An Bap to air on BBC Two Northern Ireland on Sunday 14th October at 10.15pm
Date Posted: October 9, 2018
Chef and musician Brian (Danny Minnie) Ó Domhnaill uncovers the story of the Belfast bap, from its humble beginnings in 1842 to its status as a modern day icon, and learns about the special place it still has in the hearts of Belfast people today.
An Bap is a Macha Media production for BBC Gaeilge, made with the support of Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
As Brian explores the history of the bap, he discovers a part of the story of Belfast itself; it was during the early years of the bap that Belfast grew from a small Protestant town to a large city, home to both main traditions.
The programme explores the circumstances in which the bap was invented and why it was important for the residents of Belfast at the time. It tells how 1840s was a time of unprecedented growth for Belfast, especially because of the crowds of poor country people who had come to Belfast from the surrounding counties to escape the famine of 1845, looking for work in the growing industrial centre, and they needed fed.
Brian travels around the city from bakeries to back streets, from St Peter’s Cathedral to ‘The Half-Bap’ beside St Anne’s Cathedral via the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland. He discovers what Belfast was like before it became a city, and how the population grew and changed.
The people of Belfast reveal what makes a good bap, what their favourite fillings are, memories of a time when there was a bakery on every corner and funny stories about baps.
Presenter Brian (Danny Minnie) Ó Domhnaill says: “I learnt so much about the bap, about Belfast, its districts and its people and about Barney Hughes and his achievements. I hope that the bap continues to be enjoyed for at least another 150 years.”
An Bap, BBC 2 Thuaisceart Éireann, Dé Domhnaigh 14ú Deireadh Fómhair ag 10.15i.n.
Beidh Brian (Danny Minnie) Ó Domhnaill, cócaire agus ceoltóir, ag nochtadh scéal bap Bhéal Feirste, óna thús uiríseal sa bhliain 1842, go dtí an stádas atá aige sa lá atá inniu ann mar íocón, agus foghlaimeoidh sé faoin áit speisialta atá aige i gcroí mhuintir Bhéal Feirste inniu.
Is léiriú de chuid Macha Media é An Bap do BBC Gaeilge, agus rinneadh é le tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann.
De réir mar a fhiosraíonn Brian stair an bap, foghlaimíonn sé cuid de stair na cathrach féin; ba le linn luathbhlianta an bap a d’fhás Béal Feirste ó bhaile beag Protastúnach go dtí cathair mhór a raibh an dá phríomhthraidisiún sa bhaile inti.
Bhí Béal Feirste ag fás níos mó ná riamh roimhe sna 1840idí, go háirithe mar gheall ar na sluaite daoine bochta tuaithe a tháinig go Béal Feirste ó na contaetha thart timpeall agus a bhí ag éalú ón Drochshaol in1845. Tháinig na daoine sin ar lorg oibre i gcathair thionsclaíoch a raibh borradh agus fás ag teacht uirthi, agus bhí bia de dhíth orthu.
Téann Brian ar camchuairt thart ar an chathair, ó na bácúis go dtí na cúl-lánaí, ó Ardeaglais Naomh Peadar go dtí an ‘Leathbap’ (The Half-Bap) taobh le hArdeaglais Naomh Áine, agus buaileann sé isteach in Oifig Taifead Poiblí Thuaisceart Éireann ar an bhealach.
Agus Brian ar a thuras taighde, insíonn Feirstigh an fáth a bhfuil siad chomh tugtha sin don bap. Pléann siad tréithe an bap is fearr, na líonta is fearr leo, agus a gcuimhní cinn den am fadó nuair a bhí bácús ar gach aon choirnéal.
Deir Brian Danny Minnie, láithreoir an chláir: “D’fhoghlaim mé an oiread sin faoin bap, faoi Bhéal Feirste, faoina ceantair agus a pobail agus faoi Barney Hughes agus na héachtaí a rinne sé. Tá súil agam go mbainfear sult as an bap go ceann 150 bliain eile ar a laghad.”
