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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Over 40 years of Ballymun life preserved in powerful new film archive
A collection of films capturing more than four decades of life in Ballymun has been unveiled as part of a new community archive, preserving the voices, stories and experiences of one of Dublin's most historically significant neighbourhoods. The Ballymun Community Films collection, now available to view via the IFI Archive Player, features 20 curated works drawn from over 1,000 hours of footage shot by local residents. Digitised and preserved by the IFI Irish Film Archive in partnership with Ballymun Communications, the project offers an unfiltered look at the area's evolving identity — from high-rise beginnings to regeneration and beyond. Speaking on Near 90.3 FM Northside today, Niall Anderson, Project Manager at the Irish Film Institute, described the archive as 'a whistle-stop tour of the history of the community over the last 40 years'. 'It's very rare to have so many films over such a period of time, all kind of in one place,' he said. 'I'm not aware that there's any precedent for it at all.' Launching this evening at Axis Ballymun, the collection showcases everything from youth programmes and local arts festivals to political visits, street life, and the controversial demolition of the original flat complexes. The work is part of a larger five-year collaboration between the IFI and Ballymun Communications, supported by media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, which aims to safeguard and celebrate community-made media. A total of 550 digitised films from the broader Ballymun Communications Archive will eventually be made available through community channels. Mr Anderson, who grew up in Ballymun himself, said the project felt deeply personal: 'My parents moved into the towers in 1967. Watching this footage, it's basically my life story as well. It's been a real privilege to work on this.' The collection includes acclaimed documentary The 4th Act by Turlough Kelly and Andrew Keogh, which critically explores the area's regeneration, as well as rare footage of the Ballymun Housing Project, the visit of President Mary Robinson, and grassroots employment and education initiatives from the 1980s and 1990s. The films were created through Ballymun Communications, a long-standing social enterprise that has trained generations of local filmmakers. Mr Anderson stressed the archive's ongoing community role: 'Sometimes we couldn't identify people or places in the footage, so we turned to Facebook groups in Ballymun and within an hour, we'd have answers,' he added. 'The community has been involved from day one.' The archive is intended not only as a record of the past, but as a living resource — accessible to residents and future generations. The digitised material is now securely stored in the IFI's state-of-the-art digital preservation system, ensuring long-term access. The public can view the curated selection for free on the IFI Archive Player.
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Forty years of Ballymun captured in video collection
A collection of more than 40 years of camera footage telling the story of Ballymun has been launched. 'Ballymun Community Films' tells the story of the unique community that is now available free-to-view worldwide on the IFI Archive Player. Ballymun, which was established in 1967 to ease overcrowding in Dublin's city centre, became Ireland's first and largest high-rise housing development. While often defined by its social challenges in media coverage, the team behind the project said the films illustrate how Ballymun is also a place of "extraordinary community spirit, creativity, and resilience". "We are delighted that this collection will be made accessible by Ballymun communications to the entire community," said IFI Archive Policy and Project Manager Niall Anderson, a Ballymun native who managed the project at the IFI. The films provide insights into the life of Ballymun: its arts and music scene, community-led education and employment initiatives, the slow decline of its town centre, and the sweeping regeneration project that dramatically reshaped the area. Outlining the community involvement in the five year archiving process to date, Mr Anderson said "if one of our cataloguers couldn't identify a person or location in a film, we turned it over to community groups online, and within an hour we'd have our answer". Primarily made by local residents through the training initiative and social enterprise Ballymun Communications, more than 1,000 hours of their community-made footage has been digitised and catalogued. Ollie McGlinchey, long time resident and mainstay of Ballymun Communications said Ballymun Communications was established as a counterpoint to mainstream media misrepresentations of the Ballymun community and to highlight the "multitude of positive news stories emanating from a resilient and vibrant working class community". The digitisation and preservation of the Ballymun Communications Archive was supported by Coimisiún na Meán, and Mr Anderson said that the project is a "powerful reflection" of the IFI's core mission to preserve the film heritage of Ireland. "This project ensures that future generations can engage with, learn from, and be inspired by the lived experiences of communities like Ballymun," he said. Launching this evening at Axis Ballymun, there will be special screenings, live performances and the local community who appear in the films and programmes will be in attendance.
The Journal
14-07-2025
- The Journal
Investigation launched after more than 1,000 fish found dead in Co Cavan
INLAND FISHERIES IRELAND (IFI) have launched an investigation into a 'significant' fish kill in Co Cavan that left more than 1,000 fish dead. The incident was recorded along a 1km stretch of the Ballinagh River in Co Cavan. IFI was alerted to a contamination impact in the water by a member of the public on Sunday evening. Environmental and fisheries staff identified brown trout, stickleback minnow and roach among the species discovered dead. Water samples have been taken from the scene, and IFI is following a definite line of enquiry into the suspected source of the pollution. Dr Milton Matthews, director of IFI's North-Western River Basin District, said high temperatures and low-flow conditions 'do not appear to be the primary cause of this incident'. Advertisement Mixed species, including juvenile trout, floating at the site. Inland Fisheries Ireland Inland Fisheries Ireland 'The needless loss of so many young fish, at a time when Ireland's natural environment is already under considerable pressure, is deeply disappointing,' Matthews said. IFI said it will continue to actively examine the cause of the harmful ecological event at the river. The organisation is appealing to people to report instances of fish kills or suspected water pollution through its 24-hour confidential phoneline 0818 34 74 24. Separately, IFI officers responded to a fish kill in Co Cork last week in which at least 1,500 fish died. It happened on Ballybrack stream, a small tributary of the Douglas River flowing near Douglas village in Cork. The dead fish were primarily brown trout and European eels. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
IFI opens fourth draw for River Easkey salmon tags for 2025
Brown tag regulations remain in effect at the River Easkey from February 1st until September 30th, 2025, when the salmon fishing season ends. Anglers wanting to enter a lottery draw on July 30th for one of 15 brown tags can apply at the IFI website from today, July 11th, until midnight on July 27th, 2025. Commenting, Mary Walsh IFI Western region director(Ballina) said: 'The numbers of wild Atlantic salmon returning to our rivers is declining. The risk of over-fishing puts stocks in further jeopardy. "Brown tag measures for salmon and sea trout are required on the Easkey River to conserve stocks and prevent accidental over-harvesting. "Where there is a modest harvestable surplus, this brown gill tag system is introduced to closely monitor the angling quotas." A total of 60 brown tags are available for the 2025 angling season. Tags will be distributed to anglers with a rod licence via four draws the 2025 angling season, with 15 brown tags available to be won in each draw. Anglers who receive a brown tag via the lottery should place them on a salmon or sea trout – along with a blue tag – as proof it was lawfully caught and may be retained for private use. Each angler is limited to one entry per lottery and is eligible to win one brown tag per season. Previous draws were held in February, April and May. Any anglers not allocated a brown tag are permitted to fish for salmon and sea trout at the River Easkey catchment on a catch-and-release basis, where the fish is returned safely to the same waterbody. Anglers must use catch-and-release methods only, involving single or double barbless hooks. Use of worms as bait is not permitted.
Irish Examiner
10-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Fish kill in Cork's Douglas River wiped out 1,500 trout and eels
Investigations are underway into an alarming fish kill in Cork's Douglas River that claimed the lives of 1,500 fish including brown trout and European eels. The pollution occurred in Ballybrack stream, which is a minor tributary of the Douglas River flowing near Douglas village. The fish kill stretched across a distance of 1.5km. Initial indications suggest the presence of a chemical in the watercourse. The Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) were alerted to the pollution by a member of the public. The incident has prompted an appeal from the organisation, which is reminding the public to store and dispose of household chemicals safely. Low water flow and increased temperatures have both been ruled out as possible causes. An IFI senior fisheries environmental officer has visited the site of the incident, which was believed to have occurred on July 9. The organisation will continue its probe in the coming weeks to identify the root cause of the pollution. However, it is too early to determine a definite source. IFI is encouraging the public to report instances of fish kills or water pollution to its 24-7 phone number, 0818 347424. Read More Investigation after discharge and fish kill reports close to Cork oil refinery Save our rivers: Blackwater under pressure as the number of pristine tributaries has halved
