Presenter Cóilí Collins, aka Shampain, will examine the subcultures and scenes of Ireland’s youth.
Éire Eile is a documentary series presented by Cóilí Collins, aka Shampain, which delves into Irish subcultures, everything from electronic music and mediaeval sword fighting, to queer punk and wheelchair basketball.
Over 8 episodes, Shampain explores a range of communities and the people, clubs and organisations which help build and maintain them. As our work and social lives become increasingly remote, Éire Eile is about what happens when people get together to create, compete, express themselves and indulge their passions.
Presenter Cóilí Collins, performing as Shampain, is a Rinse France resident and one of the most well-known DJs Ireland has produced in the last decade.
“The most moving part of making the series was witnessing the strength of communities and the empathy that exists within them,” said Collins. “I grew up in a very rural area and people who didn’t understand me oftentimes made no attempt to understand my interests and just thought I was weird. Meeting these groups of people and doing it all as Gaeilge was an extremely positive experience and something that has really changed the way I see the world, because if people have each other’s backs and don’t give in to fear we could all get along with each other but more importantly learn from each other’s experiences in life.”
The first episode Queer Punk - Reibiliúnaithe, explores the flourishing queer punk scene reaffirming Belfast’s punk legacy around a new cause.
Shampain will draw swords with The Exiles in the series’ second episode, one of Galway’s Historical European Martial Arts clubs. Spending time with members and taking part in a session, he explores the vitality of hobbies and social groups, no matter how niche.
Fréamhacha sees Shampain spend time with The Mary Wallopers, who are pushing the boundaries of traditional Irish music while galvanising a youthful audience that few thought would be reached again.
In Rebel Wheelers - Seasmhacht, Shampain heads to Cork to meet the Rebel Wheelers, a wheelchair basketball club who make hoop dreams a reality for all, regardless of physical ability.
In recent years, Limerick has become a bastion of an unlikely genre. In Limerick Hip-Hop - Seanchaithe, Shampain meets with the rapper Hazey Haze and the up-and-coming Strange Boy, to find out how Ireland’s third largest city became its hip-hop capital.
Shampain will then meet the fans, players and coaches of Bohemians FC who call Dalymount Park home in Bohs - Aontaithe.
In Drag - Flosc, Shampain explores the role that community plays in shaping our collective and personal identity as he is welcomed into Ireland’s flourishing drag scene to experience firsthand what it takes to be a queen.
For the final episode of the season, Shampain is back in his comfort zone as he takes us into the electronic music scene that has defined Irish youth culture in recent decades. Despite this, the scene is fighting an uphill battle to stay alive, led by the Give Us The Night Campaign.
Éire Eile is produced by Black Gate Productions. All episodes will be available on the TG4 Player and TG4 YouTube channel from Friday June 2nd.
