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Richie O'Donnell filming in the north Atlantic

From The Pipe to the Atlantic: telling the story of Irish marine resources

The maker of the acclaimed documentary The Pipe is appealing for help in finishing his newest film.

YOU MAY NOT have heard of Richie O’Donnell.

But you probably have heard of his film, The Pipe. The critically-acclaimed documentary detailed a number of issues around the Corrib Gas Pipeline.

For his next move, O’Donnell went further afield, looking to tell the story of the natural resources sold off from Ireland’s seas.

This is where the public comes in.

O’Donnell is crowd-funding to finish the film, which he has shot in Newfoundland and Norway as well as the west.


Risteard O Domhnaill / Vimeo

The €25,000 that needs to be raised makes the project the largest ever undertaken on Fundit, but O’Donnell isn’t put off by that.

“It’s quite ambitious, some people say too ambitious, but I don’t think so.”

The film

Atlantic looks to tell the story of Ireland’s offshore resources, from fishing to oil to gas.

The value of Irish fish sales in 2012 was over €800 million when exports and domestic sales are added together, but Richie argues that it could be comparable with our agriculture exports, which are around €5.5 billion.

“I started shooting with fishermen and people involved in the coast and that led me to a general resource management issue.

“Our fisheries have been woefully mismanaged, as has our oil and gas.

“Irish politicians don’t value our offshore resources. If it’s land or bog, we value it and understand it.

“But if it’s off over the horizon, it gets used as a bargaining tool.”

The film focuses on fishing communities in Norway and Newfoundland, as well as Ireland and O’Donnell says we have a lot to learn.

“In Norway, they value their resources, so they’ve put a four-year moratorium on on drilling and seismic activity, but Ireland, fishing communities are decimated.”

He says that he is trying to use Ireland’s attitudes to fishing to “connect the dots” between our management of oil and gas.

“We have an amazing fishing system and some promising hydrocarbon systems in the Atlantic, but we don’t seem to value it.”

Politics and Funding

The Pipe put O’Donnell on the map, but also in the sights of powerful vested interests, something he says has made getting Atlantic made difficult.

“I think there’s a problem in this country taking on anything where there’s a powerful vested interest.

“Some people don’t want to touch these stories. That is why we’re going down the crowdfunding route.

“If we can do this and bring the film straight to the people who want to watch it, then that could open up a massive opportunity.”

Funders will receive rewards, with the lowest amount, €10, getting a copy of the film.

O’Donnell says he hopes that, funding permitting, the film can shine a light on the issue.

“We will offer the film out free of charge. We’re going to set up debates around the film and let people have it free of charge.

“And then we’ll work on the next story that needs to be told.”

Column: Ignorance, avoidance, distortion – media coverage of the Corrib gas project has failed

Read: Over €16 million spent on policing protests against Corrib gas pipeline

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12 Comments
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    Mute Pat O'Brien
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    May 3rd 2014, 5:59 PM

    Well done at least somebody is trying to get the story out there. Whatever about the bailout. Pat Rabbit selling off Ireland’s oil and gas rights is a scandal of biblical proportions. I look forward to seeing this film. I’ll chip in too.

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    Mute Pat Mustard
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    May 3rd 2014, 5:55 PM

    This was the cost of joining the EU, we sacrificed our fishing rights so our farmers could get handouts!

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    Mute Richard O' Donnell
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    May 3rd 2014, 8:18 PM

    Whether you agree or disagree lets get the debate going on our oil, fish and environment! Going to start running debates around the country – anyone up for it or any suggestions? Richie O’D

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    Mute graham galvin
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    May 3rd 2014, 8:29 PM

    Well done Richie keep up the good work. Don’t let the trolls bring you down.

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    May 3rd 2014, 7:35 PM

    I’ll be happy to contribute. The Pipe was an insightful and informative documentary.

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    Mute Etienne de Montfort
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    May 3rd 2014, 5:59 PM

    The Pipe was far too biased to be considered a documentary. That’s like calling an opinion column “news”

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    Mute Brendan Boyd
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    May 3rd 2014, 6:43 PM

    Loose Change is another great documentary. The truth is out there!

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    Mute Barry Creed
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    May 3rd 2014, 11:23 PM

    Did you see the Paul Williams doco?

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    Mute Caolán McKenna
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    May 3rd 2014, 5:32 PM

    #FreeGerry

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    Mute una barrett
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    May 3rd 2014, 7:46 PM

    What a great idea,highlighting the injustice done to the Irish people.

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    Mute Barry Creed
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    May 3rd 2014, 11:22 PM

    It’s a shame the state broadcaster won’t fund this. One wonders why!

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    Mute Jim
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    May 3rd 2014, 5:35 PM

    Richie O Donnell your a Gas Man

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