One of Ireland’s greatest fishing stories about the historic Kildoney Men’s boat protest of 1925 has recently been made into a short documentary film called "The Kildoney Men" by filmmaker Daragh Goan.
"The Kildoney Men" appeared at the Disappear Here Film Festival in Ballyliffin, Co Donegal, from October 3 - October 5. With many fantastic films watched over the weekend, thanks to Michael McLaughlin, the Founder and Creative Director of the festival, Goan premiered his ‘Short Documentary Bursary’ Film on Screen 1 on Sunday, October 5.
Goan’s film was a part of the Changemakers Donegal Programme. He gave “thanks to our Film Club founder, Concern Worldwide” and to “the producer Mairead Burke, cinematographer JP Quill, editor Andrew Scally, production designer Maura Logue and local historian Paddy Donagher, without whom the film would not have been made.”
The film synopsis outlines the cinematic significance of the centenary story: “100 years ago, fishermen from the Kildoney area outside of Ballyshannon, Donegal staged a protest to challenge the local landlord's privatisation of the estuary at the River Erne.
"Today, an ancestor of one of the fishermen explores the relevance of their struggle in the face of the climate crisis.
"What we can learn about community, solidarity and challenging unjust systems by remembering the struggles of those gone before us.”
The Kildoney Men in The Erne Fishery Case (1927-1933)
Writing and directing this poetic film was personal for Goan. He is the proud descendant of Red Willie Goan, one of the brave Kildoney Fishermen, who took part in the victorious fight for Irish fishing rights after centuries of colonialism.
Goan expressed that this is his “first documentary and about a story that is personal not only to me but to my family and the families of the other fishermen and a lot of the community in Ballyshannon. So I wanted to do it justice. And ultimately it’s a story about courage. Courage in the face of great odds and a system that seemed impossible to challenge until it wasn’t any more.”
It is also creatively synchronous that I am also a descendant of two of the Kildoney Fishermen through my grandad P.J. Patton, who was related to Mickey McCarthy and John McCarthy.
Goan’s ancestor, Red Willy Goan, and my ancestor, Mickey McCarthy, were both in the original tar-and-canvas boat that launched the boat protest in June 1925.
This is the fourth time I have written about The Kildoney Fishermen this year: Earning back the Erne, Erne Go Bragh here on IrishCentral, and the Erne Fishermen's centenary celebration. And so, it is an honour to highlight Goan’s film, which verbally and visually frames the historical narrative of The Kildoney Men in the centenary year.
Goan’s well-shot film is narrated by the stirring voice of Irish actor Stephen Rea. The film tells what Goan calls “a poetic narrative” that explores how the Ernian past casts its fishing history on cultural and environmental issues facing Ireland today.
Goan’s black and white stills strikingly capture his aesthetic vision of the film.
The Kildoney Men. (Courtesy of Daragh Goan)
Goan is “thrilled that 'The Kildoney Men' will start its festival journey at the Disappear Here Film Festival. This is the result of the talent, hard work, and kindness of the crew, contributor,s and community in Ballyshannon.”
Goan’s hope is “to use the film as a launch pad to make a longer piece about The Erne Fisherman’s case and its continued relevance today. I hope to show this film at more festivals and community gatherings in Donegal and use it as a starting point for discussions around community action as it relates to climate change.”
The Kildoney and Ballyshannon community are fiercely proud of Goan’s visionary artistry. As he first launched his film into Ballyliffin’s creative current, he artistically channels the same pioneering spirit of his ancestor Red Willie Goan, who helped launch the boat protest 100 years ago.
Behind the scenes of "The Kildoney Men." (Courtesy of Daragh Goan)
The visual poetry of Goan’s epic fishing film, like the Atlantic sea swell, will show Donegal’s history making waves in its rising echo.
Behind the scenes of "The Kildoney Men." Director Daragh Goan on the right.
"The Kildoney Men" can be followed on Instagram @thekildoneymen_shortfilm.
*Éamon Ó Caoineachán (Eddie Keenaghan) is a poet, writer and historian, originally from Bundoran, Co Donegal, but now living on the Gulf Coast of Texas. He is currently a PhD postgraduate in Arts at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.
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