‘MRS ROBINSON’ comes to the big screen in Mayo

BALLINA native Mary Robinson celebrates her 80th birthday this year - 80 years of life and work dedicated to advocacy for equality and human rights, and, most recently, climate justice.

On Sunday next, July 14, the Mary Robinson Centre will host the homecoming premiere of a feature length documentary charting her life and work, MRS ROBINSON, at Ballina Arts Centre at 7.30 p.m.

In the making for many years, MRS ROBINSON tells Mary’s story, in her own words, for the very first time - illuminating battles for justice and equality over half a century; on the streets, in the courts, at the ballot box, and in backroom corridors of power.

A reforming constitutional lawyer and senator in her early career, Mary Robinson detonated an electoral earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential vote in 1990. Later, as a crusading UN High Commissioner, she built a lasting legacy; fearlessly challenging perpetrators of human rights abuses all over the world.

To this day, she exerts power and leadership as the Chair of The Elders, the independent group of global leaders (founded by Nelson Mandela) who work for peace, justice and human rights, and Ballina’s Mary Robinson Centre uses Mrs Robinson’s incredible legacy for a series of community and youth engagement events.

MRS ROBINSON was directed by Aoife Kelleher and produced by Cormac Hargaden and Trisha Canning for Loosehorse. Executive producers on the film include Pat Mitchell (co-founder of Project Dandelion), Geralyn Dreyfous, Lyn Lear, Regina K. Scully, Ruth Ann Harnisch and Melony Lewis. The film was funded by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the Fiscal Sponsorship programme of the Utah Film Center.

Admission is free, and must be pre-booked at www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie.

MRS ROBINSON goes on nationwide cinema release from August 23.