Ernie O'Malley, an Irish Republican Army officer during the war of independence commander of the anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War and author, acted as an advisor to Ford on the local culture, being on set with him every day. According to O'Hara, Ford "had a great deal of respect for Ernie...He had such respect for Ernie. They would natter away like old buddies...They liked each other. They were friends".