TG4 travel programme, ‘Muintir na Mara’, returns on Sunday, 10 January, with a six-part series. Produced by Loopline Films, the series will see presenter Pádraig Ó Duinnín continue his personal and spiritual voyage along the coast of Ireland.
Taking his journey along the Galway Coastline and traveling by curragh, bicycle and van, Pádraig stops off at little harbours, quays, ports, towns and villages and meets with the local people of the sea, the aforementioned ‘Muintir na Mara’. This is the fourth series to follow Pádraig on his travels the first three of which saw Pádraig negotiate the Cork, Kerry and Clare coastlines.
Pádraig encounters many characters over the six programmes, such as Tom Cussen, musician and banjo maker from Clarinbridge, Michael Lynskey, the ‘King of Claddagh’, who takes Pádraig sailing and explains why he and others are trying to bring the boating tradition back to Claddagh. Audiences will also enjoy a look at various events associated with traditional boats such as Féile Mhic Dara on Mhic Dara island where hundreds of Connemara inhabitants gather to celebrate mass.
All of these stories are part of a coastal tradition, some of which is being lost forever as fishing communities are decimated by changes to their livelihoods. Muintir na Mara is produced and directed by Martina Durac (Faith), with Rachel Ní Éalaithe as producer and researcher for Loopline Film.
When asked about the new series, director Martina Duac tells IFTN: “In a way, the big challenge we faced this year with Muintir was making the series in Galway, a county that has featured so much already on TG4 because of its great boating traditions and its strong Gaeltacht. So we're especially happy that we succeeded in making a series that brings new people and places to the screen and we loved making the journey with Pádraig Ó Duinnín along the coast of this extraordinarily beautiful part of Ireland.”
The fourth series of ‘Muintir na Mara’ will broadcast on Sunday, January 10th at 9.30pm on TG4.
