IFI to screen a programme to mark the 50th anniversary of the election of Sean Lemass as Taoiseach
To mark the 50th anniversary of the election of Seán Lemass as Taoiseach, the Irish Film Archive, in association with the Royal Irish Academy, will screen a programme of short documentaries and newsreels made during the years of his tenure.
Two of the films are U.S produced and offer an examination of Lemass’ Ireland from the outside. The optimistic Tide on the Turn credits Lemass with the arrival of foreign investment in Ireland. The second U.S produced film Look Up and Live: Ireland in Transition attempts to explain the Irish political and ideological landscape to U.S television audiences. The final film Let Lemass Lead On! features Charles Haughey exhorting voters to return to Fianna Fáil in the forthcoming general elections; giving a good insight into Irish political campaigning of the time.
The films are drawn from the extensive collections of the Irish Film Archive which aims to collect and preserve Ireland’s filmed heritage as well as providing the public with access to the collections.
‘Let Lemass Lead On’ will be introduced by Tom Garvin, author of Judging Lemass, published by the Royal Irish Academy
Tickets are available from the IFI Box Office on www.ifi.ie or on 01 679 3477