Buaiteoir Gradaim IFTA agus RTS í an stiúrthóir/léiritheoir Maggie Breathnach lena croí go doimhin sna healaíona, agus taithí breis is fiche bliain aici san earnáil. I rith an ama sin, tá ábhar craolta cruthaithe aici le haghaidh craoltóirí náisiúnta agus idirnáisdiúnta, ina mease seo RTÉ, Sky Arts, TG4, BBC ALBA, agus Oireachtas TV.

“Chuireas tús leis an ngairm seo ag obair le Forefront Productions. Ina dhiaidh sin, bhíos mar chomh-bhunaitheoir ar Red Shoe Productions i 2007, comhlacht atá anois lonnaithe sa Rinn i nGaeltacht na nDéise. Le Red Shoe, d’oibríos le TG4 chun an tsraith ceannródaíoch ealaíne “Imeall” a fhorbairt, a thug ardán teilifíse do níos mó ná 100 ealaíontóir i ngearrscannáin.

I ndiaidh an rath a bhí ar “Imeall”, stiúraíos agus léiríos sraitheanna agus cláracha speisialta mar “Gradam Ceoil TG4” - Grammys an Cheoil Ghaelaigh- a d’athraigh faoi mo stiúir-se ó choirm ceoil réamhthaifeadta go clár spleodrach ceoil craolta beo thar dhá uair a’chloig a thaispeánann scoth na hamhránaíochta, an cheoil agus an rince. Chruthaíomar agus chothaíomar comhpháirtíochtaí le heagrais éagsúla i mBéal Feirste chomh maith le clár cuimsitheach imeachtaí imeallacha ‘fringe’ a chraolamar i dteannta an phríomhchláir ceoil beo. Freisin, léiríos agus stiúraíos “Fleadh Cheoil” do RTÉ; “Between Worlds” - fadscannán faisnéise ar an gcumadóir Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin do RTÉ; agus le déanaí “Voices of Ireland” do Sky Arts, clár a bhuaigh Gradam RTS Ireland sa rannóg ‘Best Specialist Factual’ sa bhliain 2022.

D’aistríos mo ghnó iomlán ó Bhaile Átha Cliath thar nais ‘dtí mo dhúthaigh féin i nGaeltacht na Rinne breis is sé bliana ó shin, chun cur le dreach cultúrtha an cheantair agus chun fostaíocht a chruthú thios ann, leis. Tá mo chroí go daingean sna mná ealaíonta, agus ceiliúrann an léiriúchán is déanaí agam an saol agus na saothair ag Lily agus Lolly Yeats. Mar aithris ar an modh oibre acusan, níor fhostaíos ach mná mar fhoireann léirtithe taobh thiar den cheamara chomh maith leo siúd ar scáileán.

Táim suite de go gcaithfear i gcónaí tacú le healaíontóirí ó thaobh airgid de. Bím de shíor ag gríosadh is ag éileamh tacaíochta airgid d’ealaíontóirí ós na craoltóirí. Riail docht daingean ag Red Shoe ná go n-éilímid go bhfaigheann ealaíontóirí íocaíocht chóir dá rannpháirtíocht i gcláracha a léirímid-ne agus go bhfostaímid cumadóirí chun ceol a chur ar fáil dúinn seachas úsáid a bhaint as ceol leabharlainne. Teastaíonn uaim an meon seo a spreagadh i ndaoine eile agus tapaím gach deis an tuairim seo a chur chun cinn pé áit a mbím.

Tá baint níos mó ná riamh ag teicneolaíocht digiteach leis na healaíona sa lá atá inniu ann, agus is deis iontach é seo go háirithe agus muid ag iarraidh teacht ar lucht féachana níos óige, cé nach féidir i gcónaí brath air seo mar ghairm socair seasamhach. Leis as scór bliain atá caite agam san earnáil, tá tuiscint ar leith faighte agam ar mheon an ealaíontóra agus meas mór agam ar an gcur chuige a léiríonn siad. Tuigim gur glaoch aonarach í an ghairm seo do gach uile ealaíontóir. Le craoltóirí agus páirtithe leasmhara, táim an-mhórálach as an gcumas atá agam an luach agus fiúntas atá le h-ócáidí ar leith a chur ina luí orthu. Bíonn muinín acu asam i ndeireadh báire agus tacaíonn siad leis an tionscnamh, rud atá ag cur méadú ar an lucht féachana, go fírinneach.

Le blianta beaga anuas, tá taithí luachmhar faighte agam mar bhall boird, ag cur le mo scileanna i rialachas éifeachtach, pleanáil stráitéiseach agus ceannasaíocht comhoibríoch. I 2016 toghadh ar bhord Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) mé, agus laistigh de sin táim i mo bhall den Choiste Gaeilge agus an Coiste Ilchineálachta, Ionchuimsitheachta & Comhionnanais. I gcomhar le mo chomhghleacaithe ar an mbord, tá ról lárnach agam i múnlú polasaithe agus i sárú constaicí dúshlánacha le plé tuisceanach, agus é mar chuspóir againn a bheith trédhearcach i gcónaí. I 2019, rinneadh ball díom den Choiste Chomhairleach Gaeilge a bunaíodh chun tionscnaimh a fhorbairt is a chur chun cinn a chabhraíonn leis an leibhéal Gaeilge atá ar fáil, chun an lucht éisteachta/féachana a mhéadú ar an raidió agus an teilifís araon.

Mian agus cuspóir mo chroí ná cabhrú le dreach cultúrtha na tíre a mhúnlú don toghchaí, lena chinntiú go mbeidh blaiseadh den chruthaitheacht atá ionainn go smior ar fáil do gach uile páiste ar an oileán iontach seo ‘gainne. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

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Maggie Breathnach is an IFTA and RTS Ireland award-winning Director/Producer with over two decades industry experience. During that time, she has created content for broadcasters, both nationally and internationally including RTÉ, Sky Arts, TG4, BBC ALBA, and Oireachtas TV. 

Having started my career with Forefront Productions, I went on to co-found Red Shoe Productions in 2007, now based in the Gaeltacht in An Rinn, Waterford. At Red Shoe, I worked with Ireland's national Irish/Gaelic language broadcaster, TG4 to create their flagship arts show “Imeall”, showcasing over 100 artists in short films. 

Following the success of “Imeall”, I have directed and produced a number of highly successful programmes including “Gradam Ceoil” - the traditional Irish music equivalent of the Grammys - which I transformed from a pre-recorded awards show to a 2-hour live extravaganza of Irish singing, music and dance, whilst also generating partnerships with various organisations in Belfast and establishing a solid programme of fringe events as well as the live broadcast of the main show. I have also produced and directed “Fleadh Cheoil” for RTÉ; “Between Worlds” - a feature documentary on the composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin for RTÉ; and most recently “Voices of Ireland” for Sky Arts which won the Best Specialist Factual award at the RTS Ireland Awards 2022. 

Being a fluent Irish speaker, I relocated my entire business from Dublin back to the Gaeltacht over six years ago, to contribute to the cultural landscape in the regions and to create employment. I have a strong passion for women in the arts, and my most recent production celebrates the work and lives of Lily and Lolly Yeats. Mirroring their work ethic, I employed women as our core team behind the camera, as well as on screen. 

In an increasingly challenging climate, my commitment for support and renumeration for artists remains. In terms of supporting artists financially, I have lobbied and ensured that artists get proper renumeration for their work on screen in all our productions. I also made a rule for my company that we hire musicians to create our musical scores and not use library music. Financial challenges persist for artists with living and working conditions, but I remain hopeful that we can continue to encourage and engage activity and participation among artists and spectators alike. 

Increased engagement with the arts through digital technology is hugely exciting in terms of reaching younger audiences, but it can be an unstable and unpredictable career path for them. From my two decades in the industry, I have an innate understanding of artists and a deep appreciation of their determination. I understand that each artist sees their job as a vocation, and I deeply respect their approach. With broadcasters and stakeholders, I take pride in my ability to persuade them of the value and reach of a particular event, gaining their trust and support for that project, and in effect reaching a wider audience. 

In recent years, I have gained invaluable board experience, enhancing my skills in effective governance, strategic planning, and collaborative leadership. In 2016 I was elected to the Board of Screen Producers Ireland (SPI), within which I am also a member of the Coiste Gaeilge and Diversity, Inclusion & Equality committees. Collaborating with fellow board members, I play a key role in shaping policies and navigating industry challenges with mindful deliberations and a commitment to transparency. In 2019, I joined the Irish Language Advisory Committee whose aim is to develop and promote initiatives that will help increase the levels of Irish available to audiences on both radio and television. 

My mission and purpose is to help shape the cultural landscape of the future, ensuring that all children on this great island of ours continue to be nourished and enriched by our great creativity. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.