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A stunning new short film and music video showcasing the Celtic spirit through music and the Irish language have been launched at St Paul's High School earlier this week.
Spiorad Ceilteach (Celtic Spirit) is an Irish language and culture based creative media project produced by Newry based film production social enterprise Funk Soul Media CIC.
Funded by the Ultach Trust, part of Communtiy Foundation NI, the project produced a short educational and bilingual documentary which explores the role Irish people play in keeping the spirit of the ancient Celts alive. From June – November 2023 the project engaged fifty people across communities in county Armagh, Down and Louth.
Cú Chulainn from Funk Soul Media took on the role of Producer, Editor and Script Writer as well as working with the camera operator. Speaking about the reason for the production he said "It's to give a fresh perspective on Celtic culture and the Irish Language. It's new, it's fresh, it's attractive and it's done through modern techniques like film making and in-studio music.
Cú Chulainn added "I really do feel that the Celtic spirit is alive in all of us and I'm so glad to be able to project that through the community, through film, through music, through culture, through language and it really has reinvigorated, the fuinneamh, which means energy in Irish. I could feel that tonight when I watched that, I felt something in me, in my spirit, in my soul, in my veins and it's a beautiful feeling."
The film’s stories connect emotionally, artistically and socially with Ireland’s ancient Celtic mythology, history, language, landscape and culture. The educational purpose of the film is to engage students in the Irish language, expand students’ knowledge of ancient Celtic history as well as promoting a unified Celtic culture. The film’s supporting themes include; sport for developing positive mental wellbeing, music for developing positive mental well-being, female empowerment, cultural diversity and integration.
Speaking at the launch Armagh man Réamonn Ó Ciaran, CEO of Gael Linn said "Just because you can't see your roots, don't think you haven't got any, they are there and they need to be replenished and the way we replenish our Celtic spiritual roots is by doing what we have been doing here tonight, re-connecting and it's amazing how the ancient was married together with the cutting edge technology in this fantastic group of films. On behalf of the Ultach Foundation, part of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland I am delighted to be here to witness this amazing launch event."
Niamh Noade who sings in the productions also sang at the launch along with members of Traditional Arts Partnership.
You can check out a trailer of the film at vimeo.com
