Patrick Gallagher reports from Sheriff Street in Dublin where he meets a group of young boys who tell him about their lives in the flats. "Once you have friends you are O.K." These are the words of wisdom from one young resident of Sheriff Street referring to the brighter side of living in the flats. Three blocks of corporation flats, St. Bridgid’s Garden, St. Laurence’s Mansions and Phil Shanahan House, are situated in a triangle bounded by the docks, the canal and the railway. In the three blocks of flats there are about 560 families and 2,500 children. The complex contains one concrete playground divided into sections: one for boys and one for girls. This episode of ‘Report’ examines the environment in which these children live and identifies the importance of friends in a world in which friends are vital.
In their short time together Moving Hearts have established a reputation for the exciting and the innovative. With such luminaries as Keith Donald, Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Declan Sinnot contributing diverse and contrasting influences and the results has to be something interesting. And it is. Their range of material is limited as yet, but the future should solve that problem. This concert, which was recorded quite recently at the climax of their first major Irish tour, is reportedly a very inviting and invigorating performance.
An intimate study of the slow-paced diurnal round of activity in Dunquin, County Kerry, Ireland, the westernmost village in Europe and one of the last Gaelic-speaking communities. At the time of filming, 1967, the village consisted of 180 people, most elderly and poor. This portrait of a peasant society was filmed at a time when acculturation by urban tourists was beginning; the language, customs and subsistence techniques of the past are presented without commentary or narration. Through this cinéma vérité exploration, key village characters emerge: the postmistress, who dispenses sweets, gossip, and pensions; the pub owner, who is also landlord, grocer, de facto mayor, and traditional yarn-spinner. Isolated from the rest of the country, depleted by emigration and devastated by a harsh climate, the society, traditions, and lives of Dunquin carry on.
Tonight's show features Hank Wangford and the Wangford Band with tongue-in-cheek country tunes and rocabilly singer Sleepy La Beef
One-time Californian beach-bum Ted Hawkins from the Gaity Theatre Dublin
From the Gaiety Theatre
Scottish singer John Martyn teams up with Danny Thompson for this Gaiety concert recorded in 1987
Featuring Texas Balladeer Michelle Shocked.
Featuring Rusty Old Halo and the songs of lead singer Mick Hanly
Introduced by Mark Cagney
Last in series, recorded at the Gaiety Theatre.
Made in 1994 by Sarah Powers for RTE, released by Hummingbird Productions. Really insightful, quiet, focusing on the music. Many great musical performances, including some Planxty and Moving Hearts footage.
This documentary follows the life of architect, James Gandon, whose plans were realised when Ireland operated under British colonial rule. James Gandon (1743–1823) is recognised today as one of the leading architects to have worked in Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century. His neo-classical buildings still dominate Dublin’s urban landscape, including the Custom House, the Four Courts, King’s Inns and Emo Court in County Laois. The viewer is offered an extensive overview of the life and times of Gandon through the generous contributions of Maurice Craig, Hugo Duffy, Edward McParland and David Slattery.
In a frank and revealing new documentary, Dublin filmmaker Sinead O'Brien explores the different facets of Luke Kelly. Here she talks to Paul Byrne about the man, the music and the mayhem. For many people, Luke Kelly was the quintessential Dubliner. And I mean that in both senses of the word. Having risen to fame if not exactly fortune in the early '60s alongside Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna, Ciaran Burke and later John Sheehan, with his flaming red hair and a voice that could knock down a skyscraper, Luke Kelly epitomised what The Dubliners were all about. His passion for folk music, and his dogged determination to use music as a changing force (in a decade rampant with government policies that desperately needed changing), made Luke a hero not only to the woolly jumper brigade but also to political protestors the world over. Just how politically motivated Luke Kelly became in those early years is one of the many facets to the late great singer that Dublin filmmaker Sinead O'Brien was determined to highlight in her documentary, simply entitled Luke. "Luke Kelly was someone I was aware of growing up in the same way that I was aware of Phil Lynott and Rory Gallagher," offers O'Brien. "He was one of those iconic figures in Irish music that I only really knew through the odd hit they'd had here and there. I was always aware of the fact that he had lived life pretty hard, and that he had died young, but that was about all I really knew. So to go and search out his past, his childhood growing up in the slums of Dublin, his formative years, listening to rock'n'roll, to rhythm'n'blues, and then finally hearing The Old Triangle and turning to folk music, that was a fascinating story to follow." Besides talking to fellow Dubliners, Sinead spoke with both those who knew him well – including Phil Coulter, the Kelly family and Luke's latter-day girlfriend, Madeline Seiler – as well as those who clearly wish they had known him (such as Shane MacGowan and Bono). Th
A Noel Pearson film celebrating the life and times of the writer Brian Friel. Featuring contributions from Seamus Heaney, Tom Murphy and Frank McGuinness.
Alive Alive O – A Requiem for Dublin chronicles the heroes and the ever-changing heart of Dublin over a seven-year period. During this time, Merry Doyle’s lens captures the colourful characters of the city by focusing on Dublin street traders and their daily hustle and bustle. This invaluable record of vanished communities also depicts a city fighting to retain its soul in the midst of boom-time redevelopment. A young U2 play a benefit concert on Sheriff Street, maverick politician Tony Gregory fights the closure of Moore Street market and Dubliners (many of whom have since passed away) recall memories of a different city. ”How quickly we forget” – generations of Iveagh Market stall-owners react to the closure of the historic hub. Meanwhile, children play in the rubble of the recently demolished flats in the north inner city. What lives on is the staunch character and true grit of the inner-city ‘Dub’, the tragic nature of which is enhanced by the haunting narrative of poet Paula Meehan and some of the city’s best-known traditional ballads, like Biddy Mulligan and the Charladies’ Ball, sung by Frank Harte.
Filmed entirely from the air, The Island captures many breathtaking locations, including high sea cliffs, deep valleys and remote mountains that have never before been seen on television. We see how Water, Earth and Stone have shaped and formed the character of the landscape of The Island. This amazing journey allows the viewer to jump across the centuries and see how our marks and scratches have evolved into the Ireland of today. Accompanying these beautiful images is an original music score composed by Brian Byrne and performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra. It features 35 pieces of classical music, influenced by the breathtaking scenes from the series producing a stunning soundtrack. (2004)
Divided into chapters matching the structure of James Joyce’s Ulysses, this documentary takes a theme from each chapter of the book as a starting point for short audio-visual essays. Co-produced and directed by Hilary Fennell and David Blake Knox, Blueprint Pictures for RTE television. Winner, Best Documentary Feature Celtic Film Festival; the Gold Hugo Award Chicago Intercom Film Festival and Best Foreign Documentary Santa Monica Film Festival. Shortlisted for The Prix Italia; the Canadian Film Board Best Feature Documentary and Best Documentary at The Irish Film and Television Awards.
A major documentary by John Lynch on our national theatre as it celebrates its centenary, from the days of William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory to the current dilemma surrounding its rebuilding. Plus the feuds, friendships, betrayals and political interference.
This Mermaid Films tribute documentary directed by Sé Merry Doyle explores the life and work of renowned Irish painter and architect Patrick Scott. Taking Scott’s major retrospective at the Hugh Lane Gallery in 2002 as a starting point, this lively account traces the artist’s childhood, his background in architecture and his many artistic achievements. Scott’s zest for life and humble reflections on the creative process accompany moving moments at home with his cat whilst working on his signature gold leaf paintings. A fascinating account of the 1950s bohemian art group the White Stag and contributions from Seamus Heaney, Stephen Pearce and Dorothy Walker enrich this celebration of the life and work of the ‘Golden Boy’ of Irish art. Patrick Scott: Golden Boy was produced by Maria Doyle Kennedy and Andrea Pitt, of Mermaid Films, and was commissioned by RTÉ Arts Lives. Patrick Scott was born in 1921 in Kilbrittain, Co Cork. He began his career as an architect where he worked with Michael Scott on CIE’s Busáras before committing to life as a full-time painter in the 1960s. He won a National Prize at the Guggenheim International Award in 1960 and represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale in the same year. His paintings have been exhibited worldwide and his work features in public and private collections.
Sé Merry Doyle’s award-winning Patrick Kavanagh – No Man’s Fool is a rich visual journey, exposing the contradiction that existed between Kavanagh’s public persona and his poetry. The film maps out Kavanagh’s life from his native Inniskeen in County Monaghan, to Dublin where he spent most of his life. Against the odds he survived great poverty and ill health to deliver a canon of powerful and evocative poetry. We are offered a rich and diverse portrait of the poet with contributions from TP McKenna, John Montague, Leland Bardwell, Macdara Woods, Dermot Healy and Kavanagh’s one time girlfriend Deirdre Manifold.
A selection of stand-up comedy from Vicar Street in support of Amnesty International's Irish Division.
Some decades ago, a couple of feature films were produced about Ireland’s struggle for independence. In these films you could see Irish working-class folk being oppressed by the cruel and inhuman British occupier, and young Irish revolutionaries laying down their lives for their country. At first glance, these look like any of a series of ordinary rebel movies. The particularity about these films, however, is that they were made in Nazi Germany, shot in German with German actors, and commissioned and produced by Joseph Goebbels’ Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. These movies (The Fox of Glenarvon, 1940, and My Life for Ireland, 1941), alongside other anti-British ones, were never released in Ireland. Instead, they were released in Germany and the occupied countries, their real purpose being to change public opinion and destroy a latent pro-British sentiment which existed up to the outbreak of World War II. The films intended to show audiences the “true” nature of the evil British enemy, as conniving exploiters, heartless oppressors and ‘Jewified’ businessmen, thereby legitimizing the German ‘presence’ as liberators, protectors, and enlighteners. The heroic Irish, embodying proper German values and prepared to die for their patriotic cause, were held up as role models for the Germans to follow. But Goebbels’ plans backfired, as audiences in the occupied countries saw through the propaganda, and associated the British villains with the German oppressor. Instead of turning against the British, they related the Irish struggle for independence with their own struggle against the Nazis! The intentions were reversed: the Ministry of Propaganda was obliged to withdraw its own movies! This documentary uses film archive footage and features contributions from Irish and German historians, film specialists, surviving extras and eyewitnesses to revisit the making of these films. ‘Hitler’s Irish Movies’ investigates the ambig
This tells the story of one of the greatest prison escapes in history. A celebrated story in its day, this 150-year-old story has long since been forgotten. Set amid the background of a period of great change in world history - the last days of Colonial Britain - the remnants of their time resonate today in the British policy towards Northern Ireland. In 1876, a team of exiled Irish Fenians set out from the tiny whaling port town of New Bedford, Massachusetts to rescue six of their Fenian brothers from one of the most hostile and remote prisons on earth - Fremantle, Western Australia. It was a task which took two years to accomplish, required the financial assistance and silence of over 7000 Irish Americans and depended upon the ingenuity of three pivotal characters to pull off the greatest propaganda coup in Fenian history. Not long after the attempt the three characters published accounts of their role in the rescue. The film pieces together the strands of this complex escape by using excerpts from their stories. These intimate narratives portray moments of genuine heroism from the Catalpa's unlikely captain, George Anthony; reveal the breathtaking exploits of taciturn hero, John Breslin; and expose the agenda of the guilt-ridden mastermind behind the escape, John Devoy.
John Henry Foley was one of the most influential sculptors in Irish history. The Dubliner’s breath-taking equestrian masterpieces strode across city squares and parklands from Dublin, to Kolkata and Virginia. Foley’s best-known Irish works include the Daniel O’Connell monument on O’Connell Street and the Henry Grattan statue on College Green, as well as the figures of Goldsmith and Burke outside Trinity College. Queen Victoria personally requested that Foley create the statue of her beloved Prince Albert for the Albert Memorial in London. When Foley died, she decreed that he should be buried in Westminster Abbey, an extraordinary honour for a man born into relative poverty in Dublin’s northside. And yet the legacy of Foley’s imperialism continued to stir up controversy long after his death. Some of his works were destroyed: General Gough was blown sky-high in Phoenix Park; Lord Dunkellin, was heaved into the River Corrib and his equestrian statues in Kolkata were dismantled after Indian independence.
Documentary on the Great Blasket Islands which was evacuated in 1953 from whence the inhabitants moved onland to Dún Chaoin. The historical and literary legacy of the island is explored. Appearing are many of the islanders, including writers Peig Sayers and Muirís O Súilleabháin – and archive materials present the island as it was at the beginning of the century.
Ireland's Mad Men were a brash new breed of advertisers who emerged in the 1970s and imported the seductive tricks of a trade born among the so-called "Mad Men" of New York's Madison Ave adding a uniquely Irish twist. Narrated by Dave Fanning and told by the Mad Men themselves and illustrated by hugely nostalgic ads from this "Golden Age" of Irish advertising, Ireland's Mad Men takes a look at the high-octane, drink and smoke-fuelled lives of a number of young bucks whose frenetic creative and commercial activity played a huge role in turning the nation's self-image around and setting us up for the Celtic Tiger.
Irish American Chuck Feeney is a remarkable man. He founded Atlantic Philanthropies to use his €8 billion fortune to make lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged people. Ireland has benefited from his generosity to the tune of more than €1.2 billion. In this rare public interview, Richard Crowley talks about his modest, low-profile lifestyle and his philanthropy.
This documentary takes a revealing and entertaining look at the impact the groundbreaking series 'The Riordans' had on Irish television and on society at large.
Ryan Tubridy investigates the trip president John F Kennedy made to Ireland in the summer of 1963 by speaking to witnesses, family members and visiting locations.
'Kanata: An Irish Story' explores the history of the Irish in Canada in a new light through voices from Newfoundland to Northwest Territories. The film is a family album of individuals some famous; others should be and some just want to be heard on topics of stereotypes, religion, politics and culture which has been generally ignored in the Canadian mosaic. The viewer will meet individuals from the north and south of Ireland and from the Jewish, Protestant and Catholic cultures providing personal accounts to create a gentle framework of history telling. 'Kanata: An Irish Story' is the forgotten story of the Irish in Canada/Kanata.
Programme One introduces us to our presenter Colin Stafford-Johnson and to his journey. Opening with early morning mist rising off the river, viewers will be transported to a world few ever see. Close-ups of riverside wildflowers revealing the minutiae of river life give way to massive aerial shots of the river as it flows to the sea. Colin offers thoughtful reflections from inside his canoe or by the light of his campfire. A kaleidoscope of colour and action crosses the screen with giant butterflies and dragonflies powering up and taking off in slow motion. Kingfishers are filmed crashing into the river on their relentless hunt for fish while the Daubenton’s Bat is filmed at night scooping insects from the water’s surface.
In Programme Two Colin brings us to the source of the mighty river and its unassuming beginnings. From here, it is a non-stop journey through breathtaking encounters with beautiful migrant Whooper Swans, Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants to name but a few. An explosion of Starlings gathering at dusk is perhaps the greatest wildlife spectacle to be seen in Ireland. Unseen and underwater we follow the mating antics of freshwater crayfish – argumentative male suitors fighting over females, protective mothers with their delicate babies. In slow motion a Red Squirrel is transformed from a cute rodent to an arboreal acrobat whose mastery would match any leaping lemur in Madagascar.
Treasure of the bogs is documentary about a unique archaeological find in County Tipperary which revealed potential links between Irish Christianity and the Coptic Church of the Middle East. The find - which has become known as the Faddan More Psalter - was a fragmented illuminated vellum manuscript encased in an unusual leather binding, a book of psalms dating back to the late eighth century.
Hitler's Irish Movies centers around a number of wartime feature films produced by Joseph Goebbels' department, using Ireland’s struggle for independence as pro-Nazi propaganda. Shot in Germany with German actors, these three filmsattempted to ally Hitler's aggressive assertion of the historic destiny of the German nation with Irish nationalists' struggle for self-determination.
In episode one, Crisis: Inside the Cowen Government looks at the biggest decision that Brian Cowen's government took, the Bank Guarantee of September 2008. It appears that cabinet members believe there should have been a full and frank discussion on that fateful night. As the government under Brian Cowen continued through 2008 and into 2009 there were those within the party who thought a general election might be the strategy to take. Brian Cowen did not take this advice and the government grew more and more unpopular. The first episode also explains how Fianna Fáil, under Bertie Ahern, perfected its political model by turning economic success into political gain.
Episode two of Crisis - Inside the Cowen Government begins in September 2010 as Fianna Fáil gather in Galway for their annual Think-In. Morning Ireland presenter Cathal MacCoille speaks for the first time about his infamous interview with Brian Cowen. He shares his thoughts on how Brian Cowen performed in that interview and what he thought of his demeanour. Alan Ahearne, Brian Lenihan's special adviser, reveals for the first time details about Department of Finance negotiations the weekend that senior FF minsters were denying a bailout. He describes how Brian Lenihan wanted the bailout to proceed. As the party moved towards Christmas the question of leadership was on everybody's minds. As 2011 dawned Brian Cowen decided it was time to silence his critics and called a vote of confidence in his leadership. Now for the first time members of the parliamentary party disclose the conversations they had with Brian Cowen. Victory in the vote of confidence led to Brian Cowen attempting to reshuffle his cabinet. This move was seen by many as unnecessary and was not supported by the coalition partner, The Green Party. Without the authority to change his cabinet, Brian Cowen resigned. It brought to an end of a political career that spanned over two decades. Crisis - Inside The Cowen Government assess Brian Cowen's tenure as Taoiseach, his legacy and asks can Fianna Fáil resurrect itself from its worst election result?
Born in Annascaul, Kerry in 1877, Tom Crean left home at 15 years of age and after a chance encounter with Robert Scott found himself on his first Antarctic expedition. Following in Crean's footsteps, Charlie Bird travels from Crean's birthplace in Kerry to Antarctica and ultimately to the South Pole revealing Crean's life story. Recounting Crean's second Antarctic expedition - again with Scott - aboard the 'Terra Nova', Charlie explores why, within a hair's breadth of reaching the South Pole, Scott turned Crean and two others back. And we learn of Crean's courage and fortitude as he undertook an impossible solo march to get rescue for his comrades. Trudging across the never-ending ice, Charlie discovers the true reality of that endeavour. As Charlie reaches the South Pole, an achievement sadly Tom Crean was never afforded, he considers the enormous contribution the unassuming Kerryman made to Antarctic exploration and the crucial role he played in some of the most dramatic events of the time.
Charlie Bird continues his journey through Antarctica and picks up the trail of Tom Crean in 1912 as the Discovery Expedition ends in the death of Captain Scott and his four companions. They perished on their return march from the South Pole and it was a rescue team that included Crean who found them frozen in the snow. The story of Tom Crean's expedition enters its final chapters. Although devastated by the loss of Scott, Antarctica was not finished with Crean yet. Charlie follows the route of his last and greatest adventure alongside Ernest Shackleton aboard the Endurance. It was to become one of the greatest and most dramatic events in Antarctic exploration. The ship sank in the ice of the Weddell Sea and as all hands took to the lifeboats, it was up to Crean and team aboard the James Caird to find rescue - completing the first ever crossing of South Georgia's frozen mountains. Charlie also discovers what daily life is like at the South Pole today and the extraordinary science and research base that now exists there. Back in Kerry, Charlie meets Crean's last living relatives and discovers how after a lifetime of adventure, the supremely modest and unassuming Kerryman returned to the Dingle peninsula and retired into obscurity.
This film documents the extraordinary life of Kathleen Lynn, the daughter of a Protestant Cannon in the West of Ireland. Growing up in the aftermath of the great famine she was deeply affected by the abject poverty and disease that continued to ravage the lives of the local people. She was only sixteen years old when she made the decision to be a doctor. The film is based on Kathleen’s diaries that start in 1916 when she was arrested after commanding a unit of James Connolly’s Citizen Army who attempted to take over City Hall. The diaries tell a story of how this privileged daughter of a West of Ireland Protestant Bishop became a rebel in 1916 and then spent the rest of her life devoted to the first infants hospital in Ireland, Saint Ultans. The part of Kathleen Lynn is played by the great Irish actress Ingrid Craigie.
One-off documentary looking at the life and career of Crumlin-born Phil Lynott, the Thin Lizzy frontman who died 25 years ago this week, aged just 36. Featuring previously unseen archive material and reminiscences from friends, colleagues and admirers, as well as the first screening of a fully restored version of the video for his 1982 hit single "Old Town".
The story of Irish Comdt. Pat Quinlan and his men who were placed in grave danger on the direct orders of the UN Secretary General when they were sent to garrison Jadotville.
The surviving Irish veterans reveal how they managed to hold out against superior forces besieging them at Jadotville due to the wily dispositions of their leader, Comdt. Pat Quinlan.
The Gathering Ireland is all about reconnecting with old friends. Here Tadgh Kennelly returns to Listowel from Australia and meets historians, gatherers and the son of an Irish literary hero.
Lelia Doolan's dramatic, vivid and moving portrait of Bernadette McAliskey. Bernadette McAliskey, née Bernadette Devlin (1947-) is a political activist and former politician. Born in Cookstown, Tyrone, she studied psychology at Queen’s University, Belfast. A member of the People’s Democracy, she participated in the civil rights marches of 1968-69. In 1969, she was elected to Westminster as an Independent Unity member for Mid-Ulster. At 21, she was the youngest woman ever elected. She was convicted of incitement to riot for her role in the Battle of the Bogside in 1969 and was suspended from parliament in 1972 for attacking Home Secretary Reginald Maudling over Bloody Sunday. She lost her seat in 1974 but remained politically active, serving on the National Executive of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) in 1975.
Ireland, for all its faults, was at least a place you could travel to from almost any part of the world and either enjoy or despair at (quite often at the same time) its uniqueness. From Percy French writing about the tardiness of rural trains, to Leo Maguire’s Dublin Saunter, there are plenty of songs that celebrate the Irish experience – and that’s without going into tunes that are about the long-running spat we've had with the English – but in recent times Ireland has become a more homogenised place as the world gets smaller and rampant consumerism dictates our tastes. From coffee shops to supporting British football teams, Valley accents to ‘mum’ replacing ‘mammy’ in our lexicon, most of what passes for Irish life these days are just things that have been transplanted from other cultures. All of which is why now, more than ever, The Irish Pub is a crucial piece of documentary-making. The reason’s obvious: the traditional Irish pub is one of the few things left that we can truly call our own. And it’s not about the décor as many great Irish pubs are Victorian English in style, but about the people who own and run these bars, and the relationships they build up with their clientele. Director Alex Fegan is a genuinely talented documentary-maker. His approach to The Irish Pub is to be as unobtrusive as possible, and let the cast of publicans and their customers tell their stories in their own time. Paul Gartlan of Gartlan’s in Kingscourt, Co Cavan is a real scene-stealer, even when he’s standing behind the bar with arms folded, saying nothing. But, really, everyone involved deserves a pat on the back for their contribution, especially Alex Fegan for the variety of pubs and pub owners that get on camera. Even former Republic of Ireland player and manager Eoin Hand gets to sing a song in John B Keane’s boozer in Listowel. A joy from start to finish, The Irish Pub takes a place amongst a list of the best documentaries I have
Hell’s Kitchen to Hollywood tells the story of the Irish-American men and women who shaped American cinema and helped change the fortunes of an entire people. Mixing travelogue with biography and interview, John Kelly journeys around the States to discover how the Irish in the movies created archetypes that shaped America’s image of itself and how their legacy informs distinctive screen drama that still captivate global audiences.
In this programme the original Planxty line up of Dónal Lunny on bouzouki, Andy Irvine on mandolin, Liam Óg O’Flynn on uilleann pipes and Christy Moore on guitar play the reels ‘Kitty Gone A Milking’ and ‘Music of the Forge’. The concert was filmed in the summer of 1972 in front of a capacity crowd. The original programme was shown as part of a series called "The Music Makers" and was originally shown on 18 June 1973.
Since its launch in 2004, the LUAS has become a moving landmark of Dublin. A Tale Of Two Trams goes behind the scenes of Dublin’s light rail LUAS system, to tell the stories of some of the 80,000 passengers and the staff who support them: from the good, the bad to the anti-social behaviour and fare evaders.
A look at the life and career of country singer Patsy Cline, who successfully transitioned over to the pop music charts and has been named as an influential vocalists.
Intense, unflinching, at times painfully honest just like the man himself. This feature-length documentary provides unprecedented access to Ronan O Gara's life - public and private - over the final four years of his playing career. The film is a deeply personal chronicle of this dramatic period for one of Ireland's most compelling sporting stars; from losing his place as Ireland s rugby No 10 to his decision to retire and move to France as coach to Racing Metro 92, alongside former nemesis, Jonathan Sexton.
Tommy Tiernan completed a European tour in 2014 where each night he performed without any script or preparation. “The idea came from a realisation over the last couple of years that the bits of the show that were improvised each night were often the funniest bits,” says Tiernan. “Then I started listening to this piano player called Keith Jarrett who does full-length improvised concerts. I asked myself: Is that possible in stand-up?" This programme documents the results.
There is one question above all others to which Irish people seek the answer: who's died. Comedian Ardal O'Hanlon explores Ireland's obsession with death, via the death notices in the newspapers, on local radio and on websites such as rip.ie. O'Hanlon meets a woman who transcribed death notices for a newspaper and a publican who double-jobs as an undertaker and tries to discover why Irish people like gossiping about death.
Aine Lawlor presents a round-up of the events at the Bloom in the Park festival in the Phoenix Park.
Four people tried to assassinate Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Only one person ever came close - her name was Violet Gibson and she was Irish. Violet spent the rest of her life in mental institutions, forgotten by society and by history.
In this heartbreaking story of bravery, tragic loss and forgotten history, RTÉ's Political Correspondent David Davin-Power returns to that rural Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli where is own grandfather fought and which claimed the lives of some 3,000 Irishmen. With the help of historians and relatives of soldiers, he tells the story of this brutal battle and disastrous campaign from the Irish perspective one hundred years on.
Donal Óg Cusack takes stock of gay rights, both at home and abroad, and asks how far we have travelled from the days when being gay was effectively against the law in Ireland. He talks to sports people about coming out, and interviews an 'ex-gay' man who claims he has been cured of his homosexuality.
The case of Irish nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy, who spent two years in a US prison awaiting trial accused of killing a child in her care, before the prosecution was dropped.
Stress and aggression are commonplace on Irish roads. From the simple beep of a horn to all-out altercations, bad manners and even road rage play out almost every day on Irish streets. Cars, trucks, bicycles, buses and pedestrians are fighting their corner just travelling through the day. Financial stresses, early commutes, aging vehicles and pressurised roads all add to the congestion. Mean Streets hits the tarmac to look at the current conflicts in daily traffic.
With access to the Cochlear Implant Unit of Dublin's Beaumont hospital, this film documents a journey from a world of total silence to one filled with sound. Filmed over nine months, cameras follow Dr Laura Viani and four of her patients as they receive electronic surgical implants which they hope will profoundly change their lives, including Richard Cantwell from Dublin, whose progressive hearing loss has robbed him of his lifetime passion for music.
It's the centenary of 1916 and who would the president ask to tell the story of our great nation? The Rubberbandits, of course. Join the boys as they crash through Irish history from Brian Boru, through the Famine and right up to Irish independence, with the help of the trout of no craic, Willie O'DJ, some lads from the local takeaway and a goat. It’s like real history, but interesting.
Documentary exploring Ireland's relationship with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who died in April 2013, including her professional dealings with former taoisigh.
Ireland is back on track. After seven hard years, the economy is starting to move again. Unemployment is down, growth forecasts are up and even construction is kicking off. In Dublin, the signs are obvious - the city is buzzing again. But travel outside of the capital and the picture looks very different. Rural Ireland is still reeling after the crash. Emigration and unemployment have hit communities hard and the evidence of a two-speed recovery is plain to see.
Collusion is a special feature length television documentary commissioned and funded by RTÉ. In a first television interview, a member of the gang linked to the Dublin Monaghan bombs and many other atrocities reveals that their intent was to foment a civil war - and in that event, they were confident they could "crush the other side". Taoisigh Jack Lynch and Liam Cosgrave were met with flat denials when they raised collusion with their British counterparts. The film will reveal that the British were well aware of it.
This is the story of how one man’s passion for one of Ireland’s greatest artists shaped the lives of his young family, in particular that of his daughter Siún, and her efforts to authenticate his legacy twenty years after her father’s death. This is the story of how one man’s passion for one of Ireland’s greatest artists shaped the lives of his young family, in particular that of his daughter Siún, and her efforts to authenticate his legacy twenty years after her father’s death. Michael O’Connor was an art collector who spent his life obsessing about the Irish artist Roderic O’Conor. He came across a folio at a sale of work in Meath in the late 80’s that he believed was painted by O’Conor. The collection comprised of 43 paintings, all unsigned in the conventional sense. He purchased them eagerly and these paintings would become the centre of Michael’s obsessive behaviour. He set out on the long and complicated path of authenticating the works with a view to creating a permanent exhibition dedicated to O’Conor. Michael O’Connor died in 1995 and never fulfilled his life’s ambition. Now, twenty years on, having survived her upbringing, Michael’s daughter, Siún, has decided to finish her father’s work and open up his research and legacy to see whether these paintings are in fact what he believed they were. Did the great man himself paint them or are they even attributed to him? They have acted like shadows throughout her life, but it is time to uncover what it is her father saw. Siún’s father kept detailed notes on the collection, an extensive portfolio of letters and correspondence with art experts and historians, along with photographs and X-rays of the paintings. He was engaged in an extensive effort to authenticate them before he died. This documentary follows Siún as she picks up where her father left off. As she works through the authentication process, she is re-introduced to her father’s legacy, and uncove
Narrated by Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons, The Genius of George Boole assembles academics and industry leaders from across the globe to explore the life and importance of one of the world’s greatest unsung heroes.
Four years after the Titanic sank, the world was rocked once more by the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915. This time it wasn't an iceberg that was to blame rather a German U-boat that torpedoed the ocean liner 11 miles off the southern coast of Ireland. It resulted in the deaths of 1,198 passengers and crew and was a key factor in the US's entry into the First World War in 1917. The events of that day are brought to life in this documentary using archive footage, photographs, documents, dramatic reconstructions and expert opinion by marine historians, as well as first-hand testimonies by survivors and the submarine captain.
A portrait of the musician, described by one of his fellow members in the Dubliners as the 'mortar between the bricks' of the folk band. Featuring rare archive footage.
Bram Stoker agus Dracula looks at the remarkable life of Dublin-born Bram Stoker, and the extent to which his Irish background contributed to the creation of Dracula, one of the most recognisable fictional characters in world literature. Whilst the vampire figure was, already, a centuries old folklore staple and had even appeared in print - Sheridan LeFanu's gothic fantasy Carmilla (1872), for example - it was the May 1897 publication of Dracula that would introduce the public to the character of Count Dracula and establish many of the tropes of fantasy and horror fiction. The character would soon transcend the world of genre fiction and become an enduring icon of popular culture.
On June 12th 2015, the iconic O'Connell Street department store, Clerys, closed its doors for the last time. Overnight, 460 staff lost their jobs. Clerys looks back at the history of the store and follows the lives of former employees Maurice Bracken and Gerry Markey over a six month period as they try to come to terms with Clerys closure. With over 70 years service between them and now suddenly unemployed, Maurice and Gerry have many questions about the closure and liquidation. With no notice of closure given to staff and only a half hour to vacate building after it was closed, Maurice and Gerry are faced with the harsh reality that when big business comes to town, a lifetime of dedicated service often counts for very little.
In this one off documentary Dr.Eva Orsmond investigates Ireland's consumption of sugar and explores the latest research on serious health problems and their link to excessive sugar use. Dr. Eva finds out how we can cut back on our excessive use of sugar as she charts the progress of a Kilkenny family who are stunned to find out how much sugar is lurking in their 'normal' diet. "Added sugar is public enemy No.1 in the Western diet. We are all over consuming sugar in Ireland. In 50 years time we will look back in horror." Health experts deliver chilling comments on the Ireland's love of sugar in a new documentary that lays bare the grim consequences of our national sweet tooth. "Sugar is a dangerous molecule. We have hard and fast data for four diseases that sugar is causative for. We keep alcohol out of the hands of children but we don't think twice about giving them a glass of soda." Ireland is the fourth highest consumer of sugar in the world but very few of us know how much sugar we are eating, which is, on average, 24 teaspoons a day. The World Health Organisation is worried about sugar. It recommends we cut our consumption to less than 6 teaspoons a day for health benefits. This documentary reveals the shocking cost of our sugar habit in hospital admissions, long term illness and premature death. As the children of today face a shorter life expectancy than their parents this programme tells the story that we all need to understand if we want to change that stark prediction.
Three homeless families film their experiences over a 12 week period, revealing the emotional and psychological effects of living in emergency accommodation.
The comedian looks at what really matters in the General Election-including the parties, the people and the issues-while Blindboy Boatclub of the Rubberbandits also has his say.
Documentary charting the efforts of families trying to get justice for their loved ones, who were murdered in Melbourne within the space of a year and all by men who had previously been convicted of serious crimes. The programme looks at the killings of jeweller Dermot O'Toole, hostel manager David Greene and radio station worker Jill Meagher.
The refugee crisis in Europe is one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the history of the world. Refugees fleeing war and poverty in Syria are crossing the sea in tiny boats, looking for the safety of Europe, many losing their lives on the way. In this documentary, we follow Valerie Cox and her family as they travel to the Greek Island of Kos to help the refugees who arrive in their hundreds.
A profile of the racehorse trainer who died in 2010 following a career that spanned 52 years, told against the backdrop of relevant transformative events in Irish history. Mullins' first winner came in 1953, and his accomplishments included six Cheltenham Festival successes, four Irish National victories and 10 Irish jump trainers' titles.
Documentary in which Professor Declan Kiberd examines the role that artists and writers had in reinventing Ireland in the late 19th Century, and asks whether the Celtic Revival really was the spark that ignited the revolutionary flame.
Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Aidan Power and Des Cahill presenting the St Patrick's Day Festival parade as it rolls through Dublin. Those taking part will provide spectacular pageantry and colourful performances on the theme of Imagine If, inspired by the imagination of Ireland's youth as they look to the future, while music is provided by 14 bands from across the country.
Everyone has heard of the seven men who signed the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in Easter 1916. But we never hear about the women who were caught up in the extraordinary events of Easter week. Over two hundred women fought or served with the rebel forces. Most of them have been forgotten, and some were literally airbrushed out of history. But many of these females left vivid and evocative accounts of the conflict. So too did several of the civilian women who were caught in the crossfire. Produced by leading Irish TV history producer Tile Films, this documentary reveals the incredible stories of Seven Women of 1916. The documentary is presented by acclaimed Irish actress Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, The Butcher Boy), and features a stunning ensemble cast including Emma Lowe (Brooklyn, Fair City) as Constance Markievicz, Mary Ryan (Corp agus Anam, Breakfast on Pluto) as Mary McLaughlin and Nichola MacEvilly (The Bill) as Margaret Skinnider.
Presented by former British Defence Secretary Michael Portillo, The Enemy Files tells the story of the Easter Rising from the point of view of those who suppressed it - British spies, soldiers, politicians and bureaucrats. This is the view from the other side. Featuring interviews with a wide array of contributors including renowned journalist Robert Fisk, former British Minister of State for Security and Counter-terrorism Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones and former British Chief of the General Staff, General Lord Dannat, The Enemy Files explores hidden motives, withheld data and questionable interpretations of the facts.
Documentary exploring identity in Ireland today. Traveller and actor John Connors embarks on a personal journey to tackle the truth about the way he is seen by others.
Life in Ireland for people from a different ethnic background, including a Nigerian man who tells of the struggle between his Tallaght upbringing and his parents' expectation.
I am Irish is an engaging and visually arresting documentary that rips apart the meaning of Irish identity for young people living in Ireland in 2016.
The written words of people involved in the Easter Rising are brought back to life 100 years after they were written. Presented by Ryan Tubridy and filmed in the GPO.
Broadcaster Joe Duffy tells the story of the 1916 Easter Rising as seen from the perspective of the 40 children who lost their lives during the conflict.
A documentary following Ireland’s most famous drag queen and self-styled “accidental activist” as she becomes a figurehead in the fight for LGBT rights in Ireland and a vital part of the successful campaign for marriage equality. Panti: The Queen of Ireland PANDORA ‘PANTI’ BLISS is many things: part glamorous aunt, part Jessica Rabbit, she’s a wittily incisive performer with charisma to burn who is regarded as one of the best drag queens in the world. Created by Rory O’Neill, Panti is also an accidental activist and in her own words ‘a court jester, whose role is to say the un- sayable’. Over the last few years Rory has become a figurehead for LGBT rights in Ireland and since the recent scandal around Pantigate, his fight for equality and against homophobia has become recognised across the world. THE QUEEN OF IRELAND is a documentary film that follows Rory’s journey from the small Mayo town of Ballinrobe to striding the world stage. The film takes us behind the scenes with his alter ego Panti in the year she became the symbol of Ireland’s march towards marriage equality. Directed by Conor Horgan (One Hundred Mornings, Deep End Dance) and produced by Blinder Films (Citadel, One Hundred Mornings) the film builds build up a multi-faceted picture of a complex and compelling character through behind the scenes footage and interviews with friends, peers and protégés, including Bunny, Tonie Walsh, Shirley Temple Bar, Una Mullally, David Norris, the O’Neill family, the other half of CANDI PANTI, Angelo Pitillo, long time collaborators Niall Sweeney and Philip McMahon. The Queen of Ireland was co-funded by RTÉ.
Special live television event that tells the story of modern Ireland through music, dance and song. Artists include Imelda May, Jack L, Gavin James, The High Kings, Colm Wilkinson, Danny O'Reilly, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Sharon Shannon, Dónal Lunny, John Sheahan, Celine Byrne, and Seo Linn.
Using still images and film footage taken over thirty years ago photographer Joe St Leger tells the story of photographing the last of the hooker boatmen of Connemara. For centuries Galway hookers sailed the waters of Galway Bay transporting people, goods and animals and connecting remote coastal communities with the Aran Islands, Galway city and market towns like Kinvara. Transport and fishing once provided work for hundreds of these boats and their crews but by the 1960s their working days were coming to an end and many old boats were abandoned. In the 1980s attempts were made to revive interest in the craft starting with the annual Crinniú na mBád or Gathering of the Boats in Kinvara and to preserve for for future generations the skills needed to build and to sail them. This film uses photographs taken during the revival to document what remained of the Galway hookers and of the people and places associated with them.
Filmed over a year, Bypassed, a one hour documentary for RTÉ One tells the story of Ireland's first motorway - the M7 from Dublin to Limerick - and the towns and communities it has left in its wake.
An hour long documentary following the personnel of the 47th Infantry Group as they prepare for deployment overseas to serve with the United Nations’ peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
Catriona Crowe explores what was happening in the lives of Irish people in the years leading up to the Easter Rising, from the growing Catholic middle-classes to tenement dwellers.
With specially recorded performances and collaborations, an intimate portrait of one of Ireland’s most loved musicians, The Chieftain’s Paddy Moloney.
An intimate portrait of the artist, the man and his music.
Documentary film exploring the two decades that laid the stepping stones for the foundation of the Irish state and the claim to sovereignty.
Special one-hour documentary follows the O’Donovan brothers as they return to their parish of Lisheen and Skibbereen rowing club in the aftermath of their success.
A celebration of the larger-than-life and somewhat rebellious performer from the unique perspective of the so-called Man in Black's greatest songs. The film combines original interviews with his family and friends, and for the first time, Cash’s children, John Carter Cash and Rosanne Cash, along with June Carter’s daughter Carlene Carter, will appear together in a film about Johnny Cash. I Am Johnny Cash is built around 12 essential Johnny Cash tracks spanning four decades that each deliver the passion, musicality and messages against war, injustice, racism and prejudice, as told through interviews, archival concert footage, photographs and personal artifacts from the Cash family.
The Man on Bridge documentary tells the fascinating story of iconic Dublin street photographer Arthur Fields who took photographs on O’Connell Bridge from the 1930s to the 1980s.
A charming, funny and poignant film, Older than Ireland tells the story of a hundred years of a life as seen through the eyes of thirty Irish centenarians.
Why is it that St Patrick’s Day is the only national holiday that is celebrated in almost every country across the world? Why can Irish pubs be found from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe? It seems that nearly everybody on the planet has some sort of a connection to Ireland.
This drama documentary, set in Ireland, tells the true story of two remarkable women, Lady Mary Rosse and Mary Ward, who had a passion for science and technology, including photography, astronomy, microscopy, illustrations, architecture, all during a time (1850′s) when women were not admitted to universities. Through dramatizations and contributions from the Earl of Rosse, Brendan Parson and his wife Allison, together with several leading experts in science, literature, engineering, astronomy, photography and history, explore the fascinating achievements of these two pioneering women.
Anne-Marie Tomchak returns home to Ireland, determined to explore a world where our digital fingerprints are being captured and exploited in all areas of modern life.
On the first anniversary of the Referendum, The Story of Yes revisits the hopes, fears and ultimately celebration of a day when Ireland said yes to marriage equality.
Keelin Shanley explores the risks of having everything connected, as cyber criminals target personal banking and healthcare to national power grids and transport systems.
A landmark documentary which looks back at the poems that shaped us as a people and illustrates why poetry is so central to our culture. Using Michael Hartnett's quotation as a springboard, 'A Rebel Act' offers a whistle-stop tour through the last 1000 years of Ireland's history as captured by the words of its poets. From the bards to the newest young Irish voices we hear how Ireland's poets have, from the earliest times, captured the people's response to love, death, plantation, famine, rebellion, civil war, emigration, the Celtic Tiger and the crash. Each poem is an individual act of rebellion. This is not Rebel with a capital 'R' (though we will show that it can be and has been), but with a small, true, challenge-the-status-quo 'r'. Featuring contributions from poets, writers and historians, with performances by Irish people from all walks of life - from teachers and market-sellers to well-known actors and even former Presidents - this landmark documentary shows that poetry has teeth and can change the way we think, act and feel; it can entertain, sadden, gladden, provoke and disturb; that poetry is as important today as it always has been - if not more so. If there was an Olympics in poetry Ireland would be taking home the medals. 'A Rebel Act' illustrates why such a small nation sits at the top table in the poetry world.
An intimate and revealing portrait of Sir James Galway, regarded by many as the finest flautist of his generation.
Documentary focusing on the work of a group of five virtuoso musicians as they perform creative and innovative interpretations of traditional music.
This documentary tells the story of the evolution and development of landscape painting in Ireland.
A creative documentary on the ongoing collaboration between 3 of Ireland's most distinguished musicians - Peadar Ó Riada, Martin Hayes and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
In Ireland, “person” and “place” are inseparable. Sense of place has shaped the Irish literary imagination and Irish identity for some time. Fís na Fuiseoige explores the deep connection between people and place, as expressed in Irish language poetry and local lore. Filmed over a year, and using state-of-the-art aerial cinematography, the film is a stunning visual exploration of the diversity of local places in Ireland, as seen from a bird’s-eye view. This exploration is illuminated by the perspective of the country’s leading Irish language poets who have written about the importance of place.
The Various Voices international LGBT choral festival was held in Dublin last year, hosted by the city's lesbian and gay choir Glória. The festival includes a Eurovision extravaganza, with performances by Niamh Kavanagh, Linda Martin and Johnny Logan.
100 years on gives us the space to look back on the events of Easter 1916 with some perspective and this new 3-part series looks into those revolutionary days and the people who made history.
Lisa Hannigan is back at the Sounds From A Safe Harbor to give a unique performance alongside the prestigious RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Aaron Dessner of The National.
Actor Adrian Dunbar, long an admirer of Behan’s work and who has played Brendan on stage in New York, sets out on a journey to recover the man from the myth.
New production of Il barbiere di Siviglia from Dublin’s innovative opera company Wide Open Opera recorded at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin on April 23rd 2016 conducted by Fergus Sheil.
A feature length documentary which looks at movie-going in Ireland throughout the decades. Exploiting a treasure chest of hitherto undocumented or privately documented stories and adventures that have been stored inside heads or scribbled in yellowing notebooks and diaries across the country, the film examines specific periods of Irish history as related, through the prism of cinema, by ordinary and less ordinary people who lived and are living through them. Their testimony guides us through the years, providing insight, historical knowledge, funny anecdotes, local colour, and other comic or perhaps even tragic stories. Out of this emerges a truly nationally-shared experience of cinema-going as important to our common heritage as any of the other components of our culture.
Michael, they’ve shot them tells the powerful story of the impact of Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising in Australia. In the midst of WWI, the executions of the leaders of the 1916 Rising would influence the Cork born, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, to take a public stance against the question of conscription facing the Australian people. A bitter sectarian divide opened in Australian society, as an Irish-Australian Catholic force, which would shape the political and social trajectory of Australia, was forged.
Autism And Me is a revealing observational documentary that explores the autism spectrum through the experiences of a number of Irish children, teenagers and young adults. We hear directly from a range of diverse and engaging participants about what living with autism is like and about how they feel they are perceived by the rest of the world. Through a series of personal testimonies, we are afforded a rare opportunity to see life from the perspectives of those living with autism.
President Trump's campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigrants has created a climate of fear for the estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish people living in the United States of America. Many have lived there for decades. They have families, jobs, businesses and a lot to lose. They make up a small fraction of the total undocumented population of 11 million. But these 50,000 Irish, like the others, are stranded by the failure of immigration reform, and threatened by the policies brought in by the new administration. This documentary paints an intimate portrait of what it's like to be undocumented in Trump's America. With unprecedented access, six undocumented Irish living in New York City tell their stories about life and work in the Big Apple. Despite the risks, Irish people continue to travel to the US to live and work and pursue the American dream. Many live in the shadows today - unable to travel home or even get health insurance or a driver's licence. President Trump made immigration a central pillar of his campaign and has been quick to step up enforcement of immigration law. "I'm seeing stories that did occur in the early days of the undocumented Irish again, the raids, the knock on the door, waiting outside the workplace. I haven't seen those stories come through since the late 80. The fear is palpable and justfied" - Ray O'Hanlon, editor of the Irish Echo
Before their forthcoming performance in Croke Park, ‘U2 agus An Arc’ looks back at U2’s early years in the late 1970’s when the emerging Dublin band connected with a loyal audience at the thriving Downtown Kampus gigs, run by students in U.C.C. at the fabled Arcadia Ballroom in Cork. U2 at the time were a band still honing their craft and ‘The Arc’, as the venue was affectionately known in Cork, played an important role in the band’s development. Between 1978 and 1980, U2 played there about 10 times in all, building a loyal and enthusiastic following. ‘The Arc’ provided the band with the space to experiment with their music in front of an audience that welcomed difference and originality. The promoter of those Downtown Kampus gigs was Elvera Butler, the Entertainments Officer in UCC’s Students’ Union and, apart from U2, she also brought to ‘The Arc’ English bands like The Specials, UB40 and The Cure, to name but a few. Attendances of up to 2,000 were not uncommon and the venue also provided a platform for emerging local bands who supported the headline acts. ‘U2 agus An Arc’ looks back at this seminal period in U2’s development and the band’s links to the Arcadia in Cork. The documentary also remembers some of the other big nights there, as well as the burgeoning local music scene. ‘U2 agus An Arc’ is an Irish language documentary produced by ForeFront Productions for RTÉ.
Documentary following the construction of one of the world's most advanced telescopes on the grounds of Birr Castle. Once completed, it will be the most westerly part of a network stretching from Ireland to the town of Baldy in Poland, composed of six partner countries and 50 antenna stations spread across the continent. Presented by Jonathan McCrea.
Six acclaimed Irish poets bring some of the iconic people and places of 1916 to life to the backdrop of an exquisite score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire.
Neil Elworthy follows the journey of Irish craft beer from ground to glass.
Oliver Dunne explores the story of coffee.
The late Cathal O'Shannon's interview with the late famous boxer Muhammad Ali on the eve of his fight against Al 'Blue' Lewis in the ring at Croke Park.
This documentary tells the fascinating story of Henry McIlhenny, the American philanthropist with Ulster-Scots roots who bequeathed his County Donegal estate and historic castle to the Irish Republic.
Anne-Marie Tomchak explores how robots and artificial intelligence could be on course to transform the jobs market, render the skills of swathes of the population obsolete and utterly transform the way we work.
Dallas Campbell and Dr. Hannah Fry explore just what it takes to keep this city in the sky safe between take-off and landing. Dallas discovers just how pilots find their way across thousands of miles of sky in the dead of night. Hannah meets up with the air traffic controllers who are responsible for the busiest airspace in the world - over Atlanta in the southeastern United States.
‘Feats of Modest Valour’ intimately follows three people with Parkinson’s Disease, all longing for a remedy. Meanwhile in Galway, Dr Eilís Dowd and her team of scientists are developing a new medical device which could potentially cure the devastating disease. The film includes renowned Irish actor Tom Hickey who played Benji in The Riordans and who was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Abbey Theatre. Woven together with observation and animation, ‘Feats of Modest Valour’ invites you to witness the story of groundbreaking medical science and offers a contemplation of life and mortality.
This documentary brings to life the most terrifying night in pre-famine Irish history - 6th January 1839 - the night hurricane-force winds swept across Ireland bringing death, destruction and enduring fear of the power of nature.
The internationally-renowned Irish actor Gabriel Byrne explores the life, work and passions of George Bernard Shaw.
Anjelica Huston tells the story of the extraordinary life and work of writer James Joyce, regarded as one of the most influential and important authors of the 20th century.
A look at the making of the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's classic bittersweet Christmas love song. The documentary looks back at the making of the song in the company of singer Shane MacGowan, and other Pogues sharing their memories include Spider Stacy, Cait O'Riordan and Jem Finer. With contributions from Imelda May, Bob Geldof, Paul Simon and Christy Moore.
Documentary about the decision to hang portraits of women in the Royal Irish Academy for the first time in its 230-year history. The film follows award-winning artists Blaise Smith and Vera Klute, who have been challenged with making pictures that celebrate extraordinary women, past and present, from the world of science and humanities.
Nathan Carter goes on the trip of a lifetime to Nashville, Tennessee, immersing himself in the city's vibrant music scene and finding out why country music means so much to so many people.
Sinead Kennedy dusts off some clips from the RTÉ Christmas archive and fast forwards to where the stars are now. Including Imelda May's appearance on the Late Late Toy show.
The celebrated ensemble performs a special Christmas concert in Budapest in front of a live audience.
Set in Ireland in the early 1900s, Angela's Christmas is a funny, heart-warming and poignant story about the power of family and the innocent desire of a child to ensure everyone is safe, warm and loved at Christmas time.
Two-time Golden Globe and 22-time Grammy Award-winning U2 perform some of their biggest hits, alongside brand new tracks from their forthcoming album, Songs of Experience, as well as chatting about their lives to date at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Presented by Cat Deeley.
Intimate documentary about the incredible life story of one of Irelands greatest singer-songwriters, Christy Dignam.
Recorded in Austin’s historic Arlyn Studios, this very special show documents Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard's final moments together both in studio and on stage.
Documentary chronicling the life and times of Johannes Vermeer, one of the most loved, treasured and well-known artists of the 17th century.
A tribute to the Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan, who died in January at the age of 46.
Documentary exploring the National Gallery of Ireland, one of the country's most visited cultural attractions which re-opens after six years of refurbishment.
Storm Emma brought the nation to it’s knees. If the Irish snowmergency had a face, it was Met Eireann’s Evelyn Cusack. As a nation, we hung on her every word. But, throughout the week the storm catapulted many ordinary Irish people into the limelight for their fifteen minutes of fame. This documentary is about these people.
RTE's 'Jesus: Countdown to Calvary' is a landmark documentary, which uses the production values, narrative tools and pace of a political thriller to re-tell the story of the last six days of Jesus’ life. Jesus: Countdown to Calvary sets Hugh Bonneville’s energetic and insightful exploration of that tumultuous week against a pulsating countdown-style narrative. He discovers how a perfect storm of social, political and religious factors brought an itinerant Jewish healer and preacher into conflict with the most powerful forces in his world and led, in the space of just six days, to his death. Jesus: Countdown to Calvary is RTÉ’s first co-production with ARTE. It’s also RTÉ’s first co-production with American Public Television (APT). It will air this Easter Sunday in Ireland (RTÉ One) and also in France & Germany (ARTE), the USA & Canada (APT/PBS), Australia & New Zealand (ABC & History), Norway (NRK), Switzerland (RSI) and Denmark (DR).
Documentary about the declining numbers of Atlantic salmon, following the fish down rivers and into the ocean in the hope of finding the reasons for the falling population. Narrated by Gabriel Byrne.
Fact-based drama filmed in the style of the Irish comedian's BBC TV series, following Dave Allen from childhood to becoming one of the UK and Ireland's comedy greats, and exploring how his life and work was shaped by the tragic loss of his father, his brother and half of a finger.
Documentary exploring how former US president's John F Kennedy's world view was influenced by his younger years, when he endured poor health, family tragedy and a demanding father.
Documentary investigating scientific breakthroughs in research on Alzheimer's disease, which are bringing hope to millions of sufferers across the world.
A portrait of Joan Denise Moriarty, who fought to bring ballet to all corners of Ireland from the 1940s until her death in 1992.
A group of world-renowned scientists are on a quest to uncover the secrets of the most significant day in our planet's history - the event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Documentary in which underwater cameraman Ken O'Sullivan goes in search of the wildlife in Ireland's Atlantic waters, including whales and sharks.
The search for extraterrestrials is no longer sci-fi - it is a question engaging some of the greatest minds in science. This documentary gets inside the minds of scientists exploring the possibilities of what could be out there, including Professor Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, who thinks the common idea of organic aliens is all wrong.
Baz Ashmawy examines Ireland's relationship with gambling, talking to people whose lives have been affected by addiction to it, including Offaly footballer Niall McNamee.
At Lough Boora Bog in Co Offaly, Derek Mooney and Sinéad Kennedy examine the current uses of Irish bogs as well as their future potential in helping fight climate change.
Peter Barton examines the events of the First World War battle from German and British perspectives, revealing a story that contradicts much of the received wisdom. He begins by exploring the circumstances leading up to the start of the offensive and revealing the failures that resulted in more than 20,000 British deaths on the first day, and looks at how the Germans were able to use the landscape of the Somme to maximise enemy casualties.
The compelling story of Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume's pursuit of the political process in Northern Ireland and how he cultivated the support of a succession of US presidents to harness US support to forge peace in Ireland.
For the last six months RTÉ Investigates went undercover investigating the ever increasing problem of illegal dumping and how councils regulate and prosecute waste offenders.
Set in 16th-century Venice, the Bravo of the title is a tormented character who long ago killed his wife in a fit of jealousy; unjustly accused of plotting against the state, he has been forced by the Council of Ten to become their secret hired assassin, while his father is held hostage to compel his obedience.
Documentary following the two directors Graham McLaren and Neil Murray through their first year at the helm of the National Theatre.
The story of the Co Clare-born Irish-American engineer, the inventor of the modern submarine whose first working vessels were funded by Irish revolutionaries in the US.
In February 1943, Nobel Prize-winning physicis Erwin Schrödinger gave three public lectures entitled What Is Life? at Trinity College Dublin. As this documentary reveals, these lectures had a tremendous influence on the development of molecular biology.
A stand-up special with Des Bishop based on his Mom’s favourite expression “one day you’ll understand”. Turns out mothers are always right.
The year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Chester Beatty, who was responsible for amassing what has been called the finest private collection of manuscripts and books of the 20th century.
A profile of feminist and activist Maírín de Burca, following her from childhood in Chicago and her involvement in Sinn Féin at age 16, to her time in the Irish Women's Liberation Movement and the Dublin Housing Action Committee.
RTÉ lyric fm marks its 20th birthday in style with a powerhouse array of Irish talent in a glittering gala concert hosted by Aedín Gormley and Paul Herriott, celebrating what could well be the station's motto: the joy of music. RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / RTÉ Philharmonic Choir conductor Gavin Maloney Anne-Marie O’Farrell, Irish harp / Gavan Ring, baritone & Emma Nash, soprano Conductor Gavin Maloney Join with us as we celebrate our 20th birthday with a gala concert featuring the music of Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Rossini, John Williams, André Previn, Strauss and Archibald Potter. The tone of the concert – celebrating the joy of music – will be set by premiere of three new works by Irish composers who were awarded the prize in an open competition to write new music marking the 20th birthday of RTÉ lyric fm. Tyrone-born and Maynooth-based composer Ryan Molloy has written Gealán, a concerto for Irish harp and orchestra. Gealán's radiant and rich sound-world explores both the lyrical nature of the harp and its nimble energy, borrowing from syncopated reel rhythms to create a virtuosic work for harp that allows its soloist Anne-Marie O’Farrell to showcase her talents. Kate Neville’s setting of the Carrick-on-Suir poet Michael Coady’s poem Though there are torturers (...there is music) will be performed by the massed singers of the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir while Elliot Murphy’s new composition for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Cello Octet borrows from the Irish slow air tradition to create a captivating new work. MUSIC 1. Rossini: William Tell Overture 2. Katie Neville Though There Are Torturers 3. Tchaikovsky Kuda, kuda vï udalilis from Eugene Onegin (Gavan Ring, tenor) 4. Andre Previn I want magic from A Streetcar Named Desire (Emma Nash soprano) 5. Verdi Parigi O Cara from La Traviata 6. Ryan Molloy Concerto for Irish Harp and Orchestra (soloist Anne-Marie O’Farrell) 7. Elliot Murphy Cello Octet 8. Strauss: By the Beautiful Blue Da
Aine Lawlor and Marty Morrissey present the best of this year's festival and reveal the viewers' choice award winner for Super Garden 2019.
Aine Lawlor and Marty Morrissey present more amazing garden creations live from Bloom, and highlights from all the show stopping gardens featured at the festival.
A young Irish woman in Co Mayo played a critical role in the timing of the D-Day landings in World War II. Maureen Sweeney was 21 years old when she took weather readings at the remote Blacksod weather station in June 1944. Her data threw General Dwight D Eisenhower’s meticulously planned invasion strategy into chaos. It forced him to mediate between opposing US and UK weather advisors and Generals, and ultimately left him alone to make one of the most difficult decisions in the entire war. Completely unaware of the significance of her work, Maureen’s readings were the first to point out an impending storm which led to the postponement of the invasion. Her readings were subsequently first to pinpoint a short window of opportunity that Eisenhower needed to launch, thereby changing the path of the war. Now aged 96, Maureen tells her story
The life and work of psychiatrist Ivor Browne, who has been a central figure in Irish mental health for decades. With contributions by Tommy Tiernan, Tom Murphy and Mary Coughlan
RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives, goes behind the glitz and glamour of the public facade of greyhound racing to reveal serious animal welfare issues in an industry that costs the Irish taxpayer millions of euro every year.
Keepers of the Flame, the feature-length documentary from Emmy Award winner Nuala O’Connor, delves into the archives of the Irish Military Service Pensions. What emerges is a personal retelling of a brutal and divisive period in the birth of a nation and the devastating legacy it left in its wake, for the individuals who took part and their families who suffered long after the fighting ended.
Renowned broadcaster Olivia O’Leary journeys from Kerry to Glasnevin to Rome to chronicle the trailblazing life and the contemporary legacy of Daniel O’Connell – the man that King George IV of England grudgingly called ‘the uncrowned king of Ireland.’
Fr Patrick Peyton was a Mayo-born priest, who became an improbable media mogul and friend of the stars and an even more unlikely CIA secret agent during the Cold War. Now he's the subject of a remarkable new RTÉ documentary, Guns & Rosaries. Producer Peter Kelly reveals how, in order to bring that great, untold story to RTÉ One, he, too, had to recruit Hollywood A-listers and to mine a rich seam of archive. It’s not often that we set out to make a religious biographical film and find ourselves dealing with issues of Hollywood glamour, Irish American social mobility, geopolitics and the actions of the CIA during the Cold War. Yet this is the background story to the life and times of Fr Patrick Peyton.
Gerry Ryan's distinctive voice, infectious laugh and unforgettable character are forever missed by his loyal listeners since his passing 10 years ago. We get a unique insight into the legendary broadcaster, using unseen archive footage from Gerry’s life and many contributions from those close to him.
The story of how David Gray, a broke Welsh singer, made an album in his spare room that became the biggest selling of all time in Ireland.
The sequel to The Enemy Files: Easter 1916, this is the story of a guerrilla war as told in the testimonies of those who tried to suppress it. Presented by Michael Portillo, Hawks and Doves: The Crown and Ireland’s War of Independence draws on 'the enemy files’ to explore the point of view of the British politicians, officials, and generals tasked with suppressing the republican insurrection of 1919-21. From the earliest memoirs by Volunteer leaders such as Tom Barry – which depicted a heroic struggle in which guerrilla fighters prevailed against overwhelming odds – to the more even-handed histories of recent years, our understanding of the War of Independence is largely shaped by Irish perspectives. New sources, such as the Military Service Pension records, have reinforced the centrality of republican agency to our understanding of the conflict, with study after study reconstructing the IRA’s campaign in almost every Irish county. But what happens if we reverse this perspective?
In March 2010, two American women, including one who named herself ‘Jihad Jane’, were arrested in a number of high-profile arrests in Waterford, Ireland, which were trumpeted by the US attorney’s office as ‘the new face of terrorism’. Facing huge jail sentences, the two women pleaded guilty but now for the first time ever, with unprecedented access, Jihad Jane tells the story of the most absurd terror cell ever to come together.
Details the British government's role in the murder of over 120 civilians in counties Armagh and Tyrone. The so-called Glenanne Gang rampaged through those two counties, and across the Republic Of Ireland in a campaign that lasted from July 1972 to the end of 1978. The British government knew that collusion was going on and condoned it. The suffering of victims and survivors is today compounded by the refusal of both the Irish and British governments in dealing with the past by facing up to their responsibilities in pursuing truth and justice for those affected. The film hopes to redress an imbalance within public discourse while also offering a contextual appreciation of these tragic events from the perspectives of the families themselves, an important procedure not adequately afforded by institutional broadcasters in cases of state violence.
On the afternoon of the November 21st 1920, a combined police and military force, with orders to carry out a search operation, descended on Croke Park, Dublin, where a Gaelic football game between Tipperary and Dublin was taking place. What unfolded there was a massacre that changed Irish history. Ninety seconds of shooting claimed 14 lives. For nearly a century, the full story of what happened on Bloody Sunday was locked away; the story of the Croke Park victims was lost. This documentary, based on the award-winning book, ‘The Bloodied Field’, by Michael Foley, lifts the veil on that story, recounting the events of one of the darkest days of the Irish War of Independence from the perspective of those who participated and perished in its horror. Featuring contributions from family members of those who died on the field, as well as leading historians and academics, this programme recounts the dramatic events of a vicious day, and places them within a wider context of national identity and cultural history. It also explores our relationship to myth, collective memory and commemoration. Broadcast on the week when the centenary of Bloody Sunday will be marked at Croke Park and elsewhere, the documentary brings to life one fateful day during a complex tit-for-tat war in which spies, informers and agents were commonplace.
In 1845, a potato blight arrived in Ireland that would lead to the deaths of over a million people and the emigration of even more. This major new documentary tells the story of the Famine and its consequences in Ireland.
Baz Ashmawy makes the trip to Kerry in the aftermath of Fungie the Dingle Dolphin’s disappearance to explore the magic and the mystery of the cheeky, solitary, wild dolphin who made Dingle Bay his home for 37 years.
John B Keane's son, broadcaster and writer, Billy Keane, goes in search of the truth behind the murder that inspired his father's most famous work. Billy explores the story behind The Field and looks at its progression from real murder to theatre to film.
Documentary telling the story of Johnny Cash’s 1963 Irish tour and his relationship with Ireland, with unique archive and first hand accounts of a troubled time in Johnny Cash’s life. Featuring Irish people who saw him up close and personal in rural venues around the country.
RTE Investigates follows the lives of rough sleepers and homeless hostel users, examining the challenges they face and the difficulties in getting off the streets.
In 1969, tensions that had been bubbling in Northern Ireland erupted in a conflict between Catholics and Protestants during the Apprentice Boys Parade, in Derry. The parade marked a Protestant victory over Catholic attackers in 1689. The violence which ensued soon became known as the Battle of the Bogside. But when word of the three day long battle reached the Irish Republic, the government under Taoiseach Jack Lynch decided to intervene. GunPlot examines the tumultuous 16 months which followed, culminating in the dismissal of ministers Neil Blaney and Charles J. Haughey who were accused of illegal attempts to bring arms into the Republic to give to Catholics in the North to defend themselves against rising violence.
Ardal O'Hanlon explores the reasons behind Irish people's colourful vocabulary. Is swearing a sign of intelligence? Do Irish people swear more than other nationalities? What is happening in our brains when we swear? And how does our history, our religion and our culture continue to shape the words we use?
t’s been 30 years since the world was introduced to the Dublin suburb of Barrytown. The film version of The Commitments became a global phenomenon, not only because of the music, but because of the connection it made with people who’d never even heard of the Northside, let alone Barrytown. This fictional suburb and its characters were a microcosm – not only of Dublin or Ireland at that time, but of ordinary lives: their dreams and ambitions, their triumphs and failures – all of it documented in Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments, The Snapper, and The Van.
Partition, 1921, tells the story of how Ireland came to be to be partitioned from the perspective of the British and unionist politicians who divided Ireland. The memory of partition, as Fearghal McGarry of Queen's University Belfast explains, has continued to trouble Ireland over the past century.
Sold - The Eircom Shares Saga is a cautionary and timely tale of how the hope and enthusiasm of the Telecom Éireann flotation in 1999 ended in disaster, piles of debt, and losses for the average citizens who dipped their toes into the stock market. It’s a story given contemporary relevance by the emergence of the National Broadband Strategy and all of its attendant frustrations. The documentary is an ensemble piece featuring characters from every walk of Irish life who all shared in what ultimately proved to be a collective economic folly in the summer of 1999, one with far reaching consequences for the state of telecommunications in Ireland in the twenty first century.
Featuring unseen interviews from before his death, the extraordinary story of the racehorse owner and punter, Barney Curley - from his tough origins as a Catholic in Fermanagh, through his audacious betting coups and his charitable decision to “give a little back” by donating all of his winnings to charity and die penniless. “It was never about the money, it was all for the challenge” On 26 June 1975, an obscure racecourse in Ireland became the setting for an astonishing gambling coup that would go down in history and establish its orchestrator as one of the sport’s most feared and enigmatic characters. An unfancied horse called Yellow Sam romped home at 20-1 but, at the track that day, few even knew what had really happened, nor was anyone aware of the origins of the drama or its true motives, buried as they were in decades of Northern Irish history. With exclusive access to the fascinating character who pulled off one of the most well-orchestrated and audacious gambles in sporting history, this film will be driven by a heist-like narrative arc and tell the story of a man driven by extraordinary times to do incredible things. The film will also explore the illuminating origins of the risk-taker in question and place him in the context of the history of the people of his region. That man was Barney Curley and he was a product of Northern Ireland.
Steps of Freedom is no normal documentary: it is a social history of Ireland told through dance; it is a revelatory experience that reveals ephemeral aspects of the Irish character; and it is an entertainment show featuring stunning performances by some of the very best dancers of the day.
How Ireland Rocked the 70s looks at the evolution of the festival circuit in Ireland during the 1970s, a decade in which rock music – national and international – began to take real root here. Against a back-drop of political instability, the greater penetration of popular culture into Ireland saw, by the end of the 1970s, the development of an nascent national scene and the emergence of a golden generation of local bands primed for export.
Documentary telling the story of how the journalist went from a small town in Co Kerry to become a household name at CNN after his reporting on the attack on the US Capitol
A report on a scam involving an Irish businesswoman well known in sporting circles, with the aim of defrauding homeowners around Ireland out of hundreds of thousands of euros.
Broadcaster and gay activist Bill Hughes documents his friendship with the radio and TV star, Vincent Hanley, revealing the story of his life and his death from an AIDS-related illness in 1987.
The story of Marian Finucane’s life and career as recounted by John Clarke, her husband and confidant. Raw and eloquent, Clarke takes us behind her public persona, painting an intimate portrait of their 40-year life together.
Filmed over eight years, this observational documentary explores the world of nonverbal autistic writer and poet, Fiacre Ryan from Castlebar. It is a coming of age story scripted by Fiacre himself.
The rise of German supermarkets in Ireland, going behind the scenes with staff at Lidl stores on Moore Street in Dublin and in Tipperary Town as they worked during the pandemic.
Documentary following the veteran journalist and his wife Claire as they dealt with the implications of his diagnosis with motor neurone disease in October 2021.
The nation’s favourite mother and son made this programme in January 2020 pre pandemic exploring the morbid but also strangely uplifting business of editing your life’s final chapter. An entertaining sideways glance into the one inevitability for all of us (besides taxes) – delivered in a candid style with heartwarming & heartbreaking moments by the mother and son.
Former State Pathologist, Dr. Marie Cassidy leads a brand new investigation into the killing of revolutionary, soldier and politician Michael Collins in August 1922, an event that ignited acrimonious arguments that have endured ever since.
Ardal O’Hanlon - Tomb Raider explores a 1930s quest to find the First Irish men and women using archaeology, and answers Ardal’s deepest questions about what it means to be Irish.
Two decades after Ireland's organ retention scandal, Aoife Hegarty reports on failings in the post-mortem process for bereaved parents
This documentary looks at the big live outdoor music shows held in Ireland during the 1980s, from Siamsa Cois Laoí through Slane, Self Aid and U2 at Croke Park to Féile 1990.
Featuring interviews with writers and scholars including Eimear McBride, Paul Muldoon, John McCourt and Margaret O Callaghan, illuminative archive film and photographs, newly commissioned art works by Jess Tobin, Brian Lalor and Holly Pereira and a beautiful original score by Natasa Paulberg, 100 Years of Ulysses promises to brings viewers on an enlightening journey into the heart of one of the most inspiring and influential novels and reveals how it remains as relevant today as it ever was.
As Ireland celebrates its first public holiday dedicated to a woman, Siobhán McSweeney, of Derry Girls’ fame, goes in search of the real St. Brigid.
Michael Portillo explores the UK's role in the conflict, looking at secret military reports, cabinet memos, private correspondence and diaries that reveal a Faustian pact.
Two months before his death, the central figure of "The Guildford Four" Gerry Conlon recounts his remarkable life, from being falsely imprisoned to world-famous human rights activist.
Seamus Murphy's curious camera roams the deep terrain of cult Irish writer Pat Ingoldsby's unique world and his relationship with his beloved Dublin.
A one-hour documentary for RTÉ One, made in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland for Science Week 2023. This documentary sees journalist Anne-Marie Tomchak take a look at how this technology is transforming human experience and how we need to adapt to cope with AI’s increasing power and influence on our lives. Demonstrating how AI can be used for good, Professors Patricia Maguire and Fionnuala Ní Áinle showcase their maternity project AI_PREMie, which will help save the lives of mothers and their babies.
The story of how one man’s abduction from his Belfast home in December 1973 resulted in decades of mental and emotional trauma for generations of his family, with tragic consequences. Face Down follows the last remaining relatives of Thomas Neidermayer, granddaughters Tanya and Rachel, as they uncover the shocking truth behind the tragic events of 50 years ago that still haunt their family to this day. Thomas Niedermayer was a German-born businessman who, with his wife Ingeborg and two young daughters Gabriele and Renate, made Belfast their home in 1960. But in 1973 the IRA kidnapped Thomas; the plan was reportedly to exchange his release for the transfer of Republican prisoners Dolours and Marian Price from jail in England to one in Northern Ireland. Within days of his kidnap Thomas was dead – understood to have been killed by the IRA when he tried to escape. They secretly buried his body and denied any involvement. The mental and emotional turmoil for his wife Ingeborg, and daughters
Exploring Sean's collection of 23,000 photographs, examining some of the images as artifacts in a historical context and discussing the highlights of his collection. He explains how he has been promoting female photographers over the years, such as reuniting the 19th century photographer Lady Augusta Crofton's albums over the decades.
For years, Ulster and Ireland rugby star Andrew Trimble, pulled on the green jersey of Ireland and the red and white of Ulster with equal pride and passion, and no sense of conflict. In a new documentary, he explores his Ulster-Scots roots and asks whether and how it's possible for different cultures, traditions, loyalties and identities to co-exist peacefully on this island, as they always have in his life.
Architect Róisín Murphy dives into the fascinating world of online marketplaces, where you can buy, sell or get rid of just about anything.
Sarah McInerney, Dáithí O'Sé and Emer O'Neill are joined by reporter Thomas Crosse to present live coverage of the national St. Patrick's Day Parade on the streets of Dublin. This year’s theme is Spréach, the Irish word for Spark. Plus performances by big bands, including the University of Missouri's marching band and the Western Carolina University's musicians.
