The Pipe plot
"Big Oil. Small Village."
Breathtaking aerial shots show the beauty of County Mayo, a seemingly unspoilt region on Ireland's west coast. However, that natural beauty is under pressure: in 1996 a gigantic gas field was discovered just off the coast, which the Shell company wants and will pump out. To do this, a pipeline has to be built right through the area - under and along the fishing village of Rossport. The residents are not entirely happy with this, but the Irish government is happy to offer the multinational plenty of space. This documentary shows the resistance to the implementation of the plans over a period of four years from the perspective of a number of local activists. They fear damage to the ecosystem, with all the disastrous consequences that entails. Tension rises in their confrontations with the Irish Garda, with a camera that is literally right next to the parties.