TG4 SHOW IN BALLYLONGFORD WILL EXAMINE IRELAND’S RURAL DECLINE
A MIDAS Productions documentary will screen tonight (November 14) on TG4 and examine the case of Ballylongford and rural decline in Ireland.
Its the second episode of ‘ Tabú’, a six-show series airing every Wednesday night on TG4 at 9.30pm. Tonight’s episode comes from Ballylongford, and also Kiltyclogher in County Leitrim. An hour-long show, it was filmed over the course of four months.
‘Bánú nó Slánú’ – the title of tonight’s episode – examines the case of Ballylongford’s post office, one of 159 post offices billed for closure after an announcement earlier this year. The documentary’s team spoke to highly regarded postmistress Jennifer Allen as they examine how Dublin races ahead while the rest of the country remains stranded.
“Once a prosperous agricultural hub, Ballylongford in North Kerry has seen its village lose vital industry in the last 30 years,” Medb Johnstone of Midas Productions said. “The mill, the creamery and many businesses have closed down.
“In 2017 no new children started in the national school for the first time in living memory,” Ms Johnstone added. “I had read about the area, and it has a rich history, and I was really taken by the community spirit while I was there.”
A member of Midas Productions spoke to The Kerryman last week and explained that the documentary also features a number of other local figures addressing other examples of Ballylongford’s decline.
Local farmer Donal O’Connor will tonight explain to viewers that he comes from a family farming in the area for hundreds of years – but he is now facing into the tide facing small farmers across rural Ireland and Ballylongford.
Others set to appear are local Tidy Towns volunteer Helen Lane, and Eamon McElligott of Ballylongford GAA, both the kind of people Ms Johnstone felt summed up the undying spirit of an area facing significant challenges.
“People like that are the reason I wanted to do this,” Ms Johnstone said to The Kerryman.
“Everything bad that has happened here over the years was out of the locals’ control. But despite the worst, there were people from the local youth club doing their bit; GAA players were travelling long distances to make it back for training; and the Tidy Towns committee were doing their best to keep Ballylongford looking its best.
“The community spirit in the Ballylongford area really was something to behold.”