the Midlands, who tells it like it is. Wally grew up on Hungry Hill where there was not much talk about feelings. Music was his escape and the film is his story. It is a story of survival that aims to empower young people today to believe in themselves. It all went wrong for Wally in 2009 when he attempted suicide. “I had the razor blade there just about to do it when I saw a mother and her child walking out of the school. I was looking down on them from the ridge and said, what the fxxk am I doing?”said Wally. Filmmaker Ann Marie Kelly followed Wally for two years, this is a story of survival. The film reminds us that life can be beautiful and we find mercy in unexpected places.

Out of the Wally documentary came Hear me See me. Hear Me, See Me is a project created by Ann Marie Kelly which provides creative workshops in film, music and radio for secondary school students. The project aims to give young people the tools to express themselves, and cope with mental health issues.