Produced by Bang Bang Teo
Thursday 25th August 10:30pm on RTÉ One
This is the story of one man’s crusade against the system. It’s the story of a small rural community threatened with wipe-out. But it’s also the story of how the bonds of community, a strong sense of identity and a deep love of place can generate a powerful energy in that fight.
Well-known musician, Gaeilgeóir and TV presenter Breanndán Begley was faced with homelessness in his own community as he battled with Kerry County Council for fifteen years to build a home on the family land at a massive personal cost of €25,000.
‘The Man with the Moving House’ documents Begley’s fifteen year journey to build a small traditional home in his ancestral village on the Dingle Peninsula, as he highlights his plight and the much broader fight to save our culture, music, heritage and language. The soul of communities are being decimated as locals can no longer afford to buy homes that are being snapped up for holiday homes and Air Bnbs, or secure planning permission in the place of birth.
As the story unfolds we see how his campaign touches the heart of the nation and captivates the attention of the media. The musician and native Irish speaker travels to other Gaeltacht communities and overseas finally bringing his protest to the Dáil, in a bid to bring light to a global issue – that of native people being allowed to live in their own communities and to maintain their culture and languages. And despite eventually receiving planning permission, he continues the campaign and sets up an organisation ‘Todchái na Tuaithe’ to fight for future generations including that of his own family.
This is a David and Goliath story, a story that resonates throughout the world and Breanndán is determined to fight on to the bitter end until it is finally resolved and the planning laws are changed. As he says, “Our community and culture must survive because without it we are nothing”.
The Man with The Moving House , produced by Bang Bang Teo, suppored by the BAI, will be broadcast 25th August 10.30pm on RTÉ One.
Further information : Deirdre@lhpublicity.ie lindsey@lhpublicity.ie Sorcha@lhpublicity.ie