Spread The Wings
Directed by Alice McDowell / 2020 / 11 mins
Synopsis
Sisters Maggie and Nora are from the Irish Traveller community – an indigenous nomadic ethnic minority group. Although forced off the road in the 1980s with the introduction of anti-trespass legislation, Maggie and Nora still travel back to Connemara (West Galway, Ireland) every summer to rekindle their connection with the land.
Director Statement
Maggie and Nora Delaney live on the Carrowbrowne ‘temporary’ halting site, on the Headford Road, next door to Barna Waste. Every summer they escape the toxic fumes and appalling living conditions for a few weeks by going back to Connemara – where they grew up as children.
Festivals
March 2020:
- Catalyst International Film Festival, Limerick Ireland.
Awarded: Spirit Of The Festival.
July 2020:
- Galway Film Fleadh
October 2020:
- IndieCork Film Festival
Credits
Director: Alice McDowell
Producer: Alice McDowell
Key cast: Maggie Delaney, Nora Delaney, Connie O’Donoghue
Director Bio
Alice McDowell is a freelance documentary filmmaker working both locally and internationally on the subject of minority rights. Intertwining observation, collaboration and storytelling, Alice has created films with different cultural and community groups, including Mother & Baby home survivors, Muslim feminists, LGBTI activists, asylum seekers and the Traveller community. Alice is originally from Australia and now lives and works in Galway.

Director Alice McDowell.
