Conradh na Gaeilge Glaschú Oíche Scannán/Film Night: Fear na nOileán (Man of the Islands)

In 1980, the Jesuit priest Fr Ó Péicín discovered that the local authority was beginning the process of rehousing the Tory Islanders on the mainland, evacuating the island.

This film - in Irish (with subtitles) and English - tell the story of the fight of the islanders, lead by the priest, to save their home and their way of life.

Following the initial evacuation of fifty islanders, Fr. Péicín co-ordinated a campaign and was helped by Scottish MP Winnie Ewing in taking up the cause with Europe who saw parallels between what was happening on Tory and the fate of Scotland’s own St Kilda. The programme also details how the priest embarrassed MEP Rev. Ian Paisley into becoming involved in the campaign; his seeking of support in the USA, his transfer from the island by the Bishop of Raphoe and his eventual involvement in the formation of The Islands Federation which united European islands allowing them to make their cases at Government level. The programme ends with Ó Péicín’s 2006 visit to the island where he witnesses the transformation of the island due to European and government support in the intervening years.

The film will be followed by Grace Cohen , whose family came from Tory, singing some songs from the island and speaking on the stories behind the songs.

Fear na nOileán (Man of the Islands), 2006, 52 mins