THE SOUNDTRACK to Mise Éire, Sean Ó Riada's great orchestral achievement, marrying classical and traditional Irish forms, is, especially its main theme, one of the most stirring and powerful works of Irish music, so powerful it is better known than the film.
However the film, depicting Ireland from the late 19th century through to the 1913 Lockout, the 1916 Rising, and Sinn Fein’s electoral victory in 1918, is a pioneering cinematic work, using original newsreels, newspapers, contemporary photographs, and actual footage from the revolutionary period, and the public will have a chance to view it as part of the 39th Clifden Arts Festival.
Mise Éire was directed by George Morrison, written by Sean MacReamoinn, and featured the actors Liam Budhaeir and Padraig Ó Raghallaigh. It was produced by Gael Linn, with the soundtrack composed by Ó Riada, and recorded in Phoenix Hall, Dublin, in 1959 with the composer conducting the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra.
The film will be screened in the Station House Theatre, Clifden, on Friday September 16. The Clifden Arts Festival runs from September 15 to 25. For more information see www.clifdenartsfestival.ie
