It hasn't had a public outing since 1923 but on Friday at Meeting House Square in Dublin's Temple Bar, a historic Irish eight-minute silent movie will be shown on the big screen.

Made in secret in 1919, the untitled film, known as the "Republican Loan", features Michael Collins reading a letter from the Bishop of Limerick encouraging people to sign up for the fundraising bonds saying, "We have to build up a new Ireland." A procession of "interesting Sinn Féin notables" are shown endorsing the scheme. It includes Pádraig Pearse's mother and sister and several widows of those executed in 1916. All TDs from the First Dáil "not in jail", including Desmond Fitzgerald and Erskine Childers, walk into frame and sign on the block "where Robert Emmet was beheaded".

It was made at Saint Enda's, Rathfarnham, during the filming of the rare Irish 90-minute silent film Willie Reilly and his Colleen Bawn, which will be shown directly afterwards. It was directed by John McDonagh, brother of Thomas who was executed in 1916. When the "Republican Loan" film was made no cinema owner would risk running it, so volunteers were sent to interrupt features and force film projectionists at gunpoint to show it.

This time out it will be a more pleasurable experience as it's also the première for a new score by Bernard Reilly commissioned specially for the event. He'll be conducting the CineTheatre Ensemble "live to screen".

Reilly also composed the score to the main feature, which has only been heard once before, in 1999.

"Normally with film scores you work with a director, but in this case it's more difficult as the director is dead," said Reilly.

In the feature, he uses a different musical theme or instrument to enhance and flag each character. Composing for the "Republican Loan" film was more difficult. "Because there is no drama I've concentrated on the occasion to make it an elegant salute to the new State."

"Without music the experience of watching silent film is less engaging. When a composer anticipates the action with music, the enjoyment of the film increases tenfold," according to Sunniva O'Flynn of the Irish Film Archive. "Bernard's score brings it to life."

Both films were shown in 1991 at St Enda's, where the audience was mostly academic.

This time about 500 people will be able to see the films.

"There is magic as you watch and listen, a combination of theatre and film," said O'Flynn.

Tickets are free and available from the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre, 12 East Essex Street.