Easter Week April 1966 - RTÉ Commemorates 1916

A play for radio written by John McCann about the battle at Mount Street Bridge.

In this extract, British soldiers attack Clanwilliam House for the second time.

Programme Title:
The Defence of Clanwilliam House
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 2'03"
Script: John McCann
Producer: Sean Cotter
Cast
George Reynolds - Niall Tóibín
Michael Malone - Brendan Cauldwell
Jimmy Doyle - Michael Campion
Paddy Doyle - Vincent Bradley
Willie Ronan - Noel Ó Briain
Mistress of the House - Deirdre O'Meara
Maid - Musetta Joyce
First Man - Brian O'Higgins
Second Man - Lionel Day
British Officer - Ivan Hanley

An Piarsach mar is cuimhin le muintir Chonamara é arna thiomsú agus arna chur i láthair ag Breandán Ó hEithir.

"Bhí na trí lá a chaith mé ag bailiú an eolais don chlár seo ar na laethanta ba spéisiúla dar chaith mé le fada agus ba é an t-eagarthóireacht an chuid ba mheasa den obair: céard a chaithfí a fhágáil ar lár." - Breandán Ó hEithir

Programme Title:
Fear Bhaile Átha Cliath
Clip duration: 3'30"
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Presenter: Breandán Ó hEithir

Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh recalls how the order for release of Bulmer Hobson was given to him by McDermott. Ó Ceallaigh went to a house in Cabra Park to see that Hobson was released.

Programme Title:
The Release of Bulmer Hobson
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 2'59"
Speaker: Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh

A special edition of Fleadh Ceoil An Radio devoted to the music and song of the national resurgence.

Taking part are Ceoltóirí Chualann with special arrangements of traditional music by Seán Ó Riada and songs from Seán Ó Sé.

The programme is presented by Mícheál Ó hAodha and produced by P.J. O'Connor.

[No clip available.]

Programme Title:
Portrait of Roger Casement
1st Broadcast: 25 February 1965
Presenter: Mícheál Ó hAodha
Producer: P.J. O'Connor

Memories of Easter Week by some of the women who took part: Nora Connolly O'Brien, Louise Gavin Duffy, Helena Molony and Margaret Skinnider.

In this extract, Helena Molony describes her part in the Easter Rising; she recalls meeting Francis Sheehy Skeffington and the death of Seán Connolly at City Hall.

This programme was first broadcast on 27 March 1956.

Programme Title:
Women of The Rising
1st Broadcast: 27 March 1956
Clip Duration: 2'23"
Arranged by Philip Rooney

Remembered by Seán F. Kavanagh who was there.

Seán F. Kavanagh, a member of the Irish Brigade, recalls meeting Casement at the Hotel Saxonia in Berlin on 10 April 1916.

Programme Title:
Casement's Farewell to Germany
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 2'48"
Speaker: Seán F. Kavanagh

RTÉ News reports on the conferring of honorary degrees for 1916 relatives.

Six close relatives of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation were conferred with Doctorates of Laws, by the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, President de Valera, in St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle.

Those who received the degrees were Kathleen Clarke, the widow of Tom Clarke. Senator Nora Connolly O'Brien, the daughter of James Connolly, District Justice Donagh MacDonagh, son of Thomas MacDonagh, Rónán Ceannt, son of Eamonn Ceannt and Mrs Thomas Dillon, sister of Joseph Plunkett.

Seán Mac Diarmada's nearest relative, eighty-nine year old Margaret McDermott, declined to take the degree and did not attend the ceremony.

Programme Title:
RTÉ News - Conferring of Honorary Degress for 1916 Relatives
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 2'14"

Easter Week, 1916 - a dramatic reconstruction by Hugh Leonard, in eight parts.

Thursday, 27 April 1916: "When We Are All Wiped Out".

In Episode V, it is the fourth day of the Rising and the studio presenter (Ray McAnally) announces the death by firing squad of Francis Sheehy Skeffington. Reporter Gerry Alexander interviews Captain Bowen-Colthurst (Henry Comerford) about the execution of Sheehy Skeffington and two other journalists.

In studio, Ray McAnally gives report on conditions in the city. There is an interview with a business man (Jack O'Connor) at Howth golf course, who is unable to get to his office because of the troubles.

Maurie Taylor reports from inside the GPO where Lieutenant John Mahony (Michael Murray), a British army medical officer held prisoner, is helping with the wounded. An attack on the GPO by an armoured car is repelled.

Patrick Pearse (Eoin Ó Súilleabháin) addresses the volunteers inside the GPO and tells them that he has hope for the outcome. In studio, Ray McAnally, who has been watching the address in the GPO on a monitor, gives a less positive picture for the rebellion from around the country.

There is an interview with a woman whose husband is away fighting in France.

At the South Dublin Union, a wounded Cathal Brugha (Joe Lynch) continues the fight.

A wounded James Connolly (Ronnie Walsh) is carried into the GPO and a decision is made to operate on his leg. Maurie Taylor reports from the GPO where nearby buildings are ablaze. Pearse reflects on what losing will mean. Connolly is in pain after his operation.

Programme Title:
Insurrection - Episode V
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 2'56"
Cast:
Captain Bowen-Colthurst - Henry Comerford
Golfer - Jack O'Connor
Desmond Fizgerald - Barry Cassin
Lieutenant Mahony - Michael Murray
Michael Collins - Michael McAuliffe
James Connolly - Ronnie Walsh
P.H. Pearse - Eoin Ó Súilleabháin
A housewife - Anna Manahan
Eamonn Ceannt - Liam Devally
A Volunteer - Tom Samway
John Joyce - Vincent Smith
Cathal Brugha - Joe Lynch
The O'Rahilly - Kevin Flood
Jim Ryan - Seán McCarthy
Tom Clarke - Jim Norton
Miss Carney - Eithne Lydon
Joseph Plunkett - Declan Harvey
A Volunteer - Tom O'Rafferty
And members of the Defence Forces by courtesy of the Minister of Defence and through the co-operation of the officers, NCOs and men of the Eastern Command.
Reporters
- Gerry Alexander
- Pat Nolan
- Maurie Taylor
- Jim Mooney
Co-ordinator: Ray McAnally
Design: Alpho O'Reilly
Film Sequences directed by: Michael Garvey
Produced and Directed by Louis Lentin

Radio Telefís Éireann acknowledges the assistance derived from Max Caulfield's Book "The Easter Rebellion".

A portrait of Thomas MacDonagh compiled from the recollections of Timothy Cleary, Mrs Geraldine Dillon, Padraic Colum, Milo McGarry, Dr Theo McWeeney, Richard Humphreys, Prof Liam Ó Briain, Senator Nora Connolly O'Brien, Leslie Bean Thomáis de Barra; and Bill Ryan, Mrs Winifred Hynes, Mrs Brigid Sheppard and Mrs Ann Gaynor who remember his childhood in Cloughjordan.

In this extract, Richard Humphreys, Liam Ó Briain and Leslie Price remember Thomas MacDonagh.

Programme Title:
On Behalf of The Provisional Government - Thomas MacDonagh
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 2'46"
Narration: Niall Tóibín, Chris Curran
Research: Pádraig Ó Snodaigh
Editing:
Film - Rory O'Farrell
Editing/Video Tape - Paul Little
Film Cameraman: Will Warham
Produced by Aindreas Ó Gallchóir

A series of eight recorded features presented by Proinsias Mac Aonghusa in which the day-to-day events of Easter Week are recalled by participants.

V. Thursday

British forces were arriving in great strength. The whole of O'Connell Street opposite the GPO was set ablaze. Dr James Ryan, Simon Donnelly, Cormac Turner, Norah Connolly O'Brien, John O'Connor, Michael Hayes, Peter Carpenter, Paddy Buttner, Liam Ó Briain and Roddy Connolly remember the events of the day.

In this extract, Roddy Connolly, who was fifteen years old in 1916, recalls being inside the GPO and gives his memories of the leaders of the Rising.

Programme Title:
The Week of the Rising
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Clip Duration: 3'13"
Presenter: Proinsias Mac Aonghusa

Eamonn Ceannt.

Caint ó Sheán Ó Lúing.

"Ceannt was a very unusual figure. A very tall man ... always a separatist, a member of the IRB. He was an accountant ... Very keen on playing the pipes. A very sincere and good person, rather fanatical, but really one of the nicest and best people in the movement." - Bulmer Hobson

[Clip not available.]

Programme Title:
Seachtar Mór an Éirí Amach
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966
Commentator: Seán Ó Lúing

The Rising as it might have been reported for radio in 1916.

[Clip not available.]

Programme Title:
It Happened Today
1st Broadcast: 14 April 1966