The stories of Lough Ree to be screened at Hodson Bay Hotel

Kevin O'Neill

A film screening about the stories of Lough Ree is set to take place at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on next Thursday, March 19 (7pm).

A series of four new videos will be released telling the stories of the history and beauty of Lough Ree. These films will also be available on YouTube.

Episode One is called 'Lough Ree: Through the Mists of Time' and

focuses on the history of Lough Ree from its historic churches to stories of the vikings, and later visitors to the lake. The second episode in the series is 'Lough Ree: A Life that is Lost’ will explore memories of island life and what life was really like for the islanders of Lough Ree. At one time many of the islands on Lough Ree were inhabited but it is now several decades since the last of the islanders left.

Episode Three is titled 'Lough Ree: A Corridor of Power and Passage’ explores the story of how Lough Ree's water highway facilitated settlement in the area over thousands of years. Episode Four is called 'Lough Ree: Nature Still Teaches’ and is filmed on the Longford island of Inchcleraun, otherwise known as Quaker Island. Island farmer Herbert Farrell looks closely at what the land is telling him and lets nature lead the way. The farm is run in

partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to conserve and improve the habitat of the island. Dotted around this island are some ancient church ruins.

The films feature many people from the area around Lough Ree as well as historians Harman Murtagh and Gearoid O’Brien, archaeologists Daniel Curley and Kieran O’Connor, NPWS Ranger Susan Moles and Luke Kenny from the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO).

“We would like to thank all those who gave interviews, facilitated access, shared photographs and video footage, played music, composed poetry and everyone who assisted in making these films”, says Heritage Officer Melanie McQuade.

On the night, the films will be introduced by film maker Oliver Fallen of Bailey & Blake Productions. There will be a reading of poetry specially written for this project and live music will be performed by Neil Fitzgibbon from Glasson.

This series was created by Bailey & Blake Productions and supported by the Heritage Offices of Longford County Council, Roscommon County Council and Westmeath County Council, with funding from Creative Ireland, Creative Communities and The Heritage Council. The room has limited capacity so booking is essential via Eventbrite.