Alan aims to capture The Spirit of Ireland

THE end of the Celtic Tiger and his own return to Ireland from New York has inspired a North Clare-based filmmaker’s latest project.
Kilfenora resident Alan Cooke hopes to begin filming The Spirit of Ireland next month if he can attract sufficient backing.
Alan won a New York Emmy last year for his writing for the documentary Home, which received three nominations at the prestigious awards.
“In 2008, I toured with Home throughout Ireland and I got to sense what was going on in the country and how people felt about their Irish identity. This led me to thinking about the idea of developing a project, which would explore what it means to be Irish and our culture and our spirit in the 21st century,” Alan told The Clare Champion.
“I am going to create an epic visual poem about Ireland. The project is titled The Spirit of Ireland. It will be an uplifting and emotional tribute to the meaning of being Irish and the impact we have had around the world. I hope to get some very notable names involved to talk on camera about their own thoughts and feelings about Ireland, as well as interviewing all types of people from across the country,” he said.
Home was made with very limited resources but attracted a myriad of stars, including Liam Neeson, Mike Myers, Woody Allen, Susan Sarandon, Rosie Perez, Frank McCourt and Alfred Molina. According to Alan, this was due to the nature of the film which, in a post 9/11 environment, was made to inspire. However, he also acknowledges that being a filmmaker and actor from Ireland was also influential.
“We have a quality of being able to enamour people with our passion and poetry and that has made me think about what I can do with this project because we have so much of that in us naturally,” he stated.
As well as writing, Alan will also direct the project, in which Clare is likely to feature heavily.
“There are a lot of places in Clare that are nationally and internationally known but since I have been here and got to know a lot of people, there are a lot of sacred places, a lot of mythological places where I would like to film. I am making this project to inspire the Irish here and in the US and around the world. I feel Ireland needs an uplifting project like this; something that shows the best of us in our culture and our spirit and our poetry and I want to go into the landscape to show that,” he explained.
“The Spirit of Ireland is a film about my journey back to Ireland and how I see Ireland in the 21st century. It is a film about giving hope to people and showing them the greater part of themselves that has been lost in this era. It is a film about those who don’t have a voice, who have been lost in the rush for money and power. It is a film that will speak to ordinary people and show how we as the Irish have an extraordinary impact around the world,” he continued.
Alan’s filming schedule is reliant on securing sufficient funding but he hopes to begin in March.
“I am doing this alone and with no backing, as of yet. I am looking for support from people and businesses from all walks of life to help to make this dream a reality. I believe this film will have a huge impact in Ireland and around the world. I believe that it is time for people to out their faith in the vision of the artist.
“People watch films and read books, go to see opera to fill the hearts, to elevate their souls. In an era where we have been let down so much, I feel I represent a vision that deserves to be supported and believed in because what I do is about giving back to people and inspiring them,” Alan concluded.
For further information, contact Wild Poet Films on 086 1791410 or by email at alanmcooke@gmail.com.