Tower Museum Film screening to highlight Irishmen's war effort

A special film screening and talk on the First World War and the role of GAA members will take place at the Tower Museum in Derry at the end of this month.

The Green Fields of France, a poetic documentary exploring the role of Irish men who fought and died during the First World War, will be followed by a talk from Donal McAnallen on the role of Ulster GAA members who fought during the conflict.

The event is being organised by the Nerve Centre’s Creative Centenaries project in conjunction with Derry City Council’s Museum Service. The project brings together information and resources about the Decade of Centenaries and the work of the creative and cultural sector in commemoration.

Over 300,000 Irishmen fought during the First World War although their involvement has long been a sensitive issue. The work of poets such as Ledwidge and Kettle offers a unique insight into the mind-set of men from Ireland fighting across the Western Front, and these figures are given voices by John Banville, Peter Fallon and Frank McGuinness in the film.

Donal McAnallen will follow the screening with a discussion on the GAA’s ‘Forgotten Gaelic Volunteers’ project, outlining the work of the organisation’s nine month research project to identify members of the organisation from Ulster who fought and died during the war.

The event takes place at the Tower Museum on Friday 27 March at 1.00pm and is free to attend.