Irish Culture

Christmas

Christmas in the City – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 237

6th December 2016

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In December 1963 Dublin was humming with excitement as crowds gathered in their droves to see the Christmas lights adorn the streets. Henry Street was overflowing with busy shoppers, enticed by the winter wonderland window displays and bargains at the market stalls on Moore Street. Children eagerly waited to meet Santa in his grotto, while […]

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Christmas

Christmas Morning

6th December 2016

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Directed by Tiernan MacBride, this short film – nominated for a Palme d’Or in 1978 for Best Short Film – is a visual representation of the Irish folk song Arthur McBride and The Sergeant, played and sung by Irish singer Paul Brady. The lyrics tell the story of Arthur McBride (Paul Bennett) and his cousin […]

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1930s-1960s

Dublin Shops Highlight Christmas – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 28

5th December 2016

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December 1959 and Christmas is coming. The streets of Dublin glistened with the joy of the festive season. Everything you could wish for could be found here. In every shop window there was something to delight and entice, from the latest fashion trends to novelty Christmas candles; Dublin city centre had everything you needed for […]

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1960s-1980s

Puss in Boots Panto – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 83

5th December 2016

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The legendary Panto Puss in Boots comes to Our Lady’s Hall, Mourne Road, Drimnagh. This amateur production has the whole community busily involved. Locals from Crumlin and Drimnagh offer their spare time and skills to help production, from acting and costume design to set design, electrics and carpentry. This is a play made by the […]

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Christmas

Toys, Buy Now for Christmas – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 201

5th December 2016

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This April 1963 edition of the newsreel shows a fun-filled toy fair in Dublin where visitors are allowed a sneak preview of Christmas stock. From tricycles to fashion dolls and remote control cars, there was something for every child at this show. Many of the toys were from the British Tri-ang range. In the 1960s, […]

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Christmas

Moving Crib Tells Christmas Story – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 187

5th December 2016

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A popular Dublin Christmas tradition was a visit to The Moving Crib in Parnell Square. A nativity scene was created using over 100 mechanical handcrafted figures set against a delicately hand-painted backdrop. The Moving Crib (based at St Martin Apostolate, 30 Parnell Square) opened in 1956. Visitors can enjoy a colourful array of bible scenes […]

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Christmas

Dublin Christmas Lights – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 185

5th December 2016

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December 1962 and traffic in Dublin is at a standstill as crowds gather on O’Connell Bridge awaiting Santa’s arrival. Rudolph et al must have been resting for the big night as Santa chose a rather unorthodox method of transport – water skiing his way up the River Liffey to mark the beginning of the festivities. […]

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Christmas

Christmas Day Swim – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 83

5th December 2016

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This newsreel records the annual Dublin Swimming Club Christmas swim, which took place at the Clontarf Baths on a freezing December morning in 1961. The crowd of wrapped-up onlookers cheered on the athletes as they braved the cold waters. The winner Neil Kennedy who was awarded the trophy by Máire Potter. The Clontarf Swimming Club […]

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Christmas

A Wet Christmas in Howth – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 83

5th December 2016

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What better way to spend Christmas Day in 1961 than water skiing in the freezing cold Irish Sea? Mr and Mrs Carr brave the cold waters at Balscadden Bay as onlookers, in awe of this chilly Christmas tradition, cheer them on. Howth and Martello Tower are just visible in the distance. This traditional Christmas swim […]

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History

Christy Brown, My Left Foot – Radharc

1st November 2016

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This Radharc film originally aired in October 1962 and documents the life of the famous Irish painter and writer, Christy Brown. In the film, Father Peter Lemass visits Christy at home in Crumlin, talks with him and shows us his work. Christy Brown was born on 5th of June 1932 in Crumlin, Dublin, the tenth […]

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Irish Hospital Sweepstakes: If You Are Not In You Can’t Win

1st November 2016

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This colour advertisement from the 1970s for the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes, is one of many similar films preserved in the IFI Irish Film Archive and contains the iconic tagline ‘If you’re not in, you can’t win’. The Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake was a lottery that began in 1930 as the Irish Free State Hospitals’ Sweepstake. It […]

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Irish Hospital Sweepstakes: Sweepstakes Hurdle Draw

1st November 2016

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This Irish Hospital Sweepstakes advert of an actual draw was originally broadcast in the 1960’s.With over £285,000 at stake, if you had a ticket you had ‘as good a chance as anybody anywhere of winning’. The Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake was a lottery that began in 1930 as the Irish Free State Hospitals’ Sweepstake. It was […]

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