In 2004 the Galway Film Centre ran an advertisement looking for suitable projects under it’s I.D. umbrella, and funding would be
available. Somebody in the Local Employment Centre spotted the ad and rang Jimmy Crehan about it. The idea was brought up at our next meeting. Chris felt strongly that we had a story to tell, and a message to give. When we replied to the ad, Nuala Broderick, the Galway Film Centre’s Project Co-coordinator, got in touch with us. She arranged a meeting between a delegation from Ballinasloe A.R.A., the Galway City Arts Offices, the Co. Arts Officer, the Galway Film Centre Manager, and herself. To our surprise and delight, our project was accepted and deemed worthy of funding from the Arts Council of Ireland and from Galway Co. Co. Nuala sent Paddy O’Connor, the project mentor, to work with us in Ballinasloe. Paddy asked us about our Organisation, and threw out ideas as to what would be suitable for a D.V.D. When he realised we didn’t have a video camera, he advised us to get one. When the camera arrived, Chris took charge of it. After that, no matter what the group did, the camera came out! We were filmed at our Activity Classes, on our trips at home and abroad, at the St. Patrick’s Day and October parades, and there’s even a picture of a travel-weary group on a hot day in Barcelona, sitting on “bollards”!, licking ice-creams, while waiting for the bus. Paddy O’Connor travelled with us to Derry, and was very pleased with our video footage.Under Paddy’s expert, but low-key, tutelage, some individual interviews were done, to let others know what involvement in the A.R.A meant to each member. Paddy showed us how to set up props, how to use microphones, and how to take full advantage of light. All this took several weeks. Eventually, we had about eight hours of footage. Then the tedious work had to be done. That eight hours had to be edited down to approx ,twenty minutes. Nobody enjoyed that but, but we all learned so much under Paddy’s expert guidance. We felt privileged to have had the chance to be involved in the whole project.
Out Documentary was entitled “What will we do in the Autumn”. We were invited to the Art’s Theatre in Galway, where our video, and those of other projects accepted, were shown. Later still, our own D.V.D was officially launched on the 14th October, 2004 in Hayden’s Hotel, Ballinasloe by the Co. Galway Mayor, Councillor Willie Bourke, and Ballinasloe Mayor, Councillor Sean Tully.
Our mission was finally accomplished!
In conclusion, I want to say a big “thank you” to the Arts Council of Ireland and Galway Co. Council; to Nuala Broderick and Paddy O’Connor from Galway Film Centre, and to our own Christina O’Flynn and Jimmy Crehan. They all brought us through what was, for us, unchartered waters, and we enjoyed every minute of the journey.
Rath De oraibh uile, agus go mba fada buan sibh.
Signed : Detta Power
Copies of the video are available from the Secretary, Margaret MacDonnell Ballinasloe ARI Co Galway
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