Film Ireland Podcast

In this episode of The DocArena Podcast, Ross Whitaker talks to filmmaker Maeve O’Boyle. Maeve is the editor and co-director along with Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy, of The 8th, the first independently made documentary about the triumphant referendum campaign led by a group of women including Ailbhe Smyth and Andrea Horan to repeal the Eighth Amendment and change Ireland’s abortion laws after a 35-year long struggle. While featuring voices from both sides of the debate, the primary focus of this new documentary is on the dynamic female leaders of the pro-choice campaign. The film closely follows veteran pro-choice campaigner Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of the ‘Together for Yes’ campaign, and self-described glitter activist and co-presenter of the podcast Don’t Stop Repealin’, Andrea Horan, as they chart a bold strategy of grassroots activism and engineer the near impossible. This dramatic story is underscored by a vivid exploration of the wrenching failures that led to this defining moment in Irish history. _____