We were delighted to see so many of you at our Irish premiere at Hotel Doolin on May 4th! We are thankful for your support and your donations to Burrenbeo Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting all of us to our places and our role in caring for them. Your attendance raised 800 euros for them! If you wish to support the Burrenbeo Trust in the future you can do so HERE, they have so many options for you to choose from!
Below you will find a lovely review of Burren Girl by Brendan McGowan, Education Officer, Galway City Museum and a couple of links to articles featuring our documentary.
Thank your for being part of our journey!
Photo by Sheila Kane
Burren Girl Review
“There are few families on the island of Ireland that have been untouched by emigration. Approximately10 million people have departed Irish shores since 1800, with one fifth of those leaving during the Great Hunger of the 1840s and 1850s. As a consequence, more than 30 million Americans proudly claim Irish ancestry today. To put this number into context, it is about six times the current population of the Republic of Ireland. Since the 1990s, there has been an increased awareness and appreciation of the Irish Diaspora, reflected in the new wording of the Constitution of Ireland that claims that ‘the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.’ The Burren Girl tells the story of one Irish-American, Rita Davern, as she reconnects with the Burren in Co. Clare, from where her grandmother emigrated to Minnesota in 1887. In the course of the film, which features history, archaeology, genealogy, geology and music, Rita discovers a connection to a noble past – the Daverns/Davorens of the Burren are the local descendants of the Ó Duibhdábhoireann, a distinguished family of medieval Gaelic lawyers and scholars. It is a beautiful film that exudes genuine warmth and connection and encapsulates the ‘special affinity’ between the descendants of those who remained in Ireland and of those who left. The film, too, is a wonderful reminder of all that is good about Ireland – its people, landscape, and culture.
Beir bua, ”
Press
RITA’S FILM TRACES HER BURREN ANCESTRY
A Minnesota woman has produced a film documentary about her journey to learn about her Irish ancestry and the search for the place and people her immigrant grandmother left behind.
- THE CLARE HERALD
BURREN GIRL IN FOCUS FOLLOWING RITA’S CLARE ANCESTORS QUEST
A North Clare family from both sides of the Atlantic will be reunited next week in Doolin for the Ireland premiere of an award-winning documentary about their family history.
- THE CLARE CHAMPION
BURREN DOCUMENTARY RECONNECTS FAMILIES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC
Hotel Doolin hosts the premiere of Burren Girl which highlights the story of a traditional Gaelic clan of the Burren, the O’Dubhdaboreinn. It follows the quest of Irish American Rita Davern as she searches ancient records and wanders the Burren connecting with farm families, friends and distant relations to learn more about the land and people her grandmother left behind in 1887.
- CLARE ECHO
LISTEN: NEW BURREN DOCUMENTARY RECONNECTS FAMILY FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC
- CLARE FM
BACKCHAT: BURREN GIRL COMES HOME
- IRISH FAMERS JOURNAL