Hard-hitting documentaries that make a difference, heart-warming stories that celebrate who we are, popular series featuring expert advice for how we live  

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RTÉ today (Sunday 22 August) unveiled a wide range of factual content for all interests this season. From hard-hitting documentaries, lifting the lid on some difficult realities both past and present, to series that celebrate and remember who and what we  love, with lighter viewing to inspire  and entertain, RTÉ’s factual offering across television, radio, and online, promises to be, as always, true to life.

RTÉ’s Group Head of Factual Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig said: ‘This may be our most exciting Factual line-up to date. Despite an incredibly challenging year for production, the teams internally in RTÉ and at the many independent companies we work with, have truly excelled and delivered a wonderful selection of documentaries and factual programming for the new season.

There are so many highlights for viewers: from Conor Ferguson’s beautiful tribute to his much-missed wife Keelin Shanley, to Nuala Cunningham and Gerry Gregg’s landmark documentary series on the Magdalene Laundries, Ireland’s Dirty Laundry. Our documentary line up is also full of one-off gems: from the charm of Alex Fegan’s The Irish Wedding to Ken Wardrop’s Cocooned, which charts the experiences of Ireland’s over-70s as they navigate their way through the pandemic.   

This season will also see more documentary series in the schedule than ever before, with series  like Quinn Country, which charts the rise and fall of entrepreneur Sean Quinn and Crimes and Confessions, which re-examines some of the cases investigated by the murder squad in the 1970s. On RTÉ Radio 1, the new season of Documentary on One continues with its usual selection of must-listen stories. We’re very grateful to the producers who have worked tirelessly to deliver this great range of programmes and look forward to bringing them to our audiences – on radio and television – to enjoy over the coming months.’

Shining a light into the darkest places, RTÉ’s documentary series have tough questions to ask and fresh insights to offer, across subjects including crime, social issues, history, politics, religion, science and climate change. Highlights include:

• Ireland’s Dirty Laundry Built on the testimony of those who worked in Ireland’s notorious Magdalene Laundries, this documentary series tells the shocking story of a shameful system, created by the Irish State and supported by all levels of Irish society. This landmark series bear witness to the women’s experiences in their own words.

• Quinn Country is the story of a man who personified Ireland’s boom and subsequently, its bust. Reflecting on his remarkable rise and fall, in this three-part series, the words of Ireland’s former richest man – once worth five billion euro – reverberate around his 15,000 square foot house, “I made mistakes. The biggest was to invest in a bank”.

• The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy In 1985, a priest is found dead in a couple’s bedroom after a society wedding at their large country home. In this two-part series, we follow Fr. Niall’s nephews as they revisit the events that lead to Fr. Niall being killed in Richard and Teresa Flynn’s bedroom that night and re-examine some of the evidence.

• The Missing Children Focusing on the Tuam home where 796 babies are believed to have been buried in a sewage tank, The Missing Children will tell the powerful story of survivors and families uncovering the truth, in what Taoiseach Michael Martin called a ‘dark, difficult, and shameful  chapter’ of Irish history. Hundreds of children died of neglect or were forcibly adopted, from the notorious institution.

• Crimes and Confessions This groundbreaking three-part true crime series delves into the world of criminal investigation and how some detectives within An Garda Siochana in the 1970s and 80s solved crimes.

• Cold Case Collins A specially-assembled team, including Dr. Marie Cassidy, and also featuring a cast of detectives, forensic scientists, historians and psychologists, re-opens the investigation into Irish history’s most contested killing: that of Michael Collins at Beál na Bláth, County Cork, in August, 1922.

• The Great Eircom Bust-out The scarcely believable story of how the hope and enthusiasm that followed the floatation of Telecom Éireann in 1999 ended in disaster, debt and losses for those citizens of Ireland who dipped their toes into the Stock Market.

• The Case I Can’t Forget The hit true crime format returns for a second series with first-hand accounts from detectives who worked on some of Ireland’s toughest cases, to reveal not just the story of a crime, but the dedication necessary to solve one. Included this season is the story of the murder of Rachel O’Reilly.

• The Bad Bank Two-part series examining the National Asset Management Agency, featuring interviews with the decision makers, supporters and detractors and those most impacted by their decisions.

• With God on our Side Marking the centenary of Partition, Mary McAleese examines the role religion played in causing and resolving conflict in Northern Ireland and the role it might yet play, if any, in fostering peace in a more secular and diverse post-Brexit society.

• The Irish Civil War Major new series from by the multi-awarding winning team behind the Great Hunger and the Irish Revolution. The Irish Civil War will tell the story of the civil war that raged through Ireland in 1922 and 1923 while also revealing an in-depth analysis of its root causes and origins, its political and social complexities and its wide ranging and long-lasting legacy.

• Father of the Cyborgs A study of the work of Limerick-born neurologist and brain surgeon Professor Philip Kennedy, whose controversial work in the US is based on the interface between the human brain and computers. And, who has recently implanted his own brain with a micro-chip.

• Future Island Presented over three consecutive nights by Liz Bonnin, a celebration of Irish science and innovation, built around the idea that a brighter future is just around the corner.

• RTÉ Investigates From the team that brought you revelations into the plight of homeless rough sleepers, Covid-19 in nursing homes, the treatment of whistleblowers and the open dealing of crack cocaine, RTÉ Investigates is set to reveal a number of major new investigations this season.

• Prime Time At the very heart of public debate in Ireland, bringing audiences the important interviews, in-depth reports and delivering trusted journalistic analysis.

• Claire Byrne Live Interviews and topical discussions, with the public getting their say on the issues that matter most.

• Documentary on One continues across the season on RTÉ Radio 1 each Sunday and via podcast each Thursday, with compelling and unmissable stories.

And returning – Crimecall, Scannal

RTÉ documentaries celebrate some of our people and places, marking the unique aspects of our culture and history, with highlights to include: 

• Keelin Shanley: Faraway, Still Close An intimate, poignant but ultimately uplifting look back at Keelin Shanley’s life, career and battle with cancer, told through video clips; personal archive; and the words of Keelin herself and her husband Conor Ferguson.

• Cocooned Charming and often irreverent documentary from Ken Wardrop (His & Hers, Making the Grade) explores how our older generation “cocooned” during the earlier stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

• David Brophy’s Frontline Choir Blown away by the bravery of the nation’s healthcare workers, David Brophy sets up his first ever nationwide choir as he hears their stories and puts a face to the people behind the PPE.

• Donie O’Sullivan: Capitol Man On January 6th, the nation was glued to CNN, witnessing live the storming of the US Capitol building. Providing a calm and informative commentary was a young Irish investigative journalist, Donie O’Sullivan. This documentary will tell how Donie went from a small town in Kerry to become an international household name.

• Yellow Sam 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.

• The Way We Were Return of the compelling and hugely entertaining series about how we’ve lived our lives over the past 80 years. Includes: The Way We Loved, The Way We Wore, The Way We Played, and The Way We Were At Home.

• Treaty ’21 From the team behind the acclaimed popular history event, Election ’18. David McCullagh, Sineád O’Carroll and a panel of invited guests discuss and debate the approval in Dáil Éireann of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, on January 7th, 1922. This programme is the centre-piece of a day-long commemoration of that event across all of RTÉ’s platforms and channels.

• The Toy Shop captures a story of family, imagination and play as told by the owners and customers of fifteen independent toy shops around Ireland.

• The Irish Wedding a funny and poignant portrait of how the Irish celebrate love, family and friendship through the wedding day and in particular through the speeches. From Alex Fegan, (director of Older Than Ireland; The Confessors)

• The Meaning of Life Joe Duffy’s guests for the 15th series of the popular interview show include Rupert Everett, Jane Seymour, Eamonn Holmes, Mary Coughlan, Eamonn McCann, and EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness

• Ireland’s Wild Islands Spectacular new television series featuring the wildlife of Ireland’s most exposed and majestic islands. Presented by Eoin Warner.

• Droichid na hÉireann In this series, Lochlann Ó Mearáin will explore the rich architectural and historical heritage of Ireland’s most fascinating and visually spectacular bridges.

• Faoi Bhláth a documentary lifestyle programme looking at the food, medicine, healing, and beauty associated with Ireland’s wildflowers in the different habitats where they grow around Ireland both in and out of season.

• An tSlí Mary Kennedy goes on the journey of the National Famine Way.

• Ar an Sliabh Documentary series that charts the lives and stories of people living on our mountains and hillsides both north and south of the Island of Ireland.

• The Islands Three-part geology series presented by Liz Bonnin that tells the story of our island – over-ground and under-water.

And for the lighter side of factual, a look at how we live and what we do. From houses to hotels, personal finance to weddings, pets to parenting. Our lives reflected, with expert advice always on hand.

• Designed for Life Leading international interior designer Arlene McIntyre brings her knowledge, creativity and experience of working with her celebrity clients to this new six-part series

• Bungalow Bliss In this brand new four-part original series, under the watchful eye of Hugh Wallace, we will see four innovative architects, paired with four first time bungalow homeowners, who are seeking solutions for their dark and dated homes.

• Build Your Own (working title) Five very different homeowners take on the huge task of building their own home, taught and mentored by master builder and craftsman Harrison Gardner.

• At Your Service John and Francis Brennan are back with a new hour-long format, on a mission to help four owners of hospitality businesses on their journey through the pandemic, bringing them into the ‘new normal’ and ensuring they reinvigorate their businesses.

• Dr Eva’s Great Escape Series Two-part documentary series follows Dr Eva and Wyatt to see if they have finally managed to open the doors of Solar Alvura -their dream health hotel in Portugal.

• Peataí! Tess Fleming presents this new four-part pet series jam-packed with perfect pooches, cranky cats and excited alpacas.

• Saol an Tréidlia Ob doc series, following the daily lives of three very different veterinary practices in Limerick and Galway.

• Cad faoi na Tuismitheoirí Parenting series presented by Evelyn O’Rourke and Rónán Mac Niallais.

And the return of audience favourites: The Rotunda, How to be Good with Money, The Great House Revival, Cheap Irish Houses, Super Garden, and Ear to the Ground. 

We’ve also got science and nature programmes for our younger viewers on RTÉ this season:

Let’s Find Out is RTEjr’s science entertainment series, co-funded by Science Foundation Ireland. Set aboard the spaceship Curiosity, the show features an alien called Zoom who asks a question about planet earth and her crew try to answer it for her, along with the help of two children and a trip to somewhere spectacular!

Bush Kids Four families out in the wild, where they’ll have to eat out, camp out and survive two nights in the wild.

Wild Atlantic Kids A fun-filled adventure down the Wild Atlantic Way in a campervan with the Fortune family – Nellie (11), Eppie (8), Nan (6) and their dog Chubby.