Oileán: Na Naomh
"Sometimes even the island gods are subject to the foibles of mere mortals."
Since time immemorial an island caught between Oileán Chliara/Clare Island and Inis Toirc/Inish Turk, has been the centre of ancient ritual and pilgrimage - a magical place between heaven and earth is the island of Cathair na Naomh/Caher of the Saints.
"..There is a special feeling you get when you step ashore. it's so peaceful and tranquil. There are other places of pilgrimage where you get a similar feeling. I would hope it would be treated with the same respect our forefathers showed it over the years."
Paddy O'Toole: Feirmeoir Inis Toirc
"Tá rud éigin sa talamh faoi na clocha seo shíos a bhfuilim i mo shuí air. Tagann sé anois tríd do cholainn isteach i do chloigeann isteach i d'intinn. Bfhéidir nach bhfuil sé ag chuile dhuine ach tá sé agamsa níl aon áit a b'fhearr liom a bheith."
Paddy Fitzpatrick: Saoi Chathair na Naomh
(There is something in the rocks which I'm sitting on. It comes up through your body into your head and into you mind. Perhaps not everyone gets it but I do and there is no where I'd rather be.)
Local legend would have it that St.Patrick built the first monastery on the island, and on the 15th of August every year a pilgrimage to the island takes place with traditional pattern prayers and mass.
"It's a lovely place to go. The sea journey alone is good clearing material leaving your day to today stuff behind and it stays with you quite a while after. I find it enlightening and rejuvenating to go there"
Philomena O' Malley: Cleachtóir Reiki - Oileán Chliara
"There is an invocation that goes something like ughlaimid de an tuile more agus tuilchumachtach which means we pay homage to the great god the god of the universe and the wonderworker patrick and they also used to dip the sails on boats passing."
Paddy O' Toole: Feirmeoir Inis Toirc
However some believe that the real source of this island's mystical powers is pagan and that Christianity is just a johnny-come-lately in the story of the island.
"Rud éigin sa spéir nó cnoc an dia a bhí acu san, ní an dia atá ag na Caitlicigh ar chor ar bith agus má bhí droch séasúr acu mar a deirfeá, cheap siad dá maróidís ainmhithe éigin agus é a dhó go dtabharfadh sé an-fómhair dóibh an tEarrach eile."
Paddy Fitzpatrick: Saoi Chathair na Naomh
(Their god was something in the sky or a mountain, not the god the Catholics worship and if they had a bad season, they believed by killing an animal and burning it that it would guarantee a better season the following Spring)
When different worlds collide, tension and conflict follow. Caher - whatever the interpretation or explanation of its power is no different. Can the pilgrimage go ahead in the glare of cameras, outsiders, island rivalry or will even the "Island gods be subject to the foibles of mere mortals." ?
Producer/Director: Dónall Ó Maolfabhail
Researcher: Mark Keenan