IFI Irish Film Archive

Longford Memorial

Year1925 Duration2m 06s

August 27th 1925: A memorial to the fallen soldiers who fought in World War I is revealed in the main square of Longford town by Major General Sir William Hickie, who commanded the 16th Irish Division. Southern ex-servicemen pay tribute and remember the dead, while wreaths and flowers are laid at the foot of the obelisk. Two Victoria Cross recipients can been seen with their medals on their chests. The Victoria Cross medal was the highest and most prestigious award for acts of valour and gallantry in the field of war, given to armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories.

Nationalists from all over Ireland pay tribute to the memory of the late Mr. John Redmond who passed away March 6th 1918.in this newsreel. A portrait of Redmond can been seen on the wall of the cemetery on the corner of John’s Gate Street, Wexford Town. A procession of mourners gather in front of it and a procession of men on horseback ride past holding their hats to their chests.The final segment of this newsreel shows son of John Redmond, Captain William Redmond seen in a bowler hat, look over the crowd of people who have gathered at the Redmond monument at the square in Wexford town. John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, and M.P. in the British House of Commons. He was best known as leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) from 1900 until his death in 1918. He was also leader of the paramilitary organisation the Irish National Volunteers (INV).

1m 16s

Lawless Ireland

In the middle of the night on Monday September 21st 1920 the Black and Tans sacked the town of Balbriggan in County Dublin. The sacking was revenge for the killing of District Inspector Burke and his brother Sergeant Burke, who were shot dead by the IRA while in Smyth’s pub, Balbriggan earlier in the day. In this newsreel, houses and cottages are shown burnt out or demolished entirely and residents can be seen being evacuated, walking down the street with their belongings in hand. The event caused debate in the British Parliament with H. H. Asquith, the former Prime Minister and then leader of the opposition, comparing Balbriggan to a Belgian town on the frontier during World War I.

9m 31s

Lord Mayor of Cork Dead

Despite the opening intertitle which refers to activities on the streets of Cork, much of the footage here was filmed in London. The film documents the final journey of Terence Mac Swiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, who died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison on October 25th, 1920. MacSwiney's death was marked by three funeral processions - in London (seen here); in Dublin (where an empty coffin was carried through the streets of Dublin - not seen here) and in Cork where he was finally laid to rest. Opening sequence shows coffin carried by MacSwiney’s brother and others and being blessed by Archbishop Mannix of Melbourne before being placed in horse drawn hearse. Hearse travels through streets of London. Thousands line the streets. Members of the constabulary hold back throngs outside St George’s Cathedral, Southwark where thousands come to pay their respects. Scenes as members of the clergy arrive at Brixton prison. There are some scenes of the funeral procession through the streets of Cork. Terence James MacSwiney was an Irish playwright, author and politician. He was elected as Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence in 1920. He was arrested by the British on charges of sedition and imprisoned in Brixton Prison in England. His death there in October 1920 after 74 days on hunger strike brought him and the Irish struggle to international attention.

1m 13s

Free State or Republic

Scenes of Polling stations at the Irish general election are shown in this newsreel, where the main issue being voted on was whether the country should remain as a Free State or become a full Republic – the goal of de Valera’s Fianna Fáil party. Crowds of people gather on Marlborough Street and Free state soldiers stand guard at the exterior of a polling station. Inside, men are seen distributing ballots as the count progresses. General Richard Mulcahy, Minister for Defence is returned. At Stephen’s Green Mrs Charlotte Despard, noted republican and suffragette stands and speaks to camera. Ms Despard was sister of former Viceroy Lord French and president of the Women’s Freedom League. Final intertitle introduces young Vivian (sic properly Vivion) de Valera, son of Eamon. Richard Mulcahy was an army general and commander-in-chief for the Irish Republican Army. He later served in the cabinets of W. T. Cosgrave and John A. Costello. He fought in the 1916 Easter Rising, served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence and became commander of the pro-treaty forces in the Irish Civil War after the death of Michael Collins. The uniform of General Mulcahy’s from 1922 is currently held by the National Museum of Ireland.

5m 18s

Terence MacSwiney Laid to Rest

This newsreel shows the final journey for Terence Mac Swiney, who died in Brixton, England on October 25th 1920. His body arrives in Cork at Customs House Quay on October 31st (it was diverted from Dublin to avoid demonstrations). The coffin of Terence McSwiney arrives on the tugboat Mary Tavy into Cork's Custom House Quay. A procession of mourners fill Patrick Street as hordes of people turn up to show their respects. His brother Sean MacSwiney is seen walking alongside the coffin along with his other brother Peter, who is acting as pallbearer. His coffin is carried into the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne and he is buried at St Finbarr’s Cemetery. Terence James MacSwiney was an Irish playwright, author and politician. He was elected as Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence in 1920. He was arrested by the British on charges of sedition and imprisoned in Brixton Prison in England. His death there in October 1920 after 74 days on hunger strike brought him and the Irish struggle to international attention.

1m 10s

The Outgoing President

In this newsreel the Ministry and members of the Republican Party who opposed the Treaty stand for the camera after contesting the policy of the Free State Party at the elections in 1922. On 14th January 1922 a meeting of the members elected to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland was held at the Mansion House, Dublin. At the meeting the Anglo-Irish Treaty was ratified by the Irish side and a Provisional Government was elected. Michael Collins was appointed its Chairman and the Provisional Government took up office two days later on January 16th 1922 when the British administration handed over Dublin Castle to Collins in person. The Treaty, which would replace the Republic as a dominion of the British Commonwealth, was signed on December 6th. De Valera was not happy with the signing of it as he had stipulated that regardless of the outcome the delegates should not be pressured into any agreements and should return to consult with the cabinet and him, their President. After the Treaty was narrowly ratified, de Valera and a large majority of Sinn Féin T.D.s left Dáil Éireann and Arthur Griffith was elected President.