The Pipe

Director Risteard Ó Domhnaill embedded himself in the community of Rossport, Co. Mayo to record their lengthy campaign against the laying of a high-pressure gas pipeline by petrochemicals giant, Shell. The pipe was to run through the land and fishing areas of local farmers and fisherman threatening their livelihood and posing very real environmental and safety concerns.

Emotions ran high in this tale of David and Goliath where peaceful protests by locals are met by baton-waving gardai; Pat ‘The Chief’ O’Donnell’s squares up to Shell’s pipe-laying nautical behemoth in his little fishing trawler and the machinery of the state aligns itself with the oil company. While clearly supportive of the threatened community, Ó Dómhnaill is always cognisant of the complexity of the issues, and provides a clear account of the heroic struggle he captures.