A fantastic twenty-seven minute documentary from RTÉ on Cork-born Michael O’Riordan. He is described by presenter Patrick Gallagher as a “respectable middle-aged leader of our respectable middle-aged Communist Party”.
Thanks to Michael’s grandson Luke for passing this on. He uploaded it onto Youtube yesterday:
Highlights include a family history of Cork (3:30), reasoning for joining the International Brigades (07:00), talk of his election campaigns (11:00), footage of CPI meeting (12:00), discussion of CPI’s branch structure (14:00), denial of Moscow funding (17:00), discussion of recent events in the six counties (20:00), footage of anti-Internment rally and clash in Dublin (23:00) and the closing images of him on a rowing boat with the Internationale played in the background.
Michael O’Riordan, Morry Levitas and Peter O’Connor. Credit – O’Riordan family
Incidentally, I have only just realised that my own grandfather Kevin grew up (in Sarsfield Terrace) just down the road from Michael (on Pope’s Quay) in Cork City. There was only four years between them so they might have been in the same school together.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Fascinating programme.
I remember when he was read off the altar.
Programme is very sympathetic and he seems a very genuine character. While some of the phraseology may be a bit stilted, his views and credentials have stood the test of time. Some of the stuff is prophetic, as things turned out.
Congratulations on another great and worthy post.
How are you going to get the movie into the next book? 🙂