Documentary to show men behind habits in monastery

A NEW documentary is set to give a unique and often funny insight into the monastic life in one of Ireland’s best-known abbeys.

The ageing community of about 30 Cistercian or Trappist monks living at historic Mount Melleray in Co Waterford granted a crew of student film makers unlimited access to the corridors of their abbey.

And, despite the fact that silence is a major part of their life, the documentary reveals that even monks have mobile phones with quirky ring-tones.

The film crew, who were students of the Ard Diplóma i Teilifíse — a course on TV production run by Waterford Institute of Technology in association with independent production company Nemeton — spent a week living in the abbey last December.

Producer and director, Geraldine Heffernan from Waterford, said she wanted to capture a portrait not just of the monks of Mount Melleray, but of the men behind the habits.

Her intimate fly-on-the-wall documentary features interviews with several members of the community, including some of the most elderly monks, who remember the Rule of Silence and the strict Lenten dietary regime.

They speak in Irish about why they joined the monastery and about their lifetime of prayer, work and contemplation.

Most of the monks are elderly but the documentary demonstrates their lust for life and their sense of humour.

Just two of the community are under 40 years of age — and one of those is a Nigerian.

The documentary follows the monks during a typical day — rising at 3am for prayer at 3.45am, and following them through the rest of the six daily prayer services.

Alan Devitt, who edited the documentary, said there is a mixture of tender and humorous moments in the film.

One monk explains how he couldn’t attend his mother’s funeral because of his devotion to the abbey, he says.

The documentary, Giollaí Dé, was selected for screening by TG4 as part of its Céad Seans series which gives first-time directors and editors a chance to have their work seen by a national audience.

* The series begins tonight but Giollaí Dé will be screened on TG4 next Thursday, August 22 at 8pm.