eo Eaton is the series producer, director, and writer for IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT IRELAND, a vivid portrait of the island nation's remarkable past and enduring impact on Western civilization. In this interview, he debunks long-held myths about Irish history and reveals a rich tradition that is more fascinating than fiction.

What inspired you to explore Ireland's past?

Here is a small country -- less than 6 million people today -- with a cultural influence that has spread around the world. We all know about the Troubles, and about hundreds of years of English -- later British -- control, but what happened before that? As filmmakers, we have a responsibility to provide a context for the world in which we live. And I was really curious about why such a small country should have had such a massive impact on world culture. This curiosity was the beginning of a three-year journey that led to the TV series.

What does it really mean to be "Irish"?

It's estimated that more than 50 million people in America now claim direct Irish descent. There are also millions of Irish descendants scattered around the world. But even people who don't have a drop of Irish blood in their veins celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

There's something about Irish culture -- music, storytelling, poetry, and art -- that resonates in the impersonal anonymity of the 21st century. I think being Irish today is partly a sense of belonging. We all need roots, and Irish culture seems to transcend nationality. Being Irish is also a state of mind. I once sat in a Tokyo pub on St. Patrick's Day and watched Japanese businessmen proudly proclaim their Irishness. They didn't mean it literally, and yet that day, they felt Irish.

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