Event supported by Research Ireland at The Dublin Festival of History 2025 – “From the Archive to the Audience: Rediscovering Ireland Through Cinema”
At the Richmond Barracks on Saturday the 4th of October, as part of the Dublin Festival of History, Dr Sarah Arnold, Dr Ciara Chambers, and Dr Denis Condon presented on a diverse range of research on Ireland’s cinema heritage. Supported by Research Ireland, the researchers presented their work on archival film and its role in shaping Irish cultural identity and media history. Through rediscovered footage and critical insights, attendees were invited to reflect on the evolving relationship between archives, screen culture, and public memory.
Dr Ciara Chambers of University College Cork opened the event by sharing insights from her extensive research into archival material. She introduced her current project, Make Film History – funded by the UK-Ireland Collaboration in the Digital Humanities Research Grants programme – which aims to develop a sustainable model for the creative reuse of archive footage by emerging filmmakers for non-commercial purposes. Her presentation offered attendees a fresh perspective on how historical footage can be repurposed for contemporary storytelling.
Dr Sarah Arnold’s talk followed, which encompassed the pioneering work of Flora Kerrigan, who blazed a trail as a young amateur filmmaker in Cork in the 1950s and 1960s. The audience were treated to a glimpse of some of Kerrigan’s brilliant stop motion animation, and learned that a lot of her work will soon become available on the IFI’s Archive Player. Based in Maynooth University, Dr Arnold’s research, supported by the Research Ireland New Foundations scheme, identifies and remedies a significant blind spot in Ireland’s animation and women’s filmmaking history.
The final presentation was given by Dr Denis Condon of Maynooth University who touched upon the cinema building boom of Ireland, highlighting the fact that a lot of roller-skating rinks built around the country in the short rinking craze of 1909-11 were not eventually scrapped, but had been largely repurposed into picture houses by 1914. His talk gave a fascinating insight into how Irish people first saw films and what they thought of them.
The three presentations were followed by an open panel discussion chaired by Dan Carey, Professor of English in University of Galway and Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy. The panel sparked vibrant conversations and deepened appreciation for the power of film as a historical and cultural lens on the making of modern Ireland. Audiences were captivated by the rare archival material and the thoughtful analysis offered by the speakers, highlighting the enduring relevance of Ireland’s film heritage for contemporary society.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. This event not only celebrated the achievements of these leading researchers but also reaffirmed the importance of preserving and engaging with our history.
Photo Caption: Dr Ciara Chambers, Dr Sarah Arnold, Dr Denis Condon, and Professor Dan Carey (MC)