A unique historical documentary that outlines the impact of Ireland’s 1916 rising in Australia will be broadcast on RTÉ One tonight (22nd November). Michael, they’ve shot them tells the powerful story of the impact of Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising in Australia.
In the midst of WWI, the executions of the leaders of the 1916 Rising would influence the Cork born, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, to take a public stance against the question of conscription facing the Australian people. A bitter sectarian divide opened in Australian society, as an Irish-Australian Catholic force, which would shape the political and social trajectory of Australia, was forged.
Made by a Melbourne based, Irish production company, the documentary will also be screened on the Australian public broadcaster, SBS, later this year.
Director, Eoin Hahessy, who co-founded Flight of the Cubs Productions with Sarah Kelly, commented:
Irish Australian history has been somewhat lost as a navel gaze at our heritage with the United States seems to have taken privilege. Yet one third of Australians are of Irish heritage, vastly more proportionally than in the United States. We were the most recent generation to emigrate from Ireland, the cubs of the Celtic Tiger if you wish. Irish global and diaspora history is astoundingly rich, we are a small nation that has left a large footprint on this world. The centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising offered an opportunity to tell a powerful and yet untold story of how Ireland’s 1916 rising had a significant impact in Australia, and to rewaken interest in the deep shared history between both nations.
Michael, they’ve shot them was part-funded by Australia’s leading university, the University of Melbourne and the Irish Government under its 1916 commemoration programme.
The documentary will be broadcast at 23.25pm on RTE One and available on RTÉ Player after broadcast. For more information on the documentary visit michael1916.com