Celebrating the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the GAA.

Presented by Corona Cork Film Festival, in association with The IFI / Irish Film Archive

• Christy Ring

  

  Louis Marcus

  Ireland | 1964 | 30mins | colour & black & white

  Directed by Louis Marcus for Gael Linn in 1964, this short film celebrates the never- equalled skills of legendary Cork Hurler Christy Ring, regarded to this day as the best hurler of all time. The film features sequences from the 1954 All-Ireland Final, when Christy made history by winning his eighth All-Ireland medal and the 1960 National League Final between Cork and Tipperary. It includes instructional sequences where Christy gives detailed coaching tips to young viewers accompanied by the rousing soundtrack of music from the Artane Boys Band.

• Clash Of the Ash

  

  Fergus Tighe

  Ireland | 1987 | 52mins | colour

  Filmed entirely in his hometown by Fermoy filmmaker Fergus Tighe, Clash of the Ash tells the story of Phil Kelly (Liam Heffernan in his forceful screen debut), Leaving Certificate student and angry young star of the local hurling team who prefers the cider-drinking company of his mate Martin (Vinnie McCabe) and Martin’s glamorous girl-friend Mary (Gina Moxley) to the cameraderie of the sports field. His frustration with small town life and with other people’s determination to plan his life for him, ultimately drives him away. Clash Of The Ash is both a compelling and fast-paced drama, perfectly capturing the excitement and tensions of the hurling field, and a strikingly mature and tender reflection on youthful discontent.

• Three Kisses

  

  Justin Herman

  Ireland | 1955 | 10mins | black & white

  In this delightful short drama, a promising young hurler from the village of Ballykilly, County Cork, is invited to play against County Clare in the City of Cork hurling championship. He does so, and, in the process, finds romance. The film, featuring an appearance from Jim “Tough” Barry, illustrious Cork manager, was produced by Paramount Pictures for distribution in the US where it was well received and secured an Oscar nomination in 1956. The Cork Examiner however, in a review in July 1956 deemed it “a Farce” and “hardly a true representation of the Irish scene”!