Commencing Sunday, 16th August, at 9.30pm, TG4 will be broadcasting five documentaries that Waterford Institute of Techonolgy students have created in collaboration with Nemeton Television and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The partnership, which has been running for over three years between the three bodies, ensures the provision of a full-time course that focuses primarily on the crucial skills of editing and directing for television.
The fruits of labour of the most recent graduate class will be broadcast on TG4 on Sunday nights at 9.30pm and repeated on Tuesday nights at 8pm. The documentaries, which discuss brave and sometimes controversial subjects are thirty minutes in length:
- ‘Burntollet’ deals with violent ambush of student civil rights marchers at Burntollet Bridge in Northern Ireland, showing previously unseen footage of the fateful day, described by many as one of the most critical events in the history of Northern Ireland.
- ‘Mise an tÚafás’ tells the personal story of a young gay man from MP Iris Robinson’s constituency, as he struggles to understand her comparing of homosexuality with the abuse of children. He documents his efforts to meet Robinson to discuss her views: among them, that homosexuality is a sin and that it is possible to cure gay people.
- ‘Na Fit-Ups’ which tells the story of the travelling 'show people' who brought their unique entertainment into small villages and towns (between 1930 and 1960).Featuring the last television interview with the late Anna Manahan.
- ‘Misfits’ A quirky mockumentary about 3 people hindered by certain 'peculiar' characteristics, who seek help from a stereo typical 'motivational' guru.
- ‘Tragóid na Moresby’ A heart breaking story of 22 people who died needlessly when their ship ran aground in Dungarvan in 1895.
Speaking of the recent annoucement, Training and Development Manager Miriam Mulrennan said: “We are thrilled for our students - obviously. This course is very demanding, it mirrors the production process from the moment of an idea being formed – to delivery of your master tape to the broadcaster. The output of students is impressive, even by industry standards: to deliver 5 x half hours of television to the national broadcaster’s standard says so much about the students, the tutors and the course.”
Based in the picturesque an Rinn Gaeltacht in the sunny south east of the country, the course plunges students right in, getting them to actually make not just one but between five and seven half hour documentaries in a tight timeframe, that are of a high enough standard to satisfy the national broadcasters exacting standards.
The closing date for places on this year’s course is the end August. All applications are handled through Nemeton Television.
