The acclaimed documentary ‘John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man’ will be released in Irish cinemas on the 15th June 2012 by Element Films. Since its Premier at the Cork Film Festival , the film has been wowing audiences in Boston, LA, Toronto, and John Ford’s hometown, Portland Maine. The success of the film was acknowledged when The American Institute honoured the documentary in its ‘Best of Europe Season’ while ‘Culture Ireland’ showcased it in MoMa in New York.

In the film, Maureen O’Hara, the last surviving member of the cast, is joined by such luminaries as Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Jim Sheridan and John Wayne’s daughter Aissa. The dreamlike landscape of the West of Ireland where ‘The Quiet Man’ was shot, becomes the backdrop for this revealing portrait of Ford’s return to his own mythical ‘Innisfree’.  Extraordinary and never before seen home movie footage of the cast and crew in Ashford Castle contributes to the family-like atmosphere that the film was shot in. Narration is by Gabriel Byrne  and the music score is created by Ger Kiely and Paddy Moloney of ‘The Chieftains‘. The film weaves all these elements together to deliver a powerful insight into John Ford’s most personal film.

A week before its cinema release ‘John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man’ will have its Dublin premier on the 9th of June during the  IFTA ‘John Ford Symposium’.  The screening will be be attended by Peter Bogdanovich, Jim Sheridan, and Ford’s biographer, Joseph McBride. To cap off all this good news ‘John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man’ will have a gala screening on May 25th at the John Wayne birthday celebrations in his hometown, Iowa. To learn more about this film go to John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man

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Loopline do not usually do radio posts but we make an exception here as Nan Merry the mother of Loopline Director Sé Merry Doyle features in this new radio series that gives a powerful insight into the subject of ageing in the city. Nan Merry was born in the Liberties and has a powerful back story of growing up in a tight knit community during tough times.The series is produced by the acclaimed actress and storyteller Nuala Hayes who has collaborated with Nan Merry on a previous RTE series on ageing issues. Loopline wishes Nuala and RTE great success in this important endeavor.

Press release: AGE AND THE CITY: A 4-part radio series on growing old in the city

Age and the City is a four-part radio series which will bring the subject of ageing in the city to life, through a mix of personal stories told by older people, with some analysis and discussion of the main issues facing our ageing society.

The population of Ireland is ageing fast. At the moment 11% of us are between the ages of 60 and 74. Predictions based on recent census figures show that in 20 years time, that will have gone up to at least 17%. By 2041, Ireland will have at least 1.3 million people aged over 65, with a fourfold increase in those over 80.  A considerable number of these people will live in our cities.

In this special month of Bealtaine, when the creative activities of older people are being celebrated, we will hear from men and women in Dublin, Belfast and Cork about the challenges they face as they grow older in an urban environment, and about the advantages and disadvantages of city living. We will hear how our cities are preparing to meet the needs of older citizens and about the WHO Age-Friendly Cities initiative, whose recommendations are already being put in place by several local authorities.  Transport and mobility, housing arrangements, health and creativity are among the many topics for discussion in the series.

Some of the participants are well-known: former Supreme Court Judge Catherine McGuinness, for example, or former Keeper of Marsh’s library, Muriel McCarthy.  Many others, though not in the public eye, have equally interesting and engaging contributions to make to the series.

The programmes are not just for older listeners. It’s just as important for younger people to appreciate and understand what older people need and what they have to offer.  A well-supported older population whose creativity and wisdom is valued by all will make for a richer society for everyone.

The series producer is independent radio producer Doireann Ní Bhriain.  “I’m getting older myself too”, she says, “and I keep meeting older people whose energy and creativity inspires me.  When I heard about the Age-Friendly Cities initiative, I thought it would be interesting to find out more, and to combine that with a reflection of how older people who live in cities perceive their own lives and their future needs.  The Bealtaine festival, celebrating creativity in older age seemed the perfect time to broadcast it”.  Nuala Hayes, recently seen portraying the life of Frankie Byrne in theatres around Ireland, and who has done a lot of interesting creative work with older people, is the reporter on the series. Age and the City is on RTE Radio 1 on Saturdays at 7pm, beginning on Saturday May 5^th .

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Muintir na Mara Final episode Sunday 29th April 9:30 PM

Pádraig O Duinnín’s journey began in Cork six series ago. Tonight we see him complete his odyssey in Donegal. In this final episode Pádraig goes to Downings Micheál Ó Dochartaigh st the seaside village currach club.  He takes danger in his stride as he rows in his Naomhóg around the notoriously windy Malin Head.

He ends his journey with a well deserved rest at the Culmore regatta on the Derry border. The series was funded by RTE for TG4 and although it was regularly in the top ten rating, the cut backs in RTE meant it had to leave the airwaves. Loopline Film would like to thank all those who watched and in particular we hope that Pádraig will find a new vehicle that will bring him back to our screens in the future. Thank you Pádraig for bringing us on an unforgettable journey.

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In “Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien” he confronts his past by joining the annual pilgrimage to  Tule Lake alongside other survivors and their children. Jimmy created  a special series of painting for the film that capture his childhood memories of the camp. One of the high points of the film is when the paintings comes to life in animation and create a haunting backdrop to Jimmy’s quest to make sense of the injustice that was directed at the Japanese American citizens.  The film also features an interview with Jimmy’s brother James T. Murakami who also works in the movie business, most notably as a Production Designer with Clint Eastwood. The film was acclaimed at it premier  in the Dublin Film Festival and won “Directors Choice Award” at the Sacramento Film Festival.

Muintir na Mara Episode 5

In this series Pádraig Ó Duinnín, a boat builder from Cork. travels by boat, bicycle and van around the stunning coast of Donegal.This week Pádraig goes from Bunbeg to Tory and stops off along the way at Bloody Foreland to take in the magnificant views and reflect on his journey so far.

At the start of the prgramme, he arrives at a boat shed and meets Eddie Mac Aoidh and Owenie Diver who are re-skinning a currach. The currach has sentimental value for Eddie, as it was his dad’s; he also brought the teacher across to the island on it when he was young, as the teacher came over for the first time. Pádraig and the two men talk about the boats and what makes them unique and just as Pádraig is about to leave Owen ask if he can come out in the currach with him. So, on a wet and blustery day, they set out from Bunbeg pier.Next up for Pádraig is a bit of space to reflect on his journey so far ans he stops to spend a little time at Bloody Foreland, a most magnificent place jutting out to sea. is so called because the sun, particularly at evening, lights up the rocks to a reddish hue.. The views from here of Árainn Mór, Gabhla to Tory Island and Horn Head and the play of light on coast, on water and the wild beauty of the place make it a wonderful spot for Pádraig to rest.

After this, he moves on to the currach races at Magheroarty and chats with Joanne Ní Bhaoill and Annette Diver, who tell him about their love of the currachs and the racing and what they have achieved since taking it up as a sport. Then, it’s over to Inisboffin where he meets up with John O’Brien and Maurice Coll. They chat about the island and fishermans’ rights and what needs to be done now to protect them and their livelihoods. Finally, he takes the ferry to Tory and has a cycle around the island, looking for the very particular boats associated with the island. He meets Bobby Doohan at the slip and after they chat for a while about Bobby’s life and adventures at sea, they head out in Bobby’s boat for a row around.

In this final series Pádraig Ó Duinnín, a boat builder from Cork. travels by boat, bicycle and van around the stunning coast of Donegal.

This week Pádraig watches the All Ireland semi final in Leitir Mac an Bhaird. travels by boat to Inis Caorach and Arann Mór and finishes this leg of his journey in Bunbeg.

The start of the programme sees Pádraig  arrive into Leitir Mac an Bhaird just as the All Ireland football semi-final between Dublin and Donegal is about to kick off. He finds the community gathered in the local pub, from kids to granddads, cheering on the county team. He meets with Sarah Ní Lochlainn and Thomas Monds and finds out about what it is that makes this part of the world a special place for them.

After the disappointing defeat at the hands of the Dublon team, Pádraig rows out to Inis Caorach with Hugh Gallagher. Hugh was born in Inis Caorach, which is now deserted. There are 4 restored houses on the island now; his son is building one of them. The island was deserted between 1949 and 1952. There was an old pier there that was washed away, heavy emigration, and the lack of men to man the boats led to the island being deserted. There was a new pier built 4 years ago, so it’s much more accessible now. Hugh is a boat builder also and built a 28ft wooden boat which is in his yard, He tells Pádraig stories about the island and its history and people.

Then it’s onto Arann Mór with Pádraig to meet up with RNLI volunteer Nora Flannagan. Nora is full of life, great fun and craic in her. She works in the Health Care Centre on Arann Mór,. She is the first women crew member in the 127 years of the RNLI on Aranmore. The RNLI was established on Aranmore in 1883 with moneys donated by Rev. Vendalure of Merrion Sq Dublin. This first lifeboat was named in his honor. It was a rowing and sailboat. They have a Severn lifeboat now, named Myrtle Maud. There are 21 crew, 2 fulltime and 19 volunteers. Nora shows Pádraig around the lifeboat station and he gets to see a training exercise with the lifeboat and helicopter in action.

Pádraig arrives into Bunbeg to complete this leg of his journey and meets with master boat builder Jim Boyd and artist, writer and boat builder, Donal Mac Polin who has a wealth of knowledge about curraghs in Donegal and has written extensively about them. Jim has built many boats over the years and out in his shed at the back of his house, he shows Pádraig around and tells him stories of the boats and the journeys he has taken in them.

Farewell to the last series of Muintir na Mara -  Episode 3 Sunday 8th April 9:30 TG4

In this final series Pádraig Ó Duinnín, a boat builder from Cork. travels by boat, bicycle and van around the stunning coast of Donegal.Pádraig has an action-packed time of it, on Sliabh League, and Glencolumbcille, Maghera and Ardara.

Pádraig starts the programme by rowing around Sliabh League, one of his favourite things to do. Then, after a ramble up the mountain he meets with Gene Eoghain O Churraighín. Gene tells him all about the Sliabh League cliffs and the Giants Desk and Chair, which is a short drive from his house. He tells the story of how fishing was poor before 1960 and how the landowner, Duffin, would not allow the fishers to leave from Teelin Peer. Gael Linn bought the land in 1960, and allowed fishermen to fish from the pier for a fee. Boom time for fishermen followed, until a land dispute in the 1970s  and fishing has fallen off since then.

Next Pádraig moves on to Glenncolumbcille where he meets with Merle Drost, her sisters  and their mother Connie in the local pub where they have come to play a session. Connie is from Germany, and is the widow of James Byrne, a famous fiddle player form Meenacross, near Gleann Colm Cille. The daughters all play the fiddle. They describe the unique style of fiddle playing in GCC. It’s a faster, more rapid style. It requires precision and a command of the instrument. The music is chiefly designed for dances. They remember their father fondly, talk a little about the annual James Byrne festival held there every year.

At the next point of his journey, Pádraig arrives onto the spectacular Maghera beach and runs into Hughie Gavigan who shows him the caves along the strand and the rocks. There’s an old legend that tells of people who were hiding out there in the 12th century during wartime. Hughie was born in the mountains. He was a farmer, they kept sheep and goats. He was also a weaver for McGees for 20 years, but sold his loom. He also had a quarry, and the rock from the area was in high demand, it was quartzite, very hard. The courtyard in Letterkenny is build with rock from his quarry. There is also a beautiful waterfall cascading over the rocks and running into the sea here,.

Pádraig finishes this leg of his journey by visiting Ardara. First, he visits young Eoin Breslin, one of the last surviving weavers keeping the tradition alive; still just a teenager but working hard to maintain this once thriving industry in the area. Later that night, Pádraig goes set dancing in Ardara and learns a thing or two from the locals about the steps.

The Diaries tell a story of  how this privileged daughter of a West of Ireland Protestant Bishop became a rebel in 1916 and then spent the rest of her devoted to the first infants hospital in Ireland, Saint Ultan.  The part of Kathleen Lynn is played by the great Irish actress Ingrid Craigie.    Now you have another chance to view this film on Easter Saturday at 7:15.
For more info on Kathleen Lynn click here

An effigy was made of Patrick Ireland and he was then buried  in the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in a ceremony attended by over  five hundred people.

It was a hugely resonant and emotional happening as Patrick Ireland had been created over 35 years before as a symbolic gesture of protest after the events of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Derry when the British Military murdered thirteen unarmed  people during a peaceful march for Civil Rights. At that time Brian O Doherty vowed that he would stay in the character of Patrick Ireland for as long as it took for the British Army to leave Ireland and for Civil Rights to be ensured for all.

The film will view as part of the VIEWFINDERS FILM FESTIVAL on the 31st of March in Ballyvaughan County Clare. The film was fully funded by the Irish Film board.

Details

• Screening: Lament for Patrick Ireland
• Documentary: Lament for Patrick Ireland
• Date: Saturday, March 31st 2012
• Time: 1:00pm
• City: Lament for Patrick Ireland in Ballyvaughan County Clare
• Where: Viewfinders Film Festival
• Country: Ireland
• Admission: €5
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On Sunday 25^th March at 9.30pm, the sixth and final series of Muintir na Mara, made by Loopline Film, will return to our screens on TG4. The series, directed by Martina Durac and produced by Vanessa Gildea, is presented by Pádraig Ó Duinnín, who continues on his voyage around the coast of Ireland over land and sea, in a currach, on a bicycle and in a van – this time traversing  the majestic coastline of Donegal.

The soaring cliffs, beautiful beaches and wind-beaten islands provide a rich trail for Pádraig, a natural adventurer and boat-builder in his own right, as he makes his way from Bundoran on the south coast of Donegal to the most northern part of Ireland – Malin Head and finally on to Moville and Culmore on the border with Derry. Along the way he stops off at the harbours, quays, ports, towns and meets with the local people, Muintir na Mara.

Padraig shows a natural empathy towards the people he encounters, being in awe of the sea himself and hugely interested in the people who live by it in all seasons. Whether conversing with fishermen, weavers, musicians, boat-builders, experts or novices, he has a natural flair for putting people at ease and a mischievous sense of humour. Pádraig has been involved in traditional boat building for over thirty years and has been instrumental in the preservation of the craft in Ireland. In 1994 he founded Meitheal Mara, a co-operative which builds and repairs traditional boats, located in the heart of Cork city.

Muintir na Mara is both a personal and spiritual voyage for him and he encounters many remarkable characters over the six programmes. He meets Easkey Britton, one of Ireland’s renowned pro surfers whose name hails from the sea as she competes in the European Surfing Championships in Bundoran. Local man Caoimhín Mac Aoidh regales him with folklore tales at  Tobar na Barchaile in Ballyshannon and the family of famous fiddler James Byrne start up a lively ‘seisiúin ceoil’ in Roarty’s pub Glencolmcille. Pádraig also meets Nora Flanagan, the first woman crew member in the 127 years of the RNLI on Arann Mór and watches a training exercise with Sligo helicopter Search and Rescue team. He tastes freshwater oysters on one of Donegal’s most prominent oyster farms, learns the skill and history of weaving at the Woollen Mills in Killybegs and rows around the majestic and mysterious Sliabh League cliffs. In keeping with the series, Pádraig visits the some of the enchanting Donegal islands meeting locals on Inis Caorach, Inisboffin and Tory Island.

It wouldn’t be a successful journey to Donegal for boat building aficionado Pádraig without a few encounters of the currach kind! Pádraig meets with well-known boat builders Jim Boyd and Donal Mac Polin to discuss the differences in the many Donegal currachs. He goes out rowing with members of the new community-made Currach Club in Downings, takes part in currach races with the many Donegal currach clubs in Magheroarty and rows into the Culmore sailing regatta. During this epic journey along the coast Pádraig also comes head to head with the contentious issues facing Ireland’s coastal towns these days, such as over-regulation of the fishing industry, the impact of multinationals on communities and the natural environment and the demise of the fishing community and traditions.

Pádraig Ó Duinnín is a man of the sea and his character is the driving force behind this series; his love and respect for the sea and sea-faring traditions shine through as he traverses this magnificent stretch of the Irish coast.