Rainbow shines in Inishowen

Thunderous applause rang out in St Mary’s Hall, Buncrana on Thursday night last as Inishowen got its long-awaited first glimpse of the award winning film “A Shine of Rainbows.” Local dignitaries, town and county councillors, Buncrana Mayor Councillor Lee Tedstone and Deputy Mayor of Donegal Cllr Charlie McConalogue mingled with representatives from Cinemagic, Donegal County Council, those who were involved in the film and eager locals who were lucky to get their hands on much-coveted tickets for the event. The film itself was preceded by a wine and finger food reception, funded by Buncrana Town Council, at which renowned musician Dinny McLaughin (White Harra) and friends entertained the audience with lively traditional music. With excitement building, everyone took their seats and heard introductory speeches from Joan Burney Keatings from Cinemagic, Mayor Tedstone, Councillor MacConalogue and Donegal County Council film officer Aideen Doherty. There was applause as Burney Keatings lauded the people and landscape of the peninsula and added it was now set to become an even stronger tourist attraction. She said: “What a brilliant occasion to be here tonight for the first screening in Inishowen of ‘A Shine Of Rainbows.’ “I’m very lucky as I got to see the film in Cinemagic, Belfast. It’s also been shown in New York, Los Angeles and is about to screen in Dublin. It really is amazing, really shows off your countryside and it’s absolutely fabulous. Only a month ago everybody in America was just overwhelmed by the beauty in this part of the world so I’d imagine you’re going to see lots and lots of buses coming and visitors from the US just coming and seeing how beautiful your countryside is.” Urging those in the audience who were involved in the film to “stand up,” Ms. Keatings said the film was an “absolute showcase for the wealth of talent of young people here. “It really is their night as well as for many this is the first time they’ve seen themselves on the ‘big screen.’ It’s great to see the amount of talent there is in this part of the world.” She also paid tribute to Aideen Doherty and passed on apologies from the film’s director Vic Sarin, who y couldn’t attend the event due to flight restrictions as a result of the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud. She added: “I’m delighted and very thrilled to have met this amazing woman, Aideen, who is just fabulous. I’m sure you all know her because she goes by reputation; once you meet her she’s got so much energy and passion for Donegal, which is fantastic. “I’d like to thank Danny and his lovely wife and the caterers, for giving us this beautiful facility to us. Thank you for making us feel so welcome. Last, but not least, I’ve got to pass on my sincere apologies from the director of the movie Vic. He was planning on being here tonight and did get as far as New York but unfortunately as you know with the situation that’s been going on he couldn’t fly but he is with you in spirit and wishes he could be here.” Buncrana Mayor Lee Tedstone described the film as a “spectacular opportunity for Inishowen.” He said: “I recently read in the paper that this film is about transformational love, finding acceptance and discovering ourselves. “Firstly, I want to thank Aideen for all her hard work on the ground, Jean and all the team at Cinemagic for organising this event here tonight, congratulate Vic Sarin, the director, his production team and staff and all the crew and cast for their hard efforts in this production. “It’s also pertinent to say that on behalf of the people here in Inishowen I want to pass on our gratitude to them for choosing Inishowen as a location setting for this film. I also want to note the local Henry Girls as well who contributed to the film’s score, so congratulations to them also. He continued: “This is a spectacular opportunity for Inishowen and in fact the whole region can capitalise on opportunities for tourism and culture. Already. I’ve just heard a German tour operator is investigating package holidays to Inishowen as a direct result of this film. I haven’t seen the film yet although I’ve seen some of the trailers and the previews and I’m really looking forward to seeing it. I’d encourage everyone here to watch with interest how this spectacular peninsula we all live on and have to say sometimes take for granted is showcased and brought to life. I’d also like to say, as I did earlier, that the film is about is a transformational love finding acceptance and discovering ourselves and I hope you find your own way in this film tonight. “ Cllr Charlie McConalogue, representing Donegal Mayor Brendan Byrne, described the film as “fantastic.” “It’s great to see such a willing and enthusiastic audience. I know there’s so many people here who put a lot of time and effort into this film tonight and you’re all delighted to be seeing it. Indeed, I’ve no doubt a number if you got your start in the movie world in this one here so you’re just waiting on Vic Sarin to come back and for the next movie so you get involved again.” Cllr McConalogue also paid tribute to Aideen Doherty, Cinemagic and the film crew and recommended those seeing the film to stock up on their tissues. “To anybody who tends to get a bit weepy during a film I’d say if you haven’t stocked up on your tissues you might want to take corrective action before the curtains go back! It really is fantastic. Times there are things you’d like to see happening in an area and a Hollywood film with Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielson directed by Emmy award winning director Vic Sarin is something you don’t really expect to happen in your back yard and I’m sure many involved in the film close their eyes sometimes and often wonder did it really happen at all?” Aideen Doherty concluded by lauding the people of the peninsula. “There is really is nothing more for me to say except I may have been instumental in getting them to come here but once they came the people of this peninsula stepped up, nothing was a problem.” She also added twhile she was reluctant to single anyone out for praise, she thanked Charlie O’Donnell from Malin as “when we were stuck he was the man who got the call.” She introduced the film by stating the peninsula has “arrived.” “Everything has been said in relation to what we have and I think we’ve an awful lot more to do and part of the to do is the opportunity this film gives us. As a peninsula we have arrived, this is our time.”