Archive Player, Author at IFI Archive Player

The Thing is Removed from O’Connell Street

‘The Thing’ is Removed from O’Connell Bridge – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 240

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

The ‘Bowl of Light’ or ‘The Thing’ as it was more commonly known, was removed from O’Connell Bridge after a controversial 10 year tenure in Dublin. The copper bowl sat in the middle of O’Connell Bridge and plastic flames lit up inside it. It was one of many public art installations around the capital, but […]

Entertainment

John Huston Becomes an Irish Citizen – Amharc Éireann: Eagran 240

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

Outside the Government Buildings on Merrion Street, news reporters waited for the famous film director John Huston after he officially became an Irish citizen. The director, famous for films such as The Maltese Falcon and Moby Dick, was born in Missouri in 1906. Huston’s grandfather, Robert Moore Huston, was an Irish man from Armagh who […]

Christmas

New Year Sale Fever – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 73

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

New Year’s Day 1964 and the queue outside Arnotts department store on Henry Street was full of keen-eyed bargain hunters eagerly awaiting the doors to open. The line grew longer and crowds spilled out onto the street among passing cars (Henry Street was later pedestrianised in the 1980s). When the doors finally opened, the throng […]

Entertainment

GARDA DEPOT AUCTION – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 73

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

It’s not often people willingly visit the Garda Depot, but when there’s a bargain to be had at a car auction, they make sure to come in their droves. With 60 cars up for auction all varying in condition, it was essential to have a good look at what was on offer in the yard […]

Irish Culture

Dundalk Races 1960 – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 73

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

Set near the historic Cooley Mountains, the 1960 Dundalk Autumn Races took place once the harvest was in and bookies hoped to coax some easy money from the farmers of Louth, Monaghan and Meath. Tensions rose in the fifth race where there were 8 horses running a flat race over the course of a mile. […]

Irish Language

NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE BALL – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 73

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin was a hive of activity as African and Irish people celebrated Nigeria gaining their independence on the 1st of October 1960. As the crowd danced the night away to swinging jazz music, the Lord Major of Dublin and his wife enjoyed the festivities with their guest of honour Mr. Vincent […]

Irish Culture

NEW CORK DOCKLAND – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 73

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

The Taoiseach, Seán Lemass, opened the new dockyard in Cork as construction began on a 15,000-ton ship, the biggest of its kind to be made in Ireland at this time.The 400-strong audience (which included Erskine Childers, Minister for Transport) looked on in excitement as the Bishop of Cloyne blessed the site and the Taoiseach pressed […]

Christmas

TIPPERARY NEW YEAR’S NENAGH – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 32

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

New Year’s Day, 1960, and the annual greyhound coursing contest was underway in Nenagh. All bets were off as the crowd gathered and the competition began. The judges took to the course on horseback to survey the long and extensive track, the hare was released and the hounds were soon in pursuit. There were 6 […]

Entertainment

Motorcyclists ‘Splash’ in Stapleton Cup – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 32

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

Competitors and spectators at the Stapleton Cup were gearing up for a thrilling day of dirt bike racing at the infamous Motoring Club of Leinster. The tracks of this famous circuit were known to be one of the most difficult around. The entire course stretched over 50 miles with each circuit averaging about 3 miles. […]

Irish Culture

Kenmare’s Last Train – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 32

18th July 2016

Archive Player 0

On the 1st of February 1960, Kenmare locals and railway workers looked on as the last train made its final journey on the tracks before the line closed. These trains were quite slow by modern standards but acted as a faster more efficient method of travel compared to a horse and cart. However, due to […]