"The Irish in Film," a popular movie series sponsored by Fairfield University's Irish Studies Committee ends with a rare showing of "The Treaty" (1992), a historical drama about the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 that led to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Directed by Jonathan Lewis, the film is a co-production with RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) and the BBC and has not been seen in general release. Although not a high budget film, it is nonetheless dramatically fascinating and considered more historically accurate than Neil Jordan's "Michael Collins" (1996), which starred Liam Neeson in the title role. ("Michael Collins" was shown at the first "The Irish in Film" series in the spring, 2007.)
"The Treaty" stars Ian Bannen as David Lloyd-George, the British Prime Minister and Tony Doyle as Arthur Griffith, the Irish political theorist and statesman. Besides the creation of the Irish Free State, the Treaty required an Oath of Allegiance to the Crown and access of the British navy to Irish ports. Dr. William Abbott, associate professor of history, will present the film.
The films are shown in the Multimedia Room of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Fairfield University students as well as the public are welcome to this free event. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, please contact Marion White, Irish Studies Committee, at (203) 254-4000, ext. 3021, or by e-mail at mwhite@fairfield.edu.