A Co. Armagh woman is set to present a new Irish language radio series telling the stories of Irish women’s lives over the past six decades.
Armed with a long career in media production, alongside a passion for the language, Silverbridge woman Ceara Ní Choinn has presented and co-produced the series, which seeks to weave a vibrant tapestry of Irish women’s lives through the generations.
Produced by Clean Slate TV, in collaboration with BBC Radio Ulster and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, each episode of ‘Saol na mBan’ brings to life the narratives of ordinary women — those who’ve witnessed and shaped the shifting sands of economics, politics and social issues.
Each episode is a chronicle, a story of a generation, unravelling how the fabric of society and the essence of womanhood have undergone profound change.
Backed by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, the first episode of the six-part series will air tonight (Tuesday) on BBC Radio Ulster. It will also appear on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from Wednesday.
Speaking to Armagh I, host Ceara explained: “There’s women that were born in the 1920’s right up to the 1940’s and we talked to them about their lives in general and the various things that impacted their lives.
“It’s a generational programme and throughout the series you see the different changes that impacted women in the times they lived in. In the first programme for instance, people didn’t have electricity in their house, they didn’t have running water.
“We unravel the fabric of society and how it impacted all these women in those periods of time.”
For Ceara, the series acts as a deeply-personal snapshot of the lives lived by those many years ago, and the ups and downs that come with it.
“Each of the women were very, very open with their stories. I was taken aback by how honest they were. They spoke about very personal things that impacted their lives, from childbirth, to losing members of their families to personal illnesses to depression.
“But they also spoke about upbeat things like fashion – maybe the dodgy outfits they wore back in the day piling into a car going to a disco.
“So there’s funny wee moments in each of the programmes as well. It’s not all doom and gloom.
“The oldest person we have is 98. She’s a bit of a gem!”
Added Ceara: “They really opened up. There’s a treasure trove of memories and they were very willing to share their stories.”
The series features women from both rural and urban settings, highlighting the contrast in experiences for women across all walks of life in Ireland.
The first episode hears from women born in the 1920’s and beyond, including; Máire Mhic Sheáin, one of the oldest Shaw’s Road Gaeltacht community residents in west Belfast and Maggie Nic Pháidín, born on the remote island of Inis Bó Finne off the coast of north west Donegal.
In terms of her own experience, Ceara says she’s worked in media for over 20 years, having presented for the BBC and TG Ceathair.
“My main focus and passion would be the Irish language. I studied it at university at various different levels. When I finished up university back in the early noughties there weren’t many opportunities for Irish speakers bar going into teaching,” she explained.
“TG Ceathair had just been launched so I thought I’d maybe go down that road. So I went and did a postgraduate in Media in Galway and that spring boarded me into the media. From there I haven’t really looked back!”
The first episode of ‘Saol na mBan’ premiers on BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday, July 2, airing every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm. The series also airs on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from July 3 to August 7, every Wednesday at 1.30pm.
