{"id":379971,"date":"2026-03-11T18:59:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/379971\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:59:09","slug":"cameras-are-turned-on-the-great-benny-gordon-and-his-100-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/379971\/","title":{"rendered":"Cameras are turned on the ‘Great’ Benny Gordon and his 100 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

For over twenty years Ballybofey man, Benny Gordon, worked as film projectionist in the iconic Ritz cinema in his home town.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now the life and times of the well known centenarian is being projected onto another screen in the nearby Balor Theatre \u2013 capturing through interviews and images a story that is one hundred years old.<\/p>\n

The documentary \u2018Great\u2019 has been produced and directed by Benny\u2019s son, Seamus, and daughter, Margaret, and is, they say, a celebration of their father\u2019s life including his working career and his relationship and marriage to the girl who lived a few doors down from him, Mary Quinn. They were, as Benny indicates, \u201cgreat\u201d.<\/p>\n

After her death in 2018, Benny took to reminiscing and talking about his life, brim full of memories and stories he was happy to have recorded.<\/p>\n

Many hours were spent making these recordings over a couple of years and Margaret has carefully edited this stockpile of film into a tender and humorous one hour long documentary that is not only a personal but a social history.<\/p>\n

A labour of love, \u2018Great\u2019 charts Benny\u2019s early life; his school days; World War 2; smuggling; cock fighting; boxing and much more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

He worked on the Rural Electricity Scheme digging holes for poles and later wiring country houses for the first time. He also worked as Home Assistance Officer with the then North Western Health Board and later as rent collector with Donegal County Council \u2013 bringing with his roles both empathy and good humour.<\/p>\n

Outside his working career, he played trombone with his good friend, Brendan McNulty\u2019s band during the great showband era.<\/p>\n

Benny also spent over twenty years as film projectionist in the Ritz cinema \u2013 describing this as his dream job.<\/p>\n

He celebrated his centenary last July at his home on Donegal Road where he is living out the remainder of his days in his own home with the help of his loving family.<\/p>\n

The film will be preceded by a short documentary, \u2018Crossing Lines\u2019 \u2013 the story of Twin Town Harps, focusing on 1979 when a group of young women formed a football team, made up of cross border and cross religious personnel. This film was also produced and directed by Seamus and Margaret Gordon along with Tom Hannigan and Sean Harkin.<\/p>\n

The films will be screened in the Balor Theatre on March 23rd and 24th (Monday and Tuesday) with a starting time of 8.30.p.m.<\/p>\n

Admission fee is \u20ac10 \u2013 children free \u2013 with proceeds being divided up between the Jigsaw Mental Health Support Service for young people; Animals in Donegal Aid Sanctuary; and Finn Harps F.C.<\/p>\n

Cameras are turned on the \u2018Great\u2019 Benny Gordon and his 100 years was last modified: March 11th, 2026 by Contributor<\/p>\n

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