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Interviews with survivors of the Rising of Easter
Week 1916 formed the basis of strong series of programmes
broadcast on Radio Éireann and Telefis Éireann in
1966: 'The Week of the Rising' on Radio Éireann and 'On Behalf
of the Provisional Government' on Telefis Éireann.
The Week of the Rising
Since Irish Public Service Radio began broadcasting
in 1926, the service had marked the anniversary of
the 1916 Rising each year. Before 1950 many of these
broadcasts were 'live' and consisted either of short
talks by survivors of the Rising or by relatives
of the participants. Other broadcasts about 1916 were
celebratory: programmes of ballads, dramatised accounts
or poetry readings.
When Radio Éireann introduced tape recording in the
early 1950s, several surviving veterans of 1916 were persuaded to describe their memories
of the Rising. Radio Éireann wanted to record
their reminiscences for the archive, both for use
in programmes and as a unique set of first-hand accounts
of the Easter Rising for the benefit of future generations.
In 1955, the 1916 veteran and writer Piaras Béaslai
presented some of these recordings in a radio programme
for young people called 'I Was There'. The broadcasts
were successful, and a similar series was presented
the following year, 1956, for the 40th anniversary of
the Rising.
By 1966, young radio producers such as Aindreas Ó
Gallchóir, Prionnsias MacAonghusa, and Proinsias
Ó Conluain had all made notable contributions
to this growing collection of historical recordings
in both Irish and English in the archives of Radio
Éireann. These historic field tape recordings,
together with further interviews specially done for
the occasion, were the basis of the series of narrative
programmes which followed the events of 1916 day by
day, under the title 'The Week of
the Rising'.
President Sean T. Ó Ceallaigh, shortly after leaving
office in 1959, also agreed to record a series of
radio talks about his experiences during the Rising,
entitled 'I Remember 1916'. Two of these programmes were repeated during Easter week 1966.
On Behalf of the Provisional Government
In anticipation of the coming 50th anniversary of 1916, Assistant Controller of Programmes in Television, Jack White, initiated a project to ensure that survivors would be filmed in their homes or recorded in studio.
Between 1963 and 1966 more than 70 veterans of the 1912-1922 period gave interviews to Telefis Éireann.
'On Behalf of the Provisional Government' presented
a profile of the seven signatories of the Proclamation
primarily through interviews with relatives
of the men and with those who had fought alongside
them.
In addition to the material assembled as a result of Jack White's plan, Aindreas Ó Gallchóir and his team recorded a further 30-odd hours of interview material.
In the commemorative edition of the RTV Guide for Easter Week 1966, Ó Gallchóir commented that people's recall of personalities seemed to be more reliable than their recall of events, in some cases – which was ideal for his purpose.
He concluded with this brief characterisation of the seven men's common purpose:
"... seachtar fear a shanntaigh an saol chomh mór le haon duine ach a tháinig le chéile ar uair na cinniúna i Liberty Hall, Domhnach Cásca 1916."
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