Another Way Review

On a much nicer note, Another Way (Newstalk, Sat 10pm) was a lovely documentary about a singular community and way of life: that of some 250 people on Inis Oírr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands.

Patricia Baker travelled to the island for an impending currach race. “Rowing,” she observed in voiceover near the end, is “in the islanders’ blood. It is part of who they are: a community steeped in tradition, who live in the moment.”

What a wonderful attitude to take to life; what a sensible, open-minded, free and happy way to see the world and your place in it. Respect for your traditions but being present at the same time: it’s hard to think of a finer rebuttal to the dead hand of ideology.