Ulaidh Faoi Thalamh: Dialann Chormaic

An rud is iontaí faoin chlár seo ná an dóigh a raibh muid ábalta solas a chaitheamh ar an infreastruchtúir a cuireadh ar bun i ndiaidh an Dara Cogadh Domhanda, le linn an Chogaidh Fhuair. Bhí mise beo san am agus tá mé measartha cinnte nach raibh a fhios ag an phobal go raibh an córas seo ann. Den chéad uair, rinneadh scannánaíocht go domhain faoi thalamh i mBuncair Núicléacha anseo sa Tuaisceart agus bhí mise in ann seasamh iontu agus mé ag iarraidh a shamhlú mar a bheadh sé agus tú brúite isteach le beirt fhear eile i spás cille fiche troigh thíos, gan cead teacht amach ar feadh seachtainí. Mura raibh eagla orm istigh iontu, ní raibh mé go hiomlán ar mo shuaimhneas. Agus sheas mé fosta i mBuncar Réigiúnach – foirgneamh i gceantar ciúin meánaicmeach a dtiocfadh le lucht polaitíochta agus eagraíochta teitheadh chuige i gcás cogadh núicléach. Agus cé go bhfuil cuid de os cionn talaimh, ní raibh a fhios ag na daoine máguaird fiú go raibh a leithéid ina measc. Spreag sé smaoineamh fánach i m’intinn: cad é atá ar siúil na laethanta seo nach bhfuil a fhios againn faoi?
Le linn na scannánaíochta ar chlár 3, tháinig mé ar radharc a fhanfaidh liom go ceann i bhfad i ndiaidh chraoladh na sraithe. Mé i mo sheasamh ar mhullach Dhún Líonáin ar bhruach Loch Súilí, ag amharc amach ar mhuirdhreach álainn agus ag smaoineamh ar na fir a chaith am faoin talamh ar a raibh mé. Ach ar a bharr sin, bhí rud pearsanta ann; bhí mé ag amharc anonn go Cionn Fhánada taobh le teach an tsolais, an ceantar inar rugadh agus ar tógadh mo mháthair mhór agus ag amharc amach fosta ar an huiscí ar amharc sí féin amach orthu.

Spreag sé smaoineamh fánach i m’intinn ...

The most wonderful part of this series is how we were able to shed light on some of the infrastructure built after WW2, during the Cold War. I was alive at the time, and I’m fairly certain that the public were not aware of this system. Filming took place in nuclear bunkers across the province, in some, for the first time ever. I stood in bunkers trying to imagine how it would feel to be trapped in there with two other men, in a cramped space twenty feet below ground, unable to resurface for weeks. I also visited the Regional War Room – a nondescript building in a quiet residential street in Belfast, where political and administrative officials would flee if nuclear war had broken out. Although part of it was above ground, I am not sure if the local residents knew of the facility at the end of their street. It caused me to ponder – what else goes on today that we know nothing about?

During filming on episode 3, I saw a sight that will stay with me long after the series airs. Standing above Leenan Fort on Lough Swilly, looking out over the beautiful view, I thought about the men who walked that land before my time. But I also looked across to Fanad Head, by the lighthouse, where my grandmother was born and raised. Looking out over the same waters she looked out over, I thought about her.

An t-eispéireas ó chlár 2 a fhanfaidh liom go deo ná an uair a chloig a chaith mé go coim i sruth séarachais ag sreabhadh ó Dheisceart Bhéal Feirste. Ní raibh mé liom féin; bhí an fear ceamara, an bhean fuaime agus an stiúrthóir liom agus an t-agallaí, agus bhí sé sin ina chuidiú. Ní raibh an boladh chomh bréan sin ag an am, ach tá sé i mo ghaosán go fóill. Caithfidh mé a rá go raibh na hoibrithe uile a chuidigh linn iontach cairdiúil. D’inis siad dom nach n-éiríonn siad tinn in am ar bith; tá a gcoirp chomh cleachta sin le gach cineál baictéir! Ach sinne an chéad fhoireann ceamara a fuair cead scannánaíocht a dhéanamh i gcóras séarachais Bhéal Feirste agus é faoi lán seoil. Agus tuigim cad chuige.
Agus bím ag déanamh mórtais agus mé ag caint le cairde nó gaolta, gur shiúil mé in Abhainn na Fearsaide sa tSráid Ard i mBéal Feirste. Is mór agam gur thug an tsraith seo deis dom dul faoin tsráid agus sin a dhéanamh nó bhí an abhainn sin tábhachtach i saol na cathrach lá den saol agus anois, siúlann na mílte daoine thairsti gach bliain, gan fios acu go bhfuil sí faoina gcosa.

an uair a chloig a chaith mé go coim i sruth séarachais ag sreabhadh ó Dheisceart Bhéal Feirste

The experience from episode 2 that will stay with me forever is the hour I spent up to my waist in sewage flowing from South Belfast. I was not alone – the cameraman, sound woman and director were all with me, and that was some comfort, at least. The smell was not so foul at the time, but I can still smell it now. I have to admit that the sewer workers were all very friendly, and told me that they never get sick; their bodies are so accustomed to all kinds of bacteria! We were the first camera crew permitted to film in the sewers in Belfast while they were operating, and I now understand why.

When speaking to friends and family about making this series, I’m very proud of the fact that I got to walk the Farset River under High Street in Belfast. I’m grateful that this series afforded me the chance to go underground to see the city’s namesake, as it was once an important feature of Belfast, and now, each year it is traversed by thousands of people, unaware that the river is beneath their feet.

Istigh in uaimheanna Bhotha a bhuail eagla mé den chéad uair le linn na sraithe. Chaithinn mo shaol amuigh faoin spéir, le spás agus tírdhreach thart orm. Mar sin de, nuair a chuaigh mé isteach faoin talamh i dtús báire, bhí mé míchompordach. Ansin nuair a thug an treoraí mé níos doimhne isteach sna pasáistí cúnga dorcha, d’iompaigh an t-anó sin go heagla. Níl dorchadas agus ciúnas ar bith inchurtha le dorchadas agus ciúnas faoi thalamh, agus ní maith leis an duine (nó an duine seo cibé!) an díth chéadfach. Is cuimhin liom go maith an tógáil croí a bhuail mé nuair a thiontaigh muid le filleadh, agus tamall ina dhiaidh sin nuair a chuala mé glórtha an chriú ceamara a d’fhan i mbéal na huaimhe.

D’iompaigh an t-anó go heagla

Cé go raibh uaimh thalún Chnoic Dhuibh níba chúinge agus níba shalaí ná na huaimheanna, níor mhothaigh mé ach iontas agus meas nuair a bhrúigh mé mo bhealach isteach inti – meas ar na daoine a chruthaigh é mar thearmann níos mó ná míle bliain ó shin, agus iontas gur mhair sé chomh maith is a mhair.

It was in Boho Caves in Fermanagh that I felt fear for the first time on this series. I have spent my life out in the open air, in wide open spaces. So, when I went underground for the first time, I was uncomfortable. Then, when my guide, Sarah, took me deeper into the dark, narrow passages, that unease transformed into fear. There is no silence and darkness like that found underground, and people (or at least this person!) fear the sensory deprivation. I remember well how cheered I felt when Sarah and I turned to go back, and when, a short while later, we heard the voices of the camera crew who had remained in the mouth of the cave while we explored.

Although Knockdhu souterrain was much narrower and dirtier than the caves, I only felt wonder and respect at the feat of engineering as I squeezed my way into it – respect for the people who constructed it as a refuge more than a thousand years ago, and wonder at how well it had lasted.