New
series looks at the Gaelic Passions of a rural community
The
lives, the passions and the highs and lows of a rural community
in Northern Ireland are the focus of a new four-part BBC Northern
Ireland observational documentary.
Centred
around Silverbridge GAA Club in South Armagh, Gaelic Passions,
starting on BBC TWO Northern Ireland on Sunday 23 November at 10.30pm,
looks at the lives of the players and the close-knit community bound
together by the GAA club.
The
series gained intimate access to the people of Silverbridge during
five months of filming.
It
reveals a sense of place and identity amongst the people who live
there and offers an invaluable insight into the life experiences
and attitudes of people and the integral part played by the club.
Including
dialogue in both Irish and English, Gaelic Passions shows the highs
and lows of the GAA season at the club – from the underage
players to the senior team and the work of the club chairman and
the committee.
With
access to managers and players during crucial games it features
forthright and frank discussions including half-time team talks,
sidelines exchanges and post-match discussions revealing that passions
and loyalties are just as raw and poignant here as they would be
at the highest sporting level.
Antaine
O'Donnaile, producer of Gaelic Passions, said: "Gaelic
Passions is much more than just an observation documentary about
the Silverbridge GAA Club.
"It
is about the whole community brought together by the club –
the players, the local characters, the committee members, the supporters
and the people who live there.
"In
fact, it could almost represent any rural community in Ireland with
a similar background.
"It
shows life as it is – the exchanges in the dressing room have
strong language and plenty of raised voices.
"Without
the cooperation of these people and the club it wouldn't have been
possible to get the access we had and that's what makes the series
such compelling viewing.
"I
was allowed into the restricted surroundings and happenings of the
club but perhaps most moving was being allowed to film the emotional
scenes of a community in mourning following the death of former
chairman and club president, Peter Keeley.
"I
think Gaelic Passions will give people a real insight into a typical
rural community and many will identify with the highs and the lows,
and the spirit of the people who live there."
The
four-part Gaelic Passions series starts on BBC TWO Northern Ireland
on Sunday 23 November 23 at 10.30pm.
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 national BBC radio networks.
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