New documentary ‘Steal Away’ charts journey of Ukrainian choir and features members in Cork and across country

Sat, 05 Oct, 2024 - 07:05

Amy Power

A new documentary, ‘Steal Away’, which charts the journey of the National Ukrainian Choir, and features members based in Cork and across the country, was launched this week.

The documentary, directed by Jessica Leen, from Bold Lip productions, chronicles the choir from its inception to the launch of a new version of Phil Coulter’s song ‘Steal Away’ last year.

The choir is made up of 40 people, including Alisa Karsei, based in Midleton, who fled Ukraine as a result of the war.

Coulter, members of the choir from Cork, the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, and other distinguished guests, this week attended a special screening in Saint Stephen’s Church in Dublin.

Ukrainians who had fled the war at home and arrived in Ireland were invited by local development companies (LDCs) to join the choir, which was established in February 2023, to integrate.

CEOs of two LDCs, Adeline O’Brien, from Empower, and Terry Hyland, from Cavan County LDC, had a vision of wellbeing for the participants, while also demonstrating the positive impact Ukrainians could make to Ireland.

Last year, the choir, in collaboration with Coulter, released a new version of his single ‘Steal Away’.

The song, written 41 years ago, tells the story of a couple who escape from the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The single was translated in to Ukrainian and was launched last year at an event where the choir performed with Coulter.

The journey to releasing and performing the song, from the creation of the choir, rehearsals across the country, the launch of the single, and the overall impact of the initiative on choir members, forms the subject of the documentary, which is named after the famous song.

Speaking at the launch of the Steal Away documentary, Adeline O’Brien, CEO at Empower, the local development company for Fingal, said that the film “perfectly encapsulates” the journey of the choir.

“We are so grateful to Phil and choir director, Julia, for the time they have so generously given to this initiative.

“This documentary perfectly encapsulates the journey this choir has been on and how instrumental music and song can be in uniting communities.

“The lyrics of the song are just as powerful today as they were when the song was originally written,” she said.

“The choir has played a critical role in the lives of its members from Cork, and it has been a safe space for those fleeing the war in Ukraine to express themselves, to find friendship, to seek out new opportunities, and to learn English.

“It has also inspired the creation of two further local choirs, focused on integrating minority groups, and we hope to see the initiative replicated in other communities across the country.

“Our community is always at the heart of what we do in local development companies and our goal is to deliver positive change for individuals and marginalised groups in our area,” Ms O’Brien added.