Lunch & Learn: Two Short Irish Films - “An Chathair Mhór” and “Sit Down and Shut Up”

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Cost: $20 (fee will cover the program and lunch, meal tax and gratuity included)

Location: "The Gallery" at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley at 623 Columbia St., Utica

Register: http://bit.ly/45Vs92d 

Contact: Chris Hoke at (315) 733-4228 Ext. 6 or irishccmv@gmail.com

On Wednesday, October 8 at 11 AM, the H.A.R.P. Museum at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley presents a different twist on its popular Lunch & Learn Series, with the showing of two short films from an up-and-coming young Irish filmmaker.

Our first film is “An Chathair Mhór” (“The Big City”). “An Chathair Mhór,” New York’s first Irish language film, tells the story of Éanna O Connor, a lost twenty-something who moves away from home in search of a new life in the big city. In need of money he takes a job minding his distant relative Brida. The two, distant at first, find themselves more alike than they realize. But how can they express this? “An Chathair Mhór” is a film about connection, the power of language and the city of New York. Yes, there are English subtitles.

Sit Down and Shut Up! (Relax, it’s the name of the movie…)

The second film is “Sit Down and Shut Up.” It’s 1980, Ireland is in the midst of recession, the world is locked in the Cold War and football royalty Real Madrid travels to play local football club Limerick City FC in world football’s premier competition, the European Cup. This is a classic David vs Goliath tale about the opera of football, the city of Limerick, and a game that no one remembers, but one that three men will never forget. 

Meet the Filmmaker

Filmmaker Cian Frank Ó'Connor will be on hand to present his works. Cian is a writer/director from the West of Ireland based in New York City. The Kerryman newspaper has described his work as “stories from the West of Ireland, with echoes of the past and lessons for the present.” Cian, known for telling unique stories and rural tales with a distinctive visual flair, has won awards from the Irish Arts Council, Garden State Film Festival, Indie Cork Festival, Kerry Film Festival and many more. His work has also screened at the Galway Film Fleadh, Cambridge Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and DOC NYC. 

A $20 registration fee will cover the program and lunch (tax and gratuity are included). All those interested in attending are asked to register at http://bit.ly/45Vs92d or leave a message at (315) 733-4228, Ext 6. 

This film series was made possible through a grant secured by Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119, Marcy). This grant falls under the auspices of the Legislation Initiative Program and is administered out of the state’s Office of Child and Family Services, for the purpose of providing educational and recreational programs and events for youth and adults in the community. The Legislative Initiative Program is funded by the New York State Legislature to support the efforts of the activities of eligible non-profit organizations.

IYKYK, Lunch is more than simply a mid-day meal!

Those of you who have attended our Lunch and Learn events in the past already know this: Lunch is so much more than just a meal; it’s a relaxed and congenial environment where the day’s presentation is often discussed among the attendees, and where people can interact directly with the presenter.  

Accessibility

The H.A.R.P. Museum is located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica. All are welcome to attend this program and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

Join us for our latest “Lunch and Learn” – Where you can feed your mind and your belly! ☘️

See all of our upcoming cultural events!