ILBF announces funding award for commemorative bursary
Date Posted: February 16, 2018
The inaugural Aodán Mac Póilín Commemmorative fund, Ciste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin, has been awarded to Imagine Media for its project, Rian na gCos.
Rian na gCos will follow architect and local artist Michael Doherty as he meets some of Aodán’s closest friends and colleagues to learn more about his passion for the Irish Language. Aodán was an articulate advocate for the Irish language and spent his life working with, and for, the language. As Director of the ULTACH Trust, he laid much of the groundwork for cross-community engagement with the language in the early 1990s.
Michael, who was also a close friend of Aodán, will explore his lesser known interests such as his love for song, poetry and local folklore. Through this journey Michael aims to capture the essence of his friend by painting a dedicated portrait of Aodán.
The fund was launched in November 2017 by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) and the Celtic Media Festival to commemorate Aodán following his passing in December 2016. Aodán convinced then government department DCAL to set up the first training scheme in television production for Irish speakers in Northern Ireland and was instrumental in the formation of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund. He then chaired the ILBF investment committee as a board member of Northern Ireland Screen and was a stalwart of the Celtic Media Festival over its 38-year history.
The aim of Ciste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin is to offer Irish speakers working in the production sector in Northern Ireland the opportunity to develop a television project that would reflect some or many of the wide and varied interests of Aodán. As well as £5,000 development funding, successful applicants will also travel to the Celtic Media Festival in Llanelli, Wales in May 2018 to pitch the project to broadcasters.
Áine Walsh, Head of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, said; “We are delighted to announce the first funding for Ciste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin has been awarded to Imagine Media for Rian na gCos. This project will commemorate Aodán’s legacy by celebrating his interests and passion for the Irish Language and we are so pleased to support a bursary in his name in conjunction with the Celtic Media Festival.”
Dámhachtain mhaoinithe faoi sparánacht chomórtha nua fógartha ag an CCG
Bronnadh an chéad dámhachtain mhaoinithe de chuid Chiste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin ar Imagine Media don tionscadal Rian na gCos.
Leanfaidh Rian na gCos Michael Doherty, ailtire agus ealaíontóir áitiúil agus é ag bualadh le roinnt de na cairde agus de na comhghleacaithe ba dhlúithe ag Aodán chun eolas níos fearr a fháil ar an dúil a bhí ag Aodán sa Ghaeilge. Is go deisbhéalach a thacaigh Aodán leis an Ghaeilge gur thug a shaol ag obair leis an teanga agus ar a son. Mar Stiúrthóir ar Iontaobhas ULTACH, réitigh sé go leor den bhealach i dtreo comhar trasphobail sa teanga go luath sna 1990í.
Ba dhlúthchara ag Aodán é Michael chomh maith agus déanfaidh sé iniúchadh ar chuid de na suimeanna eile a bhí ag Aodán, amhail a dhúil san amhránaíocht, san fhilíocht agus sa bhéaloideas áitiúil. Is é a chuireann Michael roimhe sa turas seo, tréithe uile a charad a léiriú i bportráid thiomnaithe d’Aodán.
Sheol an Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge (CCG) agus Féile na Meán Ceilteach an ciste i Samhain 2017 chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar Aodán i ndiaidh dó bás a fháil i Nollaig 2016. D’áitigh Aodán ar DCAL, roinn rialtais a bhí ann ag an am, tús a chur leis an chéad scéim traenála i léiriúchán teilifíse do chainteoirí Gaeilge i dTuaisceart Éireann agus bhí sé ina cheann feadhna ar bhunú an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge chomh maith. Bhí sé ina chathaoirleach ar Choiste Infheistíochta an CCG mar chomhalta boird de chuid Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann agus bhí sé ina chrann taca ag Féile na Meán Ceilteach in imeacht 38 mbliana na Féile.
Is é is sprioc do Chiste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin deis a thabhairt do chainteoirí Gaeilge atá ag obair san earnáil tionscadal teilifíse a fhorbairt a chuimseodh roinnt den réimse leathan suimeanna a bhí ag Aodán. Anuas ar an £5,000 maoiniú forbartha, rachaidh na hiarratasóirí a n-éiríonn leo chuig Féile na Meán Ceilteach in Llanelli i mBealtaine 2018 leis an tionscadal acu a chur faoi bhráid craoltóirí ann.
Dúirt Áine Walsh, Ceannasaí an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge; “Is cúis áthais dúinn a fhógairt gur bronnadh an chéad dámhachtain mhaoinithe faoi Chiste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin ar Imagine Media do Rian na gCos. Comórfar leis an tionscadal seo gach ar fhág Aodán le hoidhreacht trí cheiliúradh a dhéanamh ar na suimeanna a bhí aige agus ar an dúil a bhí aige sa Ghaeilge agus tá an-áthas orainn tacú le sparánacht atá ann in ómós dó i gcomhar le Féile na Meán Ceilteach.”
