Scannal celebrates two decades of trusted storytelling | Scannal ag ceiliúradh 20 bliain den scéalaíocht ar féidir muinín a bheith aisti
Scannal celebrates two decades of trusted storytelling with
Scannal 20 Bliain
Three one-hour documentaries look back and update some of the biggest stories including:
-The Kerry baby scandal
-Brian Lenihan’s ‘on mature recollection’ in 1990 Presidential race
-Thierry Henry’s hand ball
RTÉ’s much-loved Irish language series Scannal marks its 20th anniversary with three hour-long documentaries this August. The programmes look back at some of the biggest stories covered by Scannal which shocked, appalled, entertained or outraged the nation.
For the last 20years, Scannal has charted Ireland’s social history by delving into the scandals that have shaped Ireland. Scannal 20 Bliain will revisit Scannal’s most memorable episodes bringing them up to date and looking at what audiences can learn today from those scandals. From Pee Flynn’s ill-fated Late Late Show interview to Thierry Henry’s hand-ball horror, from the tragic deaths of Ann Lovett and her baby son in a grotto in Granard and to the Lansdowne Road riot, Scannal has examined the impact of major events on the individuals, families and communities at the heart of them – and on us as a nation.
Broadcasting on three consecutive nights on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, reporter Garry Mac Donncha will guide viewers through the moments in Ireland’s social history that still resonate today in Scannal 20 Bliain.
Executive producer for RTÉ Sarah Ryder said: “When we started Scannal 20 years ago, Ireland was a very different place. Not everyone was ready for a series examining the impact of major events on the individuals, families and communities at the heart of them and how those events often changed the course of Irish history. But because we told the stories with journalism, integrity and attention to factual detail, the first series was incredibly well reviewed and Scannal became an instant hit with viewers. Many of the stories the team has covered over two decades have continued to evolve and many others continue to impact us to this day. As the series continues its popularity on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, the 20th anniversary is a great opportunity to recap and update some of the most interesting and impactful stories featured on Scannal over the decades. It’s been a really interesting journey putting this series together and we hope viewers will get as much out of watching the programmes as much as we did making them.”
In the three episodes of Scannal 20 Bliain, some of Scannal’s regular contributors, and some of the people at the center of the stories, reflect on how different events shocked and often changed the country and what lessons can be learnt in today’s post-truth world.
Beginning on Monday 5 August at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, the special anniversary series begins with ‘Believe In Me’ which looks back at some of the blunders, bluster and downright howlers which gripped the nation and brought down many a career. The second episode ‘Only a Woman; examines how life has changed for Mná na hÉireann over the past half-century through five key stories. The third episode ‘Own Goals’ looks at some of the sporting and not-so-sporting moments which enraged, divided or united the nation.
Presented and narrated by long-time Scannal reporter Garry Mac Donncha, Scannal 20 Bliain airs over three consecutive nights at 6.30pm on Monday 5 August, Tuesday 6 August and Wednesday 7 August on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Scannal ag ceiliúradh 20 bliain den scéalaíocht ar féidir muinín a bheith aisti leis an gclár Scannal 20 Bliain
Féachfar siar ar chuid de na scéalta ba mhó a bhí faoi chaibidil mar aon leis an nuacht is déanaí ina leith a thabhairt le linn trí cinn de chláracha faisnéise uair an chloig an ceann lena n-áirítear:
-an scannal a bhain le páiste nuabheirthe a fuarthas básaithe ar thrá i gCiarraí
-Thierry Henry nuair a láimhseáil sé an liathróid
-Brian Lenihan agus a “mature recollection” i rás na hUachtaránachta in 1990
Beidh Scannal, sraith faisnéise Ghaeilge RTÉ a bhfuil an-tóir uirthi ag ceiliúradh scór bliain ar an aer le trí chlár faisnéise uair an chloig an ceann sa Lúnasa. Féachfar siar le linn na gclár ar roinnt de na scéalta ba mhó a bhí faoi chaibidil ag Scannal a bhí ina n-ábhar iontais, uafáis, siamsaíochta nó alltachta ag an bpobal.
Le scór bliain anuas, tá cuntas tugtha ag Scannal ar stair shóisialta na hÉireann trí na scannail a raibh tionchar acu ar Éirinn a scrúdú. Caithfear súil siar sa chlár Scannal 20 Bliain ar chuid de na scannail nach ligfear i ndearmad go ceann i bhfad mar aon leis an eolas is déanaí ina leith a thabhairt don lucht féachana. Cíorfar freisin na ceachtanna a bhféadfaimis foghlaim uathu. Ón agallamh mí-ámharach a rinne Pee Flynn ar an Late Late Show, eachtra ghránna Thierry Henry nuair a láimhseáil sé an liathróid, bás tragóideach Ann Lovett agus a mac in uaimh i nGránard agus an chíréib i mBóthar Lansdún, tá cíoradh déanta ag lucht Scannal ar an tionchar a bhíonn ag imeachtaí móra ar na daoine aonair, ar theaghlaigh agus ar na pobail atá ina gceartlár – agus orainne mar thír.
Craolfar Scannal 20 Bliain trí oíche i ndiaidh a chéile ar RTÉ One agus ar an RTÉ Player agus is é an tuairisceoir Garry Mac Donncha a threoróidh an lucht féachana trí na tréimhsí cinniúnacha seo i stair shóisialta na hÉireann atá fós ábhartha sa lá atá inniu ann.
Is éard a dúirt léiritheoir feidhmiúcháin RTÉ Sarah Ryder: “Nuair a chuireamar tús le Scannal 20 bliain ó shin, ba thír an-difriúil a bhí in Éirinn. Ní gach duine a bhí réidh le haghaidh sraithe ina ndéanfaí an tionchar a bhí ag imeachtaí móra ar na daoine aonair, ar na teaghlaigh agus ar na pobail a bhí ina gcroílár a scrúdú mar aon leis an gcaoi ar athraigh na himeachtaí sin go minic cúrsa na staire in Éirinn. Ach de bharr go rabhamar ag insint na scéalta sin tríd an iriseoireacht, le hionracas agus aird mhór againn ar fhíorais chruinne, fuair an chéad tsraith an-mholadh agus bhí an-tóir láithreach ag an lucht féachana uirthi. Tá go leor de na scéalta atá clúdaithe ag an bhfoireann le scór bliain fós ag forbairt agus tá go leor eile acu fós ag imirt tionchair orainn go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Agus an-tóir i gcónaí ag an lucht féachana RTÉ One agus an RTÉ Player ar an tsraith, is iontach an deis é an ceiliúradh 20 bliain seo chun súil siar a chaitheamh ar roinnt de na scéalta ba spéisiúla agus ba mhó tionchair a bhí againn ar Scannal le scór bliain agus an t-eolas is déanaí ina leith a roinnt. B’aistear thar a bheith spéisiúil a bhí ann fad a bhíomar ag cur na sraithe seo le chéile agus tá súil againn go mbainfidh an dream a bheidh ag féachaint ar na cláir an sásamh céanna astu is a bhaineamar féin as bheith á gcur le chéile.”
Le linn thrí chlár Scannal 20 Bliain, déanfaidh cuid de na daoine a ghlacann páirt rialta i Scannal, chomh maith le roinnt daoine atá lárnach sna scéalta, a machnamh ar an gcaoi ar bhain imeachtaí éagsúla siar asainn agus an bealach ar éirigh leo go minic muid a athrú mar thír, chomh maith leis na ceachtanna a d’fhéadfadh muid a fhoghlaim uathu anois, sa saol iar-fhírinne seo.
Dé Luain an 5 Lúnasa ag 6.30pm ar RTÉ One agus ar an RTÉ Player a chuirfear tús leis an tsraith speisialta chomórtha le Believe In Me, ina mbreathnaíonn muid siar ar chuid de na botúin, den bhaothchaint agus de na deargphraiseacha a chuaigh chomh mór i gcion ar an tír agus a loit an oiread sin gairmeacha. Sa dara clár, Only a Woman, scrúdaítear, i gcúig phríomhscéal, an t-athrú atá tagtha ar shaol na mban in Éirinn le leathchéad bliain. Sa tríú clár, Own Goals, breathnaítear ar chuid de na heachtraí iontacha spóirt agus de na heachtraí nach raibh chomh hiontach sin, a chuir alltacht ar an tír, agus a chothaigh deighilt idir daoine nó eile a thug le chéile iad.
Á chur i láthair agus á insint ag Garry Mac Donncha, tuairisceoir atá ag obair le Scannal le fada an lá, craolfar Scannal 20 Bliain trí oíche i ndiaidh a chéile ag 6.30pm ar RTÉ One ar Dé Luain, Dé Máirt agus Dé Céadaoino an 5, 6 agus 7 Lúnasa agus ar an RTÉ Player.
Scannal 20 Bliain – episode detail:
Episode 1: Believe in Me – Monday 5 August
Fake news is nothing new; throughout history, false information has been used to manipulate public opinion, control narratives, and influence events. Over the last twenty years, RTÉ’s ever-popular social history series Scannal has shone a light on some of the moments that rocked and outraged the nation – so many of which began with a little white lie, a big giant porkie pie or some downright bluffing.
In the first of a new three-part series to mark 20 years of Scannal, the team cast a wry, 2024 eye over some of the bluster and bloopers that riveted the nation and damaged many a reputation. From the “mature recollection” debacle that changed the course of Irish Presidential history to Pee Flynn’s fateful Three Houses interview, from the whodunnit story of the Late Late Show restoration scandal to one of Irish radio’s most cringeworthy interviews, this programme examines the theme of truth, lies and bluffers and how social media has changed the rules for everyone.
Presented and narrated by Garry Mac Donncha, with contributions and analysis from Drivetime’s Cormac Ó hEadhra, journalist Caoimhe Ní Chathail, RTÉ’s Arts and Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke, Political Correspondent for the Irish Times Harry McGee, Nuacht’s Beirni Ní Chuinn and actor Páraic Breathnach.
Episode 2: Only a Woman – Tuesday 6 August
The very first season of Scannal in 2004 featured two programmes marking the 20th anniversary of two of the most seminal turning-points for Irish women in modern history. It looked back at the death of teenage girl Ann Lovett and her baby son in a grotto in Granard, County Longford in January 1984, and the story later that same year of Joanne Hayes who was falsely accused of the murder of a baby washed up on a beach in Cahersiveen. Twenty years on, we revisit those stories and how they impacted women across Ireland then and now and examine what has come to light in the intervening decades.
We also look back at the stories of May McGee, whose 1973 Supreme Court case resulted in contraception being made available in Ireland for the first time; teacher Eileen Flynn, wrongly fired from her teaching job for being in a relationship with a separated father, and the 1992 “X” Case in which a teenage victim of rape was prevented from travelling to the UK for an abortion.
Our guest contributors to this programme include journalist Rosita Bolad who has told Ann Lovett’s story for four decades, activist Lisa Nic An Bhreithimh, Independent Senator Rónán Mullen, reporter Caoimhe Ní Laighin and broadcaster and former presenter of The Women’s Programme Doireann Ní Bhriain.
Episode Three: Own Goals – Wednesday 7 August, 6.30pm
For the last 20 years, Scannal has pieced together in archive, first-hand account and analysis, some of the sporting stories that set pulses racing and debate raging across the island: Olympic controversies, hurling strikes, foul-play on and off the pitch and tragedy on the terraces.
In the final anniversary episode of Scannal 20 Bliain, sports broadcasters Seán Bán Breathnach, Cárthach Bán Breathnach, Gráinne McElwain and Cuán Ó Flatharta look back at some of the sporting scandals that featured in the series over the years, and select some of the unsporting moments that gripped and horrified us all.
Who can forget the story of the Lansdowne Road riots in 1995, covered by Scannal in 2007, when English football hooligans ripped up the stadium and stopped a soccer international; or the controversial last-minute goal in the 2010 Leinster Football Final that broke the hearts of Louth supporters?
The controversy that exploded after Thierry Henry’s handball in a World Cup playoff in Paris in 2009 will forever be etched in Irish memories. And closer to home, we revisit the Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland match at Windsor Park in Belfast in the aftermath of the Shankill Road bombing and Greysteel massacres in November 1993.
We also revisit former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s 2020 interview with the team about the saga of the Bertie Bowl, a story of dreams, ambition, sport and politics with more twists and turns than a soap opera.
Scannal 20 Bliain – sonraí na gclár:
Clár 1 Believe in Me – Dé Luain an 5 Lúnasa
Ní haon rud nua atá sa nuacht bhréige; riamh anall baineadh úsáid as an bhfaisnéis bhréagach le dul i gcion ar thuairimí an phobail, insintí a smachtú, agus tionchar a imirt ar imeachtaí. Le fiche bliain anuas, tá léargas tugtha ag sraith staire sóisialta RTÉ, Scannal, ar chuid de na heachtraí a chuaigh i bhfeidhm ar an tír agus a chuir alltacht ar dhaoine – thosaigh go leor acu amach mar bhréag gan díobháil, mar éitheach nó mar chur i gcéill.
Sa chéad chlár de shraith nua trí chlár chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar 20 bliain de Scannal, beidh súil dhóite ón mbliain 2024 á caitheamh siar againn ar chuid den bhaothchaint agus de na botúin a chuir an tír faoi gheasa agus a tharraing droch-cháil ar go leor daoine. Ón bpraiseach a bhain leis an “mature recollection” a d’athraigh stair Uachtaránachta na hÉireann go dtí agallamh cinniúnach Pee Flynn i dtaobh a thrí theach, an scéal scannalach a bhain le hathchóiriú an Late Late Show, ceann de na hagallaimh ba náirí ar raidió na hÉireann, déanfar scrúdú sa chlár seo ar théama na fírinne, na mbréag agus an chur i gcéill agus an chaoi a bhfuil na rialacha athraithe dúinn go léir ag na meáin shóisialta.
A chur i láthair agus á insint ag Garry Mac Donncha, le Cormac Ó hEadhra ó Drivetime, an t-iriseoir Caoimhe Ní Chathail, Comhfhreagraí Ealaíon agus Meán RTÉ Evelyn O’Rourke, Comhfhreagraí Polaitíochta an Irish Times Harry McGee, Beirní Ní Chuinn ó Nuacht agus an t-aisteoir Páraic Breathnach.
Clár 2: Only a Woman – Dé Máirt an 6 Lúnasa
Sa chéad séasúr de Scannal, sa bhliain 2004, bhí dhá chlár againn ag comóradh 20 bliain ó tharla péire de na heachtraí ba chinniúnaí do mhná na hÉireann i stair an lae inniu. Féachadh siar ar bhás an déagóra Ann Lovett agus a mac nach raibh ach ina pháiste óg in uaimh i nGránard in Eanáir na bliana 1984, agus an scéal faoin gcaoi, níos déanaí an bhliain chéanna, ar cúisíodh Joanne Hayes go héagórach i ndúnmharú linbh a tháinig i dtír ar thrá i gCathair Saidhbhín. Fiche bliain níos déanaí, beidh súil á caitheamh againn ar na scéalta sin agus ar an tionchar a bhí acu ar mhná ar fud na hÉireann le linn an ama agus atá orthu anois féin, agus breathnóidh muid ar a bhfuil tagtha chun solais le blianta beaga anuas.
Breathnóidh muid siar freisin ar scéal May McGee, agus an chaoi ar cuireadh frithghiniúint ar fáil in Éirinn den chéad uair mar thoradh ar a cás sa Chúirt Uachtarach in 1973; an múinteoir Eileen Flynn, a briseadh go héagórach as a post múinteoireachta mar gheall go raibh sí i gcaidreamh le hathair scartha, agus Cás “X” in 1992 nuair a cuireadh cosc ar dhéagóir a raibh éigniú déanta uirthi taisteal go dtí an Ríocht Aontaithe le haghaidh ginmhillte.
I measc na n-aoichainteoirí atá páirteach sa chlár seo tá an t-iriseoir Rosita Bolad atá ag insint scéal Ann Lovett le ceithre scór bliain, an gníomhaí Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh, An Seanadóir Neamhspleách Rónán Mullen, an tuairisceoir Caoimhe Ní Laighin agus an craoltóir Doireann Ní Bhriain, iarláithreoir an chláir The Women’s Programme.
Clár a Trí: Own Goals Dé Céadaoin an 7 Lúnasa, 6.30pm
Le 20 bliain anuas, tá cuid de na scéalta spóirt a d’ardaigh croíthe agus a chuir tús le cur agus cúiteamh fud fad na hÉireann curtha le chéile ag Scannal i bhfoirm cartlainne, le cuntais phearsanta agus anailís: conspóidí faoi na Cluichí Oilimpeacha, scóráil san iománaíocht, feallanna ar an bpáirc agus taobh amuigh di agus tragóid ar na lochtáin.
Sa chlár comórtha deireanach de Scannal 20 Bliain, caitheann na craoltóirí spóirt Seán Bán Breathnach, Cárthach Bán Breathnach, Gráinne McElwain agus Cuán Ó Flatharta súil siar ar chuid de na scannail spóirt a bhí clúdaithe sa tsraith thar na blianta, agus roghnóidh siad cuid de heachtraí míspóirtiúla a chuaigh i gcion orainn ar fad agus a chuir alltacht orainn.
An bhféadfadh duine ar bith dearmad a dhéanamh ar na círéibeacha a tharla i mBóthar Lansdún in 1995, a chlúdaigh Scannal in 2007, nuair a shrac maistíní as Sasana an staidiam as a chéile nó gur stopadh cluiche sacair idirnáisiúnta; nó an cúl conspóideach a bhí faighte ag an nóiméad deireanach i gCraobh Peile Laighean sa bhliain 2010 agus a bhris croí lucht tacaíochta Lú?
Fanfaidh an chonspóid a tháinig gan choinne nuair láimhseáil Thierry Henry an liathróid i gcluiche cáilithe Chorn an Domhain i bPáras in 2009 i gcuimhne mhuintir na hÉireann go deo. Agus níos gaire do bhaile, breathnóidh muid arís ar an gcluiche a bhí idir Tuaisceart Éireann agus Poblacht na hÉireann i bPáirc Windsor i mBéal Feirste i ndiaidh bhuamáil Bhóthar na Seanchille agus an sléacht a rinneadh i nGlas-stiall i mí na Samhna 1993.
Caithfidh muid súil siar chomh maith ar an agallamh úd a rinne an t-iarThaoiseach Bertie Ahern leis an bhfoireann in 2020 i dtaobh scéal fadálach an Bertie Bowl, scéal a bunaithe ar aislingí, uaillmhianta, spórt agus polaitíocht, agus a bhfuil níos mó cora agus castaí ann ná mar a bheadh i sobaldráma.