Rosemount woman says new GAA film a social commentary

A TV documentary produced and co-directed by Westmeath woman AnnaMay O’Connor Mullins is set to shine a new light on one of the most transformative decades in Irish sporting and social history when it premières on TG4 later this month.

Originally from Rosemount, AnnaMay O’Connor Mullins is the producer and co-director, alongside Karen McGrath, of GAA 70’s – Réabhlóid Shóisialta (GAA 70’s – A Social Revolution), a feature-length bilingual documentary examining how Gaelic football and Irish society were reshaped during the 1970s. The programme was produced by Bankos Tales for TG4 with the support of Coimisiún na Meán.

The documentary will air in two versions, the Irish language version featuring Irish Sign Language and audio description premièring on TG4 and TG4.ie worldwide this Monday, December 22 at 7.45pm. An English subtitled and audio-described version will follow on December 30 at 9pm. It has also been selected as the featured documentary in the Christmas edition of the RTÉ Guide.

Described by the GAA as “a beautiful paean to arguably the most significant decade in the history of the GAA”, the film brings together legendary players from Dublin, Kerry and Galway to reflect on friendships, fierce rivalries and journeys to Croke Park. Their memories are combined with rare archive footage, re-enactments and a powerful soundtrack to create what reviewers have called a “hugely enjoyable multi-sensory experience”.

The programme places the evolution of Gaelic football firmly within the wider social changes of 1970s Ireland, a period marked by cultural shifts, urbanisation and new identities. Contributors including Pat Spillane, Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, Kevin Moran and Jimmy Barry Murphy reflect on how figures such as Kevin Heffernan and Mick O’Dwyer revolutionised the game and inspired communities well beyond the pitch.

Filmed in locations including Croke Park, Parnell Park, Galway Bay and the Ring of Kerry, the documentary also revisits clubs and schools that emerged during the era’s sporting renaissance. One striking moment sees former Dublin and Galway players watching a modern championship clash together, underlining the enduring legacy of the decade.

AnnaMay O’Connor Mullins said growing up in a GAA household in Westmeath, with the Dublin Kerry rivalry playing out nationwide, made the story personal. She said the film is as much about social change and connection as it is about sport.

GAA 70s – Réabhlóid Shóisialta aims to appeal to those who lived through the era and to a new generation discovering how the 1970s helped shape the GAA and Ireland.