How sport opens a window on to Ireland in the 20th century

Last week, at the Irish Film Institute, Rooney was taken from the vaults and shown once again. For those, who haven’t seen the film — or who can’t remember it (it was released in 1958) — it stars actors such as Barry Fitzgerald and Noel Purcell, Muriel Pavlow and June Thorburn.

It’s central character, ‘Rooney’ is played by John Gregson, a leading post-war comedy actor in Britain, who starred in more than 40 feature films. It’s no classic, but it has charm as it unveils the story of James Ignatius Rooney, a binman, who shoots to a very Irish fame when selected for the Dublin hurling team.