Beidh agallamh ag Seán Bán Breathnach inniu leis an bhfear gnó Seán Ó Foighil. Rugadh Seán i bPort Láirge, ach d’athraigh an teaghlach go Conamara nuair a bhí sé ina bhuachaill óg. Bhí an-aithne ar a athair Pól, a bhí ina ghníomhaí pobail sa cheantar.
San agallamh seo inniu, labhrann Seán Ó Foighil faoina óige, agus faoin tragóid clainne a tharla nuair a chuir a dheartháir Éanna lámh ina bhás féin. Insíonn sé do SBB faoin am a chaith sé i Meiriceá, faoin obair a rinne sé le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, agus faoin obair mhór a rinne sé féin agus a bhean Mairéad nuair a thóg siad Siopa an Phobail ar lámh in Indreabhán i gConamara. Bhí rud beag taithí ag Mairéad ar ghnó miondíola, ach ní raibh mórán taithí ag Seán sa réimse sin agus d’impigh a athair air gan an siopa a cheannach. Mar sin féin, thug siad faoi, agus cé go raibh roinnt blianta crua acu, d’éirigh leo agus bhí sé ar an siopa is mó gnó i gConamara ar feadh tamaill. Tá Seán agus a bhean éirithe as anois, agus caitheann siad cuid den am sna hOileáin Chanáracha, agus cuid den bhliain i gConamara i Muiceanach Idir Dhá Sháile. Labhrann sé le SBB faoin a shaol agus a shaothar.
Today, Seán Bán Breathnach has an interview with businessman Seán Ó Foighil. Seán was born in Waterford, but the family moved to Connemara when he was a boy. His father, Pól, was very well-known as a community activist.
In this interview, Seán talks about his youth, and about the family tragedy when his brother Éanna committed suicide. He tells Seán Bán about the time he spent living in the US, about his work with Údarás na Gaeltachta, and about the major project undertaken by himself and his wife when they bought Siopa an Phobail in Connemara, and made it a success. Seán had no retail or business experience when they bought the shop, and his father begged him not to buy it, but his wife Mairéad had some experience. Nonetheless they applied themselves, and although they had some tough years, they succeeded and Siopa an Phobail was one of the busiest shops in Connemara for a time. Seán and his wife have retired now, and spend some of the year in Canary Islands, and the rest of the time in Connemara in Muiceanach Idir Dhá Sháile. He talks to Seán Bán today about his life and work.