Synopsis
Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland. With over 1,500 documentaries on offer, the Documentary On One has the largest archive of documentaries available globally. These productions are radio stories about real life and contain documentaries dating as far back as 1954, right up to the present day. A wealth of life, ideas and experiences are on offer - but most importantly - stories. Winner of over 150 national and international awards since 2008, why not immerse yourself in a world of sound, story and character.
Episodes
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Runaway Joe: 02 - June and Joe
26/01/2024 Duration: 32minA new 9-part true crime series from RTÉ Documentary On One. To get free early access to next episodes (one week in advance of here) please subscribe to 'Runaway Joe' from wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes released each Friday.Ep2: We travel to Rochester, New York, back to the beginning, to find out where this story really starts. What we find is a young girl who grew into a woman, living her dream and looking for true love. And a young boy who liked to talk with an Irish accent who grew into a man but never really grew up. Love blossomed between them. But then control kicked in. And what began as a whirlwind love story spirals into a hellish nightmare. This was never going to end well. (Ep 2/9) Credits: Runaway Joe is written, reported and produced by Pavel Barter and Tim Desmond. Research by Nicoline Greer. Original music soundtrack by Martin Klusák and Tomáš Borl. Sound designer is Peadar Carney and the executive producer is Liam O'Brien. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Promo Producer is
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Runaway Joe: 01 - A Question of Identity
19/01/2024 Duration: 29minA new 9-part true crime series from RTÉ Documentary On One. To get free early access to next episodes (one week in advance of here) please subscribe to 'Runaway Joe' from wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes released each Friday.EP1: It's 1985 and a country estate owner and movie industry worker in Ireland finds himself up before a Dublin court facing an extradition trial. His wife pleads his innocence. He tells the judge - and anyone who'll listen - "you have the wrong man". None of this story makes sense. Apart from his fingerprints. Fingerprints don't lie. Has his true identity finally been rumbled? The real question is - how did he end up here? (Ep 1/9)Credits: Runaway Joe is written, reported and produced by Pavel Barter and Tim Desmond. Research by Nicoline Greer. Original music soundtrack by Martin Klusák and Tomáš Borl. Sound designer is Peadar Carney and the executive producer is Liam O'Brien. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. Promo Producer is Damien Reid. Marketing by Roísín Clune an
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Fire In The Sky
05/01/2024 Duration: 42minOn January 8th 1979, 50 people were killed when a massive Oil Tanker the 'Betelgeuse' exploded at Whiddy Island, West Cork. With families of those who lost their lives about to launch High Court proceedings, as they seek a State apology, we go behind the scenes to find out what really happened that night. Meeting with those involved, those who witnessed the event and those who were left behind, we piece together the story of the night of one of Ireland's worst ever disasters. (2021) Narrated by Donal O'Herlihy and produced by Michael Lawless & Donal O'Herlihy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Runaway Joe
31/12/2023 Duration: 03minNEW SERIES: To get early access, subscribe to 'Runaway Joe' from wherever you get your podcasts. IN 1967, an Irish-American escaped custody on a charge of murdering his wife in upstate New York. Almost 60 years later, Joseph “Joe” Maloney remains one of the oldest unsolved cases in the FBI’s books. Joe lived large in Ireland for 20 years, before escaping again. Can he finally be found? We believe we’ve come closer than anyone – even the FBI – to discovering what happened him… A new multi-episodic series from RTÉ Documentary On One in Ireland. Starts January 19th 2024. Credits: Runaway Joe is written, reported and produced by Pavel Barter and Tim Desmond. Research by Nicoline Greer. Original music soundtrack by Martin Klusák and Tomáš Borl. Sound designer is Peadar Kearney and the executive producer is Liam O’Brien. Marketing is by Roisin Clune and Hilary O'Callaghan. Press and Publicity by Jilly McDonough. The designer is Loren Gibbon. Social Media by Bree Tracey. Audio Product Support by Nigel Wheatley.See o
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The Green Fields of France
29/12/2023 Duration: 57minGerry Kelly goes on a personal journey to discover the story behind his favourite song. Made famous by the Irish folk group, The Fureys, and recorded by a host of musicians down the years, The Green Fields of France is also known as No Man's Land or Willie McBride. In this documentary first broadcast on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, Gerry travels to France and comes face to face with the scenes that inspired the song's writer, Eric Bogle, in a moving attempt both to understand more about World War One and to discover who, if anyone, was the real Willie McBride. (A BBC Radio Ulster Production. First published 2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Frank Stagg's Three Funerals
15/12/2023 Duration: 40minWhen Frank Stagg died he had three funerals, not only that, he had two graves and three headstones. That's because when Frank Stagg, a Republican hunger striker, died in prison in Britain 1976 there was a sort of tug of war over his body between the Irish Government and supporters of the Provisional IRA. But why? And where was Frank Stagg's final resting place? Produced by Liamy MacNally with Ronan Kelly (First Broadcast 2017)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Common Thread
08/12/2023 Duration: 39minThe Bra turns 100 this year. From the Backless to the Bullet, the Demi-cup to the Push-up, the brassiere has evolved from a simple breast support to a symbol of desire. We unclasp the story of the bra in Ireland, and caress our way through its history. (2018)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Did Michael Keogh Save Hitler?
01/12/2023 Duration: 39minIrish man Michael Keogh claims to have saved Hitler's life before he became 'Führer'. Could this be true? Could a Carlow man, who left home at 16 and lived a life of pseudonyms, disguise, conspiracy and war have had such an impact on modern history?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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A Song For Kathleen
24/11/2023 Duration: 39minThe story of 87-year-old Kathleen Tierney who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but finds her spirit lifted and her health improve when she joins ‘The Forget Me Nots’ - a choir welcoming those affected by dementia and memory loss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Los Preciosos
17/11/2023 Duration: 38minA beautiful story of adoption from rural East Cork. Two children from Guatemala, Jacobo aged 4 and Natalie aged 5. Their father, Vittorio, is Italian. Their mother, Jools, is English. A family from three countries - making their home in a fourth, Ireland. Compiled, written and narrated by Jools Gilson. Produced by Liam O'Brien. This documentary was a Gold Medal Winner at the 2011 New York Festival. (2010)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Fear and Mistrust
28/10/2023 Duration: 39minWhat happens when people stop having trust in the system? Two people who lost faith in the things they previously believed are Phil and Jean. Phil is a former conspiracy theorist. He spent over a year believing things like that 9/11 were a hoax. Jean used to get all her news from traditional sources. During Covid, Jean lost faith in this, and she turned to online alternative sources for information that resonated with her. We track the increase in people losing trust in media and governments from the time of the Blueshirts up to today, and look at the real world impacts this change is having. (2023) Produced by Fergal Gallagher and Nicoline Greer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Skyhope
20/10/2023 Duration: 43minIn 1977, a giant ship named Skyhope paid a visit to the west Kerry village of Baile na nGall or Ballydavid. The ship was calling into the village on the promise of a few pints having helped out some local fishermen. Their overnight stay turned into a week-long stay which brought great crowds to the village and fantastic exotic fun. But ultimately, the visit took a turn for the worst, resulting in an incident no one could have imagined... Narrated by Sinéad Ní Uallacháin. Produced by Ronan Kelly. (2023)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Missing Gerard
06/10/2023 Duration: 41minIrish man Gerard Mooney vanished near his home in Sydney, Australia in 1996. Despite extensive searches, a major investigation by Police and television appeals, the only trace of him found was his racing bike. 27 years on, Gerard’s sister Rita believes an answer to this mystery can be found. She submits her DNA to be checked against unidentified remains found in Australia but believes the answer to her brother’s disappearance lies with those who lived in the Sydney neighbourhood of Marickville at the time. ( 2023) Produced by Tim DesmondSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Lost Mountaineers
29/09/2023 Duration: 39minWhy climb Mount Everest? " Because it's there". The words of explorer George Mallory in New York in 1922. But was he the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? Unique diaries from Mallory’s mission, written by Irishman Richard Hingston, may just shed some new light on this question (2023) Narrated by Marc McMenamin. Produced by Marc McMenamin and Donal O'HerlihySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Feminist Dress
22/09/2023 Duration: 40minIn 1972, Maura O'Reilly walked up the aisle wearing a wedding-dress her mother had made for her. It was white, lace crochet, with a high neck and bell sleeves. 50 years later, her niece walked up the aisle wearing the same dress – unaltered. In between, 8 other brides of the O’Reilly family have worn the same dress at their weddings in Cavan and Italy. This is the story of an incredible wedding dress and the 10 women who've worn it. (2023) Produced by Ronan KellySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Act 5, Scene 2
15/09/2023 Duration: 41minTen years ago, actor Conor Madden was stabbed in the eye, on stage in front of an audience of hundreds. He was playing the part of Hamlet when a fight scene went badly wrong. When he fell to the ground, the audience thought it was part of the show – but the accident changed Conor’s life completely. (2023) Narrated by Michael-David McKernan. Produced by Michael-David McKernan and Nicoline Greer. Photo credit to Anthony Woods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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A Dark Night In Foxford
01/09/2023 Duration: 45minThe Irish Civil War was shrouded in silence for decades. In one of the last atrocities of the war, we tell the story of Maggie Doherty and through her witness testimony explore the rarely discussed aspect of sexual violence in the Irish Civil War. (2023) Contributors incl Edel Doherty, Professor Linda Connolly, Frank Fagan and Tom Doherty. (2023) Produced by Orla Higgins and Sarah Blake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What If She's Prettier Than Me?
25/08/2023 Duration: 43minWould you bring a third person into your relationship? Polyamorists do. They say having other romances actually strengthens their main relationship. But there are risks…and jealousies. And, practicalities: How to schedule your dates? Who minds the kids? (2023) Credits: Produced by Mary-Elaine Tynan and Ronan Kelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths in Ireland, Nov '84
18/08/2023 Duration: 42min1984 was a defining year in the history of the Irish Troubles. On the 12th October the IRA bombed the Brighton Hotel narrowly missing the British Prime Minister. Meanwhile a Manchester band called The Smiths were stunning the world with a unique sound. They played community centres around Ireland and a music band became part of a political storm. (2023) Credits: Narrated by David Coughlan. Produced by David Coughlan and Donal O'Herlihy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Finding Samantha: 07 – Who is Samantha?
09/06/2023 Duration: 38minThe cycle of Samantha offending, being jailed, then released and re-offending seems never ending. So as we reach the conclusion of our series, and in an attempt to understand just what exactly is going on for Samantha and how her behaviour might be understood, and treated, we make an application to the courts in search of answers. (Ep 7/7) Credits: Finding Samantha is written, recorded and produced by Sharon Davis in Australia and Tim Desmond and Nicoline Greer in Ireland. Soundtrack composed by Paddy Flynn with title song sung by Amelie Flynn and Mary Claire Woolley. Sound Engineer is Damian Chennells. Executive Producer is Liam O’Brien. If you have any further tips on this story email documentaries@rte.ie For further information on the series visit www.rte.ie/findingsamanthaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.