Doineann to have its TV premiere on BBC Two NI and TG4
Date Posted: March 11, 2022
Doineann, the first Irish language feature film shot entirely in Northern Ireland, gets its television premiere on Sunday 13th March at 10pm on BBC Two Northern Ireland and Monday 21st March at 9.30pm on TG4. Made by award-winning production company, DoubleBand Films, with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, BBC Gaeilge and TG4, Doineann is the feature film debut from director Damian McCann.
Released in cinemas late last year, this is the first chance TV audiences will get to savour the brooding thriller featuring a host of top Irish actors. Doineann, meaning ‘stormy weather’ takes viewers on a tension-filled journey to a remote Irish island where a father, Tomás (Peter Coonan) returns home to find his baby son and wife (Clare Monnelly) have vanished.
In the film, it seems Tomás’ best hope of finding his family is to put his faith in the hands of the island’s retired policewoman, Labhaoise (Bríd Brennan), before a storm hits the island. A body is found on the beach, as is his wife’s abandoned car. But Labhaoise suspects there’s an undercurrent to this island mystery.
With the screenplay penned by Aislinn Clarke, Doineann stars Love/Hate actor Peter Coonan, Bríd Brennan (Calm With Horses, Brooklyn), Clare Monnelly (Moone Boy) and Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (Vikings).
Dermot Lavery, Producer for DoubleBand Films said: “It’s wonderful for us now after a hugely exciting cinema run for Doineann, to be able to share our story with the BBC Northern Ireland audience. Doineann – the first Irish-language feature film of its kind here – was three years in the making during challenging times. We like to think it was worth it. I believe the BBC audience will too.”
Áine Walsh, Head of ILBF at Northern Ireland Screen said: “We are so delighted that the first Irish language feature film from the Gealán initiative, Doineann will now be available to view on BBC and TG4 following its hugely successful festival and theatrical screenings. We are very proud that a former ILBF trainee, Damian McCann has brought such a gripping story to our screens in his directorial debut and are confident that this will act as a springboard in the continued development of the Irish language drama production sector in Northern Ireland.”
Karen Kirby, Commissioning Executive for BBC Gaeilge said: “From Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast to hit TV dramas such as Line of Duty and Bloodlands, Northern Ireland is now established as one of the best film and drama locations. Doineann is the latest to exploit the great landscapes and locations here to bring this moody thriller to life. And BBC Gaeilge is proud to have been at the forefront of making Doineann the first feature-length film, in Irish, to be filmed here. It’s great to open up an entire new genre of film making here and be able to call upon and develop Irish language creative talent such as Damian McCann based on this island.”
Máire Ní Chonláin, Commissioning Editor Doineann in TG4 said: “I would like to thank the creative team behind the film Doineann. TG4 is very proud to have supported this special film in partnership with the ILBF and BBC Gaeilge under the Gealán scheme. It is great that quality films in Irish are fostering new talent and making an impact on the viewing public here at home and overseas.”
Doineann was filmed on location in Killyleagh and various locations around Strangford Lough.
Beidh an chéad chraoladh teilifíse de Doineann, an chéad fhadscannán Gaeilge ariamh a rinneadh go hiomlán i dTuaisceart Éireann, ar BBC Two Northern Ireland Dé Domhnaigh 13ú Márta ag 10in agus ar TG4 Dé Luain 21ú Márta ag 9.30in. Léirithe ag DoubleBand Films, comhlacht léiriúcháin a bhfuil duaiseanna bainte aige, le maoiniú ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge de chuid Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann, BBC Gaeilge agus TG4, is é Doineann an chéad fhadscannán leis an stiúrthóir Damian McCann.
Bhí an scannán le feiceáil i bpictiúrlanna éagsúla go mall anuraidh, ach is í seo an chéad deis ag lucht féachana teilifíse sult a bhaint as an scéinséir bagrach seo a bhfuil neart sár-aisteoirí Éireannacha ann. Sa scannán Doineann, a chiallaíonn stoirm as Gaeilge, téann an lucht féachana ar aistear lán teannais go hoileán iargúlta, áit a bhfilleann athair, Tomás (Peter Coonan) abhaile le fáil amach go bhfuil a mhac óg agus a bhean chéile (Clare Monnelly) imithe gan tásc gan tuairisc.
Sa scannán, is cosúil go gcaithfidh Tomás dul i muinín Labhaoise (Bríd Brennan), iar-bhangharda, lena theaghlach a aimsiú sula dtagann an stoirm chun an oileáin. Nuair a aimsítear corpán ar an trá, agus carr tréigthe a mhná, mothaíonn Labhaoise go bhfuil uisce faoi thalamh leis an mhistéir seo.
Scríobh Aislinn Clarke an script, agus is iad na haisteoirí Peter Coonan (Love/Hate), Bríd Brennan (Calm with Horses, Brooklyn), Clare Monnelly (Moone Boy) agus Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (Vikings) atá sna príomhpháirteanna.
Deir léiritheoir le DoubleBand Films, Dermot Lavery: “Anois agus an léiriú iontach pictiúrlainne thart, tá muid thar a bheith sásta a bheith in ann ár scéal a roinnt le lucht féachana BBC Northern Ireland. Is é Doineann an chéad fhadscannán Gaeilge a rinneadh anseo, agus bhí muid trí bliana ag gabháil dó le linn tréimhse dúshlánach. Sílimid gurbh fhiú é. Creidim go mbeidh lucht féachana BBC ar aon intinn linn.”
Deir Áine Walsh, Ceannasaí an CCG, Scáileáin Thuaisceart Éireann: “Táimid chomh sásta go mbeidh an chéad fad scannán ón scéim Gealán, Doineann anois ar fáil ar BBC agus TG4, théis taispeántas féile agus amharclainne a bhí racháirt mhór air. Táimid iontach bródúil gur iar oiliúnaí de chuid an Chiste, Damian McCann a thug an scéal tarraingteach seo chuig an scáileán, agus é mar stiúirthóir drámaíochta don chéad uair. Táimd cinnte go mbeidh sé seo mar thús láidir don fhorbairt leanúnach ar earnáil an léiriúcháin drámaíochta Ghaeilge i dTuaisceart Éireann.”
Deir Feidhmeannach Coimisiúnaithe BBC Gaeilge, Karen Kirby: “Airítear scannán Kenneth Branagh, Belfast, agus na drámaí teilifíse Line of Duty agus Bloodlands leis an chlú atá ar Thuaisceart Éireann mar shuíomh scannánaíochta agus drámaíochta den chéad scoth. Tá Doineann ar an scannán is déanaí le leas a bhaint as na tírdhreacha agus na suíomhanna iontacha sin le beocht a chur sa scéinséir bagrach seo. Tá BBC Gaeilge an-bhródúil as bheith ar thús cadhnaíochta le cinntiú gur lonnaíodh agus gur léiríodh Doineann, an chéad fhadscannán Gaeilge anseo. Is iontach an rud é seánra nua scannánaíochta a fhorbairt anseo agus a bheith in ann iarraidh ar dhaoine cruthaitheacha le Gaeilge atá lonnaithe ar an oileán seo a bheith ag obair linn, amhail Damian McCann.”
Deir Eagarthóir Coimisiúnaithe Doineann TG4, Máire Ní Chonláin: “Glacaim buíochas le foireann chruthaitheach an scannáin Doineann. Tá TG4 an-mhórálach gur thacaigh muid leis an scannán speisialta seo i bpáirt leis an ILBF agus le BBC Gaeilge faoin scéim Gealán. Is iontach go bhfuil scannánaíocht d’ardchaighdeán as Gaeilge ag cothú tallainne nua atá ag dul i bhfeidhm ar an bpobal féachana anseo sa mbaile agus thar toinn.”
Rinneadh scannánú ar Doineann i gCill Ó Laoch, agus i suíomhanna éagsúla thart ar Loch Cuan.
