Labhair muid le láithreoir na sraithe, Droichid na hÉireann, Lochlann Ó Mearáin faoina ghairm beatha mar aisteoir agus an méid a d'fhoghlaim sé faoi Éirinn agus ar a aistear timpeall na tíre.
Tá aithne ag daoine ort ó bheith ag aisteoireacht le roinnt blianta anuas. Cad a spreag tú le dul i mbun aisteoireachta an chéad lá?
Blianta fada ó shin bhí mé sa lucht féachana mar bhuachaill óg ag breathnú ar m'athair fhéin ar stáitse le na Strand Players in BAC, thóg sé cúl stáitse muid chun bualadh le na hasiteoirí agus thit mé láithreach faoi gheasa agus iad ag baint smidiú i seomra beag lán le feisteas agus fuineamh. Bhí ionadh orm gur chruthaigh siad an domhan seo le chéile agus go raibh siad ar fad chomh mór lena chéile agus dár ndóigh thug spéirbhean álainn milsean dom agus is as sin a thosaigh mo chaidreamh leis an stáitse agus maireann sí fós.
Bhí dhá bhliain an-aisteach againn uilig. An raibh aon chlár teilifíse/ raidió nó leabhar a bhí mar chomhluadar agat le linn na paindéime?
Nuair a thosaigh an paindéime dhá bhilan ó shin agus stop gach rud, gach post agus gnó do cách bhí sé ar nós go raibh gach duine ag blaiseadh saol na haisteora, mar is minic an cás a bhíonn an t'aisteoir gan tionscail gan turastail 's gan mínú. Anois le blianta taithí agam ar an saol sin tuigim gurb é sin an am chun forbairt a dhéanamh ort fhéin agus am a chaitheamh le cúrsaí a bhaineann tú sult as. Le sin a rá bhí sé go deas bheith i mo shuí leí fhéin sa trathnóna ag breathnú ar clárachaí mar Normal People, Unorthadox, Maid, Queens Gambit, agus ag léamh fír scéaltaí faoi Tom Crean, Muhamad Ali, Richard Sadlier agus Claude M Bristol. San áit ina bhfuileamar inár gcónaí faoin tuath chaitheammar neart ama sa ghairdín, ag snámh san abhainn agus cócaireacht leis na pfráistí, bhíomar gnóthach ó dhubh go dubh buíochas le Dia.
𝐀𝐧 𝐛𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐢𝐥 𝐭ú 𝐫é𝐢𝐝𝐡? 📺🌉 #DroichidnahÉireann - Episode 4
— New Departures Media (@NewDepMedia) January 24, 2022
Anocht, 7:30pm ar @RTEOne @lochlann_ @WaterfordGrnWay @Corkcoco @CorkFMCR @WaterfordCounci @WaterfordLibs @corkbeo @corkcitycouncil @westcorkpeople pic.twitter.com/VTSzKi3CU3
Droichid na hÉireann is giving viewers a fresh look at the bridges they thought they knew. Was there a standout moment from the series for you?
The west of Ireland where I live is littered with bridges and buildings that were constructed in the mid to late 19th century, a cruel and desperate time on this island and as little as 4 generations ago. Thankfully my ancestors and yours managed to survive it all. This introduced me to the concept of generational trauma and standing on those structures brought about many mixed emotions but the stand out experience which I wasn’t expecting was the Peace Bridge in Derry. With the opportunity of much needed investment in Derry a small group of mostly women advocated for a bridge from the Bogside across to where the British Military base was positioned, large imposing cannons dominated the skyline. Many in power wanted other resources such as a new road, hospitals or a shopping centre but these women (Mo Durkan primarily) stood their ground and eventually succeeded in having a bridge erected. The symbolism of the oppressed Irish in their own land who chose peace and unification of the people above all else was really very moving. To allow young people walk back and forth in peace, to neutralise a military base, rid it of its cannons and soldiers and bring light into darkness I found this deeply moving and a reminder of the incredible human spirit that we possess as Irish people. It was also a great way to end the series and in some way goes towards healing this generational trauma that we carry with us. We may have to rebrand ourselves as a nation in the coming years but the Peace bridge in Derry showed me that this country may be small hut we have a big, big heart, that’s a brand I’d be delighted to be part of.
What should viewers expect to see you in next?
Thankfully the visual arts and film were given a work exemption early on in the lockdown and the demand for TV soared and I had one of the busiest years of my career. Firstly a spaghetti western 7 part series that we shot in Barri Italy and Almeria Spain "That Dirty Black Bag" which will be screened on AMC world-wide, for lovers of westerns this is surely going to be a hit.
"Joyride" an Irish feature film starring Olivia Colman should hit the festival circuit this summer, we shot that in a stunning Kerry during a heatwave, and although it should be daunting working with an Oscar winning actor Olivia is probably the nicest person you could ever meet and she taught me that its enough to just be nice and enjoy your work but to feel things rather than think things in a scene.
I also had the pleasure of woking in Skebereen on Graham Nortons novel "Holding" adapted for TV, directed by a acting royalty Kathy Burke and packed with so many brilliant and legendary Irish actors who made the weird wonderful. Holding can be seen on ITV later this year.
Also for TV is "The Dreamers" the life story of author Karen Blixen who was made famous internationally after the film "Out of Africa". Connie Nielsen plays Karen and after a series of fortunate events I was asked to play her lover Denys Finch Hatton. We shot mostly in Copenhagen and Brussels and in Kreugar National Park near Mozambique. I think this will also be a very watched series because it will look absolutely beautiful .
Now.. well as the world gets back to work I’m back at home, no job and a phone I keep checking to see if its broken it hasn’t rung in so long.
Is féidir leat breathnú ar Droichid na hÉireann anseo
