Capturing a unique moment in time

Lifestyle  – Residents of the normally busy island of Inishbofin experienced a strange reality last Spring when Covid-19 meant tourists weren’t allowed to visit, while locals were confined to necessary travel.  A community film project, financed by Galway County Council Arts Office and shot by local man Kieran Concannon depicts these extraordinary days, as JUDY MURPHY learns.

Tara McMahon looked out the window of her house one morning last Spring and saw a group of neighbouring children standing on fences, talking to each other from a distance.  At that moment, it totally hit her that “we were living through history”.   Tara works as the Community Tourism and Marketing Officer on the North Connemara island of Inishbofin and her neighbours’ children, who are also first cousins, would normally be in and out of each other’s houses without a care in the world. But not anymore.

Not to mention the fact that the island, which is a popular tourist destination and would usually be welcoming visitors from March onwards, had hosted nobody from outside for months.

It wasn’t normal – especially given the glorious weather.

Tara, a graduate in history and art from the University of Limerick, who also has a Master’s in art history, realised these were unique times on the island and felt they should be documented.

Co-incidentally, as the island’s Tourism Officer, she’d received funding from Galway County Council Arts Office last February to organise a series of summer concerts, but those were off the table due to Covid-19.

So, she asked Arts Officer, Sharon O’Grady, if it would be possible to use the money for a different project.

With her background in art and history, Tara felt a series of short films mapping this strange experience would work well. And she knew just the person for the job.

Local man Kieran Concannon of C-Board Films is an experienced documentary-maker whose work includes Inis Airc – Bás Oileáin about how Bofin’s neighbouring island, Inishark, lost its population in 1960 under a State resettlement scheme.  Kieran, who also makes corporate videos, normally divides his time between Moycullen and Bofin but was settled on the island for the lockdown.

Sharon O’Grady supported the new project, adding an extra €1,200 to the €1,800 that was already allocated, and Kieran was happy to come on board. He did so for a far smaller fee than he’d normally command, says Tara, who’s full of praise for his commitment.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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