Northern Ireland

Puffin Rock and the New Friends: North's first ever animated movie translated into Irish for new screenings

Puffin Rock and the New Friends was released in the UK earlier this month. An Irish language version of the movie has been screened at a Dublin film festival.
Puffin Rock and the New Friends was released in the UK earlier this month. An Irish language version of the movie has been screened at a Dublin film festival.

An Irish language version of the first ever animated feature film to be made in the north has been screened at a film festival in Dublin.

Puffin Rock and the New Friends was released in the UK earlier this month after it arrived in Irish cinemas north and south in July.

Now an Irish language version of the children's movie has been released, with a screening taking place on Sunday at Dublin's Irish Film Institute Family Festival.

Plans are underway for further screenings across Ireland of Puffin Rock Agus Cairde Nua, for which Irish dialogue was recorded from performers including Dónal Mac Giolla Chóill, Mary-Kate Page, Ava Campo, and Lorcán Mac Daibhéid among others.

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Belfast-based production company Zoogon helped create the new Irish version of the movie, which has received favourable reviews from critics.

The original English language version of the film features voice acting from stars including The IT Crowd's Chris O'Dowd and Dublin actress Amy Huberman.

The film was produced by Derry-based studio Dog Ears, along with Oscar-nominated Kilkenny studio Cartoon Saloon, and its premiere screening was held last month in Derry's Brunswick Moviebowl.

It is based on the award-winning Puffin Rock animated TV series, which ran for two seasons in 2015 and 2016, and which features puffin characters residing on an island off the Irish coast.

Head of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) at Northern Ireland Screen, Áine Walsh, said: "The ILBF is delighted to support the Irish language version of this beautiful, animated film.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Irish speaking families to enjoy Puffin Rock agus na Cairde Nua for the first time, and we look forward to further screenings which will extend this opportunity to Irish speaking children and families throughout the country.”