Emerald Storm – The History of Irish Downhill Mountain Biking is an Irish documentary directed, written and produced by John Lawlor, already the creator of mountain-bike works such as 3 Minute Gaps and Won’t Back Down – The Steve Peat Story. The film traces more than four decades of history of Irish downhill mountain biking, recounting the evolution of a sport that has grown from a niche activity into an international reference point.
Through archive footage, intimate interviews and spectacular action sequences, the film reconstructs the story of the pioneers who created an independent sports scene in the 1990s, through to the contemporary champions competing at the highest level of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
Its protagonists include some of Ireland's best-known riders, including Oisín O’Callaghan, Ronan Dunne, Jacob Dickson, Ben Reid, Glyn O’Brien, Andy Yoong, Paul Gilsenan, Eamonn Lawlor, Colin Ross and Robin Seymour. Their first-hand accounts and race footage convey the authenticity and passion of a community united by a deep connection with nature and its sporting roots.
The documentary highlights the value of determination, collaboration and the dream of emerging in a sport that is as demanding as it is inspiring. Lawlor constructs a narrative that interweaves past, present and future, celebrating the sense of belonging and innovative drive that have made Ireland a cradle of world downhill racing.
Made in digital 4K at 25 fps and shot entirely in Ireland, Emerald Storm was completed on 1 August 2025. With a budget of €10,000, the film is an independent, mature project able to recount not only the technical evolution of an extreme sport, but also its human and cultural value.
Film Details
Title: Emerald Storm – The History of Irish Downhill Mountain Biking
Original title: Emerald Storm – The History of Irish Downhill Mountain Biking
Director: John Lawlor
Production: John Lawlor
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Running time: 65 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Sport featured: Downhill Mountain Biking
Protagonists: Oisín O’Callaghan, Ronan Dunne, Jacob Dickson, Ben Reid, Glyn O’Brien, Andy Yoong, Paul Gilsenan, Eamonn Lawlor, Colin Ross, Robin Seymour
Completion date: 1 August 2025
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Digital 4K, 25 fps, 16:9, colour
Director's first film: No
Student project: No