Bliain an tSneachta Mhóir airs tonight on TG4 at 9:30.
I’m extremely proud to have cut this documentary as I think its a beautiful little film expertly directed by Colm Bairead. I worked with Colm on last years triple IFTA nominated documentary series ‘An Ceoldrama’ and I think our working together has been fruitful and quite a bit of fun too. The show was produced by Eileen Seoige from Abu Media in Galway and commissioned by Proinsias Ní Ghráinne for TG4, both of whom were delighted with the documentary.
I know there is a certain ratings juggernaut on RTE tonight at the same time but if you’re not one of those people watching Love/Hate, why not give this a watch or at least set it to record. I hope you won’t be disappointed.
The documentary itself is a look back at one of the coldest winters in Ireland in living memory, a freak ice age that lasted two months. In late January 1947 a cold front left Ireland in an arctic grip with temperatures plummeting to -14°C. The country came to virtual standstill and isolated farms and villages ran low on food, fuel and animal fodder. With firsthand accounts from those who remember it well, and the use of archive film and newspaper articles, this is the story of the Big Freeze.
TG4 Sunday 26th October – 9:30
John Murphy 