Former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan has spoken of his sorrow that his daughter is not alive to enjoy the success of her final acting performance following her death from cancer.
Wildfire, which stars the late Danika “Nika” McGuigan, had its Irish premiere with a sold-out event in her home town of Clones, Co Monaghan, on Sunday (August 29).
Hosted by Clones Film Festival, the film was shown at Barry McGuigan Park, the Irish Mirror reports.
Read more: North Belfast neighbours on a mission to return Glandore area to its former glory
Nika died aged 33 just over two years ago, and takes a leading role in the movie which was written by Cathy Brady, who also makes her directorial debut with the drama.
Before the screening, Barry said he found solace in seeing his daughter's work celebrated.
He said: “Our hearts are broken that Nika is not here to see the success of her last performance, but my family and I are comforted to see it on the big screen with our friends, family and the community in Clones.”
Ahead of the screening, Barry and his wife Sandra were presented with the IFTA award by Áine Moriarty, founder and chief executive of the Irish Film and Television Academy.
Earlier this summer, Nika posthumously won Best Actress Film at the 2021 IFTA Film and Drama Awards for her performance in Wildfire.
The movie follows two sisters in an Irish border town as they come to terms with their mother’s mysterious death.
It was filmed in locations across the island of Ireland including Belfast, Newry, Narrow Water, Dundalk and Dublin.
'Wildfire' will be released in Ireland and the UK on September 3.
