NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE BALL – Amharc Éireann: Eagrán 73
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 Chukwuemeka Ike, a Nigerian representative from the Government College of Umuahia. The traditional Nigerian dress provided a contrast to the plain suits worn by the Irish men. Relations between Ireland and Nigeria grew following their independence and aside from similarities in country flags (The Irish tricolor and the Nigerian Green White and Green), there are other connections between the nations, Guinness has been brewed in Nigeria since the early 1960s and to this day proves to be their most popular drink. No doubt there was many a pint had on this particular night.
Produced by Gael Linn, Amharc Éireann (A View of Ireland) is Ireland’s longest-running indigenous newsreel series. It was distributed to cinemas throughout the country to promote the Irish language. Between 1956 and 1964, 267 editions of the newsreel were produced for cinema exhibition.
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With kind permission of Gael Linn.
