Film buffs quit over ‘Hail Mary’ decision

January 1986

Last weekend’s decision by Wexford Arts Council to ban the controversial film ‘Hail Mary’ has resulted in a mass resignation of members from Wexford Film Society.

The Film Society disbanded on Tuesday night when a majority of members cancelled their membership in protest. The film had been due to be shown at the Arts Centre next week, but at a special hour-long meeting of the Board of the Arts Centre on Saturday evening last, the directors opted by six votes to four to forbid the showing of Jean-Luc Goddard’s film.

The meeting was attended by the Mayor of Wexford, Ald. Gus Byrne, an ex-officio member of the Board, who later described the decision as ‘a good one’.

The board of directors is made up of representatives of various artistic panels which includes the Film Society, whose members had planned to show the film on Tuesday next.

‘Hail Mary’ is now likely to be shown at a private location in the town.

One ex-officer of the Society said some members were so outraged at the censorship that they had vowed to bear the cost of the film themselves, in showing it privately.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Wexford Arts Centre, Niall McConnell, issued a statement this week outlining the ‘reluctance of the board to curtail the freedom of artistic expression for affiliated groups.’

‘However, the board, which is ultimately responsible for our community-based arts centre, is conscious of the genuine and deep feeling and objection to the film by many people in the community.

‘ They therefore reluctantly requested the Society not to go ahead with the showing of the film.’