Documentary on Mayo’s whaling past to air on TG4
A new documentary set in Mayo and Donegal is set to shed light on Ireland’s forgotten whaling history.
'Fathaigh na Farraige' (Giants of the Sea) will air on TG4 on Wednesday, September 18, at 9:30 p.m.
The documentary explores Ireland’s complex and often overlooked relationship with whales, starting from the establishment of the country’s first whaling station in 1780 by Donegal man Thomas Nesbitt, the inventor of the swivel gun-harpoon.
One of the standouts of the film is the story of a Norwegian-owned industrial whaling station set up in 1908 on the Iniskhea Islands, off the coast of the Mullet peninsula.
The station operated at a time when whaling had been prohibited in Norway, and its policy of over-exploitation had a profound and lasting impact on whale populations in the area, particularly the right, sei, and blue whales, which were driven to the brink of extinction.
The documentary also shines a spotlight on Keem Bay, Achill Island, a location where the very last shark was killed in Irish waters. Ireland is home to 26 different species of whale and dolphin, from the porpoise to the magnificent blue whale—the largest animal on earth.
In just 50 minutes, 'Fathaigh na Farraige' condenses centuries of whaling and hunting into an insightful and thought-provoking documentary. It features interviews with former shark hunters, conservationists, marine archaeologists, and maritime historians.
The programme includes incredible archival footage, including clips from a 115-year-old film titled ‘Whaling Afloat and Ashore’ by Robert Paul, documenting whaling life on Inishkea. This rare footage is coupled with modern interviews that illustrate the shift from whale hunting to conservation efforts in modern Ireland.
Several experts contributed to the documentary, including Joanne O’Brien, a lecturer at ATU and a member of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), alongside Andrew Shine of the same organisation. Participants from Mayo featured in the film include Ted Sweeney and Páiric Mac Amhoigh from Blacksod (An Fhód Dubh), historian Diarmuid Gielty, former basking shark fisherman Brian McNeill, marine scientist Sorsha Kennedy, and Mick Kane, director of the Achill Outdoor Training and Education Centre.
Filming locations span some of the country’s most stunning coastal regions, including Keem Bay and Poitín Harbour on Achill Island, Inis Gé (Inishkea) in Mayo, and sites in Donegal, Clare, Kerry, and other counties.
'Fathaigh na Farraige' was directed by Aenghus Mac Eochagáin and produced by Fiona Ní Eidhin of Snag Breac Films, a Spiddal-based production company known for its compelling documentaries.