Gold Blend Brand Barry’s Tea Reflects on a Modern Ireland Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day

Just in time to mark and acknowledge St Patrick’s Day, BBDO Dublin launched today, a new short film for Ireland’s hugely popular Barry’s Tea, entitled 'A Letter to Bahia', celebrating Irishness through the lens of someone who has moved to Ireland from abroad. 

The three-minute film is a long-form ‘Director’s cut’ of “Love Letter to the Irish”, an ad for Barry’s popular Gold Blend which launched late last year. It is steeped in the familiar sentiments explored over the last 25 years of Barry’s Tea ads showcasing family, friendship, distance and most importantly, moments of connection.

Whereas the original 30 second TVC reworked the brand’s traditional letter format to focus on a modern, contemporary Ireland by means of a love letter to the protagonist’s new home, the new film goes further to allow the main character to write to her family in Bahia, Brazil, explaining more about the culture, quirks and customs of the Irish, with which she has fallen in love. 

Written by Isabel Harvey, Ivona Poljak and Hadi and directed by Hadi for production company Butter, the film is a moving portrait of modern Ireland which stays true to the Barry’s Tea canon whilst presenting the viewer to the brand and highlighting those important moments of connection, consuming Barry’s Tea.

“In the past we have told stories of Irish people finding the feeling of home in faraway places through the ritual of a cup of Barry’s. This new film - with its heart-warming narrative and charming conclusion after the final title - flips that on its head and tells the story of a person who finds their new home in Ireland through that same ritual,” says Shane O’Brien, executive creative director, BBDO Dublin.

The film will initially be showcased on Joe.ie and Lovindublin.ie over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, running until the end of the month.