Irish language films for Culture Night

Irish language films for Culture Night

15 September 2021

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council has commissioned a series of 10 subtitled Irish language films entitled ‘Irish Speakers Abroad’ as part of this year’s Culture Night.

Funded by the Northern Ireland Executive, these enlightening films introduce us to a diverse range of Irish speakers who live abroad.

For centuries, there has been a history of emigration of Irish people and this is still a common custom, with young people seeking work abroad, attracted by employment opportunities in international destinations.  

These vibrant, informative videos provide an insight into the life of the diaspora in a modern-day context, taking viewers from New York to Las Vegas and as far as Japan.

Council chairwoman, Cathy Mason said, she is delighted to see these 10 inspiring videos launched as part of the local authority’s celebration of Culture Night 202.

She continued: “It is important for us to reflect on the Irish language as a cultural treasure on a global scale. There are many Irish speakers working in a variety of professions all over the world, each of them immersed in the culture of the country in which they are based.”

The series of 10 short films  — entitled ‘Na Gaeil i gCéin, Irish Speakers Abroad’ — will be streamed on the council’s social media platforms from this Friday until Friday, October 8.

In the first video, viewers meet Seosamh Mac Seoin, originally from Belfast, who talks about his life as an actor and model in New York and looks back to working in New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks. 

Then it’s time to meet Pól Ó Finn, a young man who is working as an international coordinator in Japan, while Ciabhán Ó Murchú, a pilot who now lives in Spain, and Brónagh Ní Chuilinn, takes viewers on a tour of the streets of Melbourne in Australia, where she and her partner Kelvin have been living for over two years.

Later in the series, there will be an opportunity to hear from actor, model and television presenter Gavin Ó Fearraigh, who speaks about his life in Las Vegas. Viewers will also hear from another Donegal native, Caoimhe Ní Chonchoille, who lives in California, where her husband is on a diplomatic posting. Staying in the United States, it’s then off to Florida, where Conchúr de Faoite lives.  

Translator, musician and writer Seaghan Mac an tSionnaigh gives an insight into life in Brussels, while Méabh Ní Chualáin will take viewers around London.

The series concludes with Séamus Ó Fianghusa, an American soldier and a Gael through and through who is raising his daughter with Irish. 

Over the course of two weeks, audiences across the district will enjoy small snapshots of the interesting and sometimes exotic lifestyles of some of our Irish Speakers Abroad. 

For further information on this initiative please email gaeilge@nmandd.org or visit www.newrymournedown.org/gaeilge.