A History of the Early Irish Film Industry, Part 1: The Pre-Independence Years

World War 2 Films About Ireland

In a break from our history of the Irish film industry, we look at how both sides of the conflict portrayed Ireland in their propaganda movies. From an American comedy starring a future Hollywood star to a German film with literal blood on its hands, these films show how Ireland was less a place and more a symbol during those wartime years.   Wild Old Times is a podcast about the strange and obscure corners of Irish history, written and presented by Ciaran Conliffe. Our logo is by Liffy Designs. The opening theme is The Cat That Ate The Candle. The closing theme is The Parting Glass. Both were recorded by Gregory Mahan and are used under a Creative Commons license. You can find more of his music at https://tinwhistler.com [https://tinwhistler.com] Wild Old Times is recorded at Farset Labs in Belfast. Learn more about Northern Ireland’s favourite hackerspace at https://farsetlabs.org.uk [https://farsetlabs.org.uk]

A History of the Early Irish Film Industry, Part 2: Film In The Irish Free State

In our last episode, we covered the history of Irish film in the years before it gained independence. But a new era for the country meant a new era for the Irish film industry, so in this episode we look at the films made in Ireland and by Irish people during those early years of Irish independence.   The following films were mentioned in this episode and are available online. Irish Destiny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYNRrAShn0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYNRrAShn0]  Nanook of the North: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSigF6ELY9I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSigF6ELY9I]  Moana (1926): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3fnxzYHzb4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3fnxzYHzb4]  Man of Aran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JxnU0_BFzw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JxnU0_BFzw]  Oidhche Sheanchais (A Night of Storytelling): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu0EteAgnYc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu0EteAgnYc]   (Incidentally, I made a couple of mistakes in the episode talking about this film due to misreading my notes. First, I say there were four cast members in this movie. It’s actually five. And I referred to Tom O’Dioran (the storyteller) as Maggie ni Mhaolain’s husband, but he is actually her brother in law. Apologies.) The Dawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjtfAmY0L-U [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjtfAmY0L-U]   Wild Old Times is a podcast about the strange and obscure corners of Irish history, written and presented by Ciaran Conliffe. Our logo is by Liffy Designs. The opening theme is The Cat That Ate The Candle. The closing theme is The Parting Glass. Both were recorded by Gregory Mahan and are used under a Creative Commons license. You can find more of his music at https://tinwhistler.com [https://tinwhistler.com] Wild Old Times is recorded at Farset Labs in Belfast. Learn more about Northern Ireland’s favourite hackerspace at https://farsetlabs.org.uk [https://farsetlabs.org.uk]

A History of the Early Irish Film Industry, Part 1: The Pre-Independence Years

Ireland is a country that punches above its weight these days, both in films made here and as a location for films to be made. This is the result of a history stretching back nearly a hundred and thirty years, with many ups and downs in the time. In this first part of an ongoing series, we'll look at the history of film in Ireland before it gained independence in 1922. Featuring one returning character from a previous episode, and hints of several episodes yet to come.   The following films were mentioned in this podcast. Any not included below are either lost media or just not available online. Dublin 1897 film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5d02GAoma8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5d02GAoma8] Belfast 1897 film: https://digitalfilmarchive.net/media/lumiere-freres-pompiers-alert-9 [https://digitalfilmarchive.net/media/lumiere-freres-pompiers-alert-9] The Lad From Old Ireland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPs8vbcVXMc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPs8vbcVXMc] Rory O’More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ0_Q1OJ518 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ0_Q1OJ518] The Colleen Bawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xFi021DhJQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xFi021DhJQ] From The Manger To The Cross: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyjo5_zf-MQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyjo5_zf-MQ] Sadly the only version of Ireland: A Nation available (courtesy of TCD) is a re-edited version of it released in 1920. It’s missing the first reel and the Home Rule meeting at the end, and it has some other stuff edited in (including a reference to Eamon de Valera as a Sinn Fein member, which didn’t happen until 1917) but it does include a lot of the original footage. (Thank you to Vlad T and aes26thetic on the ITC slack for helping me clear that up.)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMqM7SyTqoY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMqM7SyTqoY] Knocknagow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A-R9F6OqXs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A-R9F6OqXs] Willy Reilly and his Colleen Bawn (includes a short intro by a member of the Sullivan family): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWB5dhuLb40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWB5dhuLb40] The Dail Bonds film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiDCgmwe90 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiDCgmwe90] Various works by the Horgan Brothers including their animated short: https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/horgan/ [https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/horgan/]   Wild Old Times is a podcast about the strange and obscure corners of Irish history, written and presented by Ciaran Conliffe. Our logo is by Liffy Designs. The opening theme is The Cat That Ate The Candle. The closing theme is The Parting Glass. Both were recorded by Gregory Mahan and are used under a Creative Commons license. You can find more of his music at https://tinwhistler.com [https://tinwhistler.com] Wild Old Times is recorded at Farset Labs in Belfast. Learn more about Northern Ireland’s favourite hackerspace at https://farsetlabs.org.uk [https://farsetlabs.org.uk]

The Invented History of James McPherson

In this episode we ask the question: where does folklore end and fiction begin? Every country's destiny is shaped by its myths and legends, but do they need to be real to have that impact? Ireland as a nation owes more than it might be willing to admit to the inventive mind of a Scottish schoolteacher who enchanted Europe.   Wild Old Times is a podcast about the strange and obscure corners of Irish history, written and presented by Ciaran Conliffe. Our logo is by Liffy Designs. The opening theme is The Cat That Ate The Candle. The closing theme is The Parting Glass. Both were recorded by Gregory Mahan and are used under a Creative Commons license. You can find more of his music at https://tinwhistler.com [https://tinwhistler.com] Wild Old Times is recorded at Farset Labs in Belfast. Learn more about Northern Ireland’s favourite hackerspace at https://farsetlabs.org.uk [https://farsetlabs.org.uk]

Poitin, Ireland's Ancient Moonshine

The history of poitin, Irish moonshine, is a history of Ireland itself. It has been around for over a millennia, surviving both attempts to destroy it and to tame it. Join us as we travel from monks through revenuers to trendy cocktail bars on a history of Ireland's unquenchable spirit.   Wild Old Times is a podcast about the strange and obscure corners of Irish history, written and presented by Ciaran Conliffe. Our logo is by Liffy Designs. The opening theme is The Cat That Ate The Candle. The closing theme is The Parting Glass. Both were recorded by Gregory Mahan and are used under a Creative Commons license. You can find more of his music at https://tinwhistler.com [https://tinwhistler.com] Wild Old Times is recorded at Farset Labs in Belfast. Learn more about Northern Ireland’s favourite hackerspace at https://farsetlabs.org.uk [https://farsetlabs.org.uk]