Radio series tells the story of Sister Mairéad Ní Fhearáin

Silverbridge woman Clara Ni Choinn is presenting a new compelling six-part radio series on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and BBC Radio Ulster that focuses on Irish women’s lives over the past six decades with Bessbrook woman Sister Mairéad Ní Fhearáin making an appearance. “Saol na mBan” is not just a radio series; it’s a journey through time, a saga of transformation where the whispers of the past meet the echoes of the present. 

The series is a collaboration between RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and BBC Radio Ulster, produced by Clean Slate TV.  The series invites listeners to embark on a reminiscent odyssey. Each episode is a chronicle, a story of a generation, unravelling how the fabric of society and the essence of womanhood have undergone profound metamorphoses.

From the hearths of rural homesteads to the bustling streets of urban landscapes, “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 freedoms. These are the voices that have often gone unheard, the stories that reflect the myriad attitudes and opportunities that have blossomed over time.

Backed by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund and presented by Ceara Ní Choinn from Silverbridge, the series lays bare the circumstances into which each generation of women was born, the challenges they faced, and the dreams they dared to dream. It’s a tale of resilience, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the women who were born and reared in urban and rural Ireland.  

In the first episode we’ll hear from women who were born in the 1920’s and beyond.   Máire Mhic Sheáin, one of the oldest Shaw’s Road Gaeltacht community residents in west Belfast.   Patricia Herald born in a Mother and Baby Home in Dublin who was later adopted and spent most of her life in the Loch an Iúir Gaeltacht, Maggie Nic Pháidín, born on the remote island of Inis Bó Finne off the coast of north west Donegal, Nóra Ní Raghallaigh, a former bean a’ tí and seanchaí from the Rann na Feirste Gaeltacht area and finally proud south Armagh native, Sister Mairéad Ní Fhearáin who entered the Poor Clare’s sisterhood upon finishing school.  

The first episode of the six-part series will air on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 on BBC Radio Ulster and every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm.

The series also airs on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from 3rd July to 7th August 2024 every Wednesday at 13.30pm. 

An samhradh seo, bígí ag éisteacht le RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus BBC Raidió Uladh le sraith raidió sé pháirt thar a bheith suimiúil ina ndéantar saol agus scéal saibhir na mban in Éirinn le trí scór bliain anuas a fhí. Ní sraith raidió amháin é “Saol na mBan”; is aistear fríd an am é, ina gcluintear scéal mór an chlaochlaithe agus mar a dtagann cogarnaí na staire le chéile le macallaí an lae inniu.

Is comhchraoladh idir RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus an BBC í an tsraith, arna léiriú ag Clean Slate TV. Tugann an tsraith cuireadh d’éisteoirí tabhairt faoi thurais ar bhóithre na gcuimhní. Cuntas agus scéal glúine atá in achan chlár agus nochtann sé an dóigh ar athraíodh creatlach na sochaí agus eisint na mban go mór.

Ó theallaigh  tuaithe go sráideanna bríomhara uirbeacha , tugann “Saol na mBan” scéalta na ngnáthbhan chun beatha – iad siúd a chonaic agus a mhúnlaigh tírdhreach athraitheach an gheilleagair, na polaitíochta agus na saoirsí sóisialta. Seo iad na guthanna nach gcluintear go minic, na scéalta a léiríonn an iliomad dearcthaí agus deiseanna atá faoi bhláth le himeacht ama.

Le tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann agus á cur i láthair ag Ceara Ní Choinn as Béal Átha an Airgid, leagann an tsraith amach na cúinsí inar saolaíodh achan ghlúin ban, na dúshláin a bhí rompu, agus na brionglóidí a raibh fonn orthu a shamhlú. Is scéal na hathléimneachta í an tsraith seo, léirítear meon dosháraithe na mban a rugadh agus a tógadh in Éirinn uirbeach agus i ndúichí tuaithe.

Sa chéad chlár cluinimid ó mhná a rugadh sna 1920idí ar aghaidh. Rugadh Maggie Nic Pháidín ar oileán iargúlta Inis Bó Finne amach ó chósta iarthuaisceart Dhún na nGall.  Máire Mhic Sheáin, duine de na cónaitheoirí Gaeltachta is sine in iarthar Bhéal Feirste. tháinig Patricia Herald ar an tsaol i ndílleachtlann i mBaile Átha Cliath ach uchtaíodh í roinnt blianta ina dhiaidh sin agus chaith sí bunús a saoil i nGaeltacht Loch an Iúir. Is iar-bhean a' tí agus seanchaí í Nóra Ní Raghallaigh ó Ghaeltacht Rann na Feirste, agus ar deireadh bean bhródúil de bhunadh Ard Mhacha theas ó dhúchas, an tSiúr Mairéad Ní Fhearáin a chuaigh isteach sna Cláiríní nuair a chríochnaigh sí an scoil.

Craolfar an chéad chlár sa tsraith sé chlár ar an 2 Iúil 2024 ag 7.30pm ar BBC Raidió Uladh agus gach oíche Dé Máirt ag 7.30pm.

Craolfar an tsraith i rith an tsamhraidh ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta chomh maith ón 3 Iúil go dtí an 7 Lúnasa 2024, achan Chéadaoin ag 13.30.