Éabhlóid, the Gaoth Dobhair based media company set up by Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh have won the prestigious Bronze Torc for Excellence in the Arts category at the Celtic Media Awards in Swansea for their documentary John Doherty – Ar Leirg na Gaoithe.
The brilliant documentary was produced and directed by Ciarán and Eoghan respectively with funding from the BAI and TG4 and was broadcast on TG4 at Christmas.
The documentary focuses on the life of the well-known fiddle player, John Doherty, who travelled the highways and byways of Donegal during the last century. It follows Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, himself a great fiddle player, as he explores the life and enduring influence of John Doherty.
The documentary is gentle and poetic, making use of rare archive footage of John Doherty, Donegal and its people. Viewers are given a precious glimpse into a disappearing world and a taste of John’s musical genius.
Personal insights into John’s character are shared by Donegal fiddle players, Paddy Glackin, Danny Meehan and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, who all knew John personally.
Dr. Alun Evans, whose recordings of John Doherty in the sixties and seventies led to the release of John’s posthumous and most critically acclaimed album, The Floating Bow, gives a thoughtful account of John’s artistry. Bríd Ní Dhomhnaill, who remembers John coming to visit her family home in the Croaghs gives a touching account of John’s mesmerising presence.
Each year, the Bronze Torc Awards for Excellence are presented to the best and brightest productions from around the Celtic Nations and Regions.
With both national and international juries to decide the winners, these prestigious awards exist to celebrate talent from across the Celtic media in Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, English, Manx, Cornish and Breton.
The Arts category was a hotly contested category with nine nominees shortlisted for the award; the most in any of the television categories. Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde was delighted to be there to accept the prize on behalf of Éabhlóid.
Gordon Bruic was editor on the documentary. Colm Hogan was the cinematographer, and the French sound recordist, Guillaume Beauron, now based in Gaoth Dobhair, mixed and recorded the sound for the documentary.
Fidil, the fiddle trio of which Ciarán is a member along with Aidan O’Donnell and Damien McGeehan, created the soundtrack for the documentary.
The documentary was filmed and produced entirely in Donegal.
This is Éabhlóid’s second documentary. They also publish books and recently launched their new book and CD: Ní thuigimse daoine fásta, a collection of newly composed poems and songs for children.
For more on Éabhlóid see www.eabhloid.com.
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