“Siobhán of an Lochán Beag”: A Gaeilge/ Māori Animation Experience 

Cónaitheacht Chlár Malartaithe Beochana Gaeilge/ Māori 2025 idir Cathair Scannán na Gaillimhe (Ceantar Scannán) & Wellington City of Film – taithí a fháil ar ábhar beochana a chur le chéile i dteanga dhúchais eile

Galway City of Film (Ceantar Scannán) & Wellington City of Film Gaeilge/ Māori Animation Exchange Residency 2025 – experiencing animation content creation for a different first language. 

I mí an Mhárta 2025, thug ionadaí Ceantar Scannán, Siobhán Ní Thuarisg, aghaidh ar an Nua-Shéalainn le haghaidh Cónaitheacht Mhalartaithe Beochana ar feadh trí seachtaine. Tá an tionscnamh seo arna chomhordú ag Cathair Scannán na Gaillimhe i gcomhar le Wellington City of Film agus é arna thacú ag Ardán, TG4, agus Údarás na Gaeltachta in Éirinn, agus Wellington Screen Wellington agus Māoriland sa Nua-Shéalainn. Is í an sprioc atá leis an tionscnamh ná go bhfaighidh na rannpháirtithe Gaeilge agus Māori taithí ar ábhar beochana a chur le chéile i dteanga dhúchais eile.  

Glacfaidh an rannpháirtí Māori páirt i gclár malartaithe i nGaillimh idir Bealtaine agus Meitheamh, agus déanfaidh Siobhán agus an rannpháirtí Māori araon ionadaíocht ar son a gCathracha Scannán ag Féile Bheochana Annecy i mí an Mheithimh. 

Cainteoir dúchais Gaeilge is í Ní Thuarisg, arb as Indreabhán ó dhúchas di agus atá ag obair le Telegael faoi láthair i gConamara. Ba é ábhar tráchtais Shiobháin sa choláiste ná “The Importance & Impact Media has on Native Language Speakers” agus iniúchadh á dhéanamh aici ar an nasc idir an Ghaeilge, Māori, agus Cymraeg, agus ar straitéisí chun na teangacha dúchasacha seo a choinneáil i mbéal an phobail.  

Léigh tuilleadh faoi thaithí Shiobháin leis an gcéad chónaitheacht bheochana seo dá leithéid: 

In March 2025, Ceantar Scannán representative Siobhán Ní Thuarisg headed to New Zealand for a three-week Animation Exchange Residency. Coordinated by Galway City of Film with Wellington City of Film, this initiative is supported by Ardán, TG4, and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Ireland, as well as Wellington Screen Wellington and Māoriland in New Zealand. The goal is for the Irish and Māori participants to experience the creation of content for a different first language in animation.  

The Māori participant will participate in a return exchange in May & June in Galway, and both Siobhán and the Māori participant will represent their Cities of Film at Annecy Animation Festival this June. 

A Gaeilgeoir from Inverin in Connemara, currently working with Telegael, Ní Thuarisg’s thesis subject in college was “The Importance & Impact Media has on Native Language Speakers.”, and the link between Gaeilge, Māori, and Cymraeg, and keeping these indigenous languages relevant.  

 Read more about Siobhán’s experience as part of the inaugural animation residency: 

Fáilte speisialta Māori ag ócáid in Ambasáid na hÉireann / Irish embassy hosted event & a special Māori welcome 

Nuair a bhain Siobhán Wellington amach ar an 10 Márta, thug sí aghaidh ar Ambasáid na hÉireann, áit ar cuireadh fáilte roimpi ag ócáid speisialta a eagraíodh chun Lá Fhéile Pádraig a cheiliúradh. An lá dár gcionn, tiomáineadh í go Māoriland in Ōtaki – macasamhail na Gaeltachta in Éirinn – baile beag cois trá a bhfuil cultúr saibhir Māori ann. Chuir muintir na háite fáilte thraidisiúnta Māori roimh Shiobhán i bhfoirm amhránaíochta ag searmanas Pōwhiri. Chan Siobhán fhéin “A Mhuire Mháthair” ag an ócáid, amhrán a bhfuil an fonn céanna aige agus atá ag amhrán aitheanta grá sa chultúr Māori – “Pōkarekare Ana”. 

Chuir muintir Māori iad féin in aithne sa chaoi thraidisiúnta; trína n-ainm, a n-abhainn, a sliabh, a “whakapapa” (oidhreacht) agus ansin a “iwi” (fine) a lua. An teideal a d’úsáid Siobhán chun í féin a chur in aithne ná “Siobhán an Locháin Bhig.” I gcaitheamh na dtrí seachtaine ar chaith sí ann, thug Siobhán suntas don chultúr saibhir stairiúil a bhí fite fuaite trí na himeachtaí agus na hócáidí ceiliúrtha a óstáladh, inar cuireadh béim ar an gcruthaitheacht i gcónaí. 

On her arrival in Wellington, Siobhán headed to the Irish embassy where she was welcomed for a special St. Patrick’s Day event on March 10th. The next day she was driven to Māoriland in Ōtaki – the equivalent of the Gaeltacht in Ireland – a small beach town rich in Māori culture. In a very traditional Māori welcome – a Pōwhiri – Siobhán was greeted by the people with song. Siobhán also sang “A Mhuire Mhathair” – of the same tune as a famous Māori love song – “Pōkarekare Ana”. 

The Māori people introduced themselves in the traditional way by stating their name, river, mountain, “whakapapa” (heritage) and then their iwi (tribe). Siobhán introduced herself as “Siobhán of an Lochán Beag.” She noted throughout her three weeks there the rich historical culture that is woven into the events and celebrations hosted, with creativity always emphasised. 

Clár luasghéaraithe M.A.T.C.H. arna éascú ag Maóriland / M.A.T.C.H. accelerator programme facilitated by Maóriland 

Spreagann an clár M.A.T.C.H. (Māoriland Tech Creative Hub) daoine óga a labhraíonn te reo Māori chun foghlaim faoin phíblíne bheochana agus tugann sé na huirlisí agus na scileanna dóibh a theastódh uathu chun dul ag obair sa tionscal. Le linn di a bheith ann, thug Siobhán tacaíocht agus comhairle do na scoláirí – gairmithe óga beochana ab ea iad na scoláirí go léir, nó mic léinn bheochana a bhí ar tí céim a bhaint amach agus a bhí ag obair ar thionscadail don fhéile Māoriland.  

The M.A.T.C.H. (Māoriland Tech Creative Hub) program encourages young people who speak te reo Māori to learn the animation pipeline and to give them the tools and skills they need to work in the industry. While there, Siobhán provided support and advice to the students – all young animation professionals or graduating animation students working on projects for the Māoriland festival. 

Féile Bheochana Wellington / Wellington Animation Festival 

Agus í á hóstáil ag comhordaitheoir an chláir mhalartaithe i Screen Wellington, Tanya Black, d’fhreastail Siobhán ar Fhéile Bheochana Wellington, a reáchtáladh ag an bpictiúrlann stairiúil Roxy a bhfuil cáil mhór uirthi. D’fhreastail sí ar phainéil chainte agus bhí deis aici éisteacht le cainteoirí amhail Luisma Lavin agus Maureen Fan, i measc eile, agus chun foghlaim uathu.   

Thug Maureen agus Siobhán caint do na mic léinn a bhí ar tí céim a bhaint amach in Ollscoil Massey agus i gColáiste YouBee inar labhair siad faoina ngairmeacha beatha agus inar fhreagair siad ceisteanna ó na mic léinn maidir leis an tionscal. 

Ghlac Siobhán páirt i bpainéal cainte in éindí le Madeline DeYoung agus Rautini O’Brien freisin dar teideal “Echoes of Motion: A Heritage Unfolded” – inar phléigh siad a gcuid taithí ag obair lena dteangacha dúchais. 

Tugadh Siobhán agus na haíonna eile, lena n-áiríodh Príomhfheidhmeannach Ardán, Alan Duggan, ar thuras timpeall ar stiúideonna léirithe scannán agus beochana i Wellington. Bhí Pik Pok, Wētā FX, agus Ceardlann Wētā ina measc.  

Le linn a cuairte chuig Ceardlann Wētā, dúirt Siobhán:

“B’iontach dom tuiscint a fháil ar mar a d’éirigh le héifeachtaí praiticiúla sa Nua-Shéalainn mar thoradh ar bheirt a raibh paisean acu dá gcuid oibre, a raibh rún daingean acu leanúint leis, agus a d’oibrigh go crua chun an timpeallacht oibre a bhí uathu a chruthú dóibh féin.”  

Hosted by Screen Wellington’s exchange co-ordinator, Tanya Black, Siobhán attended Wellington Animation Festival, held at the famous historical Roxy Cinema, where she attended panels and listened to and learned from speakers such as Luisma Lavin and Maureen Fan, amongst others. 

Maureen and Siobhán gave a talk to the graduating students at Massey University and YouBee College where they talked about their careers and answered students’ industry questions. 

Siobhán also took part in a panel with Madeline DeYoung and Rautini O’Brien: “Echoes of Motion: A Heritage Unfolded” – where they discussed their experiences working in their native languages. 

Siobhán and the other guests, including Ardán’s CEO Alan Duggan, were also given a tour of film and animation production studios in Wellington including Pik Pok, Wētā FX, and Wētā Workshop. 

On visiting Wētā Workshop, Siobhán noted:

“it was cool to see how practical effects in New Zealand took off from two people who were passionate about what they do, had the determination to stick with it, and worked hard to create the kind of environment they wanted to work in.”  

Féile Māoriland: taispeáintí, cainteanna & ceardlanna cultúrtha/ Māoriland Festival: screenings, talks & cultural workshops 

As go brách le Siobhán chuig Ōtaki ansin don Pōwhiri agus do lá oscailte Fhéile Scannán Māoriland. Ghlac Siobhán, Alan agus aíonna eile páirt i bpainéil chainte, d’fhreastail siad ar chéad taispeáintí (m.sh. “KŌKĀ” agus “Tinā ”) agus bhí deis acu freastal ar chainteanna a bhain le comhléiriú, i measc ábhar eile, agus ar cheardlanna iontacha ina ndearnadh ceiliúradh ar chultúr Māori.  

Ag deireadh an turais, rinneadh socruithe le go leanfaí ar aghaidh leis an gclár malartaithe, agus leis na féidearthachtaí go léir a d’fhéadfadh teacht mar thoradh air.  

Agus í ag caint ag deireadh a cónaitheachta, dúirt Siobhán:

“Bhí spreagadh as an nua ionam agus mé ag fágáil. Tugadh an-inspioráid dom agus tá mo chroí lán. Chaith mé trí seachtaine timpeallaithe ag ealaíontóirí agus scannánóirí agus gach uair a bhuail mé le duine, d’fhoghlaim mé rud éigin nua. Dá fheabhas é an méid eolais a d’fhoghlaim mé, b’fhearr fós an taithí a fuair mé agus mé tumtha sa chultúr.  

Tá fonn níos mó orm ná riamh ábhar a chruthú agus a bheith ag comhoibriú le daoine eile. Le tamall anuas, bhínn ag breathnú ar mo ghairm mar bhealach le gnáthchuspóirí an tsaoil a bhaint amach, seachas mar mhodh le mo chuid smaointí a chur in iúl. Is deacair dom a chreidiúint go mbínn ag ceapadh nach raibh aon rud le rá agam. Tar éis dom na teangacha agus na cultúir seo a fheiceáil á gcaomhnú agus á gcomóradh san ealaín agus sa scéalaíocht, tuigim anois go bhfuil na gnéithe sin in easnamh i mo shaol féin. Tá a fhios agam anois go bhfuil sé de chumas agam athrú a dhéanamh agus iad a thabhairt isteach i mo shaol agus ní bheadh an rogha sin ar fáil do chuile dhuine. Ar an lá deireanach den turas, scríobh mé rabhadh i mo dhialann dom fhéin amach anseo – ‘Ar chraiceann do chluaise ná déan dearmad ar an bpaisean seo!’” 

Then to Ōtaki for the Pōwhiri and opening day of Māoriland Film Festival, where Siobhán and Alan and guests took part in panels, attended premieres (eg. “KŌKĀ” and “Tinā”) and got to take in some talks on subjects like coproduction, as well as great workshops celebrating Māori culture.  

The trip ended with plans for the continuation of the exchange and all the possibilities it may bring. 

Speaking after her residency experience, Siobhán said:

“I left with a sense of purpose and my heart filled with inspiration. I’d been surrounded by artists and filmmakers for three weeks and every time I met someone, they had something to say that I hadn’t known before. The amount of information I gained is just the tip of the iceberg on the cultural submersion I got to experience.  

My desire to create and collaborate has never been stronger. I was beginning to get sucked into the mentality of my career as a means to an end rather than a means to express myself. I can’t believe I used to think I had nothing to say. Seeing these languages and cultures being preserved and commemorated through art and story made me realize how lacking it is in my life. How uniquely positioned I am to be the person to make that change. I wrote in my diary on that last day a warning to my future self – don’t you dare forget this passion.” 

Is clár beochana nua é Malartú Beochana 2025 arna thacú ag Cathair Scannán na Gaillimhe/ Ceantar Scannán, Ardán, TG4, agus Údarás na Gaeltachta in Éirinn, & ag Wellington City of Film, Screen Wellington, agus Māoriland sa Nua-Shéalainn.

Más mian leat an t-eolas is déanaí a fháil maidir leis an gclár malartaithe seo, nó eolas a fháil faoi dheiseanna maoinithe agus oiliúna nó faoi imeachtaí atá le teacht, lean Ardán agus Cathair Scannán na Gaillimhe ar na meáin shóisialta agus cláraigh do shíntiús le nuachtlitir mhíosúil Ardán.

Animation Exchange 2025 is a new animation programme supported by Galway City of Film/ Ceantar Scannán, Ardán, TG4, and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Ireland, & Wellington City of Film, Screen Wellington, and Māoriland in New Zealand. 

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