The remarkable story of James Concannon a fascinating man who kept heading west has been made into a documentary. James left his home on Inis Meain/Inishmaan in the Aran Islands off the West coast of Ireland in 1865 to seek his fortune in America. James was a pioneer, a prospector and a profiteer. He seized every opportunity possible, from hotel manager to book seller to rubber stamp sales man to America's first Irish vintner. Concannon's escapades also brought him to Mexico City where it is said he became friends of the famed dictator Porfirio Díaz.
His legacy still thrives at Concannon's Vineyard in the Livermore Valley today - one of California's oldest wineries. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile, a member of the Concannon family still living on the Aran Islands, traveled with Neal Boyle, Director/Producer of 'Fíniúin Inis Meáin', and the Esras crew tracing the footsteps of her ancestor.
Filming on the Aran Islands, across Mexico and in San Francisco, the Cogar ends in Livermore California on St Patrick's Day 2006 where family and friends gather in the vineyard's barrel room for a special celebration on the birthday anniversary of James Concannon.
'Fíniúin Inis Meáin' is an Esras Films production for TG4 and is produced by Neal Boyle and Conall Ó Móráin
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