James Connolly Film
national |
anti-capitalism |
news report 
Thursday April 28, 2005 14:48
by Connolly Watch
James Connolly Film and Book
Adrian Dunbar Irish actor/director Adrian Dunbar is
set to direct a feature film biopic based upon the
life of Irish socialist James Connolly who was
executed following the 1916 Easter Rising.
Speaking to IFTN at the Jameson Dublin International
Film Festival Irish premiere of his latest Irish feature
'Mickybo & Me', Dunbar confirmed the picture is nearing
the latter stages of financing and development and he
hopes to direct the film in late 2005/early 2006.
Adrian Dunbar Irish actor/director Adrian Dunbar is
set to direct a feature film biopic based upon the
life of Irish socialist James Connolly who was
executed following the 1916 Easter Rising.
Speaking to IFTN at the Jameson Dublin International
Film Festival Irish premiere of his latest Irish feature
'Mickybo & Me', Dunbar confirmed the picture is nearing
the latter stages of financing and development and he
hopes to direct the film in late 2005/early 2006.
'Connolly' will star Scottish actor Peter Mullan in
the lead role. Mullan who wrote, directed and starred
in the 2002 hit film 'The Magdalene Sisters', has a
long list of acting credits that include 'Trainspotting,'
'Ordinary Decent Criminal' and 'Young Adam'.
This will be the feature directorial debut for
Fermanagh native Dunbar, who is well known for his
performances in 'The General' and 'The Crying Game.'
This move towards the helm comes as no surprise to
industry watchers since throughout 2004 Dunbar was
acclaimed for his stage directorial debut of Brian
Friel's play 'Philidelphia Here I Come'.
"It's all going very well at the minute", says Dunbar.
"We have a wonderful script written by Tom Stokes and
Frank Allen and the story of James Connolly's life is
incredible. It goes from the founding of the first
union here in Ireland and follows James to the US
where he was very influential in setting up unions,
especially amongst Italian workers. Then it comes back
to Dublin, organising with Larkin the huge lockout of
1913 and then realising that what he really had to do
was take on the Empire straight on. It's a really
beautiful story and a very powerful story and I think
its going to resonate all over the world."
Dunbar promises a "very dirty and gritty"
representation of Irish life at that time with the
story being told through the eyes of Connolly's
daughter Nora. The film is produced by Rascal Films.
Comments (1 of 1)
Jump To Comment: 1New Book about James Connolly and the origins of Socialism and Republicanism in Ireland
‘Radical Politics in Modern Ireland - The History of the Irish Socialist Republican Party 1896-1904’ By David Lynch with foreword by Diarmuid Ferriter.To Be Published March 2005 | 192 Pages Irish Academic Press
ISBN 0716533561
www.iap.ie and available from all good bookstores.
The Irish Socialist Republican Party (ISRP) was a party of seminal importance in the history of radical politics in modern Ireland. The party was the forerunner and ideological springhead for a political tradition that has had a significant impact on radical Irish politics ever since.
The ISRP was the first experiment with that powerful, dynamic, yet sometimes very confused cocktail of traditional republican politics and socialist principles.
The party produced the first regular socialist paper in Ireland the Workers' Republic, ran candidates in local elections, represented Ireland at the Second International, agitated over issues such as the Boer War and the 1798 commemorations. Politically the ISRP was before its time, putting the call for an independent "Republic" at the centre of its propaganda before Sinn Fein or others had done so.
This is the first full length study of this important organisation. Using the primary sources available this study delves into the internal politics and personalities that brought life to the organisation. The political significance of the organisation led by James Connolly is also viewed in both the international and national sphere.
The legacy of the ISRP was to have an impact on the left-wing and republican movements in Ireland for many decades following its demise in 1904.
*David Lynch is a journalist who lives in Dublin. He has done work for such publications as Magill, Leinster Leader, and The Irish Times.
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.