Eat The Peach 40th Anniversary Screening & Exhibition

In March 2026, The Phoenix  proudly marks the 40th anniversary of Eat the Peach, Peter Ormrod’s much-loved Irish film inspired by the true story of Connie Kiernan and Michael Donohue from Granard, County Longford.

Released in 1986, Eat the Peach tells the story of two men chasing an improbable dream: to build their own Wall of Death after being inspired by Elvis Presley’s performance in Roustabout. What followed—both on screen and behind the scenes—was a remarkable feat of ingenuity, bravery, and sheer determination.

At the heart of the film is a modest Honda 125cc motorcycle, purchased second-hand and specially adapted for filming. After filming wrapped, Charles Winter purchased the motorcycle, which went on to serve as his personal Wall of Death bike for nearly forty years. Across decades of performances, riders including Waine Peart, Ned Kelly, and Mick O’Malley all took their turn on this small but historic machine. During the film’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Connie Kiernan himself rode the bike once again when Messham’s Wall came to Dublin.
The motorcycle even enjoyed an unexpected screen return in 2016, appearing in Midsomer Murders (Series 18, Episode 6, “Harvest of Souls”), where it lay beside a murdered Wall rider.

In 2025, Wall of Death historian Alan Mercer acquired the bike and painstakingly restored it to match its original appearance in Eat the Peach. Mercer, who had himself ridden the motorcycle on the Wall in 2012 and 2013, now brings it to The Phoenix as part of a special anniversary exhibition.

Alongside the screening, visitors can explore a display of rare ephemera relating to the film, the Wall of Death, and the extraordinary real-life figures behind the story. Looking ahead, it is hoped that the motorcycle and its archive will eventually return to County Longford, where a new museum is planned to open in 2028.

This 40th anniversary event is a celebration of Irish cinema, daring ambition, and a film that continues to resonate decades after its release.