Scríobhann Medb Johnstone, scríbhneoir agus stiúrthóir an scannán, Ár gCluiche Féin, a insíonn scéal faoi bheirt fhear ag imirt peile a thiteann i ngrá lena chéile.
Is fánach an áit a dtiocfadh smaoineamh chugat.
Ar an 10 lá de mhí Mheán Fómhair 2017 bhí mé in Ardán Uí Ógáin i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. Bhí mo dheirfiúr is óige sa líne leathchúl ag imirt i gCluiche Ceannais Camógaíochta d'fhoireann shóisear Bhaile Átha Cliath. Bhí an chlann ar fad bailithe don ócáid, agus muid go léir ag súil go mbeadh bonn Chraobh na hÉireann á thabhairt ar ais go Fionnradharc an tráthnóna sin.
66 bliain roimhe sin, sheas mo sheanathair ar an bpáirc chéanna mar bhall d’fhoireann peile clúiteach Mhaigh Eo. An Domhnach ina dhiaidh sin, bheadh deis eile ag an gcontae céanna an mhallacht a bhriseadh.
Ag trácht ar an easpa ticéid a bhí againn do chluiche Mhaigh Eo a bhí muid nuair a tháinig smaoineamh craiceáilte chugam. Dá ngabhfainn i bhfolach tar éis an fheadóg dheiridh, an mbeadh seans agam a bheith i láthair seachtain níos déanaí agus an mhallacht á bhriseadh?
Faoin am go raibh muid ag siúl an míle díomách abhaile, gan bhonn, bhí creatlach an scéil i m’aigne. Thuig mé nach mór ó thús gur scéal a bhain le beirt fhear aerach a d’imir na cluichí gaelacha a bheadh ann. Ní fear aerach mé, ach tuigim an tionchar atá ag maslaí ar dhuine, agus an brú a airíonn tú nuair atá faitíos ort nach nglacfar leat. Tá mé thar a bheith buíoch leo siúd a raibh taithí phearsanta acu ar an ábhar seo a léigh an script dom agus a chur comhairle orm.
Is iomaí casadh agus cor a bhí ann idir sin agus mí Aibreáin 2025 nuair a thosaigh an scannánaíocht ar an ngearrscannán. Sna seachtaine roimh an taifeadta, buaileadh cúpla buille trom orainn agus murach díograis na léiritheoirí, an cheamradóra, an chriú agus na n-aisteoirí, ní bheadh scannán ar bith againn. Gach uair gur thit plean as a chéile, nó gur diúltíodh muid, mheabhraigh siad dom gur comhartha é seo maidir le cé chomh riachtanach is a bhí sé an scannán a chur i gcrích.
Sna laethanta roimh an taifeadadh bhí carachtar á plé agam le duine de na haisteoirí, bulaí an ról a bhí aige. Stad sé mé i lár abairte. Ní raibh aon an ghá le míniú, thuig sé go díreach cérbh é an fear sin, bhí aithne aige ar fhir díreach cosúil leis.
Dúshlán mór a bhí againn ná teacht ar fhir óga chun ról an fhoireann a ghlacadh. Seo rud a raibh mé ag súil leis ach fós féin, chuir sé díomá orm. Ach ar deireadh tháinig na fir chugainn, ó chlubanna éagsúla agus rinne cuid acu turas fada le bheith linn. Fanann an mothúchán a bhí agam nuair a chonaic mé an seomra gléasta lán liom. Theastaigh uathu tacú leis an scéal seo.
In 2018, bhí mé ar ais in Árdán Uí Ógáin ag féachaint ar mo dheirfiúr ag ardú coirn agus bonn uile Éireann ina lámh aici.
Tá muid fós ag fanacht ar Mhaigh Eo.
Faoi dheireadh thiar thall tá Ár gCluiche Féin anseo agus tá muid fíorbhródúil as.
Nuair a chonaic cara liom an reámhbhlaiseadh ar líne, chuir sé glórnóta chugam. Bhí deora ina shúile tar éis a thaithí féin den homafóibe a fheiceáil ar an scáileán.
Is deacair a mheas conas a éireoidh lenár scannán beag, ach má chuireann sé daoine ag smaoineamh nó má airíonn daoine go bhfuil siad le feiceáil dá bharr, beidh ár ndóthain bainte amach againn.
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Ideas come to you in the strangest of places.
On the 10th of September 2017 I was in the Hogan Stand in Croke Park. My youngest sister was on the halfback line playing for the Dublin Premier Junior Team in the Camogie All-Ireland Final. The whole family had gathered for the occasion in the hope that an All-Ireland medal would be making its way back to Fairview that afternoon.
66 years previously, my grandfather had stood on the same pitch as a member of a now legendary Mayo Football Team. The Sunday after, Mayo would have another chance to break the curse.
We were lamenting the fact that most of us didn’t have tickets for next week when a mad thought hit me. If I hid in the stadium after the final whistle, could I manage to be there when the curse was finally broken?
By the time we were walking the disappointing and medalless mile home that afternoon, I had the outline of a story in my mind. I knew from the beginning that it was about two gay men who played Gaelic games. I’m not a gay man, but I understand how insults can wound a person and the intense pressure you experience when you fear you won’t be accepted. I’m beyond grateful to the friends who read the script and advised me from their own experience.
In the weeks leading up to filming, we had a series of setbacks. Every time a plan fell apart, or we were rejected, the Ár gCluiche Féin producer, DOP, crew and cast reminded me that it was a sign of how necessary it was to make the film.
Just before filming I was discussing a character with one of the actors, he was to play a bully. He stopped me midsentence, there was no need to explain, he understood exactly who this man was, he knew men like this.
Finding men to take part as background players on the football team was a challenge. This was disappointing, yet expected. But in the end players arrived, they came from several clubs and some travelled a long distance to be there. The feeling I had looking around that full dressing room will always stay with me. They wanted to be part of this story, to support it.
In 2018 I was back in the Hogan Stand watching my little sister lift a cup, an All Ireland medal in her hand.
We’re still waiting for Mayo to break the curse.
Finally Ár gCluiche Féin is here and we’re very proud of this film.
A few months ago I received a voice note from a friend who had seen the trailer online. He was recording with tears in his eyes after seeing his experience of homophobic bullying on screen.
It’s hard to know how our little film will do, but if it makes people think, or makes people feel seen, we’ll have done enough.
Bronnadh dhá ghradam ar Ár gCluiche Féin ag Big Fridge International Film Festival i Londain i mí Márta don Scannán Eachtrannach is Fearr agus don Aisteoir is Fearr. Beidh première Éireannach ag an scannáin ag Fleadh Scannán na Gaillimhe i mí Iúil.
Ár gCluiche Féin was awarded Best Foreign Film and Best Actor at Big Fridge International Film Festival in London in March. The film will have its Irish première at Galway Film Fleadh this July.
Is scríbhneoir agus stiúrthóir í Medb Johnstone, rinneadh Ár gCluiche féin tríd an scéim Céim Eile le tacaíocht ó TG4, Fís Éireann agus an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge.
Medb Johnstone is writer and director of Ár gCluiche Féin which was made through the Céim Eile Irish-language talent initiative supported by TG4, Fís Éireann and the Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
