Tarrac na Farraige

A four-part series focusing on the fishing industry in Ireland

Broadcasting on RTÉ One – Thursday 8th May – Time 19.00

Tarrac na Farraige is a brand new four-part observational documentary series featuring a brave, charming, and colourful cast from our currently fragile fishing industry. Equal parts high drama and human-interest, the series promises to be an all-encompassing exploration of the industry today.

 

For the past year, fishermen up and down the coast of Ireland have allowed the crew of Red Shoe Productions to film them as they go about their daily lives, as workers grapple with a fragile industry on the cusp of seismic change. Representing the huge range of communities across Ireland – from Malin Head to Mizen Head, via Killybegs and Castletownbere – are the O’Flaherty family, the Murphy family, MacDara Breathnach, Enda Dirrane, John O’Donnell, Fionn Ó’Corraoin and many more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of our featured inshore fisherman represent a true love of the sea – the generational, vocational side of fishing. Over 3,000km of coastline with one strong, unrelenting community spirit. This will be the first time on screen for many of these hard-working fishermen, and in a time of great uncertainty, this series aims to humanise the headlines, localise the stories, verbalise their frustrations, and connect with communities to tell their untold tales.

 

 

Mirroring the perilous waves of the sea, rising costs and falling profits are deterring young people from joining the industry. With many fishermen looking to retire soon, the industry is in jeopardy. As they work diligently day and night, we see first-hand the impact on their lives with candid moments, family photographs and concerned communities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maggie Breathnach, a native of An Rinn, beside Helvick Head, is Producer and Director of the series. Having grown up by the sea, she is keen to honour the brave fishermen, and to capture the last real hunter-gatherers of our generation. Local cinematographer Seamus Hayes was integral to the series – he himself having worked at sea until he was 18 or 19 – as he braved the waters for this series on board the many boats including the Foyle Fisher, Little Jack, Jenny M, Cruach na Cara, and the Menhaden.