Sonia Nic Giolla Easbuig is an award winning TV Producer/Director from Bunbeg, Gaoth Dobhair. Sonia runs LIGID Productions ltd and has offices in Donegal and County Down. LIGID is a TV production company specialising in Factual Documentaries and Short form Drama.
Sonia has been producing and directing TV programmes for over 15 years for RTÉ, BBC and TG4. LIGID programmes have also been broadcast internationally on the Discovery and Arte Networks and several LIGID Productions have won European regional Television Prix Circom awards including Best Documentary.
Sonia has taken her work back to Donegal as often as she can and has documented stories throughout the county for many years. Her storytelling varies from a documentary about ‘The Hiring Fairs’ in Donegal for TG4 to directing a two-part programme on the Donegal Rally in 2010 for the BBC. Sonia won a ‘Top 50’ award for ‘Business as Gaeilge’ in 2006 and is also currently studying for a PhD at the University of Ulster, Coleraine.
Sonia is married to Peter Jones, who is a cameraman with the BBC in Belfast and they have a young son called Ruairí.
Here’s her Donegal:
What is your favourite place in Donegal and why?
I would have to say Bunbeg beach with Eddie Beag’s boat on it is my favourite place; there is nowhere nicer to watch the sunrise and the Sunset. It is where I grew up and I suppose it is where I will always call home. Though all around the coastline, Donegal’s mountains, and beaches are magnificent. I also love turning the corner from the back of Errigal into Dunlewey. I always feel that I am almost home when I see the spectacular vista in Dunlewey.
If you could change one thing about Donegal what would it be?
I know I should probably say the weather, but I think Donegal has a different kind of beauty to it when the weather is bad. So I think it would probably be the roads, I would change the roads to make them safer.
Who is the one person in Donegal that you look up to and why?
My Dad. My Dad is a real Donegal man who loves Donegal with a passion; he is hard working, loyal, worldly wise and the most caring Dad in the world. He instilled in me a love of the Irish language, to be proud of our history, culture and our heritage and to respect the environment in which we live. Family is very important to him and I think that in these hard times that people are realising that family is a lot more precious than material goods. I hope I am as good a parent to Ruairí as my mother & father have been to me.
Daniel O’Donnell or Packie Bonner?
It’s hard to pick between them, as in there own way they have both done so much for Donegal. If I had to really pick I would probably say Packie Bonner.
What has been Donegal’s proudest moment in recent years?
I have to say the All Ireland final last September. It was amazing, it sent everyone in Donegal and from Donegal into a happy spin that I don’t think we have come out of yet. It was fantastic to watch their road to victory and in these difficult times anything that brings happiness like they did to the County can’t be a bad thing.
What was Donegal’s saddest moment?
Without a doubt our saddest moment that will haunt us for many years has to be the child abuse scandals not only in Donegal but also throughout the Country. Words cannot express how sad it is that this was happening to children that were living in our midst.
What is your favourite Donegal-made product?
When I am at home in Bunbeg I stock up with Donegal Creamery Milk before going back to County Down. I have my husband hooked on it too; it is the creamiest milk ever. I like Velvet crunch snacks as well, which are made by Largo Foods in Gaoth Dobhair.
Who is Donegal’s greatest ambassador around the world and why?
We have a lot of great ambassadors and this year the Donegal team have represented the County nationally and internationally to make us really proud of them. I think that Moya Brennan, Clannad, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Enya and Ronan Mac Aodh Bhuí all have done so much through music for our County both in terms of tourism and culturally, they also deserve recognition.
Who is Donegal’s most successful businessperson in your opinion?
I suppose it depends on how you determine success. For me those who are self employed or people who are running small companies in the current climate and that are keeping the wolf from the door but also providing employment for others are the success stories of business in Donegal today.
Who is your favourite Donegal sportsperson of all time?
I would have to say Martin Mc Hugh Snr. as he was my first interview ever. When Donegal won the All Ireland in 1992, I interviewed him for Dublin’s Raidio na Life while travelling on the boat back from taking Sam Maguire into Tory Island. I have met him on a few occasions since and he is a real gentleman. The moment he had on the pitch with young Martin on All Ireland day last September was a beautiful moment captured as well.
What is your favourite Donegal restaurant?
The restaurant in the Ostan Gaoth Dobhair is my favourite place in Ireland! When Charlie is cooking and the Lobster is on the menu there is nothing in the world to compare!!
Donegal’s golden eagles or basking sharks?
Basking Sharks – I love the sea and everything to do with it. I am a PADI registered scuba diver and sea life is stunning when you have the chance to see it in its own environment.
Your nomination for Donegal’s most stylish person?
This has to be my Mum, Norah (I know I am a bit biased) but she is the most beautiful woman that I have ever met. Her sense of style is fantastic and if there was an award for the most ‘elegant, stylish nana’ she would definitely be the winner.
What is your favourite Donegal saying or expression?
My favourite saying is in Gaeilge “Tá Saol an mhadaidh bháin agat” which means you have a great life. It can be used in so many ways, humorously, sarcastically and genuinely it’s a lovely saying.
Will Donegal win the All Ireland next year?
I hope so. Though I don’t know how we would cope with two All Irelands in a row but I think we would manage ok!!
What is your favourite Donegal food?
It would have to be Donegal’s fresh seafood. I don’t think there is seafood like it anywhere in the world.
Is there anything that really annoys you about Donegal or its people?
The only thing that annoys me at the moment is the amount of young people that have emigrated/ are emigrating from Donegal. I suppose there is nothing that people can do to prevent it but there are an awful lot of our young people leaving and my fear is that they may never come back.
If you had a million euro to spend on improving something in Donegal, what would it be?
I would create a link with all those that are emigrating and I would make it so that they were involved in some way with future decisions that were made about Donegal. I would then work on improving life by providing more amenities here for young people to give them something to come home to and for those living in rural areas where they really have nowhere to go and nothing to do.