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This is the oldest surviving film footage of Dublin ... shot back in 1897

The footage is included in a new film about the revolutionary period, running in Dublin until the end of the month.

FILMMAKER GERARD MCCARTHY says he’s had plenty of interest in his 30 minute piece ‘Ireland: Birth of a Nation’ which is on show just down the road from Leinster House until the end of the month.

The short film includes a raft of rare insights into life around the turn of the 20th Century and in the decades following, including this remarkable footage, shot by the Lumière Brothers back in 1897…

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

The film — which was produced for visitors to Ireland — also contains footage of many of the key personalities behind the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and The Civil War.

It includes the only known footage of Padraig Pearse at the graveside of O’Donovan Rossa in 1915, images of Michael Collins – a week before his death, and extended footage of Collins’ funeral. 

‘Birth of a Nation’ is showing daily at the Royal College of Physicians, at number 6 Kildare Street, Dublin, until 31 October. It’s been running since early September.

(Clip reproduced by permission).

Read: Look! It’s George Harrison as a child on O’Connell Street…

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33 Comments
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    Mute broncx
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    May 25th 2013, 9:23 AM

    Well done Neil. Great article .

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    Mute mcgoo
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    May 25th 2013, 10:25 AM

    Conna castle hosted an annual rock concert for many years, it was known as the “conna barbeque”….meatloaf played it once! ’twas the scene of many nights of drinking and debauchery….it finished in the late 90′s I think….cool castle tho!

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    Mute Clodagh Carroll
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    May 25th 2013, 11:27 AM

    Oh the memories of Conna barbecue! All the east Cork readers (of a certain age) know what I’m talking about. I must go to see the castle through sober eyes, it looks lovely. Great article too, thanks!

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    Mute Kieran Fitzgerald
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    May 25th 2013, 11:34 AM

    And the west Waterford ones

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    Mute Lieutenant Worf
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    May 25th 2013, 12:40 PM

    Another great article on this series. May they continue.

    17
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 25th 2013, 9:33 AM

    Neil could you do a piece on St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal?

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    Mute Phil Burke
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    May 25th 2013, 11:42 AM

    Great article, Neil. Conna Castle is well worth a visit.

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    Mute Master Mc Man
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    May 25th 2013, 1:55 PM

    St Patrick’s well in Laytown is a place not well known

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 25th 2013, 9:28 AM

    Think for Conna castle you still need to find out who has the key to gain access to the castle?

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    Mute Zoe Daly
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    May 25th 2013, 3:25 PM

    love this series,
    & as usual the photographs are stunning,
    thanks Neil

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    Mute Paul Brophy
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    May 25th 2013, 10:47 AM

    I’ll be beating the wife’s track this weekend wha! YEOOOO!

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    May 25th 2013, 12:55 PM

    Does she still make you walk infrony of her with a stick in the woods?

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    Mute myownboss
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    May 25th 2013, 11:59 AM

    In the good old 1970′s my aunt brought me to see a Giants footprint somewhere in county Kildare and I as a kid loved it. I want to bring my own kids now and can’t find a thing on it, it may have been in Kilcullen but we are not sure, anyone know of this? It was in a field with hills and a huge giants footprint. Any help greatly appreciated.

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    Mute Little Jim
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    May 25th 2013, 12:28 PM

    Can you remember which direction he was heading?
    You could try tracking him then.

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    Mute boourns
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    May 25th 2013, 6:16 PM

    It’s Donnellys hollow, just beside scoil bhride in Athgarvan

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    Mute myownboss
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    May 26th 2013, 9:52 AM

    Thanks so much, great to think the giants foot is still there, I never hear anyone talk about it, might pop down to see it today.

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    Mute Paul Devlin
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    May 25th 2013, 8:58 PM

    Great stuff, Neil. Fantastic series of articles!

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    May 25th 2013, 12:52 PM

    I like these articles but I dont know if Carrowmore qualifies as off the beaten track. As the article mentions it is well signposted(In one of the most popular areas of the county for tourists) and there’s entrance fees.

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