0:00:02 > 0:00:09# Fhir a' bhata 's na horo eile
0:00:09 > 0:00:16# Fhir a' bhata 's na horo eile
0:00:16 > 0:00:24# Mo shoraidh slan leat Gach aite an teid thu. #
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Rathlin Island.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Six miles north of the Antrim coast,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31and home to just over 100 people,
0:00:31 > 0:00:36whose way of life is shaped by the spectacular landscape in which they live.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42From generation to generation, youngest to oldest,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45everyone has their place in the island family.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47It's a beautiful place.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51And it should be left as a beautiful place for the next generation.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Newcomers who settle soon find themselves
0:00:55 > 0:00:58welcomed into the heart of the island community.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59It has really blown me away
0:00:59 > 0:01:04how much the people of Rathlin join together as a community.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08If I was bringing up a kid there'd be no place I'd rather bring them up than Rathlin.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Do you know what I mean? I'd love to bring them up here.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Rathlin is a working island, and values its young people
0:01:15 > 0:01:18as the key to survival for future generations.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23It's nice, living on an island. It's quite slow paced.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26But in the summertime there's a lot of visitors. It's hectic going.
0:01:40 > 0:01:46I'm Theresa McFaul. I live here at the lower end of the island.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49I have four children, married to my husband, John,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and this is my first grandchild.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55This is Rowan Daniel McFaul.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59He was born in May and he's the youngest islander.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04I would say island life, cross-communication
0:02:04 > 0:02:06through the generations
0:02:06 > 0:02:08is very much involved.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12If there's a function on, everybody goes,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15from the eldest person down to the new baby.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18It's, it's just part of what you do.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20BABY MIZZLES
0:02:20 > 0:02:22I would get involved in most things.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26I'm one of these people that has to be in the middle of everything.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Whether I'm liked or not, I like to get in there and get hands-on.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34I always was involved in the drama, from when I first came to the island,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37when we started the drama group, I've been in every production.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44Every year, I would look up plays and sort out who would suit the parts
0:02:44 > 0:02:48and annoy them. From February, everybody hides from me!
0:02:48 > 0:02:53This year, I'd actually said I wasn't doing anything, but we're here.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57- Will you be two different ships, then?- Yeah.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Set sail for Rathlin!
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Michael Cecil is a skipper with the Rathlin ferry company.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10And a linchpin of the island community association.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13I've been living on Rathlin all my life, and a lot
0:03:13 > 0:03:17of the population are active seven days a week, all year round.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22In some form or other. There's an awful lot of volunteer work goes on.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Like this part's probably the community association on the island,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28of which I am currently chair.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33It used to be a young family.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36They're not so young now, they're starting to grow up,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38and one's off at university.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41The next one's going to secondary school in September.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44And my youngest is still at primary school on Rathlin.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51This is nothing to do with me.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55For island children, the transition from primary to secondary school
0:03:55 > 0:03:57also involves living away from home.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Are you settling in?
0:04:01 > 0:04:05We are in the process of getting Orlagh ready to start boarding school.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I think she's looking forward to it,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10but it's a nervous time for everybody.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Anxious time but it will work out.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17CHILDREN LAUGH
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- We could have done with a secondary school in Rathlin.- I know.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29Imagine one was made here.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32I think it's better the kids go away to school, anyway.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Get to meet other children their own age.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Are you looking forward to Orlagh going away to school?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Kind of.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40Kind of?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Just remember, all the jobs
0:04:42 > 0:04:44that Orlagh normally does,
0:04:44 > 0:04:45you're going to have to do.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Feed the dogs, water the dogs, walk the dogs.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Brian gets spoiled anyway,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56so he might even get worse when Orlagh goes away.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I've been up to see the school a few times.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- A bit nervous, are you?- Yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06I think it'll be good as well.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It's a good kind of nervous.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Orlagh will be relying on the ferry to get her home at weekends.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22The islanders' lifeline to the mainland,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26the ferry is also one of Rathlin's biggest employers.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Its youngest skipper is 25-year-old Fergus McFaul.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35I left school, I went straight from school to commercially fish,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39so whenever I came home, back in 2006, I was only actually 18
0:05:39 > 0:05:42when I came home, 19, I had already fished commercially for three years.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45I didn't really give it a second thought.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Having any responsibility, as to taking control of a boat,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52but, when ever you step in the wheelhouse, it doesn't matter
0:05:52 > 0:05:56what age you are, you just take on a slightly different persona.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00You are then in charge of a vessel or crew,
0:06:00 > 0:06:06and whoever, passengers, or crew, any person's life's very important,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09so you take your role seriously and, whatever the conditions may be,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11you just need to make the right call.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14And if you have to tie the boat up, you have to tie the boat up.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Some of my relations and all,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24the other families on the island all started at sea. That was the old job.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27The men went to sea and the women became nurses or whatever way
0:06:27 > 0:06:31it was, while some of that's changed, it's still there, I suppose,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and sometimes it just takes a lot to take it out of your system.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37You have to go to sea. That's what you want to do.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40And it's the same in a lot of coastal areas and a lot of islands.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45That's my wife waiting to come home with the shopping.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Have they all got different expressions on their faces? They do!
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- They really do.- I didn't intend to!
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Orlagh is the only pupil in P7,
0:07:13 > 0:07:19and one of just nine children in Rathlin's primary school.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Painted?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24It's been a big change for her teacher, Jane McVeigh,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27who took over running the school a year ago.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I worked in a very large inner-city school in London,
0:07:30 > 0:07:36with hundreds and hundreds of pupils, and a very large staff.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39But, it was a very lonely place at times, even though
0:07:39 > 0:07:41you're surrounded by lots and lots of people,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46and the change has been unbelievable in my life. Erm...
0:07:46 > 0:07:52People might think that coming to an island might be lonely.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55I haven't felt lonely at all on this island.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58In making the move from primary school on Rathlin to boarding school in Belfast,
0:07:58 > 0:08:04Orlagh is following in the footsteps of many island children before her.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Children go away on a Sunday evening and they come back on Friday evening.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12If the weather's good. Sometimes they don't get home if the weather's bad.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19I miss the boys when they go away, obviously, but I'm so used to
0:08:19 > 0:08:25it now, after sending five children, five boys, away to boarding school.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It's been going on for the last 14 years for us.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It's just part of living on Rathlin.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44As we know, all people from the North Coast are nice people.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45That's fair, isn't it?
0:08:45 > 0:08:48I go to school at the Campbell College in Belfast.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54I was homesick for the first week, and then I got used to it
0:08:54 > 0:09:00because I had my older brothers here, so, I felt like they were
0:09:00 > 0:09:05looking after me, and then also had the matron and house mothers.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09This is like home, isn't it? Yous are spoilt, boys.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12There's not many children your age on Rathlin.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14And when you come to secondary school,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18there's loads of them your age, and you really start to grasp
0:09:18 > 0:09:23the opportunity, you know, to see what life's like off the island.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:09:29 > 0:09:32The boys' dad, Noel, spent 20 years working on lighthouses
0:09:32 > 0:09:35around Ireland, before returning to Rathlin,
0:09:35 > 0:09:39where, among other things, he's the island postman.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40This is me.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Normal work during the week.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48A lot of the jobs are not full-time, full-time salaries,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51so people tend to have a second job.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Hello, hello, hello.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57My other job would be the water service and the Irish Lights.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00That's my granddaughter.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06The lighthouse service job is basically call-out only
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and you do a bit of maintenance once a week or once a fortnight.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21Ferry skipper Fergus is working to secure a future on the island.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24This summer, he's busy finishing the hostel
0:10:24 > 0:10:28he and his business partners hope will be a welcome addition to the island's tourist industry.
0:10:28 > 0:10:35We bought the house that came with this land here five years ago, come this September now.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I was 20 at the time.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41So we decided to build a hostel that would suit around 25,
0:10:41 > 0:10:42maybe even 30 people.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46One of the main new industries is the tourist trade on the island
0:10:46 > 0:10:49and we are only starting now to get geared up properly for it.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51People opening new businesses every year.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55We're one of them, and there's a new chip shop built,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57a new harbour cafe was opened.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Now, I think, with the improved ferry service that the tourist trade
0:11:01 > 0:11:03became a bit more of a staple.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15A firm favourite with tourists and locals alike, rehearsals
0:11:15 > 0:11:19are in full swing for the island drama group's summer production.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23I love mixing with people and trying to find people for parts and that,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26and this year we were very lucky.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31The RSPB fellas came in and gave us a hand. Johnny and Diarmuid.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35The drama group, always, since we started, every year,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37we've had to include somebody new
0:11:37 > 0:11:42and this is the first year the children have actually done for us.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Getting ready for the village play.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48The village play, on Rathlin, is part of festival week.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50It's been going on for over 100 years.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52And, yeah, I'm very honoured this year
0:11:52 > 0:11:55to be asked to be in the village play.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Teresa's good at getting us all in line
0:12:02 > 0:12:06and making sure we're stood in the right place on the stage,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08and making sure we're all shouting loud enough.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Jack Duncan has got the loudest voice in that kids' play, for sure!
0:12:11 > 0:12:14My favourite line of his, I can't give too much away,
0:12:14 > 0:12:18but, yeah, he goes "Set sail for Rathlin!" Do it, Jack!
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Set sail for Rathlin!
0:12:21 > 0:12:22JOHNNY LAUGHS
0:12:26 > 0:12:27Johnny!
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Johnny and Diarmuid are summer residents on the island,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48and when they aren't treading the boards,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50they're on duty at the RSPB Seabird Centre,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54where they act as guides for the many visitors who pass their way.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59So, this is the crew house, where me and Johnny live.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02And this is our heating. A log burner.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- We got all the turf and the wood, there.- Have you met Rosie yet?
0:13:05 > 0:13:11There's Rosie, as well. Rosie's the other girl who lives here.
0:13:11 > 0:13:12BODHRAN PLAYS
0:13:12 > 0:13:13Whoo!
0:13:15 > 0:13:17There are many things that set island life apart.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21One of them is how self-sufficient the islanders have always had to be.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Services most people take for granted,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26they have to provide themselves.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29This is some of our volunteer fire crew.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34We come down here most Monday nights for a bit of pump practice,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37see if we can get some water from the lake.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40It's normally what we would use for any fire on the island.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Believe it or not, living on an island, water's quite limited.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44Water off!
0:13:50 > 0:13:54We have a limited freshwater supply at the fire hydrant.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Most times, for gorse fires, we have to find water at another
0:13:58 > 0:14:03location, either the lake or the sea or small streams.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Cooperation and self-reliance really matter here, and inform
0:14:07 > 0:14:11the islanders' response to anything that might affect their community.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19An exploration company believes it may have found
0:14:19 > 0:14:23hundreds of millions of barrels of oil off the coast of County Antrim.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25But, there are worries about the impact
0:14:25 > 0:14:28of the potential discovery on Rathlin Island,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30and many of its 100 residents are concerned
0:14:30 > 0:14:33that drilling close to them could damage
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Rathlin's relatively untouched environment.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40People would be concerned that there may be some damage
0:14:40 > 0:14:45to our tourism sector, or maybe some environmental damage.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48The uncertainty's probably the biggest concern.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50We don't know what is going to happen.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52We don't know when it's going to happen.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56If we had some clarity on that, it gives people a focus.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03It's very hard to put it into your mind's eye,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06as to think there could be an oil well just off your doorstep.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11And the disasters that could maybe come with something like that.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17We have to get the first step, which is,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20are we going to do the level of exploration we would like to do?
0:15:20 > 0:15:22What are the opportunities?
0:15:22 > 0:15:25What is the process by which we get the permitting?
0:15:25 > 0:15:26Would it get approved?
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Etc, etc.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30The company behind the oil exploration,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34Providence Resources plc, is based in Dublin,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36and has interests across Ireland and the UK.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40We licensed the area by making an application
0:15:40 > 0:15:43and we were awarded two licences,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46one from the Department in Northern Ireland,
0:15:46 > 0:15:50which actually gave us the island of Rathlin as an exploration area,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52and then subsequently,
0:15:52 > 0:15:57we were awarded the offshore acreage out of Westminster.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00As chair of the local development and community association,
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Michael has had to think long and hard about the best
0:16:04 > 0:16:07response to an issue that could have huge repercussions in the future.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10You can out and out oppose it as a community
0:16:10 > 0:16:14or as part of a community, but it doesn't tend to be a good approach.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Tends to lead to a lot of division
0:16:16 > 0:16:20amongst the community itself, and it's probably not a winner.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24The oil companies and government have a lot of resources behind them
0:16:24 > 0:16:27that community and voluntary groups don't have.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29It's not something I would like to see
0:16:29 > 0:16:31but it probably would split the community.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34That half the community would be out and out opposed
0:16:34 > 0:16:36to some commercial development,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39whereas the other half may be in support of it.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42My preferred approach would be to sit down
0:16:42 > 0:16:46and engage with the government and engage with the oil companies.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49To make sure all the environmental protection is in place
0:16:49 > 0:16:53all the legislation's followed, all the health and safety procedures,
0:16:53 > 0:16:58and possibly extract some community benefit from any potential revenue that's there.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02You're not agreeing to what's happening, but you're making sure
0:17:02 > 0:17:05the protection's in place and that you do derive some benefit from it.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24One of Rathlin's many community projects is the Tuesday Club.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27A senior group who meet weekly to socialise and go on outings.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32Or, as they are doing today, sharing stories with the younger generation
0:17:32 > 0:17:35about the island traditions they grew up with.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Used to get a flat ring, well, a wooden ring,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42and this handle you'd put on,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45and you trundled it, as we called it, trundled it ahead of you down here.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48We're having a teddy bears' picnic,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51and when we decided to have it with the children,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54we thought it'd be a really good idea to invite
0:17:54 > 0:17:58the Tuesday Club with us as well, because we've been working
0:17:58 > 0:18:01with the Tuesday Club this year, and we want to keep those links.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Teddy bears from all around the world.
0:18:04 > 0:18:10I present the ocarinas from St Mary's primary school.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:18:11 > 0:18:15CHILDREN PLAY OCARINAS
0:18:17 > 0:18:21I enjoy the children here, I enjoy,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23they're very good children.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26They respect the elderly.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32- Their great talents, aren't they?- Oh, yes.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37It has really blown me away how much the people of Rathlin join together
0:18:37 > 0:18:41as a community, adults and children alike.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44The children are a key part of the community as well.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52I think it's good that they all mix in together, because then we get
0:18:52 > 0:18:56to play games and hear stories from the older generation on the island.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59WOMAN SINGS IN IRISH
0:19:15 > 0:19:18With the summer season in full swing,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Fergus is taking time out from working on the hostel to help
0:19:21 > 0:19:24build a currach boat for Rathlin's inaugural Maritime Festival.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27That's what the Maritime Festival's about,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31the revival of the maritime heritage in this area.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33The currach was part of the heritage here and,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36although it's been lost, it's still being used on the west coast.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40So that's what's part of trying to take the currach back.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44In a summer already packed with yacht races, music and drama,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46the maritime festival is going to have to rely on everyone
0:19:46 > 0:19:49pitching in to make it a success.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52That community spirit is still there, still in all communities.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55It takes just a small festival to bring it all out, bring it together.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- How's it going?- Very well, thank you. - Good stuff, good, good.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05As one of the organisers,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Michael knows that a successful festival this year
0:20:08 > 0:20:12could lead to further tourism and investment in the future.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Today I'm down at the marquee down at the seafront. It's a beautiful day.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18There should be big crowds on the boats.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22We'll just wait another hour or so and everybody should appear.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24FIDDLERS PLAY A REEL
0:20:28 > 0:20:31But the week hasn't all been plain sailing.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Thursday, unfortunately, we had a bit of a gorse fire on the island.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36And a lot of these guys that are involved in the festival
0:20:36 > 0:20:40and building the boats are also part-time firemen,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43so they were hauled away for firefighting duties,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45dealt with that, came back to the festival
0:20:45 > 0:20:49whenever they could, back to the fire, back to the festival,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53so they've been at it 24 hours a day, since Wednesday.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55With the help of fire crews from the mainland,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58the gorse fire was put out in the nick of time.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59And, as they set sail for home,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02another boat is about to take to the water.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06We're going to do a wee naming ceremony for this boat and the Ballycastle boat.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10We're just going to do that in five minute here, then into the water. The first row.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Haven't even dipped her yet, haven't even soaked the head.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I need a wee drop of whisky to pour over her bow.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23The currach race between the islanders
0:21:23 > 0:21:25and a team from Ballycastle
0:21:25 > 0:21:28is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the day.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37And, in another first for the festival, the East Lighthouse
0:21:37 > 0:21:40is open to the public, and Michael has come up
0:21:40 > 0:21:42to give Noel McCurdy a hand showing people around.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46We're up at the Rathlin East Lighthouse.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52It was one of the first lighthouses built on Rathlin, and we decided
0:21:52 > 0:21:56to open it up for the visitors during the maritime festival.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59There's a big tanker, which is a big worry for us on Rathlin,
0:21:59 > 0:22:03because, one of these days, someday, one of them will run aground
0:22:03 > 0:22:06and have a big oil spill like the Braer or the Exxon Valdez.
0:22:06 > 0:22:07Ah, they couldn't do that.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Well, as long as you're here, Noel, we'll be all right.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18I knew they'd do it! Beat them!
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- Which team won today?- Ourselves!
0:22:21 > 0:22:23About 60 boat lengths ahead.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25But we were cut into two.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26The Rathlin team?
0:22:26 > 0:22:27The Rathlin team, aye.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29The Rathlin team.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51After months of hard work, it's time for Teresa, Johnny
0:22:51 > 0:22:54and the cast of the Rathlin play to take to the stage.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56We're getting ready to start here, are we?
0:22:56 > 0:22:58We're not little at all, you know.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Can't you see me? I'm drowning!
0:23:00 > 0:23:02LAUGHTER
0:23:03 > 0:23:05How many events do you go to nowadays that people get
0:23:05 > 0:23:09- a good laugh, a good belly laugh? - That's kind of where I'm from, really.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13You wouldn't really get that many things like that when everybody from
0:23:13 > 0:23:16the community was getting involved and everybody was supporting this.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19..that was Gerry McFall's pre-fabricated houses...
0:23:19 > 0:23:21LAUGHTER
0:23:21 > 0:23:23He's a big wee'un, so he is!
0:23:25 > 0:23:28..and sit down. I'm grand, like. Grand, thank God.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31If I could just get him a woman there, you know!
0:23:31 > 0:23:36Thanks, Jane. Thanks, Jane. That's my next step!
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- You've got him staying here? - Yes.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Yes - a wheen of wee Johnnys running around, and I don't mean Johnny Walkers!
0:23:43 > 0:23:47- Good luck!- You'll need it.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- That type of thing regularly happens.- I mean, it's not just a once off.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57It's not proposed just over the summertime
0:23:57 > 0:24:00and there's a few visitors here that they have people together.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02That happens throughout the year.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07It's organised and that's why it is what it is, because of the people, you know.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09And I think the character hasn't really changed
0:24:09 > 0:24:11so much in the generations.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13People are still the same.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Living on an island, people being happy
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and content with each other is the most important thing.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23It's more important than a place prospering, even.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29And as regards the oil, that's another thing in the background that's happened in Rathlin.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35Oil in general and gas exploration around the North Coast,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39north of Ireland and even UK-wide, is always in the news
0:24:39 > 0:24:44and to be honest, a lot of residents in Rathlin tend to get fed up
0:24:44 > 0:24:49with the whole publicity surrounding it and the campaign surrounding it.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51It's not really on people's lips
0:24:51 > 0:24:54until it comes back onto our doorstep again. Time will tell.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58We'll wait and see.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01No matter what happens on Rathlin with developments of energy,
0:25:01 > 0:25:07whatever it is, you need people, and you need young people coming forward.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14It's lovely to see the next generation. Just to the future.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Today we're having an assembly for the leavers.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30I'm leaving and we're singing songs and all the parents are coming up.
0:25:32 > 0:25:38# ..a busy summer till we return next year
0:25:38 > 0:25:43# We wish you all safe journeys
0:25:43 > 0:25:47# Under skies of brilliant blue
0:25:47 > 0:25:51# We wish you happy holidays
0:25:51 > 0:25:58# When all your dreams come true. #
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Orlagh is moving on to Victoria
0:26:06 > 0:26:10and I promised myself I wouldn't get emotional but I am.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12But it's a celebration as well
0:26:12 > 0:26:17because Orlagh has been a wonderful, wonderful child this year to teach.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22She is a delight to have and I think Victoria are very,
0:26:22 > 0:26:24very lucky to have her.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27I'm going away to secondary school so I'll be sad
0:26:27 > 0:26:30but happy at the same time.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I'll be sad leaving but happy starting a new school.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45No summer would be complete without a good old-fashioned ceilidh,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48where hand-in-hand, young and old alike tread the same steps,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51patterns and turns as the generations before them.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25Would you like to eventually come back and live on Rathlin Island?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- This is your home. Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29If you got married and had a family,
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- would you like to come back here and bring up your children here? - Yeah.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39It's up to the rest of us to make sure it can happen, so we need
0:27:39 > 0:27:44employment, we need housing and we need social activities.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48And then we can attract everybody back again. That's the plan.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Yeah, I think I'll be here for a while. Yeah.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56I've got lots to do here before I move on and maybe I'll never move on.
0:27:56 > 0:27:57Who can tell?
0:27:57 > 0:28:00The biggest driver for me and all the voluntary work
0:28:00 > 0:28:05I do is to provide a better future for future generations on Rathlin.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09And as you can see, it's a beautiful place and it should be
0:28:09 > 0:28:12left as a beautiful place for the next generation coming along.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39As the nights draw in, the islanders are already
0:28:39 > 0:28:43planning for the next summer season and for the years to come,
0:28:43 > 0:28:46the future of the island and its young people.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd