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Tarrac na Farraige review: RTÉ documentary about fishing livelihoods is both stunning and heartbreaking

Tarrac na Farraige review: RTÉ documentary about fishing livelihoods is both stunning and heartbreaking

Irish Times08-05-2025
Who'd be a deepwater fisherman? The hours are punishing, the working conditions precarious and, amid questions about the high environmental price of industrialised fishing, the future is murky. But there are some things in life that defy logic – and that is the case with the call of the open water, as
RTÉ
demonstrates in its rewarding new documentary Tarrac na Farraige (RTÉ One, Thursday, 7pm).
This beautifully made two-part series offers an engaging portrait of a way of life that may soon be gone forever – with ever greater consolidation in the industry, fewer and fewer 'skippers' have a boat of their own. It is also a love letter to the gorgeous Irish coastline, featuring lush overhead shots of Castletownbere in
Cork
, Baile na nGall in the
Waterford
Gaeltacht and Inis Mór off the
Galway
coast. You could watch it with the sound down.
The fishing captains profiled are a fascinating bunch – passionate about the sea to the point of obsession. Standing outside his bungalow on Inis Mór, Enda Dirrane talks about his need for connection to the sea. Even before he became a full-time fisherman at 16, it was a constant in his life. 'I wouldn't live anywhere else,' he says as the sun twinkles on the water. 'I definitely couldn't live in the middle of the country. I'm always thinking about fishing.'
Tarrac na Farraige is far beyond the traditional RTÉ realm of stodgy, Nationwide-style documentaries
Several of those featured have had more than their share of private loss. In Castletownbere, Larry Murphy recalls discovering his son Wayne died while they were returning to port. 'Buried him on his 26th birthday,' Murphy recalls. 'He died on our way back from
Norway
. Bought the boat in 2004; he died in 2004. He was married with one kid. It was a bad, bad blow.'
READ MORE
Tragedy has also befallen Co Waterford's Fionn Ó Corraoin. 'Not many members of my family were fishermen,' Ó Corraoin says. 'My uncle and my grandfather on my mother's side…The others were farmers. But I grew up two miles down the road [from the sea].'
Ó Corraoin says he was inspired by his sister, Caoilfhionn, to pioneer a sustainable model of fishing – shortly afterwards she received a terminal
cancer
diagnosis. Everything he has done since has been in her memory.
Ó Corraoin is determined 'to show you can make a living doing this'. He says this while guiding his boat into the deep blue waters off the coast. It is a stunning image that sits heartbreakingly alongside the challenges he has had to overcome – and which elevates Tarrac na Farraige far beyond the traditional RTÉ realm of stodgy, Nationwide-style documentaries bodged together on the cheap.
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Daniel O'Donnell and Daithi O Se go head-to-head and take hilarious digs on air ahead of All-Ireland final
Daniel O'Donnell and Daithi O Se go head-to-head and take hilarious digs on air ahead of All-Ireland final

The Irish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Daniel O'Donnell and Daithi O Se go head-to-head and take hilarious digs on air ahead of All-Ireland final

THE two nicest men in Irish showbiz engaged in the softest trash talk in radio history today as Daniel O'Donnell and Daithi O Se traded a cupla focal ahead of the All-Ireland final. Soft spoken Donegal singer 2 Daithi is backing his home county to win in the All-Ireland final on Sunday Credit: Andres Poveda LTD 2 Daniel said he'll bring back the Sam to Donegal Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The unlikely duo called in to the Oliver Callan Show on RTE Radio One as part of a segment building up to the big clash in Croke Park on Sunday. Wee Daniel fired the opening shot in the head to head as he boasted that the Sam Maguire trophy 'has the bag packed' and will be heading back to Donegal this weekend. The country music sensation will play a series of shows in Killarney's INEC next month and joked that he won't be able to show his face in Kerry if Donegal lose after all his bragging. He said: 'I have to go to the Kingdom at the end of August because we've shows in Killarney and I do not want to be introduced to Sam Maguire as a Kerry resident so it is all or nothing. read more on daithi o se 'I have to lay it down to Jim and the team for my sake if nobody else's they have to take Sam back to Donegal.' He joked: 'I might cancel the INEC.' Daithi said: 'They've a new song written now for Daniel when he comes down to Killarney to the INEC and it's called Jimmy's scratching a**es.' Most read in Celebrity The light hearted segment ended with Daniel O'Donnell hoping that the All-Ireland final lives up to the game with both teams leaving it all on the pitch. He said: 'All joking aside. My hope is that both teams come out and leave everything on the pitch in Croke Park and whoever wins that the other team is proud of what they did. Daniel O'Donnell sends fans wild 'I think if they both come out and play the way they can play it will be the game of all games and that's what I hope for now seriously. 'Whatever team has to go home without Sam that they are happy that they did their best.' Daithi slagged the sweet talking Donegal man and claimed: 'He'd talk a pig into a ham sandwich.'

Liam Neeson: From Paisley-loving Catholic boy to actor, then action man, now comedy star
Liam Neeson: From Paisley-loving Catholic boy to actor, then action man, now comedy star

Irish Times

time6 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Liam Neeson: From Paisley-loving Catholic boy to actor, then action man, now comedy star

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In 2018, on the Late Late Show, he said that the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein scandal had caused 'a bit of a witch-hunt' and noted that he was 'on the fence' about allegations concerning Dustin Hoffman. All of these disturbances were nothing as to the flak that landed when, a year after the Late Late incident, in a routine promotional interview, he told how, after a friend was raped by a black man, he went out ' with a cosh, hoping I'd be approached by somebody '. It got worse. 'I'm ashamed to say that, and I did it for maybe a week – hoping some [air quote gesture] 'black b**tard' would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him,' he continued. After the story broke Neeson went on Good Morning America and offered a convincing, self-lacerating gloss on the situation. The world moved on. Most got that he had simply chosen the oddest imaginable place to make a confession about a regretted incident. No subsequent blurt has attracted such attention. But his PR handlers will be chewing their nails in the lead up to the unveiling of The Naked Gun. Neeson is an absolute original. Almost entirely in good ways.

Ireland AM star shares scenic Kerry snaps as he strips down to soak up sun ahead of All-Ireland final
Ireland AM star shares scenic Kerry snaps as he strips down to soak up sun ahead of All-Ireland final

The Irish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Ireland AM star shares scenic Kerry snaps as he strips down to soak up sun ahead of All-Ireland final

IRELAND AM star Deric Hartigan has shared a glimpse into his trip to Kerry ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland final. The celebrity weatherman has been documenting his travels across 2 Deric enjoyed a trip to Kerry Credit: Instagram 2 The weatherman shared a series of snaps from his trip Credit: Instagram Deric has been keeping his followers up to date on The He also posed shirtless in one snap while standing in front of a mountain and lake wearing just a pair of black shorts. Deric captioned his post: " Views and vibes in the Kingdom #Kerry." READ MORE ON IRELAND AM Fans and friends flocked to the comment section to share their love for his post. Teresa said: "Love the pictures, great place is Kerry." Angie wrote: "Yes please." Another added: "Lovely photos Deric." MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN The weatherman was recently left Deric stepped out of his comfort zone as he ventured to Emerald Park to celebrate ten years of the Cú Chulainn coaster. Deric Hartigan's fans say he's 'best' as he leaves Ireland AM stars Muireann O'Connell and Tommy Bowe in stitches During his time in the park, Deric was forced to face his fear and ride the iconic rollercoaster. The 45-year-old could be seen screaming his head off while sitting on the ride as Deric told them: "Guys it wasn't my finest moment. Now you know me right? I can get up on a horse, I can play polo, I can get into a tank and dress up as a mermaid, I can wear a TOP TV "That for me was very very tough. I suppose I was facing my fears here this morning. Did I look good?" Muireann replied: "Highly enjoyable." Deric revealed that his producer wanted him to go on the ride again and he refused saying: "No we are not doing it again Sinead - this is a one take wonder special." The presenter added: "But I definitely faced my fear this morning." Tommy remarked that the person sitting beside Deric looked like he was having a great time but looked worried that Deric was "going to get sick on him". Deric responded: "Oh he was nice and relaxed. I was the jittery one but anyway I loved it. I had great fun."

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