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Alan Duggan

President and Government seek expert advice on pardon for men wrongly convicted of notorious Mám Trasna murders in 1882

By News

President Michael D. Higgins has revealed that the Government has appointed an expert to examine the case for granting posthumous pardons to the innocent men convicted of the Mám Trasna murders of 1882.

In an interview featured in Murdair Mhám Trasna, a new drama-documentary for TG4, President Higgins said he is looking forward to hearing that expert’s opinion and the Government’s advice on one of the most famous miscarriages of justice in British and Irish legal history.

“At that stage, I will be returning to this issue to see what I can do. If it were up to me, the formalities aside, I would be happy to accept that the injustice which occurred should be recognised. My view is that the moral issue is clear,” the President said.

In 1882, five members of the Joyce family were brutally murdered in their home in Mám Trasna, a remote area on the Galway-Mayo border. Eight local men were convicted of the crime and sentenced to hang based on what later emerged to be perjured evidence given by informers and alleged eyewitnesses who received compensation amounting to £1,250, equivalent to €160,000 today.

Those convicted were tried in English although, being native Irish speakers, most of the those charged had little or no knowledge of that language. Three men were hanged while five others had their sentences commuted to penal servitude for life; two of those convicts died in jail while the remaining three were released after 20 years. Three local men, named frequently in parliament and in the media as having planned and directed the murders, were never charged.

A refusal to allow a public inquiry into the Mám Trasna case contributed to the fall of Gladstone’s government in 1885.

In his interview in Murdair Mhám Trasna President Higgins refers to the innocent men convicted of murder:

“Everything that happened at the level of the State was horrendous. There was bribery involved. The accused didn’t get a proper chance to defend themselves. There wasn’t an atmosphere of equality and there was no equality as regards legal processes at that time.”

The President also says that the British authorities at that time did not treat the Irish as equals. “They viewed them as a race apart who were not on equal footing with ordinary civilised people,” he said.

Producer of the film Murdair Mhám Trasna, Ciaran Ó Cofaigh of ROSG, described as a “significant step forward” the President’s revelation that an expert is to examine the case on behalf of the Government. “It would be wonderful if the injustice suffered by those innocent men 135 years ago were to be recognised now by the granting of posthumous pardons. It is certainly better late than never,” he said.

Among the other contributors to Murdair Mhám Trasna is Lord Alton of Liverpool, whose mother was a native Irish speaker from the Mám Trasna area. Lord Alton and his late colleague Lord Avebury campaigned to have the miscarriage of justice in this case recognised. In an interview with the filmakers Lord Alton refers to the fact that those charged with the murders had no understanding of the court proceeding in English.

“To have a fair trial you need to be able to understand the accusations that are being made against you. You need to be able to understand the evidence being given by your accusers. And you need to be able to understand the directions of the judge. And if you can’t understand any of these it makes it impossible to have a fair trial. And it was also, I think, demeaning of the Irish language,” he said.

Johnny Joyce, a descendant of the murdered Joyce family, says he forgave those who carried out the murders and expresses the hope that the miscarriage of justice will be addressed.

“I wish something could be done for Myles Joyce – his sentence should be commuted – the same with the other Joyces who served their sentences, 20 years hard labour.”

Tomás Ó hÉanacháin, a great grandnephew of one the men hanged for the murders says the case still stirs up “anger” in him. “Although the authorities knew Myles Joyce and his brothers were not involved in the murders they continued with the hangings and the injustice,” he said.

The feature-length drama-documentary Murdair Mhám Trasna from the Conamara-based production company ROSG was commissioned by TG4 with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Murdair Mhám Trasna had its premiere today (3 November) at the Oireachtas festival in Killarney, Co Kerry, and will be broadcast on TG4 at a later date. Meanwhile, the drama-documentary will be featured at a number of film festivals at home and abroad.

The film is based on former journalist and Irish language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s book Éagóir, published by Cois Life last year. The film was shot at locations in Mám Trasna and Swinford (Co Mayo), Conamara (Co Galway), Dublin and London.

Murdair Mhám Trasna is directed by Colm Bairéad, and produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh and Seán Ó Cuirreáin.

Photographs from the WRAP Fund Announcement

By Press

WRAP graphic

Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission and Celine Curtin, Chairperson, Galway Film Centre
Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission and Celine Curtin, Chairperson, Galway Film Centre

12/10/2017 retro free: Minister Sean Kyne with Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission and Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway City of Film launching the new WRAP (Western Region Audiovisual Producer's) Fund at the Fís TV Summit. The New €2m film fund will encourage film, TV and game industry in the West of Ireland (WRAP Fund to cover the film, TV, animation and game sectors The €2m fund will run over a three-year period and Aims to create 90 direct jobs in the Western Region. Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure12/10/2017 retro free: Minister Sean Kyne with Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission and Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway City of Film launching the new WRAP (Western Region Audiovisual Producer's) Fund at the Fís TV Summit. The New €2m film fund will encourage film, TV and game industry in the West of Ireland (WRAP Fund to cover the film, TV, animation and game sectors The €2m fund will run over a three-year period and Aims to create 90 direct jobs in the Western Region. Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure12/10/2017 retro free: Minister Sean Kyne with Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission (and speaking ) Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway City of Film launching the new WRAP (Western Region Audiovisual Producer's) Fund at the Fís TV Summit. The New €2m film fund will encourage film, TV and game industry in the West of Ireland (WRAP Fund to cover the film, TV, animation and game sectors The €2m fund will run over a three-year period and Aims to create 90 direct jobs in the Western Region. Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure12/10/2017 retro free: Minister Sean Kyne with Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission (and speaking ) CCeline Curtin, Chairperson of Galway City of Film launching the new WRAP (Western Region Audiovisual Producer's) Fund at the Fís TV Summit. The New €2m film fund will encourage film, TV and game industry in the West of Ireland (WRAP Fund to cover the film, TV, animation and game sectors The €2m fund will run over a three-year period and Aims to create 90 direct jobs in the Western Region. Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure

Minister Seán Kyne with Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway Film Centre and Geraldine McLoughlin, Finance Executive, Western Development Commission
Geraldine McLoughlin, Investment Executive, Western Development Commission, Minister Seán Kyne with Johnny Gogan, Filmmaker and Leitrim, Roscommon Film Commission and Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway Film Centre
Mayo based filmmaker Risteard O’Domhnaill (Atlantic, The Pipe), Eibhlín Ní Mhunghaile Creative Europe Desk and Minister Seán Kyne
Filmmaker Lelia Doolan and Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway Film Centre
Paul Conway, Gaming Doomcube, Minister Sean Kyne and Alan Duggan Tribal City Interactive
CEO Irish Film Board James Hickey with Minister Sean Kyne
Back: Kevin Kelly; Galway County Council, Orlagh Heverin; Film Mayo, Aideen Doherty; Film Donegal, Siobhan Mulcahy; Clare County Council, Tom Connell; Galway City Council, Brain Barrett; Galway County Council, Gary McMahon; Galway City Council. Front – Richard Finn, Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council, Orla Leydon; Roscommon County Council, Minister Sean Kyne, Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre and Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission.
Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Orla Leydon; Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Orla Leydon; Roscommon County Council, Minister Sean Kyne & Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre
Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Orla Leydon; Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Siobhan Mulcahy; Clare County Council, Minister Sean Kyne & Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre
Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Orla Leydon; Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Minister Sean Kyne, Sinead Dolan Sligo/Leitrim/Roscommon Film Project & Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre
Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Orla Leydon; Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Minister Sean Kyne, Richard Finn, Caithaoirleach Mayo County Council, Orlagh Heverin, Film Mayo & Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre
Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Orla Leydon; Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Minister Sean Kyne, Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre & Alan Esslemont, TG4
Declan Gibbons, Director Galway City of Film, Orla Leydon; Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Minister Sean Kyne, Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre, Kevin Kelly & Brian Barrett, Galway County Council
Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Minister Sean Kyne, Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre & Kevin Kelly, Galway County Council.
Minister Sean Kyne with Miriam Ní Neill, Údarás na Gaeltachta
Geraldine McLoughlin Finance Executive Western Development Commission, Minister Sean Kyne & Celine Curtin, Chairperson Galway Film Centre

#WRAPfund

All images by Andrew Downes @xposure

New €2m WRAP Fund will encourage Film, TV and Game Industry in the West of Ireland

By News

A new €2 million fund to encourage the film, television, animation and game industry in the West of the country was launched today, Thursday, October 12th, in Galway, the UNESCO City of Film with Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Natural Resources Seán Kyne. It is estimated that this investment will create 90 direct additional jobs within the industry in the Western Region.

The Western Region Audiovisual Producer’s Fund — or WRAP Fund — is an initiative of the Galway Film Centre and the Western Development Commission (WDC). It will run over a three-year period in association with the local authorities in the counties of Clare, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo as well as Údarás na Gaeltachta.

The objective of the new WRAP Fund is to facilitate the development of, and investment in, film, television, gaming and animation projects in the Western Region. It is hoped that it will increase the number of screen content production projects undertaken in the region, creating direct employment of 90 jobs. As well as supporting local projects, it is hoped that the Fund will also help attract international production companies to the western region, having knock-on benefits for the wider economy and for future tourism to the region.

The WRAP Fund is aiming to support 15 development projects, with an expectation that at least 20 per cent of these would secure resources to go into full production. Around another 10 internationally funded co-productions will be supported in the region.

To be eligible for the fund, projects must demonstrate commercial potential and have a significant presence in the Western Region. The aim of investing in projects with commercial potential will allow the Fund to make a return on investment in order to create a legacy fund for future projects within the region.

Full details of the eligibility and how to apply will be available once the WRAP Fund is up and running early next year. Recruitment of a WRAP Fund Development Manager will begin in the next few weeks.

Funding for the initiative has been ring-fenced by the WDC from its Revolving Evergreen Western Investment Fund. The local authorities in the counties involved will provide funding towards operational costs.

In the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2015-2017, a commitment was made under Action 144 to “develop and implement an action plan to support the film industry in Galway and the West Region and explore the potential for a Regional Film Fund”.

This plan was written by Galway Film Centre and Galway County Council, with the support of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council and Roscommon County Council. This commitment, together with the Galway Film Centre’s role as administrator of the Galway UNESCO City of Film, has created a perfect moment for the launch of the €2m WRAP Fund.

Galway also has the largest audiovisual industry outside Dublin with more than 600 jobs and an indigenous industry worth more than €72m annually to the local economy.

Sligo recently hosted the Premiere of ‘Halal Daddy’, a feature film shot on location in Sligo while Donegal’s Malin Head has become famous the world over after being featured in ‘Star Wars’. Telegael in Galway are in post-production on Ireland’s first stop-motion animation feature, ‘Captain Morten and the Spider Queen’. Other film makers – such as Johnny Gogan of Bandit Films, based in Leitrim — are shooting acclaimed work in the West.

The WDC believes that the creative sector is extremely important to the Western Region, which has a rich history of significant film and television activity. It has been working to develop the industry over the years through initiatives such as the WDC’s Creative Industries Micro Loan Fund and its work with EU projects such as MyCreativeEdge.

Seán Kyne, Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Natural Resources, said: “I’m delighted to launch this €2 million WRAP fund at the FÍS summit here in Galway. The potential of the film, television and game industry for the West of Ireland has already been very well demonstrated by TG4 and a range of independent producers. I’m confident that this new WDC-backed fund will further develop this sector in the West bringing greater benefits in terms of job creation as well as for the creative industry. I look forward to seeing the results of the investments on our screens in the near future.”

Ian Brannigan, Acting CEO of the Western Development Commission (WDC), said: “The WDC is very excited to be able to provide this funding to the audio visual sector. We think it has huge potential to increase sustainable employment within the sector as well as create opportunities to upskill crews working here. The benefits of the film industry to a region has been recognised for some time. As well as creating direct employment, there is an impact on the wider economy such as those providing food and accommodation during the shoots to the more long-term increase in tourism.”

Declan Gibbons, Manager of Galway Film Centre & Director of UNESCO City of Film, said: The WRAP Fund is a game changer for the audio visual and gaming sectors in the Western Region. Building on the UNESCO designation in 2014, Galway Film Centre is now delighted to partner with the WDC to roll out this fund in collaboration with all the local authorities concerned. This significant investment has the potential to provide increased content creation and continuity of work and is an immense boost to the wealth of screen talent in the region.”

#WRAPfund #CeantarScannán

St. Patrick’s Day Special ‘What’s Your Favourite Irish Film?’

By News

Check out this St. Patrick’s Day special short film from CCAM Film & Documentary students Matt Kavanagh, Harry McCarthy Giles, Emily Jane Matthews and Megan Leydon asking people in Galway ‘What’s your favourite Irish Film?

The consensus includes Poitín, Jimmy’s Hall, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, The Commitments, The Field, Into The West, Sing Street, Ondine, Breakfast On Pluto, The Guard and three non-runners! (PS. I Love You , Leap Year and Made of Honour)

#GalwayCityofFilm

ATLANTIC screening in An Taibhdhearc | Tuesday 14th March

By News

Atlantic

Dates: 10am Tuesday 14th March
Venue: An Taibhdhearc Theatre
Tickets: €4.50 per student with group rates also available

Galway City of Film is delighted to screen Risteárd O’Domhnaill’s award-winning documentary ATLANTIC in conjunction with the Irish Film Institute Education Programme in An Taibhdhearc Theatre on Tuesday 14th March.

“Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Brendan Gleeson, Atlantic follows the fortunes of three small fishing communities – in Ireland, Norway and Newfoundland – as they struggle to maintain their way of life in the face of mounting economic and ecological challenges. As the oil majors drive deeper into their fragile seas, and the world’s largest fishing companies push fish stocks to the brink, coastal communities and the resources they rely on are fast approaching a point of no return.

Filmed in some of the most remote and breathtaking locations in the North Atlantic, and at close quarters with some of the sea’s most captivating characters, Atlantic brings to the fore three very intimate stories from the global resource debate. It explores how modern day communities must learn from the past, in order to secure a brighter future.”

Risteárd O’Domhnaill is a Galway based filmmaker and this award-winning documentary is informative and relevant to our time, yet entertaining and engaging for young audiences.

Galway City of Film is pleased to screen this new Irish feature documentary for second-level schools across Galway for the academic year 2016-17.

Risteárd is available to conduct Q&A sessions with young audiences following the screenings to discuss as all aspects of the documentary.

Booking: An Taibhdhearc tel: 091-562024  https://antaibhdhearc.ticketsolve.com/shows/873570077/events

#GalwayCityofFilm #irishfilm
UNESCO CoFifi-logo

ahrrga-high-res

Galway Film Centre acknowledges the support of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for this project.

Filmmaking & Animation in the Classroom – Workshop for Primary School Teachers with the PDST

By News

Regional Project Poster

Regional Project Poster
The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) are running a series of FREE workshops in Galway City that will cover ‘Filmmaking and Animation in the Classroom.’

The workshops are facilitated by Michael McNamara of the PDST and will take place Thursday evenings on March 9th, 16th and 23rd in the Galway Education Centre. The course is suitable for Primary and Post-Primary Teachers.

For more details email michaelmcnamara@pdst.ie or call 087 77 94 720

#GalwayCityofFilm

Season 2 of An Klondike to Premiere on TG4 – Wednesday 1st February

By News

Abú Media has announced that Season 2 of their award-winning Western series will premiere on TG4 this spring with the first episode scheduled to air on the 1st February.

The critically acclaimed first season of An Klondike was nominated for ten awards at this year’s IFTA’s, winning five, including the prestigious award for Best Drama Series.

Season 2 picks up a few weeks after the climactic events that brought the first season to a close and continues the story of the Connolly brothers (played by Owen McDonnell, Dara Devaney, and Seán T. O’Meallaigh) as they struggle to forge an empire for themselves during the Klondike gold rush of the 1890’s. The Connollys are united, and have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the territory, but against a backdrop of growing lawlessness in Dominion Creek the Connollys must face a challenge that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.

Series creator and director Dathaí Keane spoke about the production of the second season: “In the first season we were telling a more linear story that revolved around the Connollys getting to Dominion and establishing themselves in the town. This time round we knew we didn’t want to tell the same story again. We talked a lot about what we wanted to explore next and how the events of the first season would affect the various characters and how it would change them. We left some major dangling threads at the end of the first season that propels the action across these new episodes and allows us to really get under the skin of the Connolly brothers. The relationship between the brothers is the emotional centre of the story and we wanted to explore the impact that a town like Dominion, where civilisation hangs by a thread, has on them. Their old world of Irish tradition, family and God is gradually replaced by this New World – a world where all those values are lost.”

Series producer Pierce Boyce, of Abú Media, spoke of the challenges that the team faced in putting the series together: “Logistically this season was a lot more challenging to shoot than the first one. We had more action scenes, more scenes on horseback, and the town of Dominion has grown since the first season. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far with the success of An Klondike and I think we have raised the bar again with Season 2. Dathaí Keane’s vision and the creative team’s execution of that vision have resulted in a story that epitomises what great TV drama should aspire to. I think viewers will be excited by what’s in store. An Klondike is not like anything else that has been made in this country.”

An Klondike Season 2 comprises four episodes and will be broadcast over four consecutive weeks on TG4 before moving onto international platforms. All episodes of Season 1 are currently available on Netflix under the series’ international title Dominion Creek.

For more details see: http://anklondike.com/season-2/

#CeantarScannán

New Season of Galway TV Series ‘Jack Taylor’ to debut on be3 on Saturday 14th January 2017

By News

Jack Taylor #2

A new season of the internationally acclaimed TV series JACK TAYLOR will debut on the new Irish TV channel be3 (formerly UTV Ireland) on Saturday 14 January at 9pm. The gritty crime series features Irish ex-cop Jack Taylor played by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Cleverman, Resident Evil).

“On the wrong side of forty and an occasional binge drinker, Jack Taylor has set himself up as a private investigator who takes on those cases the Gardaí won’t touch, no matter how hopeless. Behind his short-tempered nature, Taylor hides the tender heart of a true humanitarian”.

The new series comprises 3 x 90 minute films which were shot on location in Galway City and Connemara in 2016. The series, which is based on the novels by Galway author Ken Bruen, has developed a large international fan base, airing in UK , Australia, New Zealand, Germany, USA, Canada and many other territories worldwide. The series will also be made available on Netflix.

JACK TAYLOR was produced by Galway studios Telegael in association with ZDF Enterprises (Germany) and Content Media International (USA). Starring alongside Iain Glen are leading lady detective garda Kate Noonan, played by Siobhán O’Kelly (Klondike, Bronntanas) and Darragh Noonan, played by Jack Monaghan (The Ark, Black Mirror).

JACK TAYLOR is one of a large slate of feature films and television series produced at Telegael’s Galway-based studios. Recent productions include the animated feature film Norm of the North which has generated in excess of US$30m at the international box office and whose cast includes Irish actors Colm Meaney and Michael McElhatton. Telegael has also recently completed production of the award-winning feature film Out of Innocence which is inspired by the events surrounding the Kerry babies tribunal. The film is due for release in 2017. Multi-Emmy Award winning studio, Telegael is one of Ireland’s leading film and television studios which produces live action and animated content for the global television market and for worldwide cinema release. Telegael’s productions have been distributed to over 150 territories throughout the world and have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Telegael also co-produced the animated feature film Blinky Bill which is currently on cinema release worldwide. The studios are currently in production on a range of live action animated television series including the Ireland / Austalia co-production Drop Dead Weird and the stop motion feature film Captain Morten and the Spider Queen starring Brendan Gleeson, Tommy Tiernan, Pauline McLynn, Ciaran Hinds and Jason Byrne. Morten is the first stop motion animated feature film to be produced in Ireland.

Screenings of JACK TAYLOR will air on TV3’s new Channel be3 on Saturday 14th, 21st & 28th January at 9pm.

www.telegael.com

#CeantarScannán