Six documentaries produced by fourth-year Media & Communication Studies students at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) will be screened as part of their final year module at a special public event in Dolan’s Warehouse on Thursday, 30 April at 7.30pm.
The annual screening marks both a celebration of the students’ work over the past four years and a farewell as they prepare to graduate. Working in small groups, students have developed original documentaries on topics of their choice, alongside two television-style adverts, bringing their learning together in a final showcase for a public audience.
Six documentaries will be screened on the night, each running to approximately 17 minutes and reflecting a wide range of contemporary themes and storytelling styles:
An Teango Bheo – The Rise of the Irish Language traces the journey of the Irish language from decline to revival, highlighting how a new generation is reshaping its place in modern Ireland.
Being Me follows MIC student Allana as she shares her experience of living with ADHD and Asperger’s, offering insight into the everyday realities of neurodivergent life.
Our Farm presents an intimate look at two family-run Irish farms, exploring tradition, resilience and the challenges facing rural communities today.
Electric Boogaloo reflects on the nostalgia of growing up in the 1900s and early 2000s, charting the evolution of physical media through a mix of personal reflection and expert commentary.
Sláinte – Nightlife in Limerick captures the atmosphere of the city after dark, moving from quiet pubs to busy venues and live music spaces.
Travel, Tents and Tenants - A Student Survival (mocumentary) takes a humorous but pointed look at the realities of student life in Ireland, from overcrowded housing to long commutes and unconventional living arrangements.
Speaking in advance of the screenings, Dr Rosemary Day, Head of the Media & Communication Studies Department, said:
“Huge congratulations to all our final year students who will be screening their documentaries in Dolans on the Dock Road on Thursday, 30th April. Produced to a consistently high standard each year under the close supervision of Nicky Fennell, and with the support of James Kennedy, Stephen Guinane and Aran Donnelly, the six films explore a wide range of themes—from farming to Limerick’s nightlife, nostalgia to neurodiversity, student life to the Irish language. This annual event is a wonderful celebration of our students’ work and their time with us at MIC, and we wish each of them every success and happiness in their future careers.”
Nicky Fennell, Lecturer in Media & Communication Studies at MIC, added:
“With the world they’re going out into, what better skills can you teach them than how to decipher how news and media are manipulated and the techniques used to trick and deflect? And what better way to teach that than to let them make their own documentaries and see them bend their own truths to fit a story? Once they learn that, the mainstream media spell is broken, and they’re not so easily manipulated. That’s what we as a Department set out to do, in relation to print media, radio, TV, film, online spaces and the dreaded AI!”
The screening will take place upstairs in Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick City, on Thursday, 30 April at 7.30pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Click here for further information on MIC’s Media & Communication Studies programme.
