Derry girl's keeping the Irish language alive
A small group of dedicated Derry people are flying the flag for the Irish language by creating exciting programmes from a Belfast-based production company.
And with the popular 'Seacht' - which has been given a prime time slot on BBC2 - they are doing what they can to keep the language alive and well.
Galliagh girl, Colleen Melarkey, has worked for Stirling Film and Television Productions since 2007 and has helped bring programmes such as "Seacht" and "Mar" to our screens.
The second series of "Seacht", which focuses on the lives of seven people, has been nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award and a Celtic Media Award. The third series is currently being shown on BBC2 on Mondays from 10pm.
Colleen believes media is a powerful tool to nurture the Irish language and says the young dynamic team at Stirling Film and Television are dedicated to its growth.
Also working with her is Derry man, Colin O'Donnell, a former writer for "Hollyoaks", who is a producer with the company and has since taken up an Irish course to hone his skills.
Colleen says: "This year is the first year I was heavily involved in 'Seacht'. We film all during the summer and I was production co-ordinator on it. It was very office-based work, organising the cast and script amendments, and there is a really young dynamic team involved.
"There is another series of 'Seacht' in the pipeline. It is not official and has not been confirmed but it is in the pipeline. Hopefully, we will get another series."
Student at college
Colleen's interest in her native language began while a student at Thornhill College.
"I didn't think I was particularly good at languages but thought I was better at Irish than French. Our Irish teacher gave us an article about job opportunities with Irish. I went on to do Media Studies with Irish and History at the University of Ulster, which was a good stepping stone. For my dissertation, I made a documentary in Irish to combine the two subjects."
Colleen later did an NVQ at the Nerve Centre in Derry and then saw an advertisement for a 10-week scheme in Belfast in media studies.
"The ILBF (Irish Language Broadcast Fund) - Northern Ireland Screen came about as part of the Good Friday Agreement. They have provided fantastic opportunities for Irish speakers in the North and have funded numerous programmes for BBC/TG4. They run an annual training scheme which places Irish language speakers with television production companies for a year to gain invaluable hands-on work experience and make contacts in the industry.
"I was fortunate to get a place on the first year of the scheme. They also funded myself and other Irish speakers to do a MA in Film and Television Management and Production in Coleraine as well as various other courses. We spent a week on the set of Hollyoaks, for example.
"I've been with Stirling Film & TV Productions for the past three years working on various Irish and English language programmes.
Brilliant opportunities
"Irish has afforded me brilliant opportunities and I have worked with lots of people including Jeremy Irons. We have just done a cartoon series and made it Irish speaking. It's called 'Rocket Boy' and we have converted it into Irish. We have done 52 episodes in Irish and it is on TG4."
Colleen believes keeping Irish alive through schemes such as this is important for the future of the language.
"It is vital for the promotion of the language really. You can learn in school but if you see it as a living language it inspires people to use it.
"When you see 'Seacht', it is a racy show and different and particularly in the North, where for years the language was neglected, it modernises the language in a way and brings it into the present.
"Media is powerful as a platform for (Irish] and there are so many people that have benefited from the language. They are so many schools and more people studying it at university. It is a great encouragement. It is brilliant."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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