The remarkable story of Mitchelstown’s legendary stuntman, Mick Meaney, is once again stepping into public view as the documentary Beo Faoin bhFod (Alive Under The Sod) is set to be broadcast on television next week. This marks the documentary’s first-ever television screening, following the film’s hometown premiere in Mitchelstown over the weekend.
Beo Faoin bhFod revisits one of the most extraordinary endurance feats ever attempted. In 1968, Mick Meaney allowed himself to be buried alive in a wooden coffin in London, where he remained underground for an astonishing 61 days while crowds and media from across the world followed the spectacle. Newspapers, television stations and international broadcasters covered his every move, turning the humble Ballyporeen native and Mitchelstown-based man into a global curiosity.
Yet, while the film captures the drama and spectacle of the buried-alive stunt, it goes much deeper than the headlines that once surrounded Mick. The documentary explores the realities of his life and the legacy that remains after the stunt faded from public memory. Critics both at home and abroad have praised the film, with international outlets, including publications in Britain and Portugal, reporting on the rediscovery of one of Ireland’s most unusual folk heroes.
Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition.
