Latest news with #GeorgeMorrison
Irish Independent
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Donal Fallon: Film-maker George Morrison ensured troubled birth of the State was preserved for posterity
A legendary figure in the story of Irish documentary-making, George Morrison died this week at the age of 102. Paying tribute, President Michael D Higgins described him as 'a film-maker of immense craft and skill' who will be remembered 'as a great innovator in the techniques of film'.
Extra.ie
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
President Higgins leads tributes to Irish filmmaker George Morrison who died aged 102
Prolific Irish filmmaker George Morrison has sadly passed away at the amazing age of 102, and Michael D Higgins was one of the first to pay tribute. The Waterford native was best known for the 1959 documentary film, Mise Éire, which presents a history of one of Ireland's most turbulent periods, culminating in the 1916 Rising and Sinn Féin's electoral victory in 1918. In light of his passing, President Higgins, who served as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997, paid tribute to Morrison, hailing him as an 'iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography'. Pic: Joe Giddens/The statement reads: 'As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences on learning of the death of George Morrison. George Morrison is and will remain an iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography. 'A filmmaker of immense craft and skill, he will rightly be remembered in particular as a great innovator in the techniques of film, using new and pioneering camera work while realising how film and music could be brought together in a way that is distinctive. 'His seminal works, including Mise Éire and Saoirse as well as his many other films including his early partnership with the Gate Theatre, comprise an outstanding body of work that has made a deep and lasting impact on Irish culture and Irish cultural memory. 'Mise Éire was created following a painstaking process through which George tracked down long lost or forgotten newsreels from the independence period in archives across Europe. This work led to the preservation of 300,000 feet of early 20th century newsreel footage which may have been lost forever without his work. 'I had the honour of bestowing the honour of Saoi of Aosdána on George Morrisson in 2017 and have also had the pleasure of meeting with him on many other occasions over the years, including when we marked his 100th birthday in Áras an Uachtaráin in 2023. 'On behalf of Sabina and myself, may I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who have been so inspired by his work over the decades.'
Irish Daily Mirror
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
President Higgins mourns death of Mise Eire director George Morrison aged 102
President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to renowned documentary maker George Morrison in the wake of his death. Mr Morrison, who was best known for Mise Éire, died at the age of 102 years old. President Higgins described him as 'an iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography.' He said: 'As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences on learning of the death of George Morrison. George Morrison is and will remain an iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography. 'A filmmaker of immense craft and skill, he will rightly be remembered in particular as a great innovator in the techniques of film, using new and pioneering camera work while realising how film and music could be brought together in a way that is distinctive.' His films Mise Éire (1959), Saoirse (1961) and Rebellion (1963) are considered classics by his peers, according to Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists in Ireland. Other renowned work include These Stones Remain (1971) and the maritime film Two Thousand Miles of Peril (1972). President Higgins said: 'His seminal works, including Mise Éire and Saoirse as well as his many other films including his early partnership with the Gate Theatre, comprise an outstanding body of work that has made a deep and lasting impact on Irish culture and Irish cultural memory. 'Mise Éire was created following a painstaking process through which George tracked down long lost or forgotten newsreels from the independence period in archives across Europe. This work led to the preservation of 300,000 feet of early 20th century newsreel footage which may have been lost forever without his work.' Mr Morrison was elected a Saoi of Aosdána in 2017 and presented with the symbol of the office of Saoi, the gold torc, by President Higgins at the time. 'I had the honour of bestowing the honour of Saoi of Aosdána on George Morrisson in 2017 and have also had the pleasure of meeting with him on many other occasions over the years, including when we marked his 100th birthday in Áras an Uachtaráin in 2023. 'On behalf of Sabina and myself, may I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who have been so inspired by his work over the decades,' he added. Mr Morrison was born in Tramore, Waterford, in 1922 and his mum was an actress at the Gate Theatre in Dublin while his father worked as an anaesthetist. He enrolled in Trinity College to study medicine before leaving university to pursue his career in the creative arts. The Wexford native started working on documentaries with the Gate Theatre film ventures as an assistant director and editor. He was awarded the Industry Lifetime Contribution Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2009. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Janet Morrison, who died in 2019, and his first wife Theodora Fitzgibbon, who passed in 1991. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
BreakingNews.ie
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
George Morrison, documentary maker known for Mise Éire, dies aged 102
George Morrison, a documentary maker best known for his film Mise Éire, has died aged 102. Morrison's 1959 documentary Mise Éire was produced by Gael Linn and featured a celebrated score by composer Seán Ó Riada. He later followed it with the production Saoirse. Advertisement Born in Tramore, Co Waterford, Morrison leaves behind a lasting legacy in Irish cinema and was the oldest person ever to receive a civic honour from Waterford City and County Council. Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness described Morrison as a 'giant of Irish cultural life. A visionary filmmaker and a proud son of Tramore'. 'Through Mise Éire, Saoirse and many other works, he gave voice to the story of Ireland in a new and powerful way. His commitment to truth, his artistic courage, and his pioneering use of film have left an indelible mark on our cultural memory'. Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of George Morrison — President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 5, 2025 President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to Morrison, describing him as a 'great innovator'. Advertisement '[Morrison] will remain an iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography. A filmmaker of immense craft and skill, he will rightly be remembered in particular as a great innovator in the techniques of film, using new and pioneering camera work while realising how film and music could be brought together in a way that is distinctive,' the President said. 'His seminal works, including Mise Éire and Saoirse as well as his many other films including his early partnership with the Gate Theatre, comprise an outstanding body of work that has made a deep and lasting impact on Irish culture and Irish cultural memory.' Mise Éire was created following a painstaking process through which Morrison tracked down long lost or forgotten newsreels from the independence period in archives across Europe. This work led to the preservation of 300,000 feet of early 20th century newsreel footage which may have been lost forever without his work. President Higgins bestowed the honour of Saoi of Aosdána on Morrison in 2017.
Extra.ie
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
BREAKING: Tributes pour in as iconic Irish filmmaker dead at 102
Morrison was best known for his documentary Mise Éire, the first full-length feature film to be produced in the Irish language. Irish filmmaker George Morrison, best known for the landmark documentary Mise Éire, has died at the age of 102. Morrison was born in Tramore, Co. Waterford, to an actress mother and a neurological anaesthetist father. He initially studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin but left to pursue a career in the arts. Mise Éire, released in 1959, was the first full-length feature film in the Irish language. The documentary used archival footage, a now common technique which was groundbreaking at the time, to tell the story of the 1916 Rising. Morrison was reportedly paid £375 for the project and received no royalties. His follow-up documentary, Saoirse? was released in 1961 and followed the lead-up to the 1916 Easter Rising and the War of Independence. Morrison continued working in film and released Dublin Day, a documentary on James Joyce's Ulysses, in 2007. His career was the focus of the 2008 documentary Waiting for the Light. In 2009, Morrison received the Industry Lifetime Contribution Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards. He was elected a Saoi of Aosdána in 2017 and received the gold torc from President Michael D. Higgins. In a statement released this morning, President Higgins described Morrison as 'a filmmaker of immense craft and skill'. 'He will rightly be remembered in particular as a great innovator in the techniques of film, using new and pioneering camera work while realising how film and music could be brought together in a way that is distinctive,' the President said. We are deeply saddened by the passing of esteemed filmmaker George Morrison. In June 2023, we had the honour of welcoming George for a special screening of Saoirse? with live accompaniment by the NSOI. His extraordinary legacy lives on. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. — National Concert Hall (@NCH_Music) August 5, 2025 Last year, he was honoured at an event in Waterford organised by Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness, who today described Morrison as a 'groundbreaking figure'. 'It's for Mise Éire and Saoirse he will mostly be remembered, but he produced many great works during his lifetime,' McGuinness said. 'I was happy to nominate him last year for a civil honour from Waterford County and City Council.' 'Go dtuga Dia sólas dá mhuintir agus go raibh leaba i measc na naomh aige.'
