Irish director, Marion Bergin has documented the battle of working-class men in maintaining their equine cultural legacy - watch her new documentary Saoirse above.
In Saoirse, Bergin visits horsemen in inner-city Dublin to document their struggle to retain their traditions whilst a process of gentrification grips their communities.
With gentrification, the traditional practices of breeding, riding and caring for horses in cities have fallen into decline, causing this previously long-established way of life to become a thing of the past.
Bergin said: "These men are painted as 'hard men' but I’ve received nothing but warmth and friendliness from them."
Some of those featuring in Saoirse note how their horses saved them from drugs and petty crime, while also providing much-needed escapism for their children.
Saoirse documents a cultural legacy steeped in tradition of which this community hopes to share with future generations to come. As the name states, the tradition of keeping horses in the city provides these communities with a sense of freedom.
For more information on director Marion Bergin, click here.
