Plight of the Bumble Bee: Film Screening with Live Soundtrack
Schedule
Sat Jun 20 2026 at 03:00 pm to 05:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
34 Gray St, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04102 | Portland, ME
Advertisement
Plight of the Bumble Bee: Film Screening with Live Soundtrack Saturday, June 20th
3:00pm
doors open at 2:30pm
Join us on Saturday, June 20th at 3:00pm for a truly one-of-a-kind experience! We will be screening Brenda Castle’s outstanding short film, “Plight of the Bumblebee,” complete with a LIVE musical soundtrack performed by three phenomenal musicians, including Brenda herself!
General admission tickets are available for $25, and you can snag priority seating for $40. Don’t wait! General Admission goes up to $35 at the door, and priority seating is only available in advance!
Do you think you know about bees?
Plight of the Bumble Bee is a captivating short film that takes you deep into the world of bees and their profound connection to Irish religion, folklore, and biodiversity. This thought-provoking documentary explores the vital role bees play in our ecosystems, the challenges they face, and how we can help ensure their survival.
With moments of sadness, humour and ultimately hope, the film beautifully weaves a narrative that highlights the urgent need to protect biodiversity, both in Ireland and across the globe. It debunks common myths about bees and biodiversity, offering fresh insights and inspiring viewers to take action.
The documentary features heartfelt interviews, including with the likes of Kilkenny native, 81-year-old Peter Walsh, who has been counting bees in the same spot in Kilkenny since 1959, environmental psychologist Christine Mullan-Jensen, and Skerries locals Charlie and Marion Heasman, who have created a remarkable 5km-long biodiversity corridor. The stories of the Irish saints associated with our bees are colourfully animated by Ruth Clinton and Clare Henderson.
Accompanied by a unique live soundtrack of traditional Irish music composed by Brenda Castles and performed by Brenda on concertina, guitarist Tony Byrne, and violinist Erin Hennessey, Plight of the Bumble Bee is a celebration of nature, community, and resilience.
Prepare to be inspired. Prepare to act. This is a story not just about bees, it’s about us all.
About Brenda Castles:
Brenda Castles hails from Co. Meath and honed her concertina skills under the tutelage of Rena Traynor and Mícheál Ó'Raghallaigh. She released two solo albums of concertina music in 2016 and 2021.
Brenda is a seasoned performer and often graced stages alongside Mick Moloney's Green Fields of America. Beyond her musical endeavours, Brenda has delved into the realm of film, creating and producing the evocative short film 'Plight of the Bumble Bee,' complete with a traditionally inspired soundtrack of her own composition, for which she received the Brian O’Donovan Award in January 2025. The film was shortlisted for the 2025 Powerscourt Nature Media award.
Notable recent Irish performances include a headline solo concert at Temple Bar TradFest, Dublin, an appearance on Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ’s Late Late Show, Earth Rising Festival in the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the ITMA's Drawing From the Well concert in Dublin’s National Concert Hall.
About the Other Musicians!
Eimear Arkins
Eimear Arkins is an award winning musician and singer from County Clare. She has toured throughout the US, Ireland and beyond with acclaimed bands like Cherish The Ladies, Téada, and Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas. She is regularly seen performing with harp player and St Louis native, Eileen Gannon and guitar/bouzouki player and singer David McKindley-Ward. Eimear has also toured extensively with the international music organization Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on concert tours throughout Ireland, Britain, North America and Canada and with the internationally renowned show Brú Ború. Eimear is a qualified Irish music and dance instructor and has performed and given workshops at festivals all over the world including Féile Séamus Creagh, Newfoundland; Catskills Irish Arts Week; Viljandi Pärimusmuusika Festival, Estonia; St Louis Tionól; Canadian Celtic Celebration, and Festival Interceltique de Lorient, France. In June 2018 she released her debut album, What’s Next? and was awarded “Best Newcomer” from LiveIreland in 2019. Eimear released her second album, Here & There, in 2024 featuring collaborations with David McKindley Ward, Eileen Gannon, Alan Murray and Kevin Buckley. She was named one of The Irish Echo’s top 40 under 40 honorees in 2025 and was awarded ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ from Ireland Tonight. Eimear and Eileen Gannon recently released their duet album The Belles of St. Louis.
Learn more: www.eimeararkins.com or www.facebook.com/eimeararkinsmusic
Eamon O'Leary
Eamon O’Leary, from Dublin, is a long time resident of New York City. A singer and string player, with deep roots in the world of Irish trad, he is one half of The Murphy Beds with Jefferson Hamer. Their debut album was described by The Huffington Post as one that “bears repeated listening from start to finish, with ten beautiful, crystalline songs.” He is also a member of The Alt with Nuala Kennedy and John Doyle. His songwriting can be heard, most recently, on The Silver Sun from Reveal Records.
Learn more here: https://www.westcorkmusic.ie/artists/2025/eamon-oleary/
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
34 Gray St, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04102Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
