Clár faisnéise atá anseo faoi Acaill agus faoin ealaíontóir Paul Henry, á chur i láthair ag Máirtín Mac Donnchadha. Thug Paul Henry cuairt ar Acaill sa mbliain 1910. Cuairt ghearr a bhí i gceist aige ach chuaigh an áit i bhfeidhm chomh mór sin air is gur fhan sé naoi mbliana ann. Ina leabhar An Irish Portrait, tugann Henry cuntas an-spéisiúil ar na rudaí a chuaigh i bhfeidhm air. Is léir óna chuid péintéireachta go ndeachaigh an tírdhreach i bhfeidhm go mór air. Ach chuaigh an saol a bhí in Acaill ag an am i bhfeidhm air freisin, go speisialta na daoine. Déanann sé cur síos ar fhear a casadh sa tsráid leis lá agus a d’fhiafraigh de a ndíolfadh sé slám péinte leis. Nuair a d’fhiafraigh Paul Henry cé le haghaidh a raibh an phéint aige d’fhreagair sé go raibh spéis ag a mhac sa dathadóireacht. D’fhás caradas an-mhór idir Paul Henry agus an fear seo, Johnny Tom Eoin Mac Conmara, agus in am tráth chuir sé aithne ar a mhac, Antaine, a bhí ceithre bliana déag agus a raibh suim sa dathadóireacht aige. Sa chlár seo, úsáidtear cuntas Phaul Henry agus cuimhní cinn bheirt gharmhac Johnny le ‘portráid i bhfocla’ a tharraingt de Johnny Tom Eoin. Is athchraoladh é seo.
This programme is a documentary about Achill Island and artist Paul Henry who visited there in 1910. Originally intended as a short visit, he was so taken with the island that he stayed for nine years. In his book, An Irish Portrait, Henry gives a most interesting account of his time there and what influenced him to stay. It is evident from his paintings that the landscape had a profound effect on him but he was also deeply impressed by the people – “a wonderful people”. He describes a man he met in the street one day who wanted to buy some paint from him. When Paul Henry enquired what the paint was for, the man explained that his young son liked to paint. A close friendship developed between Henry and this man, Johnny Tom Eoin Mac Conmara, and he came to know his fourteen year old son also. In this documentary, presented and produced by Máirtín Mac Donnchadha, Paul Henry’s account coupled with memories from two of Johnny’s grandchildren serve to paint a word portrait of Johnny Tom Eoin. This is a repeat programme.
