Séiplinigh na nImirceach

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Séiplinigh na nImirceach

An Esras Films production for TG4 to be broadcast on
Sunday 4th , 11th, 18th and 25th May  at 21.30

From Connemara and Dingle to Huddersfield and Chicago, Séiplinigh na nImirceach tells the story of four different chaplains who in the course of their work found themselves far from home. This four part series from Esras Films recalls the work of the Emigrant Chaplains, and the experiences of the emigrants whom they were sent to help.

Individual Programme Synopsis

Programme 1 An taithí I Londain  Sunday May 4th
Fr Tom Looney is currently Parish Priest of the Gaeltacht community of Dingle. As a young priest he was sent to London to work as an Emigrant Chaplain. Through his experiences we introduce the work of the Emigrant Chaplains and the importance of their role. We also draw parallels between his work London with Irish emigrants and the contemporary situation in Dingle for the new immigrant communities.

Programme 2 An taithí i Huddersfield – Sunday May 11th
The second programme in our series looks at the particular experiences of those who emigrated to Huddersfield in the North of England.  Huddersfield always had a particular draw for emigrants from Connemara, and in recent years, Sr Attracta Heneghan worked with the older Irish emigrants who have settled there. Now back in Ireland, Attracta meets with Sr Marilyn, a Nigerian Nun who has come to Ireland to provide pastoral support for African immigrants who are settling here.

Programme 3 An taithí i Sasana – Sunday May 18th
Fr Gearoid Ó Griofa reflects on his work as an emigrant chaplain with particular responsibility for emigrants in London from Gaeltacht areas in the 1980’s. We examine how today’s chaplains in London are working with the elderly and often lonely Irish emigrants, the same generation which the original chaplains were sent to help 50 years ago. In his current role as PP in the suburbs of Galway Ó Griofa also comments on challenge of multicultural Ireland with examples of cooperation with local NGOs and foreign chaplains. 

Programme 4 An taithí i Chicago – Sunday May 25th
Our fourth programme follows Fr Michael Leonard on his rounds in Chicago – a particularly Irish city.  His brief is to work with newly arrived and undocumented Irish, but the old established Irish community (and their children) still welcome the connection with the Irish priest. We feature contributions from the older Irish-American community who had to leave Ireland and the newer generation who are in USA by choice. 

Séiplinigh na hImirceach is an Esras Films production for TG4,

Directed by Peter Kelly

For further information and/or publicity stills, please contact:

Jennifer Davidson on 01- 2881939

Esras Films Ltd, 43 Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
www.esras.com