Taoiseach praises UCC and RTÉ for Daniel O'Connell documentary

Taoiseach Micheál Martin praised the work of University College Cork (UCC) and RTÉ for their commemorative documentary, marking the 250th anniversary of Daniel O’Connell’s birth.

Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator was screened as part of the Cork International Film Festival’s 70th closing gala on Saturday night at The Everyman Theatre.

Directed by Ruán Magan, the Create One production — produced in association with RTÉ, the University of Notre Dame, UCC, and with the support of the Department of Culture, Communications, and Sport and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — explores the life and legacy of Daniel O’Connell, and examines how his achievements continue to shape and impact modern society.

The piece was one of several works screened on the night including: Shelah Richards’ Larry, a 25-minute piece that follows the relationship between a mother and son when his father comes home from war; and Denis Johnston’s Guests of the Nation, a 40-minute piece based on the experience of two British soldiers during the Irish War of Independence in 1921.

The screenings were followed by a panel discussion led by Irish Examiner journalist Liz Dunphy, who was joined by Mr Magan; Claire Connolly, a professor of modern English at UCC; Jay Roszman, a lecturer of 19th century Irish and British history at UCC; Grace Neville, an emeritus professor at UCC, and Mick Clifford, a journalist at the Irish Examiner.

Mr Martin said he would like to congratulate “everyone involved in this excellent project”.

“It is a tough challenge to bring to life someone who was born 250 years ago, but you managed to do this with great success and to invite a wider national discussion about The Liberator,” said Mr Martin.

“I believe that we have a lot we can learn from a much wider engagement with Daniel O’Connell and his times."

“He speaks to themes and challenges which will always be relevant, and he calls us to step back from an increasingly narrow and exclusionary view of Irish nationalism.

“Daniel O’Connell is by some distance the Irish person who had the biggest international impact in our entire history.

“I believe [he] is one of the most important figures in shaping our core, nationalist political tradition and, therefore, the events of the last two centuries.

“[He] still deserves our respect today as a figure essential to broadening our sense of identity and our aspirations for the future.”