Newly arrived US Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Daniel M. Rooney, hosted a reception at his residence in the Phoenix Park, Dublin on September 16th to launch TG4’s new six part documentary series ‘Bóthar go dtí an White House’ which explores the history of Irish-American politicians from the mid 19th century to the present day.
The series, filmed in both Ireland and America, follows the rise of Irish-American political machines in some of the major cities - New York, Boston, Kansas City and Chicago - from post-Famine times. Each of the programmes in the new TG4 series profiles a powerful Irish-American politician and his context in the city in which he flourished.
Speaking at the launch, Ambassador Rooney congratulated TG4 and the producers on the new series, saying: “As the representative of President Obama and the US people – and as Americans of Irish descent - I can tell you that we are all very proud of the contribution the Irish have made to the development of America.”
Bríd Seoighe, series producer with Abú Media, the Connemara-based independent TV company that made the series for TG4 said: “From the earliest phase of research, it was clear to us that this is a wonderful story of struggle, success (and a whiff of scandal here and there too) culminating in the election of an Irish American to the highest office of all in 1960.”
Pádhraic Ó Ciardha, deputy chief executive of TG4 thanked the new Ambassador for launching the series and said: “This is a fascinating series that chronicles important aspects of our shared heritage that are both illuminating and very timely too.”
The series will feature archive material, interviews and reconstructions and examine the lives of several well-known figures such as Richard 'Boss' Croker who became one of the most powerful Irish immigrant politicians in American history, Alfred E Smith who, in 1928, was the first Roman Catholic and Irish-American to run for the Presidency of the United States. The series will culminate with the best known of all Irish-American politicians John F. Kennedy's and his election in 1960 as the first, and only, Catholic President of the United States
‘Bóthar go dtí an White House’ is written and directed by Dathaí Keane and produced by Bríd and Eileen Seoighe of Abú Media. Director of photography for the series was Colm Hogan and it was edited by Gearóid Ó’Dubhghaill and Dathaí Keane. The series will air on the channel on Thursday nights from September 24th.
