The Angelus

The programme looks at the Mulkerrin and Heaney families from the Carna Gaeltacht. It shows how they still preserve a centuries‑old pilgrimage tradition. Every year they row a small wooden curragh to the ancient oratory on Oilean Mhic Dara together.

Oilithreacht Oileán Mhic Dara is a Thursday‑aired programme that presents a single episode set in Carna, Gaillimh. The title signals the focus on the island of Oileán Mhic Dara, and the broadcast slot places it within the regular schedule of regional television. The episode centres on two local families – the Mulkerrins and the Heaneys – who live in the Carna Gaeltacht. It follows how they keep alive a pilgrimage tradition that stretches back centuries, travelling by curragh, a traditional wooden boat, to reach the ancient oratory on Oilean Mhic Dara. Their journey highlights the continuity of cultural practice across generations. By documenting the families’ preparation and the actual crossing, the programme offers a clear view of how this historic rite is maintained today. It shows the simple yet enduring link between community, language and landscape, illustrating the role of the pilgrimage in preserving the Gaeltacht’s heritage. The episode therefore serves as a concise portrait of a living tradition anchored in a remote coastal setting.