London Premier Screening of: The Charlie O’Leary Story – From Johnny Cullen’s Hill to The Olympic Stadium Rome + Q&A

About the show

This is his story, from Johnny Cullen's Hill to the Olympic Stadium Rome.

From the award winning makers of 406 Days – The Debenhams Strike comes the story of a life which transcends football on the island of Ireland.

Charlie O’Leary was born on the 1st of February 1924 in Townsend Street, Dublin the same year the Irish Free State played its first football match.

In 1945 as a teenager Charlie founded the Dublin football “Street Leagues” in East Wall it would spread across Dublin and afar leading to young participants becoming professionals in England and in the League of Ireland. The names Touhy, Brady, Dunne and Giles would go down in Irish football folklore.

Through the leagues Charlie would become a referee climbing through the ranks to officiate in the League of Ireland. He would become one of the first Irish referees to be FIFA affiliated, leading to assignments behind the Iron Curtain at Camp Nou, Barcelona and across the UK. In 1986 Jack Charlton would invite Charlie to become the Irish Football Kit-Man. He would be part of the greatest moments of Irish football.

Today Charlie O’Leary is 102 years of age.

This is his story, from Johnny Cullen’s Hill to the Olympic Stadium Rome.