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President Kennedy In Ireland

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This documentary film produced by the Columban Fathers chronicles President John F. Kennedy’s historic visit to Ireland in June 1963, only 5 months before his tragic assassination. The producer, Father Gerry Smith, a Cavan-born missionary priest, had studied filmmaking in the U.S. He had made a number of films about ‘the old country’ before making […]

Love and Money

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In this light-hearted cautionary tale Milo O’Shea and Maureen Toal star as young office workers whose engagement is doomed unless they create some financial security. The film sponsored by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs illustrates the benefits of saving with the Post Office. Donal (Milo O’Shea) is forced to take action after his fiancée, […]

MR. CARELESS GOES TO TOWN

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A road safety film where Mr. Careless, usually a good law-abiding citizen, becomes a menace when he gets behind the wheel of a car. Produced by the National Film Institute for the Department of Local Government in 1949 and directed by Liam Ó Laoghaire, this road safety film warns of the dangers of drink driving. […]

Tubberware

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Tubberware is a humorous and unusual short film directed by Irish playwright Paul Mercier. In a provocative exploration of Irish cultural heritage and identity in the modern world, the film presents a day in the life of an Irish-speaking district in the heart of Connemara and cleverly satirizes the effect of tourism on the community. […]

FLUENT DYSPHASIA

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In this short by Daniel O’Hara, Stephen Rea plays Murph, a father who wakes up after a night on the town to the shocking realisation that he is now fluent in the Irish language but has completely forgotten how to speak English. Confused by this unusual situation he desperately reaches out to his daughter, Jane […]

Portrait of Dublin

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This short film was made by filmmaker (later archivist) Liam Ó Laoghaire (aka Liam O’Leary) and was commissioned by the Cultural Relations Committee of the Department of External Affairs. The film was designed to promote the city of Dublin to its inhabitants and to potential visitors from abroad. Brendan Stafford’s crisp black and white cinematography […]

Babyface Goes to Hollywood

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Forgotten Irish boxing legend Jimmy McLarnin, aka ‘The Babyfaced Assassin’, a journeyman brawler originally from County Down battled his way to fortune and glory in the 1940s via two welterweight world championship titles, and a whole heap of controversy to become one of the greats of Irish boxing history. Director Andrew Gallimore recounts McLarnin’s Greatest […]

Dun Laoghaire Storm

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This short amateur film by Father Delany shows powerful waves crashing over the harbour walls on a stormy evening in Dun Laoghaire. A small group of people gather dangerously close to the edge as the boats and buoys rock erratically in the distance. One gentleman can be seen making a dash to avoid a nasty […]

First Communion

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In this film, Father Delany captures a group of children dressed in their finest outfits, proudly walking down an inner city Dublin street on their way to First Holy Communion. A crowd gathers at the railings of the church to see the event and wave at the camera. Father Jack Delany (1906-1980) was ordained in […]

Corpus Christi

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This amateur film by Father Jack Delany shows members of the inner city parish participating in the annual Corpus Christi procession, a Roman Catholic ritual celebrating the Eucharist. Traditionally all Catholic parishioners attended. In Father Delany’s film we see children in their first holy communion and other religious attire. Father Jack Delany (1906-1980) was ordained […]

Sports Day

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Summer, Killiney, South County Dublin: The CBS sports day is in full swing. A band plays and participants compete in boxing, cycling and a sack race as crowds cheer from the stands. It’s clear that a fun day was had by all. Father Jack Delany (1906-1980) was ordained in 1930 at the age of 24 […]

Card Games

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This film shows a group of people playing card games in a sunny back garden of a family home. Card and board games, such as bridge and dominoes, would have been popular in 1930s Dublin. Father Jack Delany (1906-1980) was ordained in 1930 at the age of 24 and served as a parish priest in […]