Go Domhain san Fhuil two-part series to air on BBC Two NI
Date Posted: June 23, 2020
The draw of the Atlantic to fishing communities around the Donegal coast is hard to resist. Fishing is also an inter-generational activity in many Gaeltacht communities around the county – it’s in the blood. Starting on Monday 29th June at 10pm on BBC Two Northern Ireland, Go Domhain san Fhuil (Deep in the Blood) is a new two-part series made for BBC Gaeilge by Dearcán Media with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, features three of the few remaining boats that fish out of Machaire Rabhartaigh in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
The series follows the crews of three boats who operate from the pier – going with them on board as they battle the conditions. John O’Brien skippers the Handa Isle, operating with a crew of three, including his son Seán. They fish for crab behind Toraigh as often as the weather allows, spending 36 hours at sea on a single trip.
John’s son Colm skippers the Aoibh Áine, a recently purchased crabber. It goes out on two-day trips to Stanton Bank, off the Scottish coast. As the price of crabs is falling the pressure is on to spend longer at sea setting extra pots just to remain in business and have a reasonable standard of living.
It’s tough, unrelenting work involving lifting, clearing, baiting and re-setting up to 3000 pots on a single trip that lasts between 36 and 48 hours. There’s little time for chat and not a lot of time for breaks or for sleep as the pots are hauled in and returned – often in difficult conditions.
The third smaller boat belongs to Peadar Coll who has a licence to fish for lobster and crab around the Donegal coast. He also does a bit of net fishing for pollock and wrasse – but as a pastime rather than a means to make a living wage.
The banning of salmon fishing in 2007 was the beginning of the end for many Gaeltacht fishing communities and the ending of a traditional way of life that had lasted for generations. With fewer opportunities the young people of the Gaeltacht find work elsewhere and traditional fishing skills are lost.
Go Domhain san Fhuil gives viewers an insight into the harsh demands of fishing in this community while also hearing how the fishermen are drawn to the sea and the boats from an early age.
The series airs on Monday 29th June at 10pm on BBC Two Northern Ireland.
Tá an tAigéan Atlantach iontach tarraingteach ag pobail iascaireachta chladaí Thír Chonaill. Is gníomhaíocht í an iascaireacht a chleachtann glúnta éagsúla san iomaí pobal Gaeltachta ó cheann ceann an chontae – tá sí go domhain san fhuil. Is sraith úr dhá chlár í Go Domhain san Fhuil a rinne Dearcán Media do BBC Gaeilge le tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann. Ag tosú Dé Luain 29ú Meitheamh ar 10i.n ar BBC Two Northern Ireland, casfar orainn trí cinn de na báid dheireanacha atá ag iascaireacht ó Mhachaire Rabhartaigh i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill. Cuan beag crú capaill agus cé cloiche ag amharc amach ar Inis Bó Finne, oileán beag a bhfuil nasc láidir aige le tír mór.
Cé go bhfuil laghdú, ar ndóigh, ar líon na mbád iascaireachta ar go leor cúiseanna, tá go leor iascairí ann nach bhfuil sásta éirí as go fóill beag.
Sa tsraith seo, leanaimid foireann na dtrí bád a oibríonn ón ché – téimid ar bord leo agus iad ag streachailt le mórtas na mara. John O’Brien atá ina chaptaen ar an Handa Isle, é féin agus foireann de thriúr, a mhac Seán ina measc. Bíonn siad sa tóir ar phortáin ar chúl Thoraí nuair a bhíonn an uair maith, ag caitheamh 36 uair an chloig ar thuras amháin.
Colm, mac le John, atá ina chaptaen ar an Aoibh Áine, bád portán a ceannaíodh ar na mallaibh. Téann sé ar thurais dhá lá go Stanton Bank, amach ó chósta na hAlban. Tá luach na bportán ag titim agus, mar sin de, tá brú orthu níos mó ama a chaitheamh ar an fharraige, ag réiteach níos mó potaí lena mbeatha a thabhairt i dtír.
Obair chrua, mhaslach atá ann, ag tógáil, ag folmhú, ag baoiteáil agus ag réiteach suas le 3000 pota ar thuras amháin a mhaireann idir 36 agus 48 uair an chloig. Níl mórán ama ann don chomhrá ná sosanna faoi choinne codlata agus na potaí á dtarraingt isteach agus á gcur san fharraige arís i ndálaí crua aimsire.
Is le Peadar Coll an tríú bád agus is í is lú. Tá ceadúnas gliomach agus portán ag Peadar. Tá eangach aige faoi choinne iascaireacht mangach agus ballach fosta – ach mar chaitheamh aimsire, chan le hairgead a shaothrú.
An cosc ar iascaireacht bradán in 2007 a chuir tús leis an mheath i bpobail iascaireachta Ghaeltachta ar fud na tíre agus cuireadh deireadh le saol traidisiúnta a chuaigh siar blianta fada. Níl an dara rogha anois ag aos óg na Gaeltachta ach obair a chuardach áit éigin eile agus tá na scileanna traidisiúnta iascaireachta á gcailleadh.
Tugann Go Domhain san Fhuil léargas ar shaol crua na hiascaireachta sa phobal seo agus cluinimid faoin dóigh ar mheall an fharraige mhór agus na hiascairí chun a gcuid bád ó bhí siad iontach óg.
Craolfar an tsraith Dé Luain 29 Meitheamh ag 10pm ar BBC Two Northern Ireland.
