Unscripted, Unflinching, Unforgettable: RTÉ Announces New Documentaries to Reflect and Explore Who We Are

This August, RTÉ is set to premiere a new range of documentaries on television for the first time, which share unique Irish stories, reflecting on the failures and triumphs of our past, examining the challenges faced by our communities, and paying tribute to our vibrant culture. These five programmes by Irish production companies are part of RTÉ’s on-going commitment to Irish documentaries this year, chronicling our ever-changing society.

Mincéir addresses the challenges faced by Travellers, including discrimination, and advocates for their rights, health and better living conditions. It introduces audiences to the Cant language and is a testament to the Traveller community’s significant impact on Irish history. The documentary shares authentic stories, ensuring that Traveller voices are heard and respected. The diverse production team behind Mincéir remains true to the core values of Traveller well-being, art and culture.

In Around My Island, Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan endeavours to be the fastest person to sail single-handed around the island of Ireland – one of the toughest feats in sailing. Narrated by Bryan Dobson, this documentary joins Tom on board to follow his attempt at making history. As we delve deeper into Tom’s story, we hear of the childhood trauma that motivated him to chase success, in sport and in life.

Remembering our not-so-distant past, Stolen tells the story of how women who became pregnant ‘out of wedlock’ were treated in an Ireland dominated by the Catholic Church. Between 1922 and 1998, over 80,000 unmarried mothers were incarcerated in church-run mother and baby homes. Survivors reveal the shocking details of their treatment in a scandal that sparked a government inquiry into their fate.

The Cable that Changed the World explores the story of the first transatlantic communications cable to traverse the ocean floor, from Valentia Island, County Kerry, to Newfoundland, Canada, 165 years ago. Narrated by distinguished actor Jessie Buckley, this documentary showcases historical reconstructions and rarely seen archive footage, providing an insight into the eight-year journey of those who successfully connected North America and Europe for the first time. It also reveals how that first cable helped to lay the foundation of the modern world’s technology industry and explains the fragility of undersea cables today.

Honouring our talented craft makers, Making documents the annual gathering of makers each September at the Joseph Walsh Studio, which encompasses a workshop, gallery, design studio, and archive set around an 18th-century farmhouse in the countryside of Fartha, County Cork. Art, craft, design and technical innovation are celebrated in expressive pieces that the studio crafts, opening up new possibilities in material and form. Featuring interviews with musician Martin Hayes, weavers Karen Hay-Edie and Mario Serra and chef Rory O’Connell.

All five documentaries will join a growing library on RTÉ Player, including the recently acclaimed Bishop Casey’s Buried Secrets, which has had over 100,000 streams to date.

More documentaries will be announced as part of RTÉ’s new season launch later this month.

Notes:

Find documentaries on RTÉ. Stream now on RTÉ Player: https://www.rte.ie/player/

Around My Island was directed by James Wynne, produced for RTÉ by Richie Kelly produced of Record Media. Broadcasting on Tuesday 6th August at 9:35PM on RTÉ One.

The Cable That Changed the World was written and directed by Ruán Magan and produced by Patricia Carroll, Tyrone Productions for RTÉ and UCC. Broadcasting on Monday 12th August at 9:35PM on RTÉ One

Making is made by Pat Collins and will broadcast on Wednesday 15th August at 9:35PM on RTÉ One. Making In is a one-day series of unique conversations and debates that celebrates and explores making as a way of thinking, exploring, expressing and imagining.  In 2023, the theme was Making In: Concert.

Stolen is a Besom Productions / Wildfire Films Co-Production, funded by Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, BAI and RTÉ, broadcasting Monday 26th August at 9:35PM

Minceir is produced by Nova productions, their work focuses on themes of human rights and social justice with a particular emphasis on the under-represented and minority groups such as the travelling community, people with disabilities and senior citizens. Broadcasting Tuesday 27th August at 9:35PM on RTÉ One.