Cork actor features in new Irish language film

TARRAC is a new Irish language film that follows the story of Aoife (Kelly Gough), who returns to her rural community to take care of her ill father.

After years of working in a high-stress environment, being home is both a blessing and a curse. Unresolved tensions come to the fore, but so does her old love of naomhóg racing, which unlocks something deep inside her.

As Aoife reconnects with old friends, she also meets a young rower with hopes for Olympic glory.

Naomi is played by Rachel Feeney, who hails from Bishopstown, and says she was drawn to her character right from the audition stages.

“Naomi’s determination and focus were clear in how Eugene O’Brien wrote the script, and I couldn’t help but try to meet that,” said Feeney.

“When we first meet her in the film, she finds it difficult to connect socially and doesn’t have much hope for social interactions. On the flip side, you can feel her hope to achieve great things in rowing through her ability and belief in herself, and I still find that very endearing.”

Naomhóg racing uses a traditional wooden currach manned by a four-person crew. The sport is particularly popular in Kerry, where the film takes place, and in Cork, where Feeney trained with a local club.

“I was living in London, so I started there at a club that had the most similar type of boats to the Naomhóg.

“I had a visit to Naomhóga Chorchaí in Cork as well with some wonderful experts.

Just beginning to get out on the boat and feel the therapeutic aspect of being on the water, the silence, the repetitive motion, and the working in harmony was what I first noticed. Then there’s trying to get that strength to use all those muscles needed to keep it moving and straight!.

Filming took place in the winter, and Feeney says the actors had massive support in Kerry.

“We had the terrific Maunza and Karen, who thoroughly and with such humour got us up to where we needed to be. Even though weather conditions were not ideal, we made the most of our time and were pushed to our limits. The training process was so special because where would you get an opportunity like that?”

Filming in cold conditions cannot have been easy; Feeney admits she did have one unintentional dip in the sea when she fell out of the boat, but says they worked hard to keep morale high, including beginning each day with a team breakfast.

“We had breakfast as a cast and crew, including our director, Declan Recks, and writer, Eugene O’Brien. The wonderful transport team were huge morale boosters. Colm and Rory would not only drop us off in great spirits but top it up throughout the day with chats. 

Getting to spend quality time with the cast after filming, at the weekends, discussing the importance of the Irish language - its beauty and value.

“On the boats, our guides were cracking jokes non-stop and putting all their effort into getting the shot that was needed - whether sun, rain or howling wind.”

Tarrac was funded by the Cine4 scheme, which has supported films like the Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin. Although not a Gaeilgeoir, Feeney says she had great support from Cork Gaeilgeoir Máire Rúiséal.

“I was given tremendous help and guidance by the fantastic Máire, who is from Cork but living in Kerry now. Máire was warm, kind, helpful, and had a big impact on set!

It was a privilege to be around so many Gaeilgeoirs and to hear all their perspectives on the Irish language, where it’s going and where it’s been. My time filming Tarrac changed something within me regarding my appreciation of languages.

The Bishopstown actor says she feels lucky to be part of the recent rise in Irish-language films.

“Irish language films have something really special about them. A certain authenticity that I can’t quite put my finger on. A depth. It’s such a pure and heart-led endeavour to preserve and share something that must be preserved and shared. It’s so exciting, isn’t it?”

Feeney went to St Catherine’s in Bishopstown before moving to Mount Mercy College for secondary school, and graduated from the renowned acting college, RADA, in 2019. She says she has wanted to be an actor since she was 12.

“I had speech and drama throughout primary school with Evaleen Whelton and went on to youth theatre with the Gaiety School of Acting and learned from Stella Majewsky and Tony McCleane Fay. It served as a solid training and fuelled my passion to pursue it further. I look back on those days and understand even more that drive and passion Naomi has [in Tarrac].”

Feeney, who appeared in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast and Death On The Nile, says that each job is a blessing.

“Every piece of acting work I have done has been a blessing and a huge learning experience. You meet the most extraordinary people, aiming for such extraordinary things. You can’t take it for granted. It expands your life in a lot of ways.”

Feeney hopes audiences will engage with the four women at the film’s centre.

They all walk such different paths, and they all have a lostness in life that brings them together. 

"I think the need to repair, the need to go after what matters most, and the need for connection are big takeaways from this film.”

Tarrac is in cinemas, October 6, Cert 15a.