24th June 1959
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In 1959, Disney's Irish-themed movie "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" premiered in Dublin. Most of its stars were Irish actors, save for Scotsman Sean Connery (who became James Bond three years later). Walt Disney himself was of Irish extraction; his great-grandfather Arundel Elias Disney emigrated to America from Gowran, Co Kilkenny, in 1823. Connery, the film's last surviving actor, passed away on Halloween 2020.

"Darby O Gill and the Little People" is about a wily old codger who matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as the estate caretaker in the fictional town of Rathcullen, Co. Kerry. 

Based on the books of Herminie Templeton Kavanagh, the movie was released one year after the copyrights expired on her stories. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and its screenplay written by Lawrence Edward Watkin. It was shot entirely on-set in California and Michael O'Herlihy (its dialogue director and technical adviser) called the film "a cartoon with live people".

Walt Disney

A black and white picture of Walt Disney whose family was from Irish descent. his great great grandfather was Arundel Elias Disney.

The movie poster for Darby O'Gill and The Little People

A picture of the poster of the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959. this was a Disney Irish movie.

 

CAST: 

Albert Sharpe as Darby O'Gill  | Jimmy O'Dea as King Brian  |  Janet Munro as Katie O'Gill  |  Sean Connery as Michael McBride 

Kieron Moore as Pony Sugrue  |  Estelle Winwood as Sheila Sugrue  |  Walter Fitzgerald as Lord Fitzpatrick  |  Denis O'Dea as Father Murphy  |  Jack MacGowran as Padraig Og

Albert Sharpe

A picture of actor Albert Sharpe who played Darby O'Gill in the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959.

Janet Munro

A black and white picture of actress Janet Munro in the movie "The Trollenberg Terror", 1958. she played Katie O'Gill in the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959.

Sean Connery

A black and white picture of actor Sean Connery who played Michael McBride in the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959. he later became famous for playing James Bond, 007.

Kieron Moore

A black and white picture of actor Kieron Moore who played Pony Sugrue in the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959.

Estelle Winwood

A black and white picture of actress Estelle Winwood who played Sheila Sugrue in the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959.

Jack MacGowran

A black and white picture of Jack MacGowran alongside Sharon Tate in the fearless vampire killers. he played Padraig Og in the movie Darby O'Gill and The Little People, 1959.

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    Monday 7th March 2022 01:05PM
  • "Darby O Gill and the Little People" is a children's book  by Arthur Conan Doyle. It was first published in 1908, when Doyle was a popular writer of adventure stories for adults. The story tells of an Irish boy named Darby O'Gill who befriends a group of little people living in the old castle ruins near his home. 

    donna1205

    Saturday 2nd July 2022 03:09AM

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