Irish National Anthem, 1961

A specially filmed version of the Irish national anthem, ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ (The Soldiers Song) which was broadcast on the opening night of Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) on 31 December 1961.

The film shows officers Lieutenant James (Jim) Mortell and James Foran raising the national flag with a guard of honour at Collins Barracks, Dublin. The film also includes: shots of Nelson’s Pillar and the GPO on O’Connell Street, Dublin; St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Co. Cork; children entering Scoil Mhuire in Mullingar; the RTÉ mast at Donnybrook, Dublin; chimney towers at Bord na Mona, Co. Laois; Verlome dock yards in Cork; Ardnacrusha power station in Co. Clare; a fishing trawler in Howth; a tractor harvesting near Saggart, Co. Dublin; a CIE train; and an Aer Lingus plane taking off at Dublin airport.

The musical arrangement was by Brian Boydell and produced by Gerard Victory.

The national anthem was the first thing shown on the opening night of television.

Produced on 35mm film, the images were photographed by Michael Monaghan and the piece was directed and edited by William F Harpur.

This version of the national anthem was broadcast at close down of each day’s transmission and was used until 1966.

[edmiliband]

Love the plane taking off at the end, great unintentional nod at the massive numbers of emigration we experience yearly lol

[mossy]

My dad was serving in the Congo with 34th Battalion from Jan to July 1961

[dolorescoulson]

Makes me proud and appreciate what our generation's before us fought for.However sad too what my beautiful country has become .May god bless our Country .I love it.😀

[COIcultist]

Have you got any 1960s or 1970s colour film featuring the Irish flag? Pre, some point in the 1980s, the third colour was far lighter than the present day orange

[jamie]

A modern recreation of this would be great

[RepublicIcon]

What has become of our once beautiful country ?

[elvissam]

My God that gave me a lump in my throat 😌

[billymorrissey]

me in room behind my pc: SINNE FIANNA FOILLLL

[conorkieran]

Which part of the country had the nuclear power plant looking chimneys?

[DartzIRL]

Live from the Democratic Peoples Republic of Ireland,

[peanutarbuckle]

I just walked up the road to Supervalu and saw more immigrants than Irish people. My country no longer feels like its mine and I hate what its becoming.

[jimosullivan]

ah, the good auld days, not the socialist / communist country that it is today