Documentary maker Nathan Walsh writes about his Documentary On One production, Riverchapel Ladies On Tour - listen to it in full above.
Riverchapel is a small village that lies just south of Courtown Harbour on the southeast coast of Ireland.
Every Summer, the numbers swell as tourists, mainly from Dublin, make the annual pilgrimage down the M11 to take up residence in the mobile home parks and holiday homes that punctuate the landscape. The amusements, beaches, pubs and ‘best chips in Ireland’ on offer to those who make the journey have become the quintessential Summer experience for generations of families.
Most of those who visit will make the return trip back up to Dublin once the season draws to a close, but more than a few have chosen to make their stay a permanent one. Lured by the gentler pace of life and the lower property prices, many have chosen the area as a base from which to commute, or simply a location in which to retire.
For a number of women who have made this move, the Riverchapel Ladies’ Club provides a vital sense of camaraderie and connection. Offering tea, chat, bingo, activities and outings, the club has attracted a wide range of ladies from all ages and backgrounds, united by their shared experience of relocation.
I’ve known some of the ladies for years through my mother, and on those occasions when I’ve met up with them after their outings, I’ve always been struck by the energy and personalities within the club.
There was always great banter between the women, as well as stories and singing and laughing, and it seemed to me that the group would make the subject of a great documentary.
When I learned about their plans for a Christmas trip to Westport, Co. Mayo, it seemed the perfect chance to capture this essence.
The tantalising nexus between Dublin, Riverchapel/Courtown and Westport represented an incredible opportunity to capture a slice of the Irish experience and character that is contemporary yet suffused with a sense of continuity with the past. Many of the ladies have great stories about life and love and loss in a country that has been utterly transformed over the course of their lives.
As well as recollections, I wanted to capture the great dynamic that exists between the ladies in the club, and also their personalities, some of which are strong and boisterous, others which are more timid and quiet. And of course, I wanted to capture the fun had by all of those who travelled to Westport for the Riverchapel Ladies on Tour.
Documentary On One: Riverchapel Ladies On Tour, RTÉ Radio 1, Saturday at 1pm and Sunday at 7pm - listen to more from the Documentary On One archives here.
