It’s been a lively and exciting time of year for the filmmakers on the Higher Diploma in Arts in Television and Media Production. The South East Technological University is run by Nemeton TV in Gaeltacht na nDéise and has been producing award winning graduates for twenty years now.
This year’s filmmakers have been putting the finishing touches on their diverse and highly imaginative short documentaries and dramas in preparation for the Premiere at Dungarvan cinema on Wednesday 13th May. For the eagerly anticipated event, family, friends, locals and stars of the films gathered to celebrate a milestone in the filmmakers’ lives. Course Leader Dr. Moira Sweeney introduced the special occasion, noting that some of the soon to be graduates had already won prestigious awards and screened their work at festivals around the country. She was delighted that the Premiere would yet again showcase a wonderfully eclectic range of films, some of which have brand new compositions created by music technology students from the SETU Music Department.
Dr. Danielle Douglas, Head of Department of Arts in SETU said that she was very take away by the talent on display: “What a unique group of talented filmmakers and musicians showcasing such a wide and moving breadth of ideas today. We are delighted that this collaboration between SETU and Nemeton TV creates the space to produce such meaningful and creative pieces of original work. These hard working students can be assured of their place in the media and music industries.”
Dúirt Susan Ní Churnáin ón Rannóg Taighde agus Forbairt Earnála, Údarás na Gaeltachta: “Bainim an-sásamh as bheith anseo arís; is mór dúinn i gcónaí a bheith luaite le Nemeton TV agus SETU agus a bheith in ann freastal agus tacú libh agus an cúrsa seo ag dul ó neart go neart. Mar is ghnach bhí na scannáin ar chaighdeán fíor-ard agus is léir gur bhain na mic léinn agus na ceoltóirí an sásamh as a bheith páirteach ann.”
Dúirt Irial Mac Murchú gur thosaigh an cúrsa amach 20 bliain ó shin le tacaíocht ó Údarás na Gaeltacht agus comhpháirtíocht uathúil le Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Oirdheiscirt:
“Is é an rud a sheasann amach inár dtraenáil dhian ná go n-ullmhóimid mic léinn le bheith ullamh don tionscal. I 2025 thaispeáin muid 270 cluiche… agus ní bheimid in ann é sin a dhéanamh gan na daoine a tháinig ón gcúrsa. Tá na laethanta is mó agus na laethanta is fearr romhainn amach, le bur stacaíocht go léir!”
COWBOY GO DEO by Muireann Ahern
Tomas has guided others through loss, when a familiar young boy asks him to face his own. He existed with the belief that love was a fragile thing, something that could be taken away without warning. This fear was the silent engine of his adult life. Or was it? A film about love in all its manifestations. Composer: Jonah O’Toole
CIORCAL KITTY by Amy Redmond and Triona McGrath
A young woman is overcome with an unhealthy obsession when she begins attending the Conversation Circles. Kitty feels stuck in a terrible cleaning job, until one day, she meets the local Ciorcal Comhrá and becomes completely absorbed in improving her Irish. Composer: James O’Halloran
BRÚITEOIR by Ciara Foran
Evil falls upon a small town when the Virgin Mary statue goes missing from the local grotto, a crime so scandalous it is imbued with the seriousness of a murder. Sergeant Garda Traoloch, who is viewed as a controversial figure in the town, leads the unusual investigation. Composer: Billy Doran
ALFIE HALE by Aidan Corbett & Eoin Murphy
A local athlete's rise from humble beginnings to national fame. Alfie Hale began his senior football career at his hometown club Waterford United (now Waterford FC) in 1956 at the young age of 17 and carved an extraordinary career for himself. This film meets up with Alfie and some of his friends to reflect on a glittering career.
GALLTACHT GO GAELTACH by Fachtna ÓAodha
The story of Donnchadh Ó hAodha. He is a tireless advocate for language rights, Irish-medium education, and community-centered cultural renewal. His work reflects a simple but powerful belief: that a language only survives when ordinary people have the power to use it in their daily lives.
TÁBHAIRNE NA hUÍNE by Síomha Brock
A Gaeltacht community in South Kerry, suffering from severe depopulation, is on a mission to save one of Ireland's most rural pubs from closure. This film tells the story of the first community-owned pub and shop in Ireland.
AMHRÁN DÉ MÁIRT by Lane Shipsey
Aodh works part-time in a café in a small town on the edge of the Gaeltacht - he is learning to play the guitar. A customer gives him the chance to sing at a session she is running. Aodh is thrown into crisis when he realises that he is actually afraid of singing in public.
TRAGÓID AN SEAHORSE by Aodhán Grant and Claire Hatton
A dramatic and tragic story about the final voyage of a military sailing ship returning soldiers from the Napoleonic Wars in France. They came through the United Kingdom and encountered one of the worst sea storms that resulted in the disastrous loss of 363 lives on the Sea Horse in 1816. Composer: Kate O’
The Higher Diploma in Arts in Television and Media Production celebrates its 20th year in 2026. It is run by the South East Technological University in association with Nemeton TV, one of Ireland’s leading production companies, and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Gréasán na Meán SKillnet are supporting eligible students with valuable scholarships to study. They are also newly sponsoring a timely series of new workshops in Digital Marketing and AI.
The next course commences in September 2026.
