In 1819 the body of a young girl washed up at Moneypoint in Kilrush, Co. Clare. Not yet sixteen years of age this girl’s life and death would become the inspiration for the Colleen Bawn who is known throughout the world in story, drama and opera. A girl who is said to have been an outstanding beauty, was murdered by her husband’s servant under his orders.

Many people know the name Colleen Bawn but not all are aware that the inspiration for the stories/drama/opera was a beautiful young Limerick girl who married above her station only to be murdered after a relatively short period of marriage at her husband’s insistence.

In Gerald Griffin’s book “The Collegians”, on which the play “The Colleen Bawn” and the opera “The Lily of Killarney” are based upon, the story takes place in part in Kerry and the names have been changed but the truth is that the girl and her murderers were living in Co. Limerick and her body was washed up at Moneypoint, Kilrush, Co. Clare with her body being laid to rest in Kilimer, Co. Clare. In this documentary we aim to inform to highlight the tragic details of Ellen Hanley’s short life the impact her death had, not only on the dramatic arts but also on the people of both Limerick and Clare.

There are many varying accounts of Ellen’s life and death and here we speak with local historians about the life and the trial of her husband of less than two months John Scanlon and his servant Stephen Sullivan.