Wyllie O Hagan are UK based artists Denise Wyllie and Clare O Hagan, who live...(More)

Wyllie O Hagan are UK based artists Denise Wyllie and Clare O Hagan, who live and work in London. Clare O Hagan is Irish and Denise Wyllie is English. Wyllie O Hagan inaugurated the St Patrick's Day Film Festival in 2007. "The festival rules were simple", says Irish born artist Clare O Hagan. "We looked for films that did not contain caterwauling drunks in oversize hats in the shape of a pint of Guinness, leprechauns having sex, painted green boobs or big green bums." In March 2008, the 2nd Annual Wyllie O Hagan St Patrick's Day Film Festival was held online on Youtube and in the Roxy Cinema in London. The artists invited professional and not professional film-makers to participate in the festival. Wyllie O Hagan received over 200 films into the festival. 52 films matched the criteria for the festival which was to showcase short films with original content that reflected the richness and generosity of the spirit of Ireland and the Irish people. 18 short films were selected and screened at the Roxy Cinema in London. Countries represented at the Roxy Cinema in London were: Ireland Germany The Netherlands USA Poland UK France Three of the Wyllie O Hagan Festival Films were featured on YouTube in the UK and Ireland. Wyllie O Hagan's short documentary Aisling Return to Ireland was featured at No 1 spot in Ireland and No 1 spot in the UK on St Patrick's Day. The short film describes a London Irish Community based project which provides supported holidays 4 times a year in Ireland for long-term emigrants, fulfilling what is for many a dream of seeing their homeland again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uS9pL_X_Pc The Feast of St Patrick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uFbIlK1cQQ Rollerblading Ireland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i46_Gj4MGj8 Wyllie O Hagan, in their role as artist activists lobbied Youtube for the past year for them not to feature videos on St Patrick's Day which contained borderline racist stereotypes. Wyllie O Hagan are delighted that Youtube have responded so positively to their requests. In 2007, Wyllie O Hagan watched four thousand videos on YouTube over the St Patrick's Day festival period. O Hagan reported, "We had to dig deep to discover the real gems, they were not easily accessible to Youtube viewers". Wyllie O Hagan St Patrick's Day film festival comments: "I think Wyllie and O Hagan are awesome and I'm glad that I have gotten the chance to know you both. The art you create and the work you do truly creates a space that allows people to deflect negativity and oppression, making way for a present that strives for fairness and equality for everyone. You make people stop and think. That is the best thing any art could ever do in my mind." Micha L Crook, Monthly Productions, USA Wyllie O Hagan are holding their 3rd Annual St Patrick's Day Film Festival in March 2009, and will publish details on their website at http://www.wyllieohagan.com Music: Eve McTelenn http://www.evemctelenn.com Thank you Eve :) If you are interested in getting some information about St. Patrick's Days in Poland, please visit: http://www.stpatricksdays.pl(Less)