Ennis actor, Kelly Gough, will star in the Irish television premier of a new feature film in the Irish language later this week.
Tarrac, which was written by Eugene O’Brien, tells the story of Aoife Ni Bhraoin, played by Gough, who returns home to Kerry when her father becomes ill.
Her father, Brendan ‘The Bear’ O’Briain, played by Lorcan Cranitch, is in recovery following a serious heart attack and Aoife must return home to look after him.
While at home, Aoife is forced to face the grief of her mother’s death, which she has been ignoring for years.
A lot has been left unsaid between Aoife and her father and this must be rectified before Aoife can truly start to heal.
While all of this is happening, Aoife reconnects with a group of rowers who form an all-female rowing team.
Against all odds, the team decides to take on the high-stakes Naomhóg rowing competition.
Set on the Dingle Peninsula, the wild Atlantic coastline plays a major part in the film. It is a place of wild geography, where the weather and the people have a mind of their own.
Tarrac is an intimate character study of a woman, who through a sporting passion, finally manages to achieve both acceptance and love. Laced with humour, heart break and exciting action, set against the stunning landscapes and seas of the Kerry Gaeltacht, Tarrac is about daring to care again and learning the power of forgiveness.
In addition to Kelly and Lorcan, the film also features Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, Kate Finegan, Rachel Feeney and Cillian Ó Gairbhí.
The film was directed by Declan Recks of Pure Mile fame while Clíona Ní Bhuachalla was the producer and also the storywriter.
“For myself, Declan and Clíona, Kerry was absolutely vital to the film. This world-renowned landscape battered by the Atlantic Ocean is the home to the unique boat, the Naom,” said writer, Eugene O’Brien.
“The location has such great identity from the language to the landscape to the characters and indeed the boat itself.”
Tarrac was produced by Icebox Films with funding from TG4, Screen Ireland and the Coimisiún na Meán as part of the Cine4 Scheme. This scheme aims to support the production of feature length original films in the Irish language.
Tarrac in Irish cinemas in October of 2023 and was distributed in the UK and Ireland by Parkland Entertainment and Eclipse Pictures. The film won the best cinematography award for director of photography Patrick Jordan at the Galway Film Festival.
The film will be broadcast on Irish television for the very first time on TG4 on Monday evening, March 18, at 9.30pm. It is also available to view online on on TG4.IE.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.