Authentic old Meath public houses in short films series

Birmingham's, Scut Fagan's, and Harnan's feature

A series of short documentaries looking at some of Meath's oldest and most authentic public houses and pub experiences has been touring the national and international film festival circuit, having been selected at over 10 festivals worldwide including IndieCork, Toronto Irish Film Festival & Berlin Indie Film Festival.

Award-winning director Natasha Duffy debuts this series of short documentaries with RTÉ Culture, which were produced by SoFFt Productions in partnership with Meath County Council Arts Office with funding support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Local Live Performance Programming Scheme.

Exploring what makes the Irish rural pub so unique and keeps these pubs alive, this series of documentary shorts lays bare that it is and always will be the people that are the heart of the Irish pub.

The rural pub is a place where Ireland’s traditional music can be celebrated and preserved.

The pub could be considered the pulpit for the storyteller, should you be in the right company or simply a space for the community to relax and socialise.

In each part in this series one thing is made clear, the breath of characters found in Meath’s rural pubs and the musical talent on display ensure that the pub isn’t going anywhere.

The short documentary on Bermingham's takes a spirited look at what keeps Navan’s oldest pub running.

To no one’s surprise, it’s the people - from the pub's proprietor Paddy Donnelly, alongside bar manager Joe Callaghan, to the lively patrons and musicians. This short offers a chance to revel in the atmosphere of one of Meath’s most beloved establishments.

Scut Fagans has long been a fixture in Moynalvey. The pub today offers up exactly what it has for many years - a space for people from all walks of life to mix and enjoy traditional Irish music.

Publican John Reilly explains why it is that the rural pub will always have a place in Ireland and invites the audience to enjoy some of the finest local music on offer.

There’s only one star of the show at Harnan’s and that’s Junior Harnan himself.

Operating the pub like his father and grandfather did before him, Junior offers a space for the community to exchange stories and celebrate traditional Irish music. Harnan’s is in safe hands as the next generation have already taken to the taps, ensuring the continuation of a longstanding family tradition.

Artists include Daragh Lynch (Lankum) and Sean Fitzgerald (The Deadlians), John Spillane and Nigel Grufferty, Gerry O'Beirne, Bernadette Nic Gabhann and Brenda Castles.

Natasha Duffy says: “I ran the Spirit of Folk Festival in Meath for over seven years and so started my fascination with the ‘session’. Out of nowhere someone would start singing, another person would follow with a tune on the fiddle and suddenly something magical would happen.

“The session would form its own life, built on the mutual respect and attention of everyone involved.

"It felt spiritual in a way. I thought it had such a potential to be captured on camera in a different kind of way, where we focused on their faces and eyes and that rapt attention.

We ended up discovering a whole lot more in these pubs and let's face it, it's the locals that bring all the craic!”