When young filmmaker, Peter (PJ) Mongan applied for Galway City of Film’s Misléor Film Bursary back in June 2022, he didn’t yet have a story for his documentary set in place. He was sure, however, that he wanted to explore the rich history and culture of his own Traveller community here in Galway. The culmination of his work is a beautiful expression of customs and skills that have been carried on and shared by these Traveller women as they keep the traditions alive. 

Peter sat down to chat with us about his first experience as a filmmaker on his short documentary Beoirs Whidden. We talked about how he applied for the bursary through the Galway Traveller Movement, his experience working with mentor Alice McDowell, how the whole piece finally came together for the screening at Misleór Festival, and where to next. 

Beoirs Whidden: Women Talking 

Beoirs Whidden is the Irish Cant for ‘Women Talking’. Cant, also known as Shelta or Gammon, is the ancient indigenous language spoken by Irish Travellers or Minceirí. The name was suggested by Peter’s cousin as a title that would reflect the women who are the story. 

Peter had initially planned to speak with several different men and women from across the Traveller community, but with time constraints for filming and a deadline of a festival screening looming, this wasn’t so easy. However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as he was able to refocus the narrative ‘to allow the women speaking in the documentary to shine.’ 

Over the course of the 15–minute piece we meet Traveller women who each share a different aspect of their culture, covering everything from art, to education, to industry with the audience. 

Making a Record of Important Traditions  

First, we meet Nell Donovan who makes paper flowers in her home. We then meet Julia Sweeney who shows us the children’s books she has written. She also talks about the importance of reading and promotion of education through the Galway Traveller Movement. Next, we go foraging with Nora Corcoran in the woods. Finally, we meet Kathleen Sweeney, who takes us down to Salthill picking winkles with Annemarie Stokes and Nora Mongan. 

Peter, or PJ as he is known at home, is also a talented musician and keen guitar player, so the music choice in the short documentary was important to him. The song in the closing titles, ‘Campfire in the Dark’, which was covered by The Fureys in 1993, was originally written by Paddy Houlahan, a well-known musician and teacher in the Traveller community who had, several years back, taught Peter, his sister, and others in the community how to play the guitar.

See Paddy Houlahan’s self-released album on Discogs: ‘Living On The Edge Of Your Town’ 

Craft Of Editing & Festival Submissions 

Peter has great time for Alice McDowell, his mentor, who really helped to show him the ropes of filmmaking and took him through the slow but important process of editing. As he said himself, the filming was relatively quick once he had filming days set in place. It was the editing afterwards where he didn’t realise how much work would be involved in putting it all together. 

While he was under pressure in the end to finish the piece, Peter was very happy he got to have his premiere screening as part of the Nomadic Shorts programme in the Misleór Festival for Nomadic Cultures 2022, and he was delighted with the response from the audience there. 

Peter wants to acknowledge the guidance from Eoin Dolan at Ballybane Foróige, and Mary McMahon his former homework club teacher, and he would like to thank John O’Donnell, Paddy Houlahan, Moisés Mas Garcia, Avi Ratnayake, and Eoin Butler Thornton for their support. 

After the success of the first screening, they were all keen for him to bring it further, so Alice showed Peter how to submit to festivals on Film Freeway. Peter sent off submissions to festivals in Ireland, the UK, and Finland, and he was delighted to have Beoirs Whidden be one of the six pieces chosen for the Glór Young Curators programme: Short Film Screening & Q&A. 

The Glór screening will be this Wednesday, November 23rd at 8pm, in Ennis. Peter is looking forward to getting down there to show his work to a wider audience. At only 19, he is already a young man of many talents, and we look forward to seeing what 2023 has in store for him! 

For more information on future bursaries and opportunities, you can subscribe to the Ardán newsletter and follow our Ardán and Galway City of Film social media channels! 

About Misleór Festival 

Misleór, which means ‘wanderer’ in the Irish Traveller language Cant (aka Gammon), is an annual festival that celebrates and connects nomadic peoples from around the world. Founded in 2019, Misleór is a community-led event, proudly presented by the Galway Traveller Movement. With a vibrant programme of music, theatre, dance, film, poetry and visual art, the festival explores nomadic identity through the lens of creativity and cultural action for change.