The Irish Film Institute, in collaboration with Tradfest will welcome guests Professor Lance Pettitt, musician Órlaith McAuliffe, and publican Tom King to participate in a panel discussion following a screening of Philip Donnellan’s The Irishmen – an Impression of Exile at the IFI on Saturday, January 28th, at 1.30 p.m.
Directed by pioneering television documentarian Philip Donnellan, this rarely-seen socio-realist documentary foregrounds the lives of migrant Irish labourers in 1960s Britain. It shows Irishmen working on the construction of railways, tunnels and motorways, and explores how their imaginations are related to their own land. The film is interspersed with scenes of hurling at Wembley and some lively musical sessions.
Traditional music enthusiasts will be rewarded by the film’s score; supervised by Seamus Ennis, it features the traditional Irish singing of Paul Lenihan and Joe Heaney with lyrics by Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger.
This screening will include a panel discussion and live music. It will be chaired by Professor Lance Pettitt, Birkbeck, University Of London, author of Screening Ireland: Film and Television Representation. Also attending the screening will be rising trad star Órlaith McAuliffe, who was brought up in the vibrant London Irish music scene, and renowned London publican and Clare man Tom King, whose London establishment has played host to Irish and English musicians down through the years.
Tickets for this screening and panel discussion are available now at www.ifi.ie/ifi-tradfest-2017 or from the IFI Box Office on 01-6793477.