Scratch Films has won a Wilbur Award for its RTÉ documentary series ‘The Last Irish Missionaries’, earning international recognition for its portrayal of the lives, legacy and complexities of Ireland’s missionary tradition.
In its citation, the judging panel described ‘The Last Irish Missionaries’ as “a powerfully and thoughtfully constructed documentary series” that honours “the extraordinary legacy of Irish missionaries while also grappling candidly with the movement’s complicated history.”
The judges praised the series for its rich storytelling, compelling interviews and its ability to capture “both the beauty and the brokenness of a global era that is rapidly coming to a close.”
Presenters Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald’s spoke to a number of Columbans including, Fr Alo Connaughton, Fr Cyril Lovett and Fr Shay Cullen. It was filmed in Dalgan as well as at the PREDA Foundation in the Philippines.
Presented annually in a different US city each year by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), the Wilbur Awards honour excellence in secular media coverage of religious issues, values and themes.
Established in 1949, the awards are among the most respected international honours in this field. Previous recipients include Oprah Winfrey and Morgan Freeman, while this year’s awardees also included actor Rainn Wilson.
The series explored the past, present and future of the Irish missionary movement and asked the question – are these the last Irish missionaries?
Liam McGrath of Scratch Films accepted the award on behalf of the production team at the ceremony in Cincinnati.
“This award is a wonderful honour for everyone involved in the series,” said McGrath.
“We set out to tell these stories with honesty, care and respect, and to preserve the voices of a generation whose experiences shaped communities around the world. It is deeply gratifying to see that work recognised on an international stage.”
Fr Shay Cullen with Bryan Dobson. Photo: Scratch Films
In Episode 1, Fr Alo Connaughton tells Bryan Dobson: “I came here in September of 62, there were about 200 students here at that time. In the 21st century we have not had one person come here in Ireland, we have had people coming in other countries but not here in Ireland.”
Fr Cyril Lovett tells Bryan, “In the Philippines there was one priest for every 20,000 people and I said to myself ‘I am living in Fermoy, we have four priests for 4,000 people. It doesn’t make sense’.”
The two programmes look at the origins of the missionary movement, notably the role played by the Maynooth Mission to China/Columbans and the Far East magazine and assesses the legacy of Irish missionaries.
According to the programme makers, ‘The Last Irish Missionaries’ is “neither an elegy nor an assault”. Rather, it acknowledges what Irish Missionaries have contributed to global society and our own.
Dearbhail McDonald and Bryan Dobson explored why so many Irish priests, nuns, lay people and other religious felt called to spread the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the world.
They hear firsthand about their experiences and the impact of those individuals – sometimes heroic, sometimes thwarted, sometimes even persecuted or martyred. And they ask if we or the world will be poorer for the disappearance of the last Irish missionaries.
Wilbur Award