"Daniel O'Connell: The Emancipator" CHICAGO SCREENING

The University of Notre Dame Dublin, the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, and University College Cork, together with the Consulate General of Ireland Chicago, the Chicago Irish Film Festival, and the Chicago History Museum invite you to the CHICAGO SCREENING 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.

Sunday 15 November at 3:00 pm (doors open at 2:30 pm)

at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark Street)

WATCH THE TRAILER

The film run time is 50 minutes, followed by a panel discussion with director Ruán Magan (Create One) and documentary participants, on Daniel O'Connell's legacy of democracy, non-violence, equality, and liberty. The event will conclude with a reception in the ballroom of the Chicago History Museum.

Please note: This is a free, general admission event with no assigned seating. Doors will open at 2:30 pm and we would encourage attendees to arrive with plenty of time to secure your seats. Any tickets unclaimed by 2:45 pm may be released to those on standby.
If you know you can no longer attend the event, please cancel your ticket order so they can be offered to someone on the waitlist.

More on the film:

In 2025, Ireland and the world commemorated 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, was 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 formed 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 premiered in December 2025 on RTÉ, with further screenings, educational events, and discussions planned throughout Ireland, Europe, and the United States as a part of the University of Notre Dame's Global Network. The documentary kicked off four years of focus on O'Connell's life and global work, in the lead up to the 200th anniversary of Catholic Emancipation in Ireland in 2029.