For three weeks last year, Daingean in Co Offaly was transformed into 1920s Ireland, as the community rallied to produce a top-class film.

Directed by husband and wife Martina McGlynn and Garret Daly, the result was A Nightingale Falling, a historical drama due for general release on 12 September.

The logistics of shooting a period drama during one of the hottest summers on record is something Martina will never forget.

“We ran out of water so many times,” she laughs. “We had to recreate winter scenes in the heat and everyone was sweltering. People were wearing gloves and hats in 30°C heat.

“We almost had a Downton episode with the amount of water bottles around. We even had to give somebody the job of monitoring the bottles and taking them off set.”

That was the least of the challenges faced during production of the film. Without any support from the Irish Film Board, they produced A Nightingale Falling on an extremely tight budget, recruiting locals from Daingean to help with everything from props to make-up.

Set during the War of Independence, the film follows two sisters, May and Tilly, whose lives change forever when they decide to care for a wounded British soldier in their home. The film is based on a novel by Irish writer PJ Curtis.

“A few years back, we made a short film based on one of his stories and it went down really well,” says Martina.

“Following that, he sent us a copy of his book, A Nightingale Falling. Garret and I read it over one weekend, in one sitting. After we read the book, we looked at each other and said: ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

“The story is told from the perspective of the other side and centres around two sisters who are Protestants. There’s entrapment, because they’ve taken in this British soldier and they’re afraid of what the Republicans will do to them if anyone finds out. They’re in trouble no matter what they do.

“I could visualise the characters and I think Garret could too. We thought about it – could we, can we, would we, will we? – and then in the summer of 2012 we decided we would go for it.”

After their application for funding was turned down, they set about training their local community.

“We held master classes in the community hall in Daingean. We taught people about production, set design, all that type of thing,” explains Martina.

“People I didn’t see for years came out. They all had something to offer.

“Older people had a view on the historical side of things, while some just wanted to help on a practical level,” she continues.

“Anna and Isabel Keegan from the Midlands School of Hairdressing, who had never worked on a film before, did the hair and make-up and were amazing. My friend Meritta Gorman-Geoghegan, who is a very successful clothes designer based in Galway, agreed to do the costume design. She made such beautiful clothes and put so much time into it.

“When I think about it now, I almost get weak. It was a wonderful time, but also very tough and stressful.”

Martina works for RTÉ and has two boys – Nathaniel (six) and Marcus (four) – with Garret, who runs a production company called Mixed Bag Media. It isn’t the first time they’ve worked together, with the pair starting their careers in Lyric FM.

“Garret and I went for the same job in Lyric FM when it opened,” says Martina. “There was a written test and during it I noticed he was copying me. He even asked me some questions. The hilarious part was that he got the job and I didn’t. I got called two weeks later for a different job, so it all worked out.

“We’ve always worked together. We have a good dynamic and it would be odd to work on a project without him. My cousin once said to me: ‘Why do you do it?’ I actually had to stop and think, and said: ‘I don’t know, we just do.’”

The film received a great reception at the Galway Fleadh this summer, with Tara Breathnach’s performance as the elder sister May earning her a nomination for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award.

“Tara’s performance is outstanding,” says Martina. “She’s on-screen for most of the film and she really carries it. Everyone at the Galway Fleadh was raving about her. She is just stunning.”

Given the success of films such as Calvary and Frank, not to mention Star Wars in Kerry, it’s fair to say that the spotlight is on Irish cinema.

“The publicity and positivity that has come from Star Wars will be invaluable,” says Martina.

“Ireland is a great location for films and it’s great to see films like Calvary do so well. We need to push this country as a place to shoot films.

“We also need to look at the box office success of some of our films. They don’t seem to perform very well, but that’s not to say they’re not great. We just want people to go to the cinema and support our film industry.”

A Nightingale Falling will be released in cinemas nationwide on Friday, 12 September.