In his debut feature length film Strength And Honour, Cork born writer, director and producer (and actor and songwriter) Mark Mahon crafts a simple, old-fashioned tale of good overcoming evil, of triumphing in the face of adversity. It’s a trait Mahon has in abundance, having overcome huge obstacles in his own life to reach this particular point in time.

Strength And Honour is the kind of story the Hollywood empire is built on. The self-perpetuated myth that surrounds the famous LA town would have you believe that anyone can make it. But for every A-List star and big-name director that makes it, there are countless others that will attest to the fact that Hollywood is nothing more then a living lie, a place where every boulevard is littered with broken dreams.

Mahon is one of those rare exceptions. This week sees the premier of Strength And Honour in Cork and if the rumours coming from Stateside are true, it could be the beginning of big things for the Cork native. The film, staring Hollywood actors Michael Madsen and Vinnie Jones alongside a motley crew of Irish actors and actresses, is eagerly anticipated both here in Ireland and overseas, having picked up a number of awards on the international film festival circuit.

It has cast Mahon headlong into the limelight and already expectations are building around his next feature film, Freedom Within The Heart, with Leonardo DiCaprio now heavily tipped to star in the role of Brian Boru as he unites and leads his people to freedom against the marauding Vikings of the 11th century.

Currently residing in LA where his production company Maron Pictures are based, Mahon shows absolutely no delusions of grandeur. His Cork accent remains very much in tact and his dialogue is frequently punctuated with such popular local colloquialisms as “to be honest with ya” and “at the end of the day like”. He also shows surprising gusto considering it’s 7.30am when we speak and he’s been up since 6 because of work commitments.

“I don’t mind being up so early because I’m doing something I absolutely love,” he says enthusiastically.

“I’m blessed to be doing what I’m doing and I’m loving every minute of it out here.” It could have all been so different for the young director. Music was his first love and Mark pursued his goal to become a recording artists by enrolling in the Music & Management course in Coláiste Stiofain Naofa. He soon turned his attention to acting and at the age of eighteen, he began training, which led him to successfully completed his LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) acting examinations with distinction.

At the age of 22 his acting aspirations were dealt a potentially fatal blow, when Mark was severely injured in an industrial accident and forced to spend several months in hospital recovering. “I was left in a wheelchair for three years,” he says. “It was a incredibly tough time for me, but I decided to not sit idly by.

There were obstacles put in front of me everyday and it was difficult for everyone around me. But rather then let the situation take control of me I decided to take control of the situation and so I turned my passion for acting towards writing. I started writing during those months in hospital because, more then anything, I knew I wanted to stay involved in this chosen career.”