RTÉ Launches New Season of Unique Public Service Content Featuring Real Irish Stories and Celebrating Ireland’s Landscape, Culture and Creativity

• A range of high-end natural history content will celebrate our island’s landscape, as well as shining a spotlight on the climate crisis with Ireland’s Coast, Scéalta na Lochanna, Why We Love Dolphins, Kerry: Stories from the Kingdom and Tarrac Na Farraige 

• New talent is to the fore with another series of Storyland short dramas which will expand in 2025 to include an Irish language drama, and No Worries If Not returns with a dynamic group of young Irish comedians

• Following the critically acclaimed history of hurling series The Game, brand new four-part documentary series Hell for Leather looks at the complicated history and evolution of Gaelic Football told by the game’s best-known players, managers, coaches and observers

• Blindboy Boatclub offers a fresh perspective on the legacy of early Irish Christianity in Blindboy: The Land of Slaves and Scholars 

• As RTÉ Player marks over 100 million streams in 2024, this season will offer more live and on-demand content, including Player Original sitcom Good Boy starring Tony Cantwell

• U2’s Adam Clayton explores the cultural impact of Irish showbands in Ballroom Blitz 

• Angela Scanlon takes an unfiltered look at the realities of confronting anorexia in Anorexia, My Family and Me 

• Imelda May revives lesser-known Irish folk songs with guest artists in An Leabhar Nótaí 

• Kayleigh Trappe, Demi Isaac Oviawe and other celebrities regale kids with ‘totally true’ stories in Storybud 

Speaking on the launch of RTÉ’s upcoming new season, Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ said: “These programmes and series reflect the diverse and vibrant life of this island and its people. I think audiences of all ages will be captivated by the high-quality Irish drama on offer and entertained by the range of new shows and RTÉ’s comprehensive free-to-air sports coverage. In a world increasingly saturated with media choices, competition from other markets, and misinformation, my ambition is that RTÉ will continue to offer unique home-grown public service content and be a trusted source of reliable news. Our job is to tell Ireland’s stories with integrity, accuracy and creativity.”

New three-part series On the Beat provides an inside look at the daily lives of serving Gardaí in Ireland, following officers on duty and highlighting challenges and issues in the policing of districts in Waterford, Longford and Dundalk. The Case I Can’t Forget  looks at several major Irish investigations, with new episodes on ATM thefts, human trafficking, and a two-part special on the notorious Martin Cahill, The General. Writer and podcaster Blindboy Boatclub embarks on a deeply personal journey in Blindboy: The Land of Slaves and Scholars, exploring the origins, evolution and cultural legacy of early Irish Christianity.

Narrated by Angela Scanlon, Anorexia, My Family and Me provides an unfiltered look into the lives of three families as they confront the harsh realities of living with anorexia. In Addicts, Professor of Neuroscience Brian Pennie uses his lived experience and his professional expertise to take viewers through the journey of addiction. This project is co-funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland). Two-part documentary Noraid: Irish-America and the IRA is a story of gun-smuggling priests and dollars being stuck into collection boxes in Bronx bars. This series looks at how Irish-Americans helped to keep the Provisional IRA’s armed campaign going, but also ultimately brought it to a conclusion.

In the year of elections worldwide, Cormac Ó hEadhra presents Vótáil, a four-part series that looks back on some of Ireland’s spiciest election campaigns. A two-part Scannal special, Savita, looks back at Savita Halappanavar’s tragic death and the role her story played in legalising abortion in Ireland.

Leathered  is a first-person examination of the dark history of corporal punishment in Irish schools. Using the shocking testimonies of survivors, this documentary asks whether the Irish State now needs to formally reassess the scale and impact of physical abuse that was meted out to pupils in schools for decades. Lost for Words is an inspiring portrait of a diverse group of individuals who are overcoming the challenges and stigma of dyslexia and unlocking their full potential through practical care, patience and empathy.

Extraordinary Life – The Ben Dunne Story profiles the life and career of Ben Dunne, the charismatic and forward-thinking businessman. Michael Smurfit  chronicles another trailblazer’s journey, from a shy young man who left school at 16, to a multimillionaire who built one of Ireland’s biggest business empires. Produced by the same team that created the ground-breaking 2018 history of hurling The Game, Hell for Leather is a blue-chip documentary series that looks at the complicated history and evolution of Gaelic Football. Réiteoir probes referee abuse in Gaelic games, exploring solutions to foster a respectful sporting environment, and highlighting the resilience and dedication of these unsung heroes.

In a new six-part RTÉ Radio 1 series Our Lives in the North, Úna Kelly looks behind the flags and the politics of Northern Ireland, to explore real life north of the border, while the new season of RTÉ Radio 1’s Documentary on One kicks off with a nostalgic look at Bob Marley’s only ever Irish gig in Dalymount Park in 1980. The series also includes typically diverse Irish stories, from tales of 17th-century emigrants to today’s online incels.

A range of high-end natural history content will celebrate our island’s landscape, as well as shining a spotlight on the climate crisis.

Ireland’s Coast, based on University College Cork’s award-winning publication The Coastal Atlas of Ireland, is a breathtaking co-production narrated by Oscar-nominated Ciarán Hinds, exploring Ireland’s rich coastal biodiversity and history. Scéalta na Lochanna celebrates the history, culture and wildlife of the two largest loughs in Ireland, Lough Corrib and Lough Neagh. Why We Love Dolphins is an authored one-off documentary from the award-winning director and cameraman, Ken O’Sullivan, with remarkable first-time film footage of the dolphin community off the coast of Ireland. Tarrac na Farraige focuses on the fishing industry in Ireland, as workers grapple with a fragile industry on the cusp of seismic change. Following on from the award-winning two-part 2020 series, The Burren: Heart of Stone, Kerry: Stories from the Kingdom tells the story of Ireland’s most rugged and westerly landscape, capturing fascinating insights into Kerry’s unique ecosystems, habitats, wildlife, geology, archaeology and heritage. Heated, RTÉ One’s magazine series about climate and sustainability, shares new stories of those who are leading the fight for climate action across Ireland, while Welcome to Futureville imagines Ireland’s future through the lens of scientific innovation and envisions the town of Athlone in the year 2050. This project is co-funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland).

In The Meaning of Life, Joe Duffy shares thought-provoking, reflective conversations with an eclectic group of public figures including Sonia O’Sullivan, Bryan Dobson and Sinéad Burke. Eat Sleep Cheer Repeat follows the athletes of Team Ireland as they prepare for the cheerleading World Championships. Raised by the Village sees a fresh group of city families moving their rebellious teens to the country, while Cailíní Comhraic follows female fighters in Ireland’s thriving martial arts scene. Best Place to Be, presented by Baz Ashmawy, explores the lives of Irish emigrants abroad, and La Vie sa Bhruiséil features members of the growing Irish-language community building careers and homes in the multilingual capital of Europe. Chef Neven Maguire discovers the best local eateries and food producers in Neven’s Coastal Towns. In Nico’s Cook In Cook Out, Nico Reynolds shares versatile dishes infusing Irish cuisine with flavours inspired by his Jamaican heritage. Donal Skehan offers fast, no-fuss meals for modern Irish families in Donal’s Real Time Recipes, and in Donal Skehan’s Soul Food Shorts immerses himself in the culinary cultures of Ireland’s minority faith communities. Legendary hoteliers Francis and John Brennan lend their expertise in At Your Service to Irish business owners transitioning into the hospitality industry.

Maggie Molloy uncovers some of Ireland’s most affordable properties in Cheap Irish Homes, while in Cheap European Homes she searches for budget dream homes across France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. This season, episodes extend to an hour long, and Maggie is joined by broadcaster and comedian Kevin McGahern. Dermot Bannon explores a variety of extraordinary living, working and social spaces across Ireland in Dermot Bannon’s Super Spaces, and will also have new design challenges across Ireland in Room to Improve. In a special episode, Dermot will help Julian Benson, founder of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to transform a Victorian house into Tranquillity House – a sanctuary for people living with Cystic Fibrosis and their families during hospital treatments. Expanding this season to include stunning properties in Northern Ireland, Great Irish Interiors shows the meticulous restoration of iconic houses and castles across Ireland. The Great House Revival shares eight new projects, from an abandoned cow shed to a three-story Cork home, undergoing complete renovations.

Sport

Following a summer of action-packed, high octane free-to-air Sport on RTÉ, including UEFA Euro 2024, the Paris Olympics 2024 and the GAA Championships, the new season on RTÉ promises no let-up in live coverage this season. The Paris 2024 Paralympics continue with comprehensive live coverage across RTÉ. Live International, club and domestic soccer feature prominently this autumn with the Republic of Ireland Men taking on England, Greece and Finland in the UEFA Nations League, with all games live on RTÉ beginning with England at home on September 7. The Republic of Ireland Women will be in UEFA Women’s Euro 25 play-off action. The Republic of Ireland’s U21 Men continue their qualifying campaign for the UEFA U21 Euros in Slovakia next summer with games against Turkey, Latvia, Norway and Italy. RTÉ’s live coverage of The UEFA Champions League moves to Wednesday nights for 2024/25. And, as the domestic season reaches a conclusion this autumn, there will be live SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division action, along with live coverage of both Men’s and Women’s FAI Cup Finals.  As the nation draws its breath after exhilarating GAA Championships, RTÉ will have live AIB GAA Club Championship action throughout the autumn, and the Allianz National Leagues in the new year, ensuring GAA is served to audiences end-to-end throughout the year.

In Rugby, the URC in September and the Men’s, Women’s and U20 Six Nations in spring will be shared live on RTÉ. Late August and September see live coverage of both the KPMG Women’s Irish Open from Carton House and the Amgen Irish Open from Royal County Down Golf Club.  RTÉ’s longstanding commitment to Irish Horse Racing continues with live coverage of the Irish Champions Festival from Leopardstown and the Curragh in September before the traditional festive coverage of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. In December, RTÉ will look back on a momentous year of Irish sport and honour the greatest sportsmen and women 2024 on The RTÉ Sport Awards.

News & Current Affairs

In a changing world, people face a barrage of claims and counterclaims and on many issues it is increasingly hard to tell whether something is fair opinion or a false “fact”. To help counter disinformation, RTÉ will be launching Clarity / Soiléire, a strand of content across our platforms where audiences are offered greater insight. In the journalism published by RTÉ within the Clarity strand, RTÉ will help to demystify complicated issues, debunk deliberate attempts to distort reality, detail how online discourse impacts democracy, and explain exactly how RTÉ verifies its quality journalism.

As Ireland faces an upcoming general election RTÉ News & Current Affairs will deliver unrivalled campaign and results coverage across all platforms in English and as Gaeilge including our daily flagship programmes on radio and television. From giving a voice to the electorate and engaging with younger voters to the major interviews and debates, RTÉ journalists across the country will deliver trusted and informed political content.

With Ireland’s close to ties to America, the impact of the US Presidential election this November will be keenly followed across our programmes along with our new season of US politics podcast States of Mind now available. As we head into our new political term, The Week in Politics will offer analysis on Sundays with Áine Lawlor and the insightful podcast series Your Politics available on all platforms each week. Later this season RTÉ One will launch a brand-new Irish language weekly current affairs television series, Fóram, which will be broadcast live on Sundays, with news and analysis of major stories as Gaeilge.

Following on from the shocking and groundbreaking investigations on the Irish and European horse industries exposing the abuse horses can suffer after they leave the spotlight, the illegal side of Botox, the realities of Ireland’s current abortion services and Women’s Soccer in Ireland, already this year, the award-winning RTÉ Investigates team will deliver public service broadcasting at its very best in new and revealing documentaries this season.

On Monday nights, Upfront with Katie Hannon will give the public the opportunity to share their views in an election year on key issues and to put their questions directly to those in power. Miriam O’Callaghan, Fran McNulty and Sarah McInerney along with the Prime Time team will delve into the issues affecting all our daily lives. From the secret world of debt that some young people get into because of drug use, to the harrowing journeys of our unwanted Irish calves, to the next chapter in the housing crisis, Prime Time will be there. The team will also provide its regular extensive coverage and scrutiny of all the big events, including Budget 2025.

Local and community-based Irish stories are at the heart of Nationwide as Anne Cassin and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh host three programmes each week featuring community initiatives, entrepreneurs throughout the land, championing our biodiversity, insights into Irish history, and the extraordinary lives of ordinary people in different parts of Ireland.

Audience favourites Dancing with the Stars and Ireland’s Fittest Family will captivate viewers across generations. Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy present Dancing with the Stars, as a host of new celebrities compete for the coveted glitterball. Ireland’s Fittest Family raises the stakes with new challenges like ‘The Drop Zone’ and ‘Raft Rage – The Rivals’. In new series To Hell & Back with Ray Goggins, adventurer and former special forces soldier Ray Goggins takes A-list Irish celebrities on extreme outdoor adventures in some of the most inhospitable, hostile environments on the planet.

Patrick Kielty brings his own unique style to Friday nights on The Late Late Show, joined by the biggest names in entertainment, music, comedy and sport. After a cracking first season, Patrick is more ambitious than ever, with plenty of specials and surprises in store. In The 2 Johnnies’ Late Night Lock-In, comedy, friendship and pure craic take centre stage.  Tommy Tiernan’s ability to draw out surprising, authentic and deeply human stories from his guests during spontaneous, unscripted conversations ensures that The Tommy Tiernan Show remains a must-watch.

Love in the Country offers a heartwarming exploration of modern love against the backdrop of rural Irish life, with Anna Geary guiding rural singletons on their journey to find meaningful connections. The Money List with Baz Ashmawy will challenge teams of strangers from all over Ireland to test their knowledge and wit for a chance to win big. No Worries If Not! delivers a fresh batch of fast-paced sketches from a dynamic group of young Irish comedians, giving the new generation of comedy stars a platform to bring their unique humour to a broad audience. Conor and Jock are older but no wiser in series four of The Young Offenders, and at Christmas, there will be two special episodes of Mrs Brown’s Boys. Ireland’s longest running and most popular daytime programme, Today, will bring the perfect blend of food, fashion, fun and famous faces to brighten the nation’s afternoons with Maura Derrane, Daithí Ó Sé and Sinéad Kennedy.

U2’s Adam Clayton examines the rise and fall of the Irish showbands in Ballroom Blitz, those bands who, under the influence of ambitious promoters and in the shadow of social and political challenges, played a pivotal role in shaping modern Irish identity. In Creedon’s Musical Atlas of Ireland, broadcaster John Creedon embarks on a quest to discover how Ireland’s music has defined the nation. In six-part series An Leabhar Nótaí, Imelda May takes a personal journey to rediscover her Irish heritage. Aistear an Amhráin explores the stories behind Ireland’s most beloved songs, while An Ghig Mhór follows bands as they prepare for their first big gigs in their hometowns.

Leading lights from the music world will descend on Dingle for Other Voices, while Anam: Songs for Hearts and Minds features Irish and international talents performing at Ireland’s historic national monuments. Na Féilte Tine is a four-part series exploring the indigenous Irish festivals that heralded the changing seasons – Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine, and Lúnasa – and their enduring significance as they evolve to respond to the spiritual and communal needs of the Irish in the 21st century. Listen to the Land Speak invites viewers on a journey around Ireland like no other with acclaimed writer Manchán Magan. Featuring poignant readings by Saoirse Ronan and insights from literary figures like John Banville, Christy Brown: Self Portrait brings to life the underappreciated poetic endeavours of the renowned writer and artist. Fintan O’Toole: The Nation We Strive to Be tells the story of the life and career of esteemed Irish Times journalist Fintan O’Toole in the year of his retirement.

On RTÉ Radio 1, Charles Hendy of The Mary Wallopers will take a new look at the best of Ireland’s showband scene, and Godknows Jonas will present a programme of Zimbabwean pop music. Spoken Stories 3 is the final in RTÉ’s trilogy of commissioned stories, in English and Irish, exploring contemporary life in Ireland. A new series of Continental Riffs features engaging conversations between artists from various disciplines. Book on One presents a new season of fiction, biography and memoir from Irish and international writers, while a new series of Poetry People features poems on themes from school days to post-natal depression, from poets such as Michael Longley and Jessica Traynor. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta offers a lineup of programmes with a variety of engaging formats, offering listeners a unique mix of music, entertainment, conversation and regional insights while promoting Irish culture and the language.

RTÉ lyric fm introduces opera star Claudia Boyle’s new weekend show this autumn, while RTÉ lyric Live makes top-class performances accessible to all, with live broadcasts from the National Concert Hall on Friday nights, and from Wexford Festival Opera in October. Ambient Orbit will share a unique live broadcast from an ancient site on Winter Solstice.

To celebrate Culture Night 2024, RTÉ presents a music and arts extravaganza combining modern circus, dance, traditional Irish and classical music, and featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as well as Villagers, Joe Chester, Gemma Hayes, and a special performance by David Gray and Colm Mac an Iomaire on Skellig Michael. RTÉ Radio will offer a range of coverage to ensure listeners throughout the country can enjoy the evening’s celebrations. RTÉ 2FM will host a live music event at the Róisín Dubh in Galway, featuring 2FM Rising acts, alongside a live broadcast of The Tracy Clifford Show and a special with Beta Da Silva. RTÉ lyric fm will broadcast Ambient Orbit live from Trinity College, while on RTÉ Radio 1, a special Sunday Miscellany event will be hosted by President Higgins and Sabina Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.

The Boy That Never Was (starring Colin Morgan, Toni O’Rourke and Simon Callow) tells the haunting story of an Irish couple whose son disappears during an earthquake in Morocco. Edge-of-your-seat thriller The Gone (starring Richard Flood, Carolyn Bracken and Acushla-Tara Kupe) returns as Detective Theo Richter teams up with Kiwi Detective Diana Huia in a desperate search for a missing Irish journalist in New Zealand.

RTÉ has three new distinct and innovative Storyland dramas to showcase fresh Irish voices and emerging talent. I’m Yours is a sharp, modern drama following Zo, a successful solicitor navigating the clash between her Irish and Pakistani identities as she prepares to meet her arranged fiancé for the first time. SHUSH is a tense psychological thriller that asks how far we would go to keep our loved ones close, and who can we really trust. Did You Hear About Erskine Fogarty? is a darkly absurd comedy based on Blindboy Boatclub’s critically acclaimed short story, starring Robert Sheehan.

As Fair City prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary, one Carrigstown resident fights for their life, and family and neighbours are left reeling from secrets uncovered.

RTÉ Player has drawn record-breaking audiences this year, with over 100 million streams to date in 2024. This season, RTÉ will build on this success with RTÉ TV live and on demand in one place, as well as more Player Originals, live sporting action and a growing catalogue of prestige box sets. Social media sensation Tony Cantwell stars in Good Boy, a fresh, fast-paced sitcom about a man navigating his thirties, career woes and a quest for an ADHD diagnosis, offering a hilarious yet heartfelt take on modern Irish life. Stand-up comedian Anna Clifford goes pub-hopping in Ireland’s Perfect Pubs, capturing the charm and character of more of the nation’s beloved public houses.

RTÉ Player continues to offer a range of high-quality international drama too, with the final season of megahit Yellowstone,  Apples Never Fall with Sam Neill and Annete Bening, In Her Car, set during the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Gold, inspired by the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery, and new seasons of hilarious Aussie comedy Colin From Accounts and Billy the Kid which plunges viewers into the heart of the Lincoln County War. Classic box sets to enjoy again, or indeed for the first time, include sitcom Parks & Recreation, thriller Mr Robot, murder mystery Broadchurch, dark western Deadwood, and the coolest show of all Mad Men. These global series complement RTÉ’s homegrown content, ensuring a diverse viewing experience.

Young People’s

From compelling dramas to world-class Irish animations, RTÉ delivers young people’s content that nurtures inclusivity, creativity, emotional literacy and environmental responsibility in Ireland’s youngest citizens, on RTÉjr, RTÉ2, RTÉ Player, RTÉ’s YouTube channel and across podcast platforms.

Amy Huberman, Kayleigh Trappe, Demi Isaac Oviawe and Carl Mullan join Storybud veterans Jason Byrne and Tara Lynne O’Neill to regale young audiences with ‘totally true’ stories about celebrities, aliens, mysterious football boots and dinosaurs.

What Dáire Did Next follows 12-year-old Liverpool fan Dáire Gorman – one of the few people in the world with Crommelin Syndrome – as he navigates significant life events with resilience and determination, and newfound fame having met his hero Jurgen Klopp. Belonging is a series of short dramas from across the globe, including ‘A Bedouin Dream’ from Ireland, which highlights universal and individual childhood experiences. Maddie + Triggs, narrated by Siobhán McSweeney, follows the adventures of a curious little girl, who just so happens to have a vision impairment, and her doggy best friend. Minding Me is a live-action series, guiding young viewers in understanding and managing their emotions. In Bush Kids Tom Bán has a special adventure for three cousins from Cork on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Arctic Circle.

Doodle Girl and her magical pencil take children on artistic adventures where creativity knows no bounds. This is Art Club! will inspire the next generation of Irish artists by exploring art in innovative ways, while What’s Next? is a new future-focused series where young people, with the help of some influencers, compete to come up with ideas that might just save the planet.

news2day, RTÉ’s news service designed specifically for children and featuring stories from Ireland and around the world, returns with news about everything from major world events to cute animals. Tune in to meet a brand-new presenter this September!

In the world of children’s podcasts, RTÉjr Radio has plenty of new offerings to keep little ones engaged this autumn, including Our Sustainable Village, The Antix, We Love Books, Time Tablet and Chance of a Ghost.

Search www.rte.ie/kids and www.rte.ie/learn to find more information on content and educational resources. A safe space for young people to watch native content, RTÉjr offers programmes which are ad-free and available in Safe Mode on RTÉ Player.

ENDS
Date:  Friday August 30 2024

Notes to Editor: 
For the full offering of Factual, Entertainment, Drama, Sport, Irish Language, Arts and Culture and Young Peoples content, see here 

Images: For imagery of Factual, Entertainment, Drama, Sport, Irish Language, Arts and Culture and Young Peoples content, see here