A scene from ‘Insurrection’, broadcast in 1966, showing Patrick Pearse (played by Eoin O Súilleabháin)
Next Monday sees RTE’s huge ‘Road to the Rising’ event on O’Connell Street, with vintage carousels, restored trams and historical walking tours among other attractions. The aim is to transform the street into Dublin 1915, when the city was on the eve of rebellion and many of its men were fighting in the trenches of Europe. There’s a very varied line up of talks too, but for me the highlight of the event will be the screenings of ‘Insurrection’, an eight part television series from 1966, which was commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the Rising and which left a lasting impression on many who saw it. It will be shown in eight separate parts in Liberty Hall as part of the event. The blurb notes:
On the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, Telefís Éireann produced a range of programmes about the events of 1916. Among these was ‘Insurrection’, an ambitious and groundbreaking television drama that has been stored in the RTÉ Archives for the past 50 years.
This eight-part series, broadcast nightly in 1966, told the story of the Rising as it might have unfolded had television existed in 1916. As part of RTÉ Road to the Rising, a charity screening of the restored series of ‘Insurrection’ will be shown at Liberty Hall Theatre over a single day.
Information on the screenings can be obtained from the links above, and there is no need to book in advance. The images in this blog post are taken from the 1966 RTE guide, and my thanks to Martin Thompson of the Fire Service Trust for providing CHTM with the publication, which is much appreciated.
Thomas Clarke and James Connolly on the steps of Liberty Hall.
Hugh Leonard, who wrote the script for Insurrection, would recall that:
From the point of view of a dramatist, my favourite character turned out to be James Connolly – bow legged, fiery, an unquenchable optimist; cheering his men on with ‘Courage boys, we are winning!’ while the GPO roof blazed overhead; or lying wounded, a cigarette in one hand and a detective novel in the other, announcing with sybaritic satisfaction that this was ‘revolution de luxe.’
Patrick Pearse reading the 1916 Proclamation.
The production was certainly lavish, involving 200 extras and 300 members of the defence forces, and historian Diarmaid Ferriter has noted that ‘Insurrection was broadcast twice in 1966 and never since, not, it has been maintained, due to the Troubles or political correctness, but because of the cost of repeat fees, an explanation that appears far-fetched.’ Journalist Fintan O’Toole would contend that Insurrection had ‘huge’ influence on Sinn Féin’s revival in the north of Ireland, while Harvey O’Brien has written in his study on the evolution of Ireland in documentary and film that ‘though it saluted the bravery of the Irish, it was unusually evenhanded in its portrayal of the British armed forces. It depicted, for example, a growing respect between a British medic trapped in the GPO and wounded rebel commander James Connolly.’
The wedding of Grace Gifford and Joseph Mary Plunkett in Kilmainham Gaol.
Along with the key figures of the insurrection who were well known to the general public, the series looked also as events like the bloody and brutal Battle of Mount Street Bridge, where a small band of Irish Volunteers inflicted huge casualties on the Sherwood Foresters, who were among the very first British regiments to arrive in the city to suppress the uprising.
Fighting at Clanwilliam House/ Mount Street Bridge.
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Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
I remember being fascinated watching this as a six year old. My dad at that time did a lot of work for RTE and would tell us in a hushed tone (in case anybody got into trouble) that they very nearly burned down the studio when filming the GPO fire scene.
sound like Insurrection is well worth a view. Any chance of a You tube upload for our diaspora?
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From:”Come here to me!” Date:Wed, 1 Apr, 2015 at 22:15 Subject:[New post] Scenes from ‘Insurrection’ (1966)
dfallon posted: ” Next Monday sees RTE’s huge ‘Road to the Rising’ event on O’Connell Street, with vintage carousels, restored trams and historical walking tours among other attractions. The aim is to transform the street into Dublin 1915, when the city was on the eve “
I don’t suppose this is on YouTube? Gonna be away next weekend, would love to see it though
Muy interesante la Historia de Irlanda. La escena de la boda de Grace y Joseph Mary Plunkett en Kilmainham Gaol me emocionó cuando visité la inmensa cárcel,… Hay mucha Historia entre sus paredes. Gracias.
There would have been no war in the six counties if this series had not existed.
I watched it in Mary Harrington’s in Allihies, West Cork.
The people watching it were at such a fever pitch, they were only short of getting armed and heading for the Border.
Would love to see insurrection. Bea Parsons Toronto, Canada
RTE needs to be petitioned to put this on DVD. The few images posted look reminiscent of the classic war movies.
As a serving soldier, took part in the making of tis series, will never forget the bloody cold as we done the Mount Street Bridge scene’s in the early mornings., Or the final scenes in the GPO when at times it was hard to breath.
Please please Rte ,bring Insurrection out on DVD.
When will the insurrection be shown on R T E
Please give us the real reason why insurrection will never be shown again. I was 12 years of age and I did not miss a bit of it.
It was based on great men who carved our future.
I wish other generations could get the opportunity to view it.
yes I remember watching Insurrection as a 6 year old. it should be brought out on DVD. brilliant series
Insurrection really should be shown again. There is no shame in commemorating great deeds by great men. Rté would not even exist without their sacrifice. Is it too much to re-broadcast this series again in their honour?
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Please put this series on DVD so that we in USA can learn more about the Irish history of 1916. I would hope you’d have it formatted so we could see it on our Tv in USA. Thank you. Cathycrymes1939@gmail.com
It might be available via the RTE player international.
Will Insurrection be released on DVD anytime soon? Hope there will be English Deaf and HOH Subtitles available on the DVD on it’s release? if there is, I’ll buy a copy… As I am Deaf.
I enjoyed watching Insurrection. ..
🙂
Long Live Insurrection
Will this be available on DVD in Canada