Na Féilte Tine: Michael Harding & 'Bealtaine'
RTE's four-part series Na Féilte Tine (The Fire Festivals) explores the four indigenous Irish festivals of Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine and Lúnasa. Bank Holiday Monday's programme explores the festival of 'Bealtaine' and the theme of Nature. Michael Harding features & joins us now from our Cork studio
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
What a Difference a Day Makes: how Carol Drinkwater found her 'house by the sea'
The third Saturday in April 1985 — I'd been looking for what I described as 'my house by the sea' for 10 years, looking all over the world, wherever I was filming or working. I'd found one or two things that were suitable or within my modest budget, but for one reason or another they never came to fruition. In 1984 I was filming a mini-series in Australia. The producer, Michel Noll, met me in the hotel in Sydney and invited me out for a drink. Next evening we had dinner and he asked me to marry him. I didn't accept — I was a bit taken aback! We started seeing each other when we were back in Europe. We moved to Paris, lived in a tiny studio — 20 square metres full of love. The following spring he was attending the then Cannes TV and Film Festival. He encouraged me to come along. While he was doing business, I went looking for my house by the sea. The estate agents were very snooty about the money I had to spend. On that April Saturday, an estate agent said he'd take us inland, show us what was available. Michel came too. The first thing he showed us was a wall in a field — the rest had fallen down. Michel said this was too much of a ruin, and asked if there was anything else. And we climbed up a hill to this jungle of land — blue skies, swallows diving into an empty swimming pool, a house covered in ivy, overgrown. The place was empty, for decades it had been squatted in. It was falling to pieces but it had stunning sea views overlooking the Bay of Cannes. Inside was a curtain of cobwebs. I fell completely in love. Don't ask! It was a crazy love. Something inside said 'this is it', like when you meet a man and you know this is the one. There were two moments — the first, standing inside on my own in the sitting room, which had a fireplace. I looked out the window, all gunged up with rusty mosquito netting. I was thinking of the families, the love and laughter, the children, of what had already been here and how we could do the same. I heard the ghosts, voices of the past. And the second moment: when we stood on the upper balcony and looked out to sea — the blue sky, sun shining. I thought 'this is totally magnificent, more than my dream'. It wasn't right on the sea but it had beautiful sea views. I felt I'd come home, spiritually, inside. Multi-award-winning actor and writer Carol Drinkwater: "The biggest moment was when Michel and I split up. My mother said: "Come home." I said: "But this is home." And I stayed here, battled away until we got back on track again." It's hard to pinpoint a dream, where it comes from, how it grows. My parents had what could be described as a rather turbulent marriage. My mother was Irish, my father born in London. There was that split. It seemed to me, as a child, that we were all happiest as a family when we went on holiday by the sea. The rows weren't there then. At the sea there was harmony, which there wasn't at home. I find being by the sea very healing — I'm never comfortable when I'm far from it. Michel and I, both being freelance, never had a salary or proper pension between us. It's always been touch-and-go with money. There were times it got very sticky and I did wonder if I'd made a mistake. The biggest moment was when Michel and I split up. My mother said: "Come home." I said: "But this is home." And I stayed here, battled away until we got back on track again. When I make up my mind, I'm very dogged in my determination. Resistance works in my favour — it determines me to go at a thing stronger. There's a generosity here in the South of France, a growth in the vegetation, the lifestyle, that I love. I feel that most of the time — that it's right what we did. So many of our family want to spend time here. They've had birthdays, holidays here, and now they come with their children for birthdays and holidays, and that's very special. What we've created here goes beyond us, it goes on through the family line. It's our special place, but also something we share with others. Once we started farming, developing our olive farm, reading about the history of the olive, it opened up my mind to taking care of the earth, to deciding we must be organic here. Things that weren't in my mind when I was young and concentrating on being an actor. As we get older the question comes up — 'what if something happens to one of us? How would one manage without the two of us?' I say I'd sell it and go to Ireland, but who knows? If I ever say to Michel 'maybe we should sell it, do something more sensible', he gets mad. Which is great — it was originally my dream but it has become our reality. He took it on, embraced it with open arms. Financially, it has been a never-ending money pit. We never have spare money. But that's ok — what we have is beyond our bank account. We've had so much love here. It's really very beautiful — there is magic here. An Evening with Carol Drinkwater, at West Cork Literary Festival on Tuesday, July 15, in The Maritime Hotel, Bantry. Carol Drinkwater's new novel, One Summer in Provence, is out now.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
'I was not good at Irish': Alex Murphy on Crá, the series watched in 68 countries
It's the little Irish-language series set in a local parish as it aimed to unravel a troubling and mysterious death. Now Irish crime drama Crá has become a global sensation with audiences - after being snapped up by TV networks and streamers in no fewer than 68 countries. Among the international broadcasters showing the series are BBC, high-profile French channel ARTÉ and the AMC/Acorn TV networks in the US. Crá's growing international appeal has come as welcome news to its cast and crew - including Cork actor Alex Murphy, who brushed up on his Irish to take on his first-ever Irish-language role. 'I did not anticipate the success of the show - I was just delighted with the opportunity to get back into a bit of Irish and connect to my roots,' says the actor, best known for his role as Conor in The Young Offenders, the latest series of which is currently filming in Cork. 'Then it came out, and I saw just how good it was and how well it was put together, and to hear it's doing well all around the world, and being sold all around the world is just amazing - our little language spreading. We love to see it.' Alex Murphy in Crá. With the Irish language at the forefront of a cultural drive among artists, filmmakers and musicians, the success of films like the Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin and Belfast rapper movie Kneecap has also help drive interest internationally, with several other films and series as Gaeilge coming to our screens. It means that actors like Murphy are embracing the opportunity to work in Irish for the first time. 'It's amazing. I feel like there was maybe a dark patch in the Irish language that it was definitely considered untrendy, or some people would consider it dead. In recent years, to see that that just isn't the case is really exciting. I've got younger cousins in school and their automatic reaction isn't that they hate learning Irish. They're excited by it, and it's because of these great films and bands speaking the language, driving it forward. 'I was not good at Irish in school,' says Murphy, adding that working in the language presented challenges. 'I did pass Irish for my Leaving Cert and I was very nervous to take on the job. I knew I had a few months to prepare, so I just knuckled down and did the best I could. [Actor and teacher] Peadar Cox was on to me every week, doing classes and going over lines. I just quickly found for me, and I imagine a lot of kids in school would maybe resonate with this: because my passion is acting, when I knew that I could learn the language through my passion, it just came to me a lot easier. 'Right now, my Irish is the best it's ever been, and I'm continuing to keep it going. I think half the battle is confidence. You go in nervous, you have little brain-farts, and you buckle and you can't say anything. And so it's when you get a bit of confidence speaking it is when it becomes quite enjoyable.' Crá is filmed in Gweedore. Shot on location in Gweedore in Co Donegal, Crá tells the story of Garda Conall Ó Súilleabháin (Dónall Ó Héalaí, who previously starred in the award-winning famine-set drama, Arracht). He's thrust into a deeply personal case when the body of his mother, Sabine, is discovered 15 years after she vanished. Forbidden from taking part in the official investigation, Conall joins forces with Ciara-Kate (newcomer Hannah Brady), a journalist using her true crime podcast to get to the heart of the case - and the village dark secrets that harbour it. As the first series goes global, the producers and broadcasters are now hoping to begin filming a second season in early 2026. Ó Héalaí, who recently completed filming the US indie thriller After, is a native Irish speaker who embraced the chance to work as Gaeilge, having previously done so on the powerful drama Arracht. That Crá is now available to audiences in 68 countries and streaming platforms is a bonus, he says. 'For us, an Irish language series in Gweedore, we're delighted to have that reach. I can't believe it's found an audience that wide. 'It's hard not to think that things like An Cailín Ciúin and Kneecap have had a role to play in how Irish language films and series are received internationally. Both those films really got out there, and rightly so, and I think it's very inspiring to see that. In terms of Crá, or Boglands as it's known overseas, it's hard not to think that this has a little part to play in it.' As an Irish speaker, he feels particularly glad at the impact Irish screen storytelling is having both with audiences at home and internationally. 'I'm definitely proud of where the Irish-language, film and television industry currently is in terms of how it's broken through. I feel fortunate to have come up at a time with schemes like Cine4.' The Cine4 initiative, a TG4, Fís Éireann (Screen Ireland) and Coimisiún na Meán partnership to develop original feature films in the Irish language, has proved a smart driving force. The widely loved An Cailín Ciúin, adapted from Claire Keegan's story Foster, made it all the way to the Oscars, with Colm Bairéad's drama getting a nomination in the Best International Feature category. It was also a big commercial success with cinemagoers in Ireland and internationally. Dónall Ó Héalaí in Crá. Films supported by Cine4 include Famine-set drama Arracht and the charming Róise & Frank,about a grieving woman who believes a dog who arrives at her home is connected to the recent death of her husband. Other films backed by the project include recent horror release Fréwaka and the forthcoming dramas An Fidil Ghorm and Báite. 'There were decisions made that allowed for this wave of new filmmaking to emerge,' says Ó Héalai. 'I think the success of a film or a series, it's largely from the top down. We had a terrific team and obviously, the story itself, the writers had created a real local thriller in a small town, a great whodunnit. 'Gweedore itself is such an incredible place, and so many people have commented on the landscape of the show - it's a central character to the show. Whether it's in Irish or in French or in English or in Japanese, if a story is good enough, it'll get people to want to watch it. Ultimately the story itself is compelling enough to bring audiences in.' Crá is available to view on the TG4 Player
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish comedian Shane Daniel Byrne on Late Late Show nightmare, Tommy Tiernan's approval and how yes vote saved his life
SHANE Daniel Byrne has become one of Ireland's leading comedians at breakneck speed, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing. The funny lad, best known as one third of the hit podcast Young Hot Guys, recently embarked on a sold out tour of the UK and Ireland - and his next stop is the comedy event of the year. Advertisement 2 Shane Daniel Byrne will be performing at this year's Paddy Power Festival 2 Shane is a co-host on the hit podcast Young Hot Guys Shane and fellow comics, Tony Cantwell and Killian Sundermann, will take to the stage at this year's Festival for a live show of their laugh-out-loud podcast. Taking place in the Iveagh Gardens from July 24 to 27, the world-class comedy festival has over 90 acts that you won't want to miss. Shane told The Irish Sun: "For the Irish comedians, it's kind of our Christmas do. It's kind of one of our favourite weekends . "It's a bit of a day out, rather than going to the comedy clubs that might be around the cities or the towns. Advertisement READ MORE IN TV "Even if you go and you know one person on the bill , then you'll find you meet the others. So it's a nice way for the audience to get to know new comedians." Included on the star-studded line-up are some of Ireland's most beloved stand-up acts, such as Jason Byrne. Tiernan, who is regarded as one of the greats in the comedy world, really does have a hold on his fellow comedians. Shane admitted: "You'd be nervous as well, because you find yourself doing a set in front of Tommy Tiernan or whoever, and you're like, oh God. Advertisement Most read in News TV "I did the festival with him before, a few years ago, and he stands in this spot, the audience can't see him, but he can see you. "Like there's 900 people in there and I'm more worried about what that one man is thinking. So does Daddy Tommy think I'm good?" 'If only everyone had as much joy in their lives' hail RTE viewers after Davy Russell's interview with Tommy Tiernan "He'll chat away to you in the green room at the time. So like, comedy is kind of nice like that. "It doesn't matter where you're at, everyone still feels the same thing. Y'all have those jitters just before." Advertisement Aside from his stellar stand-up sets, Byrne recently launched his own podcast with media brand Onic called Ireland Said Yes. Shane takes viewers on an emotional journey exploring the decade-long fight for same-sex marriage and the cultural shifts that made the historic 2015 referendum possible. 'SOLIDARITY FROM STRANGERS' The Irish actor recalled the sense of "relief" he experienced on the day the yes vote came through. He said: "I remember feeling very comforted because when you walk down the street and they were giving out 500,000 Yes badges, and you see somebody wearing one on their jacket or their shirt or whatever. Advertisement "So you just see this expression of solidarity from strangers, and it just kind of made you feel like, oh, I'm okay, people have my back." However, the Dubliner was quick to highlight the 38 percent of people who voted No. Shane added: "I mean, they say, 'Oh, it's a landslide'. For a referendum, yeah, that's a pretty good statistic. 62 per cent is pretty good. But it wasn't, there's still loads of people who said no." RED-FACED MOMENT The podcaster recently finished up his sold-out UK and Ireland tour titled Trouble Denim. Advertisement And although he's been receiving five-star reviews for his performance, it hasn't always been an easy ride. Looking back on his past gigs, Shane recalled a mortifying moment he experienced on Byrne recalled: "They do these audience warm-up things. It wasn't a normal Late Late Show. It was their New Year 's Eve and it was a pre-recorded special. "So the audience had been sitting there for two hours watching various bits already. And then your man said to me, 'We ran out of time for you at the beginning, do you want to go out now?' Advertisement "And I kind of felt like saying, 'No, that would be terrible'. And I think he thought I wanted to, so he sent me out. "I would have gone home. But I went out and the audience were sitting at tables at different sides of the room and nobody wanted to hear from me. "It was impossible. I got no laughs. I got no attention. it was just me talking into a giant studio microphone by myself - how awkward." You can catch Shane and 90 fantastic acts at this year's Paddy Power Comedy Festival in the Iveagh Gardens. Advertisement Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am from the official Paddy Power Comedy Festival website.
