#islandlife – Coming to TV3 in April, Islanders is an emotional series following the lives of native islanders across an entire year. Filmed in 2014, this observational documentary is the biggest in-house production undertaken by TV3 Productions.
From Arranmore, Co. Donegal via Inishturk in Co. Mayo to Whiddy in Co.Cork, this four part series captures a way-of-life rapidly disappearing.
Set within breath-taking landscapes, the islanders' stories are emotive, uplifting and told with honesty and frankness. Narrated by Irish actor Andrew Bennett ('Angela's Ashes', 'Garage', 'The Stag'), this is a landmark series for TV3 Productions and the BAI.
Islanders features stories including two brothers' solemn promise to revive their island; a tug of loyalty between a mother's children and her island; a long-distance love story set 14 kilometres out to sea; a lone fisherman fighting bureaucracy to save his islands future and an embattled activist trying to galvanise her community.
Episode 1 begins 14 kilometres out from the Mayo coast, where the beautiful island of Inishturk reveals itself. With just 55 residents, it is home to Bríd Heanue (33) and her son Nathan (12). Bríd's eldest son Chris (15) lives and schools on the mainland.
With no secondary school on Inishturk Nathan will be leaving the island in September to join his brother at Rice College in Westport. It is a day Bríd dreads.
"I have two boys, Nathan and Chris. They are my world the two of them. We are a little pack the three of us. They adore Inishturk, it's their little piece of paradise.
"In September, Nathan is leaving to go to school. That's a very emotional subject with me. It's going to be heart-breaking for me as he's been my little baby here at home. I'm going to find that very hard. All of our family are going to find that hard."
The series premiere also brings us down the coast to County Cork where we meet two contrasting brothers on Whiddy Island: fisherman Danny O'Leary (51) and his brother Tim O'Leary (43).
In Donegal, we meet Dr Shirley Gallagher (40s) – a typical Arranmore Islander, born off the island in London whilst her island parents were working there, the family were reared on Arranmore. Shirley is well-travelled, well-educated and well able to speak her mind.
Also a resident of Arranmore is mild-mannered fisherman Neilie Kavanagh (40s). Although preparing for the busy season ahead, Neilie is heartbroken over the decline of the inshore fishing industry in Arranmore. He is the custodian of his father's boat – the St. Anthony, built by his father on Arranmore over 40 years ago. Neilie has never worked or lived off Arranmore.
With many twists and turns along the way, Islanders will follow the lives and stories of these characters to learn what threatens their survival, to discover a different way of life, and to share in what it means to be an islander.