The beginnings of Third Level Education in Limerick. The first Free Public Library in the city. F.A. O'Keeffe, MP. Sir Horace Plunkett, the Co-Operative Movement and beginning of Technical Education in Limerick. Lady Aberdeen and College Players.
Part 3 : The Arts at the Athenaeum.
Limerick and Traditions of Arts in the city.
THE LIMERICK SCHOOL OF ART
The foundation of the Limerick School of Art by Lord Monteagle and Henry Cole. The School is saved from extinction by James Pain and the Council of the Athenaeum in 1855. The great Art Exhibition of "old masters" at the Athenaeum in 1883 opened by Lord Emly and Earl Spencer, ancestor of Princess Diana. Sean Keating and George St. Hare, students at the Athenaeum. Sarah Purser's exhibition in 1883. Maurice Lenihan, the historian of Limerick and his art collection. Where is his portrait?
MUSIC
Catherine Hayes, soprano, the first Limerick super-star helps local musicians in 1857. The saga of the
Athenaeum organ fund,. Mayor Peter Tait, whose ships ran the blockade into Richmond with uniforms during Civil War in America, becomes President of the Athenaeum. The role of Mayors William Spillane and Stephen O'Mara. The School of Music and the non-sectarian Musical Society. Opera at the Athenaeum with Joseph O'Mara. Percy French and the West Clare Railway John McCormack at the Athenaeum in 1905. Athenaeum Music Gazette. Sacred Music. Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries & Luciano Pavorotti.
DRAMA & VARIETY
General Tom Thumb is a hit with Athenaeum audience in 1858. T.P. Barnum. The Aztec Lilliputians. Scandal over Capt. Disney Roebuck and Lily Lonsdale. Visit by Norwegian emigrant-ship passengers. Balloon flight of M. Albert Chavalier and James Harris. The Christy Minstrels. Music Hall entertainment & Albert Chavalier, Cockney coaster. Battle to control the Athenaeum. Maud Gonne creates a controversy. Comedy, Lotto fever in 1860 and Charity Benefits.
FILMS
The Royal Cinema opens in 1947 with musical. Denis Hayes, a stuntsman in Olivier classic film HENRY V. and his deal with the young actor, Richard Harris. Bill Whelan and Riverdance. Hot air balloons and James Harris. Jimmy Webb over the moon. Greta Garbo. End of the Royal cinema in 1985. The Sunday Times story of the value of old film posters.
Part 5 : The Theatre Royal
The Magic Lantern Shows. Panorama of Crimean War shocks Limerick in 1856. Birth of cinema. Bostock's Biographe & Variety Co. astound audiences in 1900. The Athenaeum Permanent Picturedrome. Athenaeum newsreels. The roaring Twenties, the Thirties, the Talkies. The burning of Hitchcock's film, "Juno and the Paycock." inspired by priests. Controversy when The Athenaeum is sold by the Educational Committee against the wishes of the citizens.
The Athenaeum rescued from demolition in Royal Rescue. Limerick Rock 'n' Rolls to "live music." Queues again in street. The fire disaster. Treaty 300 celebrations. Excise Act 1835 leads to Court case over definitions of theatre. The birth of the pop group, the Cranberries. Mick Hanley. Actors, acrobats & Musicians. History inspires film. BAFTA award for "Father Ted". The future of the Athenaeum inspired from its past.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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