Munster Express Online

TG4 is to broadcast all five documentaries made this year as part of the Árd Dioplóma í Léiriú Teilifíse at the Nemeton Television studios in the County Waterford Gaeltacht of An Rinn.

As with last year, the broadcaster has agreed to air the programmes as part of the ‘Cead Seans’ series. Nemeton MD Irial Mac Murchú says: “This commitment to broadcast by TG4, adds a hugely important dimension to the course. It sets the course apart, not only in terms of its content and make-up, but also in the opportunity it gives students to produce television programmes in the knowledge that they may have their first broadcast credit just after leaving college.”

Fiona Ní Fhathaigh, co-director of one of the documentaries, ‘Torrann na dTonnta’ – which tells how three fishermen that lost their lives off Helvick Head in 1945 when a British mine exploded as they hauled it onto the Naomh Garbhán – explains: “I was involved with this programme from the very beginning. I watched it develop from paper up on to the big screen. As part of the editing process we spent months both constructing and deconstructing it until we were literally tired of looking at it…but it has never failed to touch me.

“It is a tragic story which has remained largely untold and I hope it moves the nation as much as it has moved us. I’m really excited about seeing it on TG4. It’s a great story and I hope we did it both the sincerity and justice it deserves.”

Co-director Niall Ó Faoláin is the grandson of the sole survivor of the tragic accident. He is now working in London on an exciting new children’s programme for the BBC.

Fiona, meanwhile, is head of Development in Nemeton so we may be seeing more of her ideas on screen in the near future.

The NQAI Level 8 approved course is a Higher Diploma in Television Production (with a specialisation in Directing or Editing). The course is run through Irish in An Rinn, with some modules delivered on campus at WIT. September will see the start of year three of this diverse course and as the limited spaces are almost full anyone seeking further information should contact Tríona Uí Bhroin on 058-46499 or email triona@nemeton.ie.