Peter Gerard Lennon (28 February 1930 – 18 March 2011) was an Irish journalist and film director, probably best known as director of the social history documentary film Rocky Road to Dublin.[1] He worked for The Guardian newspaper for many years.

Personal life

Born in Dublin to an alcoholic father and pious mother,[2] Lennon was educated at Synge Street CBS before starting work in a bank, where he also freelanced as a music critic for the Irish Press.[2]

As well as The Guardian, Lennon wrote for publications such as The Listener, the BBC magazine.

Peter Lennon was married since 1962 to the Finnish journalist and lawyer Eeva Lennon (née Karikoski).[3]

Rocky Road to Dublin

Main article: Rocky Road to Dublin (film)

Based in Paris for The Guardian, Lennon was by assigned by his newspaper to cover the Dublin Film Festival in the mid-1960s.[1] His local friends tried to convince him that Ireland had changed socially and Lennon set out to document these changes. His investigations though demonstrated the opposite, that censorship, insularity and the dominance of the clergy still prevailed.[1] He wrote a series of articles as a result and followed this up with Rocky Road to Dublin which was shot over 16 days on a budget of £20,000.[1]

Death

He died of cancer in 2011[4] in London.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Journalist and director of 'Rocky Road to Dublin'". Irish Times. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Peter Lennon: Film-maker and journalist whose film 'Rocky Road to Dublin' was effectively banned in Ireland for 35 years". London: The Independent. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  3. ^ Tolonen, Jaana, ed. (1988). Suomen lakimiehet – Finlands jurister 1988. Suomen Lakimiesliiton kirjasarja, 99. Helsinki: Lakimiesliiton kustannus. p. 562. ISBN 951-640-395-6. ISSN 0585-9530.
  4. ^ "Peter Lennon, 1930–2011". Retrieved 9 November 2011.

External links

Authority control databases
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