Premiere of 'What has the EU ever done for us'

Premiere of “What has the EU ever done for us?” at Europe Direct Centre, Blanchardstown Library

On  Tuesday 6th December, Blanchardstown Library hosted the premiere of a short film called “What has the EU ever done for us?”.

This project is a collaboration between Europe Direct (ED) Blanchardstown Library and Transition Year Students at Hartstown Community School in Dublin 15. This is the Europe Direct Centre’s flagship project for the European Year of Youth initiative. It also formed part of Europe Direct Blanchardstown’s contribution to the “New Push for European Democracy” initiative which formed part of the European Union’s priorities for the year.

The students from Hartstown Community School re-wrote a script produced by the Europe Direct Centre several years ago and adapted it for a younger audience. The script itself is based on the famous scene from the film, The Life of Brian, “What have the Romans ever done for us?”.

The short film was filmed by videographer Adam O'Connor at Blanchardstown Library in May 2022. The students involved spent a day shooting, re-shooting and re-writing scenes in between takes.

The full film crew consisted of:

Hartstown Community School Students

• Directors - Rebecca Fitzgerald and Rebecca Pintican,
• Actors – Keeley Donoghue, Scott Foley, Amy Devoy and Maeve Fernandez,
• Production Assistants – Leo Galvin and Holly Burns,
• Crew Members – Clara Tataru and Jess Finnegan,

and

• Videographer Adam O’Connor,
• The Teachers and Producers – Mr. Keogh and Mr. Wade
• And Scriptwriter/Producer – Barry O’Carroll

The objective of the film itself is to showcase the benefits to Ireland of European Union membership since 1973. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Irish accession to the then European Economic Community. Europe Direct Blanchardstown plans to promote this film throughout this EU50 year of events to mark this historic moment.

The premiere was attended by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony and County Librarian Betty Boardman. Video addresses by MEPs Frances Fitzgerald, Clare Daly and Ciaran Cuffe were also shown on the night. Hartstown Community School Transition Year Coordinator Noel Wade, the students involved in making the film and their parents were also in attendance.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony said:

“Congratulations to the students of Hartstown Community School and to the Europe Direct Centre at Blanchardstown Library on the production of this short film. The students have done a fantastic job from acting in the film to behind-the-scenes work of the crew. With the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community happening in 2023, this film provides a timely reminder of how Ireland has benefited from participation in the European project.”

Fingal County Librarian Betty Boardman said:

“Enormous credit is due to Transition Year Students at Hartstown Community School and to staff at Europe Direct, Blanchardstown Library, who have produced an informative and entertaining video on the benefits of European Union (EU) membership to Ireland. After almost 50 years of membership, it’s good to be reminded, particularly by young students, about how the EU impacts our lives.”

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The short film can be viewed on YouTube here:  What has the EU ever done for us