Randal Plunkett is a renowned Irish film director and producer hailing from Dunsany, County Meath, Ireland. Born into the esteemed Plunkett family, he was raised within the walls of the historic Dunsany Castle, where his illustrious ancestors drew inspiration from the surroundings. This unique upbringing, surrounded by 900 years of family history and an impressive collection of art and antiquities, has left an indelible mark on Randal's work, which critics have described as "lush, macabre, gothic, and beautiful".
The Plunkett family boasts a rich and storied history in Ireland, with Randal tracing his lineage directly to numerous celebrated ancestors. These include St. Oliver Plunkett, Ireland's revered martyr and saint who suffered at the hands of the British and whose head remains in Drogheda to this day; Sir Horace Plunkett, co-founder of the Irish agricultural Co-operative movement; Randal's great-grandfather, John Merton Plunkett, aka Lord Dunsany, a respected playwright and the godfather of fantasy literature; and Edward Plunkett, Randal's father, a renowned modern artist.
Upon the passing of Edward in 2011, Randal inherited the title of 21st Lord Dunsany and assumed his position as head of the Plunkett Family. Randal finds inspiration in the works of legendary directors such as David Lynch, Akira Kurosawa, Peter Greenaway, and Nicholas Ray, and is particularly drawn to the unsettling and psychologically piercing storytelling of Roman Polanski.
Randal holds a degree in film studies from Kingston University in London and a degree in Digital Video from SAE Institute in London.
