Two Monaghan Actors Star in Horror Film The Restoration at Grayson Manor
Monaghan actors Declan Reynolds and Matthew McMahon appear in Glenn McQuaid's horror film The Restoration at Grayson Manor, starring Chris Colfer and Alice Krige. It opens in Irish cinemas on Friday, 6 November.
By the Monaghan Brief staff·Edited by Seamus McKenna·Published · 2 min read
Save for later
The Diamond fountain, Monaghan town. Archive location photograph; not a photo of the events in this story. Michael Dibb · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and colour-graded; cropped in layout.
Monaghan actors Declan Reynolds and Matthew McMahon appear in The Restoration at Grayson Manor, a horror film by Irish director Glenn McQuaid that opens in Irish cinemas on Friday, 6 November 2026. The film stars Chris Colfer (Glee) and Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact). It was shot over two months at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, Northern Sound reports.
From the Garage Theatre to the big screen
Both actors started out on the Garage Theatre stage in Monaghan town, in plays with Monaghan Youth Theatre, Monaghan Dramatic Society, Danger Mice Productions and Garage Theatre Productions. Declan Reynolds also appeared in The Wilde Sisters, the short film shot in Co Monaghan.
Matthew McMahon told Northern Sound the film is a "wild ride". "It's horror, it's comedy, it's gore, it's all those wrapped into one," he said. Working with the international cast was easier than he expected: "There were no celebrity egos. They were all just very professional."
His advice to aspiring actors: "I think a successful acting career is a mixture of perseverance with a little bit of delusion. Healthy delusion."
About the film
Script: McQuaid co-wrote the film with Clay McLeod Chapman, Rue Morgue reports.
Release: Wildcard Distribution is releasing it in Irish cinemas from 6 November, according to Rue Morgue.
Rating: Ireland's film classification office, IFCO, lists a running time of 96 minutes. Its consumer advice warns of strong violence, sex, nudity and language.
Sources
This article is an original summary based on the following reporting. We encourage readers to visit the original sources for full coverage.
Táine King's award-winning short film, about Oscar Wilde's half-sisters Emily and Mary, was shot at Bessmount House near Monaghan town. RTÉ2 showed it on Monday night, close to the 155th anniversary of their deaths after a Halloween party near Smithborough.
Glaslough topped County Monaghan in the 2026 SuperValu TidyTowns with 408 marks and a gold medal. Carrickmacross and Monaghan Town also won gold, Smithborough took the Endeavour Award, and Monaghan TidyTowns won the national EPA Circular Economy Award.
The older people's charity ALONE says it has seen a particular rise in people needing support in Castleblayney, Virginia and Belturbet. A Monaghan Town woman says being matched with a volunteer ended her loneliness.
