Battling the bishops: How Seán Hendrick did his bit for culture in Cork 

Pet O’Connell delves into the incredible life of Seán Hendrick, a comrade of Frank O’Connor in the Civil War who went on to fight for many cultural causes in his hometown

Jack Lynch; Louis Marcus and Sean Hendrick in 1967 at the first showing of Fleá Cheoil at the Metropole Cinema, Dublin. Picture: Lensmen, Irish Photo Archive

“An end to the society if we oppose his Lordship and an end to it if we don’t.” 

Such was the dilemma facing Seán Hendrick, chairman of the Cork branch of the Irish Film Society, over attempts by Bishop of Cork Cornelius Lucey to prohibit the showing of risqué American movie Baby Doll.