At Christmas time, thoughts turn to Bing Crosby and White Christmas…What is less well known is Bing Crosby’s very special relationship with Ireland and close friendship with Irishman George O’Reilly.
Bing Crosby, the voice of the century was a favourite with millions around the world. An Irish American, Bing was intensely proud of his Irish ancestry. In 1953 Bing met devoted fan, Dubliner George O’Reilly. Thus began a friendship that lasted 24 years and brought George O’Reilly into the heart of Bing Crosby’s life and brought Bing and many of his Hollywood friends to Ireland on a number of occasions;
“The best times we had were walking on the Curragh. Bing was staying with horse trainer, Paddy Prendergast. After dinner, Bing would say ‘you’ll have to excuse us.’ He wanted to get away from official dinners. We strolled out onto the Curragh and I remember his pipe glowing in the dark. Those were the best conversations we had.”
George travelled to Hollywood to see Bing on a number of occasions and succeeded in persuading Bing to come to Ireland to record a television show with Irish artists like Milo O’Shea and Bernadette Greevy.
Milo O’Shea on Bing
“I was dying to meet him. And it was very funny because I said ‘May I have your autograph?’ and he said ‘Aren’t’ you Milo O’Shea who appeared in Ulysses?’ And I said ‘Yes’,’ Aren’t you Milo O’Shea who played in Barbarella with Jane Fonda?’ And he said ‘Well could I have your autograph?’ He was like that he was wonderful.”
Over their twenty five year friendship, George collected an archive of Bing memorabilia, including years of correspondence and photographs. This documentary revisits George’s memories of trips to Bing’s Hollywood: the meetings with stars like Bob Hope, & Nat King Cole. It weaves together a mix of exclusive archive, restored RTE footage of Aine O’Connor meeting Bing not seen since the 1970’s, rostrum of personal stills, letters and telegrams, an in depth interview with George O’Reilly, Milo O’Shea, Liam Devally and Kathryn Crosby. It also includes actuality of a Bing retrospective concert George held in Dublin in the Autumn of 2005.