Former five-time all Ireland winner and Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht today launched a new DVD with Brendan Brogan and Dublin Manager Pat Gilroy being brought out by the IFI entitled ‘GAA Football Gold’ today at Croke Park.
The DVD, is the sixth in a series of DVD releases from the IFI Irish Film Archive which also includes the feature film ‘Irish Destiny’ and ‘Seoda’, a collection of short Irish films from 1948-1970, ‘The O’Kalem Colletion’, and the hugely successful ‘GAA Hurling Gold DVD’. It features All-Ireland highlights from 1947-1959.
The films capture a different era of game play and some of the greatest football players in GAA. The DVD includes wins for Kerry, Meath, Dublin, Mayo and Galway as well as a golden era for Cavan football with three wins and a rare All-Ireland victory for Louth. Commentary is provided by the legendary Michael O’Hehir whose humorous style more than covers any hiccups in the emerging technology.
Jimmy Deenihan TD., Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht welcomed the release of the DVD saying, “GAA is a key part of our Irish identity, it is important for us to be able to see and enjoy this interesting stage in the evolution and development of our Gaelic Games. Without the work of the IFI Irish Film Archive in collecting and preserving important parts of our past such as this, we wouldn’t have this valuable record of our past achievements.”
The footage was remastered and digitised by the IFI Irish Film Archive, who preserve the original film reels in climate controlled vaults and ‘GAA Football Gold’ is the first time that the All- Ireland Football highlights from the IFI Archive has been available to own at home. The DVD was supported financially by the Arts Council.
The DVD is priced €19.99 and is available from The IFI and all good retailers. Profits from the DVD will be going to the newly launched IFI Irish Film Archive Preservation Fund.
