A new documentary, ‘The Young Fella’, funded by Cork County Council’s Commemoration Committee and Michael Collins House, is set to premiere Friday April 16th.
Much has been said about Michael Collins’ life, but the focus is nearly always on his later years. Biographies of ‘The Big Fella’ tend to focus heavily on the revolutionary activity that dominated his final decade. But what about his younger years?
‘The Young Fella’ explores the key events and influences of his formative years and uncovers the deeper story of Michael Collins. Directed by Clonakilty native Samuel Kingston (The Brigade), the story of ‘The Young Fella’ is fittingly produced in Collins’ hometown.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, commended the project, saying:
As our decade of commemorations continue, this film is a fitting tribute to Cork’s famous revolutionary leader, who in his brief lifetime achieved so much for his country. His legacy continues today, and this wonderful film offers a unique insight into the early years which shaped his destiny. A great achievement.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey commented:
Here in County Cork we take great pride in remembering those people in history who have shaped our lives right up to the present day. Cork County Council’s Michael Collins House is dedicated to the Irish patriot, whose early life is explored in this film. Our historical heritage here in County Cork is an invaluable asset and Cork County Council is always seeking new ways to support and promote our heritage. This film will introduce some people to the story of Michael Collins’ or at the very least, to a brand-new perspective on it.
The documentary centres around a group of six secondary school students who go on a journey to discover the local history of Michael Collins. History is brought to life and Collins story is told through the students as they visit local sites, meet with local historians and even sit the 1906 Civil Service Exam that Collins passed. They learn about his day to day life, his school life, his friends and family and what influenced his early political beliefs. Collins teenage years are put into perspective as they unveil the story of a normal, rural West Cork boy as he develops into a young man with an extraordinary life ahead of him. Michael Collins was just sixteen when he left Clonakilty for London, the same age as these students who reflect on life now and life then, helping to get a sense of what life was like for ‘The Young Fella’.
The documentary will premiere on the Michael Collins House YouTube channel at 8pm on Friday April 16th, 2021, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the burning of Michael Collins childhood home at Woodfield by members of the Essex Regiment of the British Army.
Mícheál Ó Coileáin, an Fear Óg
Taispeánfar clár faisnéise úr, ‘An Fear Óg’, den chéad uair ar Aoine an 16 Aibreán, é maoinithe ag Coiste Cuimhneachán Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí agus Teach Mhícheál Uí Choileáin.
Is iomaí ní atá ráite i dtaca le saol Mhícheál Uí Choileáin, ach is ar bhlianta deireanacha a shaoil is mó a dhírítear. Sna beathaisnéisí atá scríofa air go dtí seo ar ‘An Fear Mór’, bítear ag díriú isteach go mór ar an ngníomhaíocht réabhlóideach a bhí go mór chun tosaigh sna deich mbliana dheireanacha dá shaol. Ach cad mar gheall ar laethanta a óige?
Sa chlár faisnéise ‘An Fear Óg’, déantar na himeachtaí agus na tionchair is tábhachtaí a bhain le blianta a óige a fhiosrú, agus nochtar scéal níos doimhne Mhícheál Uí Choileáin. Léiríodh scéal ‘An Fear Óg’ i mbaile dúchais Uí Choileáin, mar is cuí, agus is é Samuel Kingston (The Brigade) arb as Cloich na Coillte ó dhúchas dó a rinne stiúrthóireacht air.
Thug an Comhairleoir Mary Linehan Foley, Méara Chontae Chorcaí, moladh don tionscadal, agus í ag rá:
Agus Deich mBliana na gCuimhneachán ag leanúint ar aghaidh i gcónaí, léiriú cuí ómóis is ea an scannán seo ar cheannasaí cáiliúil réabhlóideach Chorcaí, duine a bhain an oiread sin amach dá thír ina shaol gearr. Tá a oidhreacht fós linn sa lá atá inniu ann, agus tugann an scannán iontach seo léargas ar leith ar na blianta luaithe sin a rinne a chinniúint a mhúnlú. Éacht an-mhór.
Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí an méid seo:
Anseo i gContae Chorcaí tá an-bhród orainn cuimhneamh ar na daoine sin san am atá caite atá i ndiaidh saol gach duine a mhúnlú suas leis an am atá i láthair. Is le Comhairle Chontae Chorcaí é Teach Mhícheál Uí Choileáin atá tiomnaithe don tírghráthóir Éireannach, agus déantar luathbhlianta a shaoil a fhiosrú sa scannán seo. Seoid thar a bheith luachmhar is ea ár n-oidhreacht stairiúil anseo i gContae Chorcaí agus tá Comhairle Contae Chorcaí de shíor ag lorg bealaí úra chun tacú lenár n-oidhreacht agus í a chur chun cinn. Déanfaidh an scannán seo cuid daoine a chur ar an eolas maidir le scéal Mhícheál Uí Choileáin den chéad uair, nó ar a laghad dearcadh úrnua ar an scéal a thabhairt dóibh.
Dírítear sa chlár faisnéise ar ghrúpa seisear daltaí meánscoile a imíonn ar aistear le stair áitiúil Mhícheál Uí Choileáin a fhiosrú. Cuirtear beocht sa scéal stairiúil agus is iad na daltaí a insíonn scéal Uí Choileáin agus iad ag tabhairt cuairt ar láithreacha áitiúla, ag bualadh le staraithe áitiúla, agus fiú ag tabhairt faoi Scrúdú 1906 don Státseirbhís, scrúdú ina bhfuair Ó Coileáin pas. Foghlaimíonn siad faoina ghnáthshaol laethúil, a shaol scoile, a chairde, a theaghlach agus faoi na nithe a d’imir tionchar ar a chreideamh polaitíochta go luath ina shaol. Cuirtear comhthéacs saol Uí Choileáin agus é ina dhéagóir i láthair, agus cuirtear i láthair scéal buachalla normálta as an tuath in iarthar Chorcaí agus é ag forbairt ina fhear óg agus saol eisceachtúil roimhe. Ní raibh Mícheál Ó Coileáin ach sé bliana déag d’aois nuair a d’fhág sé Cloich na Coillte chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar Londain, agus é ar chomhaois leis na daltaí seo atá ag meabhrú ar an saol mar atá anois agus mar a bhí ansin, atá mar chuidiú dúinn tuiscint a fháil ar an saol mar a bhí ag ‘An Fear Óg’.
Taispeánfar an clár faisnéise den chéad uair ar chainéal YouTube Theach Mhícheál Uí Choileáin ar 8pm Dé hAoine an 16 Aibreán 2021, a bheidh ag teacht le comóradh céad bliain ó dhóigh baill Reisimint Essex ó Arm na Breataine teach óige Mhícheál Uí Choileáin.
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