Old friends Cormac Ó hÁdhmaill and Antaine Ó Donnaile undertake an epic kayaking adventure on the River Erne in a new TV series, ‘Buachaillí Ón Éirne’, meeting Fermanagh natives, including members of the Mummers Foundation, along the way.
In the three-part series made by Macha Media for BBC Gaeilge with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, the two intrepid paddlers begin at the source of the Erne River in Co. Cavan, and travel through counties Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal all the way to the Atlantic Ocean at Ballyshannon.
This is an incredible journey, one that has never been done for television before. Stunning aerial photography follows the paddlers and showcases every type of landscape, from inland lakes to the ocean, from rural to urban settings.
Along the way, Antaine and Cormac visit the people who live, work and play along the waterway. They even try out a bit of paddle boarding and ceramic making, with limited success.
They learn about the history, nature and secret places of the Erne, from ancient castles to holy islands, from Second Word War intrigues to clambering their way around a hydro-electric dam.
During their time in Fermanagh, Antaine and Cormac met with members of the Mummers Foundation, Jim Ledwith and Luke McGinley, as well as Councillor Chris McCaffrey, Vice-Chairperson of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
They also called at places such as Enniskillen Castle, Devenish island, Castle Archdale, White Island and Belleek, to name but a few.
As the two kayakers continue their journey, their challenge becomes more and more compelling as well as emotional.
From left to right, Chris McCaffrey, vice chair Fermanagh Omagh District Council, alongside Luke McGinley and Jim Ledwith from the Mummers Foundation, all of whom are Irish language participants in the forthcoming BBC 2, three part programme
In a very poignant moment, Cormac is moved to tears when he hears the call of the cuckoo – a call he hasn’t heard in more than 30 years.
With Cormac in his seventies and Antaine in his fifties, the pair are definitely out of their comfort zones, but enjoying every minute.
Cormac said: “This is the journey of a lifetime! I am storing up wonderful memories that will entertain and console me when I am no longer able to do this sort of thing. But for now, I’m having a ball!”
Antaine said: “It is so much more enjoyable to be travelling through a place like Enniskillen by river rather than by road.
“This is not just a journey to the sea, it’s a journey back in time, where we can get a sense of how life could be lived.
“Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal are as beautiful as anywhere you could visit in the world, and it has been such a privilege to make this journey and to meet the people who live along the Erne system.”
Their determination and strength is truly put to the test throughout the 100-mile long expedition.
Experiencing fun, fatigue, freedom, frustration, and satisfaction, ‘Buachaillí Ón Éirne’ provides an amazing insight to the ancient waterways of the River Erne.
Buachaillí Ón Éirne starts on Monday, March 14 at 10pm on BBC Two Northern Ireland, and the BBC iPlayer.
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