As we celebrate GFS 60th anniversary, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with an insight into GFS history, therein paying tribute to Joe McMahon, GFS former Chair, RIP, to thank GFS supporters and to highlight some dates for your diary!
The History of Galway Film Society / Tribute to Joe McMahon, by James Harrold
For sixty years Galway Film Society has been at the heart of culture in Galway and the west of Ireland and at the heart of GFS for most of those years were Joe and Bridie McMahon. Outstanding GFS Chair and passionate cinephile Joe McMahon personified all that is great in Galway film. He passed away last May but his legacy endures.
Joe McMahon was a native of Limerick and grew up in a city of cinemas, where every neighbourhood appeared to have its own beloved picture palace. Following some years with Aer Lingus Joe became a valued senior administrator in the Science and Engineering faculties of University College Galway where he quickly gained a reputation for his clarity of thought and expression and his wise counsel. Joe was kind, thoughtful and supportive, a real professional, qualities manifest too in his leadership of GFS and in the Federation of Irish Film Societies – now ‘access>cinema’, where in the words of Finola Costello of Picture House Wexford ‘He was a colossus in helping to facilitate the rapid provision of cultural cinema in Ireland’.
With Joe at the helm of an energetic and imaginative committee the GFS seasons of screenings became essential entries in Galway’s cultural calendar. Every Monday evening the O’Flaherty Theatre in UCG was the place to see the great films, to stay in touch with significant contemporary art, to feel part of the intellectual and political movements of Europe and the world, to look and listen well beyond the little city. All Galway’s creative folk gathered there: from young radical students, and emerging artists to grizzled veterans of the culture wars of the fifties, sixties and seventies; quite a few were connected with the university, many came from outside the walls, aficionados in city and county who wanted more than the blockbusters in the commercial cinemas, and relied on the programme of seminal cinematic stepping stones to guide them across the long dark winter nights, and the dismal days too: Ireland’s political turbulence was reflected in the exceptional curatorship, featuring the independent Irish film makers, determined to shine their lights onto our gloomy island.
Those screenings of the late seventies and eighties exuded a sense of an energised arts community finding its voice. At that stage, already two decades old, GFS had a track record of achievement, confidence, and success that the newer groups could aspire to. In company especially with Druid Theatre Company and Galway Arts Festival, Galway Film Society developed the unique west of Ireland voice and aesthetic that propelled Galway to the forefront of the arts in Ireland.
Joe and his soul-mate Bridie were early morning swimmers at Blackrock, Salthill. The fortitude with which they faced the cold waves was called for when the idyll in the O’Flaherty Theatre was disrupted. In January 1986 the University caved in to unpleasant external pressure of religious zealots who entered the campus to prevent the screening of Godard’s ‘Je vous salue Marie’. Rather than confront and deny the censorship of the mob, UCG withdrew its facilities from the Society. Suddenly homeless, GFS showed the film off-site, as a pop-up. The personal toll on Joe and Bridie was real: they had to face down letters of abuse, including believable death threats from wicked, anonymous and self-appointed defenders of the faith.
In a city light on arts infrastructure the Society had little choice than to return to UCG but it was never quite the same comfortable haven and the febrile traces of the college’s capitulation lingered. When the city’s new Town Hall Theatre opened its doors in 1995 Galway Film Society was welcomed by Galway Corporation as an anchor presence, a valued shareholder in the city’s life. GFS moved in for many seasons of happy, undisrupted Sunday evenings, with Joe and Bridie leading. With the space and freedom of the Town Hall’s benign régime as the municipal showcase for all arts groups GFS could expand its social programming, linking with the diversity of Galway communities, providing connections with older age groups, social action groups and language societies of new Galway residents. As a godparent of the original Galway Film Fleadh and a consistent supporter and curator of new film-making in Galway and Ireland GFS was a consistent trail-blazer.
Joe’s insights and judgment throughout made him a major presence in Galway’s arts community. He was on the first boards of the Galway Arts Centre and the original Galway Film Fleadh. He was utterly supportive of the emerging Galway filmmaking community, in its confident charge towards the highly prized and vastly constructive award in 2014 of Galway’s UNESCO City of Film status and the creation of the Pálás, Galway’s new venue for the art of cinema, which opened in 2018 with GFS as a resident presence. In the words of the former director of ‘access>cinema’, Maretta Dillon: Joe McMahon ‘was rigorous and independent in thought and always looked at the broader picture…he gave audiences in Galway and Ireland the opportunity to see a broader range of World cinema. The arts and film in particular, owe him a debt of gratitude.’
Reputedly Joe’s favourite film was Wild Strawberries, Bergman’s masterful contemplation of a life’s journey. Joe’s life journey in film was a triumph. He led from the front, bestowed kindness, clarity and innovation and immeasurably improved film in Galway for audiences and artists. His intellectual curiosity, good humour and breath of understanding were always at the service of Galway, Ireland and the arts. He truly was a colossus.
Our Thanks
Míle buíochas to GFS supporters, especially its voluntary committees and loyal audiences who ensured GFS 60 year success. Buíochas ar leith to GFS60 supporters: Ruth Mulhern & Galway City Council Arts Office team; Cllrs. Eddie Hoare & Clodagh Higgins; Árdán & UNESCO City of Film; Maeve Cooke, Karen Wall & access>CINEMA team; Alice Black, Will Fitzgerald, Ruta Vitosiene & Pálás team; Europa Cinema; James Harrold; Ray McDonald Designer, iSupply printers & Galway Advertiser; Dr. Andrea Ciribuco & Michela Dianetti, UG; Dara Mcgee agus an fhoireann, in Áras Éanna; Dublin International Film Festival & Town Hall Theatre team; and GFS generous sponsors. Ár mbuíochas ó chroi.
Some dates for your diary…
20th September @ 5pm, Galway City Museum - Culture Night Walking Tour
GFS will participate in Galway City Museum Walking Tour of Galway. Themed “Controversy in the Arts,” the walk will commence at Galway City Museum at 5pm. GFS stop will be outside Pálás cinema where James Harrold will provide a fascinating insight into the enormous controversy arising from GFS’ screening of Jean-Luc Godard’s Hail Mary in 1986.
21st September @ 12 noon, Galway City Museum - GFS60 Mini-Doc Launch
GFS will launch GALWAY FILM SOCIETY AT 60, a mini-documentary (20 mins) commissioned by GFS to mark its 60th anniversary and its contribution to arts in the city. The film was produced and directed by Galway based filmmakers.
GFS welcomes all who participated in the film to join us for the opening screenings between 12 noon and 1.30pm. The film will be shown at 12 noon, 12.30, 1pm & 1.30 pm. Between 2pm and 5pm, the film will be played on a continuous basis and open to the public for viewing.
Sun 6 Oct @ 8pm & Mon 7 Oct @ 6.30pm, GFS Autumn/Winter 2024 Season commences
Season tickets can be purchased in person at Pálás box office until Monday 14th October. If possible, please purchase in advance of the opening weekend screenings to avoid delays. To avail of the subsidised price, season ticket purchasers will be required to provide contact details. Please also note that our Christmas film is not included in the season ticket.
We look forward to seeing you all at GFS 60th anniversary season of events!
Tickets are available HERE