Dublin schoolchildren tell Bible stories in the 1960s their teacher was a local woman
Carrick woman Peg Cunningham was the teacher as group of Irish children tell the story of Easter and the death of Jesus. The recordings were actually taken up to 50 years ago, when a series was produced of Irish schoolchildren narrating stories from the bible. The recordings were taken in the 1960s by Brown Bags Films as they went into Rutland Street National School near Dublin inner city to hear the children tell their own versions of the stories. Known as “Give Up Yer Aul Sins” has won awards and been screened and numerous film festivals.
"Thanks to the Give Up Yer Aul Sins recording, Rutland Street is synonymous with the funny and animated voices of children in Dublin’s inner city. Back in 1976 Fr Brian Darcy removed a discarded reel tape from a waste paper basket in his parish in Booterstown, and the children’s voices of the 1960s were rediscovered.
Curious about the strong Dublin accents and the power of these children to unlock childhood memories, Fr Darcy eventually tracked down the person who had created the recordings. His inquiries brought him to the attic of retired teacher Peg Cunningham, who had taught in the school throughout the 1960s. She had purchased a tape player and encouraged children to retell stories in their own words in an effort to learn their Bible, all the while incentivising them with talk of ending up on the radio.
Cunningham kept the tapes for some 30 years. Fr Darcy made copies and excerpts of those stories featured extensively on radio, prompting massive feedback from listeners.
Eventually, EMI records secured the rights from Cunningham. A cassette of the stories was released in 1990. In 2000, a CD version followed, and then in 2002, world recognition came with the release of the animation by Brown Bag Films. In pursuing the tapes and bringing them to an audience, Fr Darcy ensured that Cunningham kept her word – those children of the 1960s ended up on the radio." - http://www.rutlandns.ie/?p=1712