View source for Miracle of the Magyars (lost Dermot Morgan screenplay of unmade football drama film; 1990s)

{{InfoboxLost 
|title=<center>Miracle of the Magyars (Dermot Morgan screenplay)</center> 
|image=Miracleofthemagyars1.jpg
|imagecaption=Newspaper clipping reporting on the Republic of Ireland-Yugoslavia match, its controversial occurrence providing the inspiration for the unmade film.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> 
}}
'''''Miracle of the Magyars''''' is an unmade football drama film. It was based around the 10th October 1955 match between the Republic of Ireland and Yugoslavia, and how some 22,000 fans attended despite strong objections from then-Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid. It is known that '''a screenplay was been worked on by Dermot Morgan, before his death resulted in the film never coming to fruition'''.

==Background==
The inspiration for ''Miracle of the Magyars'' traces back to 1952.<ref name="the42">[https://www.the42.ie/the-story-behind-dermot-morgans-unfinished-football-film-5656821-Jan2022/ ''The 42'' providing a detailed overview of Morgan's work on ''Miracle of the Magyars'' and the story it was inspired from.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="history">[https://www.historyireland.com/two-bishops-and-a-football-ireland-and-the-balkans-in-the-1940s-and-50s/ ''History Ireland'' detailing the story behind Archbishop McQuaid's attempts to prevent the Republic of Ireland playing Yugoslavia.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref> The Republic of Ireland were set to invite Yugoslavia for a friendly international football match at Dalymount Park in Dublin.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> However, the upcoming match caught the attention of Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> Archbishop McQuaid was considerably against communism, as the ideology is decisively anti-religious.<ref name="the42"/><ref name="history"/> Additionally, he was incensed that Yugoslav President, Tito, had placed Archbishop Aloys Stepinac under house arrest.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> Archbishop Stepinac had supported Croatian leader Ante Pavelić, with both opposing the Yugoslavic communist state.<ref name="stepinacbbc">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36866939 ''BBC News'' reporting on Archbishop Stepinac's conviction being overturned in 2016.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> Pavelić had also committed forced conversions to Catholicism with the threat of persecution for those who refused.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/><ref name="stepinacbbc"/> Pavelić and the Ustaše were deemed responsible for the murders of tens of thousands of Jews and Gypsies, and hundreds of thousands of Serbs.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/><ref name="stepinacbbc"/> It should be noted however that Archbishop Stepinac had opposed the genocide, denouncing the attacks in a 1942 mass.<ref name="stepinacbbc"/> Whereas Pavelić would later escape to Argentina, Archbishop Stepinac was placed under house arrest for opposing Yugoslavia and for his support of Pavelić's regime.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/><ref name="stepinacbbc"/> He was later convicted in 1946, although this was historically overturned in 2016 by a Croatian court.<ref name="stepinacbbc"/>

Despite Archbishop Stepinac's initial support of a regime that had committed genocide, Archbishop McQuaid backed him and used his house arrest to attract support and sympathy for the arrested Archbishop, and to grow his influence on Ireland.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> Back in the 1950s, Ireland and its political system was still greatly influenced by the Catholic Church, with Archbishop McQuaid becoming a key player surrounding the country's anti-communist stance during this time period.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> Thus, when the Archbishop wanted the upcoming Ireland-Yugoslavia game be cancelled, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) curtailed to his demand.<ref name="the42"/><ref name="history"/> But just three years later, the FAI again decided to invite Yugoslavia for an encounter that would occur on 19th October 1955 at Dalymount Park.<ref name="the42"/><ref name="history"/>

As before, Archbishop McQuaid strongly opposed the upcoming game, and was also furious the FAI did not seek his permission to invite Yugoslavia for the match.<ref name="the42"/><ref name="history"/> This time, the FAI refused to abandon the match, believing the politics should not be integral to to the sports sphere.<ref name="the42"/> Thus, on 15th October, the Archbishop publicly called for a boycott of the encounter.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> His urgings did influence some, with Radio Éireann being unable to broadcast the game as several within its sports department, including commentator Philip Greene, refused to have any part of the event on religious and moral grounds.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/in-the-wars-irish-soccer-s-brushes-with-controversy-1.199944 ''The Irish Times'' noting Radio Éireann's aborted attempt to broadcast the match.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="the42"/><ref name="history"/> However, despite the strong opposition led by Archbishop McQuaid, the game went ahead with 22,000 in attendance, just over half of Dalymount's 40,000 capacity.<ref name="result">[https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-yugoslavia-19-october-1955-226586/ ''11 vs 11'' detailing the result of the match and other statistics.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="the42"/><ref name="history"/> The FAI and the Republic of Ireland national football team would receive praise for defying the Catholic Church, with others ridiculing the Archbishop's role in the country.<ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/> Ireland would ultimately lose the encounter 4-1.<ref name="result"/><ref name="history"/><ref name="the42"/>

==Miracle of the Magyars==
Actor and comedian Dermot Morgan was three when the failed boycott transpired.<ref name="the42"/> According to Morgan's son Donnchadh, Dermot was mistreated by the Christian Brothers during his raising as a Catholic, with one even going as far to claim Morgan would never amount to anything.<ref name="donncadh">[https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/dermot-morgan-he-would-be-livid-that-the-same-issues-still-bedevil-ireland-1.3402230 ''The Irish Times''' interview of Donnchadh Morgan.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="the42"/> He would later become an atheist, and would make critical comments surrounding the Catholic Church.<ref name="mirror">[https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Heaven+for+me+is+watching+my+team+Chelsea%3B+DERMOT+MORGAN%3B+SAYS...-a061054305 ''The Free Library'' providing an interview from ''The Daily Mirror'' where Morgan discussed his love of football and becoming an atheist.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="morganbbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/61112.stm ''BBC News'' reporting on Morgan's death and noting his critical comments towards the Catholic Church.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref> He was also a big football fan, supporting both UCD and Chelsea.<ref name="mirror"/><ref name="the42"/><ref name="donncadh"/> Morgan's biggest claim to fame was in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Father Ted'', starring as the eponymous Roman Catholic priest sent to exile in Craggy Island.<ref name="morganbbc"/><ref name="the42"/><ref name="donncadh"/><ref name="mirror"/> 

During a 1996 interview on ''The Late Late Show'' Morgan discussed some of the projects he was working on.<ref name="late">[https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/0506/786685-dermot-morgan-talks-success/ ''RTE Archives'' noting Morgan discussed the screenplay in a 1996 interview on ''The Late Late Show''.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="the42"/> He stated he was writing a film screenplay surrounding the Ireland-Yugoslavia game, titled ''Miracle of the Magyars''.<ref name="post">[https://www.irishpost.com/news/ireland-remembers-father-ted-stars-dermot-morgan-and-frank-kelly-on-anniversary-of-their-deaths-204876 ''The Irish Post'' noting Morgan's work on ''Miracle of the Magyars'' and ''Re-United''.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="the42"/><ref name="late"/> According to Donnchadh, Morgan became both aware and interested in the incident during the early-1990s, combining two subjects he was intrigued with.<ref name="the42"/> Unlike with other projects, Donnchadh noted his father was especially excited with the concept.<ref name="the42"/> However, the screenplay Morgan wrote notably changed the visitors to Hungary, potentially so that was not constrained with making an accurate historical film, and instead detail aspects such as the Catholic Church's influence on Ireland and those who defied it.<ref name="the42"/> Donnchadh claimed the screenplay was more of a drama than a comedy, but one where comedians could theoretically be starring in as part of a straight role.<ref name="the42"/>

It is known that Gerry Stembridge, who had co-created ''Scrap Saturday'' alongside Morgan, had viewed a draft of the screenplay.<ref name="the42"/> It was also one of three two other football-based projects Morgan was writing about, the others being ''[[Re-united (lost Dermot Morgan script of unmade football sitcom; 1990s)|Re-United]]'' and ''[[The Kaiser Conspiracy (lost unfinished Dermot Morgan novel; 1990s)|The Kaiser Conspiracy]]''.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/entertainment/around-town/mel-and-dermot-had-show-lined-up-29442263.html ''Independent'' detailing Morgan's work on ''Re-United''.] Retrieved 21st Nov '22</ref><ref name="the42"/><ref name="post"/> However, none of these projects were ever completed, as [[Father Ted "Going to America" (lost alternate ending of TV sitcom finale; 1998)|Morgan would suddenly pass away from a heart attack on 28th February 1998]], aged 45.<ref name="the42"/><ref name="morganbbc"/><ref name="post"/> ''Miracle of the Magyars'' was known to have been in a "really advanced stage of production/development" prior to Morgan's death.<ref name="the42"/> 

==Availability==
Following his father's death, Donnchadh remained adamant he would preserve the screenplay.<ref name="the42"/> However, with him being involved in his own endeavours at age 19, Donnchadh would ultimately lose sight of it.<ref name="the42"/> He claims however that it may still be within his possession, albeit somewhere within his attic.<ref name="the42"/> Additionally, he speculates that Devlin and his father's agent John Fischer may have also possessed copies of the screenplay.<ref name="the42"/> As of the present day, the screenplay remains missing.<ref name="the42"/>

==See Also== 
*[[1899 FA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1899)]]
*[[1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)]] 
*[[1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)]] 
*[[1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)]] 
*[[1947 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1947)]]
*[[1948 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1948)]]
*[[1948 Summer Olympics (partially found television coverage of London Games; 1948)]]
*[[1949 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1949)]]
*[[1950 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1950)]]
*[[1951 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1951)]]
*[[1952 Coupe de France Final (partially found footage of football match; 1952)]] 
*[[1955 Scottish Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1955)]]
*[[1956 Southern Junior Floodlight Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1956)]] 
*[[1966 FIFA World Cup Final (partially found original colour film of international football match; 1966)]]
*[[1967 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1967)]]
*[[1968 Football League Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1968)]]
*[[1970 FA Cup Final Replay (partially found original ITV coverage of football match; 1970)]]
*[[1971 WFA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1971)]]
*[[1973 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1973)]]
*[[1974 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1974)]]
*[[1976 WFA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1976)]]
*[[1977 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1977)]]
*[[1978 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1978)]]
*[[1979 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1979)]]
*[[1980 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1980)]]
*[[1981 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1981)]]
*[[1982 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1982)]]
*[[1985-1986 WFA Cup (lost list of entries for football tournament; 1985)]]
*[[A Football Match at Newcastle-on-Tyne (lost footage of football match; 1896)]]
*[[Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United (lost radio commentary of football match; 1927)]]
*[[Arsenal 3-2 Everton (partially found footage of Football League First Division match; 1936)]] 
*[[Arsenal 7-1 Hibernian (lost footage of charity football match; 1952)]] 
*[[Arsenal vs Arsenal Reserves (lost footage of early BBC televised football match; 1937)]]
*[[Atlético Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid (lost footage of El Derbi Madrileño La Liga football match; 1958)]] 
*[[Barbados 4–2 Grenada (partially found soccer match footage; 1994)]] 
*[[Barnet 3-2 Wealdstone (lost footage of Athenian League football match; 1946)]]
*[[Bedford Town 1-2 Arsenal (partially found footage of FA Cup match; 1956)]]
*[[Blackpool 0-1 Bolton Wanderers (lost footage of Football League First Division match; 1960)]]
*[[Brazil 2-0 Italy (lost footage of international football match; 1956)]] 
*[[Brian Clough's Football Fortunes (lost DOS port of football management game; 1987)]]
*[[Carlisle United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle (partially found footage of Football League Third Division match; 1999)]] 
*[[Charlton Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (lost footage of FA Cup match; 1947)]]
*[[Chelsea 1-1 Burnley (partially found footage of FA Cup match; 1956)]]
*[[Chelsea 2-0 Sparta Prague (lost footage of international football match; 1957)]] 
*[[England 0-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)]]
*[[England 1-0 Scotland (lost footage of Schools' International football match; 1952)]] 
*[[England 1-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)]]
*[[England 1-2 Scotland (lost footage of international football match; 1903)]]
*[[England 1-3 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1949)]] 
*[[England 2-0 Italy (partially found footage of international football match; 1949)]] 
*[[England 3-0 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)]] 
*[[England 3-0 Rest of Europe (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)]]
*[[England 6-0 Switzerland (partially found footage of international football match; 1948)]] 
*[[Falkirk 3-2 Newcastle United (lost footage of football match; 1953)]] 
*[[FIFA Soccer 2002 (lost build of cancelled Game Boy Advance port of football game; existence unconfirmed; 2001-2002)]]
*[[France 3-1 West Germany (partially found footage of international football match; 1952)]]
*[[France 6-3 Belgium (partially found footage of FIFA World Cup qualifying match; 1956)]] 
*[[Hallo! Bundesliga (lost GolTV series; mid 2000s-mid 2010s)]]
*[[Hero to Zero (partially found BBC One children's football drama show; 2000)]] 
*[[Juventus 1-7 A.C. Milan (partially found footage of Serie A football match; 1950)]]
*[[The Kaiser Conspiracy (lost unfinished Dermot Morgan novel; 1990s)]]
*[[Liverpool vs Sheffield United (lost footage of FA Cup Semi-Final matches; 1899)]]
*[[Lowestoft Town 3-0 AFC Hornchurch (partially found footage of Isthmian League Premier Division play-off final; 2014)]]
*[[Manchester United Championship Soccer (lost build of cancelled Sega Mega Drive port of football game; 1995)]]
*[[National Professional Soccer League (partially found footage of soccer matches; 1967)]]
*[[Netherlands 0-0 Sweden (lost footage of international football match; 1952)]]
*[[Premier League All Stars (partially found Sky One charity football tournament; 2007)]]
*[[PSV Eindhoven 2-1 E.V.V. Eindhoven (lost footage of Netherlands Football League Championship match; 1950)]]
*[[Quiz Ball (partially found BBC One football-based quiz show; 1966-1972)]]
*[[Re-united (lost Dermot Morgan script of unmade football sitcom; 1990s)]]
*[[Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (partially found footage of El Clásico La Liga football match; 1959)]]
*[[Real Madrid 3-0 Racing Santander (lost footage of La Liga football match; 1954)]]
*[[San Lorenzo de Almagro 1-1 River Plate (lost footage of Argentine Primera División football match; 1951)]] 
*[[Scottish Universities 1-1 English Universities (lost footage of international football match; 1952)]] 
*[[Serbia vs Albania (found footage of abandoned UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match; 2014)]]
*[[Stade de Reims 2-1 FC Metz (partially found footage of French Division 1 football match; 1956)]]
*[[Turkey 1-2 Soviet Union (lost footage of 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifying match; 1961)]] 
*[[United! (lost British soap opera; 1965-1967)]]
*[[Walthamstow Avenue 0-2 Queen's Park (lost footage of friendly football match; 1951)]]
*[[West Ham United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (partially found footage of FA Cup match; 1956)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost literature]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]