Aer Lingus will be showing a documentary film from Offaly on board its transatlantic flights this April and May as part of its ‘Gathering’ inspired entertainment.
The documentary film A Grand Experience, which was commissioned by Offaly County Council in 2012, follows three artists (writer Eugene O’Brien; photographer Veronica Nicholson and musician Wayne Brennan) on the 68M barge as it wound its way from Shannon Harbour to Edenderry in Offaly.
Speaking after the announcement that the film was to be show in flight, County Offaly Arts Officer Sinéad O’Reilly said: “From a cultural tourism perspective this could not get much better. We are delighted with the news knowing that it will directly showcase Offaly to such a large audience coming into Ireland this year.”
The film that was commissioned by the council through the per cent for art scheme is part of a larger exhibition focusing on the Grand Canal in Offaly, entitled A Very Grand Canal.
The art exhibition also features the work of Geraldine O’ Reilly, who created etchings that explore the history of the canal including the first time the Grand Canal is used for carrying troops in 1798 and La Cosa Preziosa, who created the sound art and installation, Six Moorings and A Silent Thread:sound stories from the Grand Canal and various artworks from the three artists featured in the film.
The film, made by Mixed Bag Media, was first shown on RTE last October to an audience of some 565,000 and is due to be repeated on RTE later in 2013.
