Dawn Over Ireland (1936) User Reviews

Good memories

[klooney-2 · 9 December 2006]

Wonderful to find this site with information about The Dawn. I was brought up in Killarney and watched this movie with pride in Thomas Coopers "picture hall" The Casino. My father Paddy Looney acted in it and had a speaking roll. I knew some of the other actors from around the town. I did not know until about 15 years ago that The Dawn was the first movie made in Ireland to have sound. The rights were sold to RTE (the national broadcasting station) and when "The Troubles" started in Northern Ireland in 1969 they stopped showing the movie. I have been told that one of the reasons for this is because the last line of the movie is "The fight must go on" Ironically I have a taped copy of The Dawn from the BBC.

A Hidden Gem - And they all wear pants!

[jmcsween90 · 10/10 · 27 April 2000]

So it might not have big stars, or expensive production values, or even reliable film stock, but The Dawn is a magnificent labour of love. Made in County Kerry by a group of innovative amateurs, it was one of the first Irish films ever made. Telling a story of one family's involvement in the War of independence, the film explores some of the many themes that dominated the Irish psyche of the time - love of one's country, betrayal of one's heritage, and a relentless fight for freedom. Sure the script has its flaws, as does the acting and direction, but for an all amateur group working in unchartered territory this is a major accomplishment. Many gifted performers got a chance to shine, yet alas their time in the limelight was too short. Sadly it seems as if this film has also been consigned to the graveyard of anonymity.

One of Ireland's First Sound Movies

[verobchbid · 10/10 · 18 February 2001]

The town of Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland should be proud of a group of local actors who put this film together back in 1933 under the direction of Thomas Cooper. The story line touches the heart of this Irish American. It is a story of the "troubles" in Ireland in the early ninteen hundreds. I would imagine that the actors and actresses who made this film are all gone now but the struggle still continues. The theme of the film, ÉIREANN DON NA hÉIREANNACH (IRELAND FOR THE IRISH)

The dawn of a new era for Irish cinema!

[clergue1 · 10/10 · 18 May 2001]

An absolute triumph over adversity! The Dawn was made on a budget that would defy shoestring status! Many of the actors involved were totally amateur and although this is evident in some of the performances, they can hardly be faulted for trying. The movie deals with betrayal and forgiveness in a time of war, in this case, the Irish war of Independence. This movie was made at a time when social divisions still ran deep in the Irish psyche and so it was a brave move to make it in Ireland and not in America, like so many "oirish" theme movies before then. It is interesting to note that many of the "amateur" actors were actually involved in the War of Independence and this makes the battle scenes all the more exciting and poignant at the same time. A classic, a gem hidden under the shamrock!

family connections

[jenjeffries · 28 July 2013]

I watched a private viewing in the Cinema in Killarney over 45years ago..I was probably about 14

My grandfather, Michael Kiely, his sons Paddy and Jim Kiely all managed/ran the cinema for many years. sadly all deceased now.

My father and uncles were all in the film in some way or another, Mickey, Paddy, Maurice... my Uncle Con helped with the editing as he has worked in Boots the chemist. My brothers have the film on tape. we are trying to get on DVD to give to all the family..a very large Kiely clan. My family had and still own the cottage in Fairgreen Killarney Jen Kiely Jeffries

Labour of love for cinema fan Thomas Cooper

[laughingremlin · 24 July 2003]

This is the first full length sound movie made in Ireland. The director, Cooper, was the owner of the local cinema. The actors were indeed mostly involved in the war of independance they depict on screen, and happily, one of those was my grandfather. on initial inspection it is rather an amatuer film, yet it surpasses its budget constraints, such as they were, ie: no budget. The effort put into making this film is the stuff of legend in the killarney area. for any film history buffs out there, who may care, killarney was a center for Irish film in the 1910's and 1920's when the 'kalem' company with sidney olcott (canadian director)made many movies there. olcott is probably best remembered for his 1912 "From the Manger to the cross" the first movie based on the life of christ.

Available to view online.

[gipsybabe · 16 July 2014]

The first hour of this film is available on 'Daily Motion' online. If you Google 'Dawn Over Ireland' it is the 3rd link down. Amazing to watch. Wonderful to see Ireland how it was when my parents would have been aged under 10 years old. Yes the acting seems a bit wooden but having read the other reviews to think that it was made by locals with no budget then that seems why. The clothes, horse drawn buggy's and countryside are just what any one that has never visited Ireland imagines. I love the trilby's and long tea dresses. Also the big old houses where the more wealthy people involved in the cause. It would be great to be able see the rest of the film.