Film asking ‘Why Doesn’t Portrush Have a Skatepark?’ to be premiered in town's cinema
A short film asking ‘Why Doesn’t Portrush Have a Skatepark?’ is to be screened in the town’s Playhouse cinema on Thursday, May 30.
The free screening, which takes place at 7.30pm, will show the new 15 minute ‘street lecture’ movie made by Dr Jim Donaghey of Ulster University and independent videographer Slaine Browne.
The mini-documentary is the result of Jim and Slaine’s ‘Skate Stopped?’ and ‘Get Portrush a Skatepark!’ research projects, looking back at more than 25 years of local campaigning for skatepark facilities in the seaside town.
Dr Jim Donaghey, a Research Fellow based at UU’s Coleraine campus, said: “One of the fantastic things about this project has been the opportunity to share the experiences of the Portrush skateboarders.
"Our videos on YouTube and Instagram have been a focal point for the skateboarding community here, we’re publishing academic journal articles and policy reports, and we’ve talked about these issues at conferences in Belfast, Leeds and even San Diego.
"Taking this local experience and sharing it on the world stage gives everyone involved a real boost in terms of self-respect. I think it’s only a matter of time until the Council catch up with the public mood, and if our project helps add to that pressure, then that’s great. A proper skatepark in Portrush is long, long overdue.”
Slaine Browne, videographer and longtime skateboarder, said: “I started skateboarding in Portrush in 1995 – I’ve been all over the world with my board but I always seem to end up back in Portrush, where it all began for me.
"Skaters pay close attention to what’s happening in our town, we’re in the streets every day seeing the changes firsthand. After decades campaigning for a skatepark, we’ve set our sights a little wider – we’re hoping this video shifts the perspective by shining a spotlight on the bigger picture of the future of the Causeway Coast and the place of our local communities in that future.”
The film screening will be followed by a public forum to discuss the ‘Get Portrush a Skatepark!’ campaign. The event is free of charge, no need to book.