AG TAISTEAL SIAR 

(TRAVELLING BACK)

Feature Documentary - (2025)

***OFFICIAL SELECTION - DOCS IRELAND 2025***

***OFFICIAL SELECTION - GALWAY FILM FLEADH 2025***

Ag Taisteal Siar is a feature length ilDÁNA documentary for TG4 that explores the rich musical heritage of the Irish Traveller community that has shaped Irish music for centuries. Featuring intimate interviews and spellbinding performances, the film brings together an extraordinary cast of musicians, including Kathleen Keenan, Sarah Dunne, Sharyn Ward, Niamh Dunne, and Steo Wall, alongside original poetry written by Martin Warde.

“People are slowly understanding the impact travellers have had on Irish Music and Irish Culture.” - Steo Wall

Traveller music has been a defining force in Irish musical heritage since the ballad boom of the 1960s. But as the music reached new heights, the Traveller way of life was undergoing profound change. The transition from life on the road to settled housing altered the social fabric that had long nurtured this tradition, challenging how music was passed down through generations. The documentary explores the profound and often overlooked contribution of legends such as Pecker Dunne, Maggie Barry and Johnny Doran to Ireland’s musical legacy. Their enduring impact is further illuminated through the perspectives of celebrated contemporary musicians such as Liam Ó Maonlaí and Damien Dempsey, who pay reverence to their musical forebearers.

As Sarah Dunne recalls of her father, Pecker Dunne:

"Music was the trade of the Dunne people… He always had this phrase—if you’re shy or ashamed, you’ll starve to death."

Today, the sound of Traveller music is evolving once again, with women rising to the forefront as key voices in the tradition. Ag Taisteal Siar is a journey from Dublin to the West of Ireland to London, seeking out the musicians carrying this legacy forward, ensuring that the Traveller voice remains a powerful and essential part of Ireland’s cultural identity.

“Traveller music has always been very respected because they told stories about Ireland. Travellers are very magical people.” - Sharyn Ward

Ag Taisteal Siar is an evocative exploration of a culture that has shaped Irish music for centuries— honouring its roots and showcasing its vibrant present.

Ag Taisteal Siar was commissioned as part of ilDÁNA programme funded by TG4 and The Arts Council of Ireland, with additional funding from Coimisiún na Meán, and Northern Ireland Screen (ILBF).