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.