The inaugural Aodán Mac Póilín Commemmorative fund, Ciste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin, has been awarded to Imagine Media for its project, Rian na gCos.
Rian na gCos will follow architect and local artist Michael Doherty as he meets some of Aodán’s closest friends and colleagues to learn more about his passion for the Irish Language. Aodán was an articulate advocate for the Irish language and spent his life working with, and for, the language. As Director of the ULTACH Trust, he laid much of the groundwork for cross-community engagement with the language in the early 1990s.
Michael, who was also a close friend of Aodán, will explore his lesser known interests such as his love for song, poetry and local folklore. Through this journey Michael aims to capture the essence of his friend by painting a dedicated portrait of Aodán.
The fund was launched in November 2017 by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) and the Celtic Media Festival to commemorate Aodán following his passing in December 2016. Aodán convinced then government department DCAL to set up the first training scheme in television production for Irish speakers in Northern Ireland and was instrumental in the formation of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund. He then chaired the ILBF investment committee as a board member of Northern Ireland Screen and was a stalwart of the Celtic Media Festival over its 38-year history.
The aim of Ciste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin is to offer Irish speakers working in the production sector in Northern Ireland the opportunity to develop a television project that would reflect some or many of the wide and varied interests of Aodán. As well as £5,000 development funding, successful applicants will also travel to the Celtic Media Festival in Llanelli, Wales in May 2018 to pitch the project to broadcasters.
We are delighted to announce the first funding for Ciste Cuimhneacháin Aodáin Mhic Phóilin has been awarded to Imagine Media for Rian na gCos. This project will commemorate Aodán’s legacy by celebrating his interests and passion for the Irish Language and we are so pleased to support a bursary in his name in conjunction with the Celtic Media Festival.
Áine Walsh, Head of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund