Ireland’s complex relationship with whales, dolphins and sharks is explored in a new maritime documentary due to be aired on TG4 television next week.
Fathaigh na Farraige (Giants of the Sea), which is broadcast next Wednesday (Sep 18), documents Ireland’s whaling past, from the establishment of the first whaling-station in 1780 by Donegal man Thomas Nesbitt (the inventor of the swivel gun-harpoon).
It reports on how a Norwegian-owned industrial whaling-station was set up on the Iniskea islands off the coast of Mayo in 1908, as whaling had been prohibited in Norway.
The whalers’ policy of over-exploitation had a lasting effect on whale populations here, with right, sei and blue whales driven close to extinction, the documentary notes.
Filmed in some of the country’s most spectacular locations, the programme explores our complex relationship with the sharks and cetaceans that swim in Irish waters, from our history of hunting them for food and profit, to today's efforts at conserving their populations.
Fathaigh na Farraige (Giants of the Sea), which is broadcast next Wednesday (Sep 18), documents Ireland’s whaling past
It recalls how after the second world war, the beautiful Keem bay and the nearby harbour or Poirtín on Achill island, was the scene of the largest basking shark fishery in the world.
During a period of mass emigration from the west of Ireland, the industry provided much-needed employment; but at a heavy cost.
With over 9,000 basking sharks killed on Achill alone between 1950 and 1965, basking sharks and cetaceans were hunted for one primary reason: oil.
Fathaigh na Farraige includes interviews with former shark hunters, conservationists, marine archaeologists and maritime historians.
Archive material includes footage of the very last shark killed in Keem Bay, as well as extraordinary footage from a 115 year-old film named Whaling Afloat and Ashore by Robert Paul, which documents whaling life on Iniskea.
Joanne O'Brien, a lecturer and researcher at Atlantic Technological University and member of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) and Andrew Shine from the IWDG have contributed.
Also interviewed are
- Mayo: Ted Sweeney and Páiric Mac Amhoigh, An Fhód Dubh (Blacksod), historian Diarmuid Gielty, Brian McNeill - Former Basking Shark Fisherman, Sorsha Kennedy, Marine Scientist, Irish Basking Shark project and Mick Kane,Director, Achill Outdoor Training and Education Centre.
- Donegal: Maritime Archaeologist, Martin McConigle, Stranorlar, and historian Helen Meehan, Mountcharles.
- Kerry: Mick Sheeran, Ceann Trá (Ventry) - Blasket Island Eco Marine Tours and Tomás Ó Luing - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir.
- Clare: Simon Berrow, Kilrush, Irish Basking Shark Group.
- Cork: Zoologist, Conor Ryan, Cobh, Zoologist.
The filming locations for Fathaigh na Farraige include Keem Bay and Poirtín harbour on Achill Island, County Mayo; Inis Ghé (Iniskea) in County Mayo; Inver and Bruckless House in County Donegal; Loophead in County Clare; Dingle Bay and the Blasket Islands in County Kerry; and both Donegal Bay and Broadhaven Bay.
Fathaigh na Farraige was directed by Aenghus Mac Eochagáin and produced by Fiona Ní Eidhin of Snag Breac Films, An Spidéal, Co Galway.
Fathaigh na Farraige (Giants of the Sea) airs on TG4 on Wednesday, September 18th at 9:30 pm.
