"Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator" Documentary Gala Premiere

The University of Notre Dame Dublin invites you to the Gala Premiere of landmark documentary Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator, narrated by Domnhall Gleeson, directed by Ruán Magan, produced by Create One in association with the University of Notre Dame, University College Cork, and RTÉ.

Tuesday 25 November at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)

at Royal Irish Academy of Music, Whyte Recital Hall, 36-38 Westland Row

The film run time is 50 minutes, followed by a panel discussion with director Ruán Magan (Create One) and Prof. Chanté Mouton Kinyon (University of Notre Dame), chaired by Prof. Gary Murphy (Dublin City University), on Daniel O'Connell's legacy of democracy, non-violence, equality, and liberty. The event will conclude with a special live performance by film score composer Colm Mac Con Iomaire and a reception.

Please note: This is a general admission event with no assigned seating. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and we would encourage attendees to arrive with plenty of time to secure your seats.

Dress: Smart Casual

More on the film:

In 2025, Ireland and the world will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell – a visionary statesman, reformer, and champion of human rights. To mark the occasion, a powerful new documentary, Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator, will be released, offering a fresh exploration of the life and enduring impact of one of Ireland’s greatest figures.

This one-hour documentary, produced by Create One in association with University College Cork and the University of Notre Dame, traces O’Connell’s journey from Kerry lawyer to global advocate for justice. Known as The Liberator, he secured Catholic Emancipation, pioneered non-violent mass political mobilization, and inspired democratic movements around the world.

Featuring insights from leading historians and scholars, including:

• Colin Barr (University of Notre Dame)
• Cornelius Buttimer (University College Cork)
• Claire Connolly (University College Cork)
• Niamh Gallagher (University of Cambridge)
• Patrick Geoghegan (Trinity College Dublin)
• Anne Hodge (National Gallery of Ireland)
• Declan Kiberd (University of Notre Dame)
• Mary McAleese (Former President of Ireland)
• Chanté Mouton Kinyon (University of Notre Dame)
• Jay Roszman (University College Cork)
• Kevin Whelan (University of Notre Dame)

newly uncovered archival material, an original score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire and vivid storytelling, Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator reveals how O’Connell’s campaigns reshaped Ireland’s political and cultural landscape and positioned him as a model for later figures, including Frederick Douglass, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr.

“Daniel O’Connell was not only a transformative leader for Ireland,” said producer, Ruán Magan. “His ideas and methods reverberated far beyond his time, influencing struggles for liberty, inclusion, and equality that continue today. This film seeks to reintroduce him to a new generation.”

The release of Daniel O’Connell: The Emancipator will form part of a year-long programme of commemorations honouring O’Connell’s 250th anniversary, inviting audiences to reflect on how his vision for justice and democracy continues to shape our world.

The documentary will premiere in December 2025 on RTÉ 1, with further screenings, educational events, and discussions planned in Ireland, Europe, and the United States as a part of the University of Notre Dame's Global Network.