Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

Brendan Behan is one of Ireland's greatest writers. Some of his most important work was influenced by time he spent in Paris just after World War II where he mixed with some of the most important writers of the 20th century. In an interview never previously broadcast, Behan reveals the influence Paris had on him as a writer. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Set in South Galway against the backdrop of one of the bloodiest months of the Irish War of Independence, th dramatic story the short life and tragic death of 24-year-old Eileen Quinn who was shot by uniformed men outside her home in 1920. Almost 100 years later Eileen’s grand-niece pieces together events from that fateful day (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of how a little bull from the west of Ireland made national & international headlines which soon became an online viral sensation. In 2014 Joe Kelly, a farmer in county Mayo bought Benjy the bull to breed with his herd of cows but Benjy had no interest with the cows and soon found himself in danger of life at the slaughterhouse. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy Herron’s grandad was one of the most famous people in Ireland. He was Elephant-keeper at Dublin Zoo and entertained crowds with Sarah the elephant. Amy Herron finds out about the fun side of her grandad’s work but also learns about the treatment of elephants then that would not be tolerated now. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tess Murray never forgot her first love. She was a young teacher, engaged to Thomas McEver, a chemist who had moved to Dunmore Co. Galway as the Irish War of Independence was drawing to a close in the spring of 1921. But fate took a tragic turn one night when Thomas was abducted, brutally murdered and accused of being a spy. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In August 1979, a massive Atlantic storm turned the Fastnet Yacht Race into the greatest yacht-racing disaster ever witnessed. In spite of the biggest peacetime rescue effort at sea, 21 people died, boats were dismasted, abandoned or sunk as the race became a fight to stay alive. On one of those boats was teenager John O'Donnell. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Nan Delaney, from Co. Laois, died, her six children came across a small wooden box that she had kept private all her life. When they opened it, they discovered evidence of a time, in their family, when things were extremely stressful and frightening. In this documentary, the children recall that period with tears and laughter. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the near-unbelievable story of a man who, in the 1950s, tried to purchase the six counties of Northern Ireland and gift them to the Republic of Ireland. In 1914, West Limerick man John J Hanley left for New York to gentrify his persona into the 'Baron of Broadway'. He became hugely rich and focused on Irish reunification (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Irish soccer team’s 1982 tour of South America during the Falklands War was a farcical episode in Irish sport. 4 games, 3 defeats, 2 cancellations. But how did half the squad end up being detained by armed police? And how did a carpet salesman from Limerick end up sitting in the cigarette smoke and samba of Brazil’s 1982 World Cup Squad? (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1976 the Cork to Dublin mail train was robbed of £200,000. Cormac Breatnach’s brother Osgur was arrested for it, confessed and was jailed for 12 years. But there was a catch. He didn’t do it. The devastation of the injustice was enormous as Osgur’s family tried to come to terms with what had happened. Cormac turned to music. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Randolph came to Ireland to play Basketball in the 1980s. While most of his fellow American players went back home, Ed met Ann, settled down and had a family in Bray. He made a sporting life coaching and playing the game he loves well into middle age. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Carlo Gébler, son of award-winning Irish writer Edna O’Brien, spent three decades teaching creative writing within the Northern Ireland prison system. Carlo was told that his job was not to teach, but to be a human being. Returning to Magilligan Prison, Carlo asks if he made any real difference to the prisoners he taught (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1985, an unnamed female Garda was threatened with dismissal from An Garda Síochána. Following an internal Garda investigation, she was charged with having pre-marital sex with another Recruit Garda, and for having given birth to a baby outside of marraige. Majella Moynihan has remained silent for the past 34 years - until now. (2019)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the mid 1990s, Singer and Songwriter Jeff Buckley was set to become as big as Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen. But he died tragically aged just 30. With over 4 million record sales to his name, Jeff remains a huge musical figure across the world. In 2016, Journalist Steve Cummins explored Jeff Buckley’s connections to Ireland. (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a group of people arrived on Achill Island in May, 1951 nobody foresaw that only two of them would leave alive. The film they had arrived to make – “Shark Island” - would end in tragedy. Actor Claire Mullen was in that film and returns to Achill to finally try to achieve closure on what was one of the worst film accidents in history. (2017)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1980's, Kildare man Michael Row was amongst the quickest drivers in the world. Destined to become a global household name, the biggest teams in Formula 1 scrambled for his signature. However, a critical decision sent Michael down a different road. But now he's back, helping his newphew James Roe Jr follow in his footsteps. (2018)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A radio documentary about how Dubliner John Curran's fascination with best selling novelist Agatha Christie has changed his life and brought a new Hercule Poirot story to the world for the first time in 30 years. (2010)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past decade Ireland has endured some extreme weather cycles from heavy snow to summer heat waves. There is an argument that these events are influenced by what's happening with the Greenland Ice Sheet. Each year the ice sheet is covered in new snow but recently more ice is melting than snow falling. Liam O'Brien visits to learn more.(2018)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young girls throughout Africa, Asia and the Middle East are subject to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) each year. A procedure where the genitals of young girls are deliberately cut for religious and social reasons. Journalist MIchael O'Kane meets women trying to end this practice which is seen as normal tradition within some cultures. (2018)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1980's, Kildare man Michael Roe was amongst the quickest drivers in the world. Destined to become a global household name, the biggest teams in Formula 1 scrambled for his signature. However, a critical decision sent Michael down a different road. But now he's back, helping his nephew James Roe Jr follw in his footsteps. (2018)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.