Fair City celebrates 35 years on our screens

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The series will return to four episodes a week from Friday September 20th 

Who will escape the flames? | Fair City | RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

This month marks a special milestone for RTÉ’s flagship drama series, Fair City, as it celebrates its 35th anniversary.

The series was first launched on September 18th 1989. With over 5,000 episodes broadcast since its debut, Fair City has established itself as a cultural cornerstone of Irish television, providing audiences with unforgettable characters and compelling storylines.

To commemorate this momentous milestone, the popular soap will return to four episodes per week, with Friday night episodes resuming from September 20th. Audiences can also anticipate action-packed storylines to mark the anniversary running throughout September.

As Ruby Mullen (Rachel Wren) celebrates her 18th, it’s more than her birthday candle that’s burning. As some Carrigstown residents run for their lives, will they escape the flames on time? Onlookers wait in dread, as they reel from secrets uncovered.

Detective Buckley (Aidan O’Hare) gets closer to finding Laura’s killer and a few familiar faces return to town. These homecomings are an unwelcome surprise for some, however. For the first time in over ten years, Jimmy and Suzanne Doyle (David Mitchell and Sarah Flood) will make a surprise return to the series. In a shocking twist, Damien Halpin (Maclean Burke) encounters Ciarán Holloway (Johnny Ward) and Cathal Spillane (Eric Lalor). Ciarán teases Damien with an alarming revelation. Will Katy O’Brien (Amilia Keating) agree to come face-to-face with her kidnapper? Why is Tyler Munroe (Peter Gaynor) back sniffing around Carrigstown? All will be revealed throughout September.

Brigie de Courcy, Executive Producer of Fair City said: “Reaching 35 years is an incredible achievement for any television programme, and it’s all thanks to the dedication of our talented writers, cast and crew, and of course, the viewers who have supported us through the years. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our audience and look forward to many more years of storytelling in Carrigstown.”

Fair City remains a firm fan favourite with an average weekly reach of 640,000 viewers on linear TV. The series also continues to perform well on RTÉ Player and is one of its Top 10 most streamed programmes for 2024 to date.

Tune in to Fair City on Sunday and Tuesday nights at 8pm, Thursdays at 8.30pm and Fridays at 7.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

RTÉ promises amazing Culture Night content on RTÉ One, RTÉ Player, RTÉ Radio 1, 2FM, lyric fm and RnaG 

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How will you Culture Night with RTÉ? 

RTÉ Radio 1:  Sunday Miscellany Special from Áras an Uachtaráin,hosted by President Higgins
RTÉ One | RTÉ Player: RTÉ Celebrates Culture Night – David Gray, Colm Mac an Iomaire, Denise Chaila, Villagers, Joe Chester and Gemma Hayes
RTÉ 2FM: 2FM Rising acts live from Róisín Dubh, Galway
RTÉ lyric fm: Ambient Orbit at Trinity College in partnership with the Douglas Hyde Gallery 
RTÉ RnaG: Clár Cuireadh Chun Ceoil le Peadar Ó Riada
Live stream on www.rte.ie/culture

RTÉ is proud to once again celebrate Culture Night supported by the Art’s Council from 7pm on Friday 20th September with a range of commissioned content on radio, television and online, from venues all over Ireland. 

Here’s what you can look forward to: 

>>> On RTÉ One and RTÉ Player – RTÉ Celebrates Culture Night (7pm, Friday 20th September, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player) Join us for ‘RTÉ Celebrates Culture Night’ – a music and arts extravaganza hosted by Denise Chaila and featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with special guests, culminating in an exciting mix of cutting-edge arts and traditional performance with a contemporary twist. The programme will also feature live performances from Villagers, Joe Chester and Gemma Hayes. A highlight will be a pre-recorded performance of David Gray and Colm Mac an Iomaire on Sceilg Mhichíl. 

>>> On RTÉ Radio 1 Join Seán Rocks for a Culture Night Arena Special live from the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, featuring engaging live music, chat and performances.  (7pm on Friday 20th September). Tune into a very special Sunday Miscellany: Culture Night at Áras an Uachtaráin which was recorded ahead of time and hosted by President Higgins and Sabina Higgins. This programme will feature writers Donal Ryan, Aingeala Flannery, Manchán Magan, Mia Doring, singers Clare Sands and Dónal Clancy, and many more.  (Sunday 22nd September at 9.10pm)

>>> On RTÉ 2FM Join RTÉ 2FM for an unmissable night of live music in the Róisín Dubh Galway with a selection of some of the most exciting Irish music from former and current 2FM Rising acts, including Big Sleep, Chubby Cat, Brad Heidi and Shiv. 2FM’s Tracy Clifford will be live from the Roisín Dubh from 12-3pm, before handing over to Beta Da Silva who will host a 3-hour live broadcast from the event from 7pm on RTÉ 2fm. 

>>> On RTE lyric fm (Friday) lyric presents Ambient Orbit, a live event on Culture Night at Trinity College, Dublin in partnership with the Douglas Hyde Gallery. With a mix of field recordings, ambient music, live musical performances from Rachael Lavelle & Ryan Hargadon, Seamas Hyland and Méabh McKenna, and bespoke visuals from Tadhg O’Sullivan, this will be an open Culture Night event in the heart of Dublin – a space for attendees to take time to immerse themselves in music and environmental sound and imagery. Ambient Orbit offers a calm oasis within Culture Night – one of the busiest days of the year in the cities and towns of Ireland.  (Ambient Orbit live on RTÉ lyric fm from 10pm.)

>>> Ar Raidío na Gaeltachta Ar Raidío na Gaeltachta beidh an Clár Cuireadh Chun Ceoil le Peadar Ó Riada a chraoltar ar an Aoine ó 7pm – 9pm ag díriú ar an Oíche Chultúir, idir cheoltóírí, amhránaithe agus grúpaí ceoil atá báite sa traidisiún gaelach.

Beidh an clár nua Pé Scéal É atá dírithe ar an óige ar an gcraic agus ar scléip na deireadh seachtaine agus a bheidh dá chur i láthair ag Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill 3pm – 5pm gach Aoine, ag díriú ar imeachtaí neamhghnáthach an oíche Chultúir. Beidh Ambasadóirí an Oíche Chultúir leo, Stiofán Ó Fearail ón ngrúpa Seo Linn, Edwina Guckian – Damhsóir agus Sexy Tadhg a bhfuil cliú agus cáil air as an seó bríomhar a chuirean sé ar fáil, agus a bhí le feiceáil agus féilte agus ionaid eile ceoil ar fud na tíre i gcaitheamh an tsamhradh.

Agus Beidh na cláacha Irise; Iris Aniar, Barrscéalta agus An Saol Ó Dheas ag cur eolais ar fáil faoin iliomad imeachtaí a bheidh ar siúl ina gcuid ceantair fhéi

>>> And there’s more

RTÉ Culture online (www.rte.ie/culture) will also be guest edited for the occasion by acclaimed visual artist Aideen Barry – for a limited period, the site will also play host to Aideen’s stunning stop-motion feature film Klostės, making it available for all to watch online. RTÉ Culture will also feature the best of RTÉ’s Culture Night content above on www.rte.ie/Culture and catch up with Culture Night celebrations nationwide.  

Culture Night is supported by RTÉ Supporting the Arts.

NEW RTÉ RADIO 1 SERIES AND PODCAST “OUR LIVES IN THE NORTH” EXPLORES LIFE NORTH OF THE BORDER

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How different is everyday life in the North of this country, compared to the Republic? In Our Lives in the North, journalist Una Kelly looks behind the flags and the politics of Northern Ireland, to explore real life north of the border. Is the NHS still as great as people think? Are houses cheaper? Is the Cost of Living as high? Do paramilitaries still have influence? The series begins with that look at the NHS – born out of idealism – and paints a picture of two different places, but not always in ways we might expect.

The new six-part series will air on RTÉ Radio 1 every Wednesday for 6 weeks from September 4th at 6:30pm. The episodes will also be available as part of RTÉ Podcasts and will be available on the RTÉ radio app (or wherever you get your podcasts). A new episode will be published every Wednesday for 6 weeks from September 4th.

Our Lives in the North is presented and produced by Una Kelly. Alistair McConnell is the Executive Producer.

The first episode in this new series examines the health system. NHS waiting lists in the north are the worst in the UK, with patients waiting for more than half a million hospital appointments. Compared to the south – waiting lists in the north are at least twice as long. The NHS – a health service free for all – is highly prized in terms of British identity. It’s embedded in the psyche of the UK – and that makes it relevant to everyone on this island because healthcare could influence people in any future vote on Irish unity. People feel attached to the NHS – but does that service still exist?

Contributors in the first episode include Dr Gareth Hampton- Daisy Hill Emergency Department, Dr Grace Downey – a junior doctor on strike, Dr Karen Humphries – who left the NHS in the north to work as a consultant in the HSE, Deirdre Heenan – professor of social policy at Ulster University, Claire Scott- pancreatic cancer survivor and Dr Tom Black – a GP in Derry.

Journalist Una Kelly said: “I’m really grateful to the people who shared their personal stories with me for this series, especially when they found themselves in difficult circumstances. It’s always a privilege to be granted that time and trust. I met a range of remarkable youth workers, teaching staff, health workers and others who work hard every day for their communities.” 

The remaining episodes in the series will focus on education, housing, paramilitaries, ethnic minorities and the cost of living. See Notes to Editor below for further information.

Radio billings with contributor details and further information will be available weekly on the Radio section of the RTÉ Press Centre https://presspack.rte.ie/

Notes to Editor:  

The episode on education will examine the religious separation of schools dating back to the partition of the island in 1921. More than a century later, only around 7% of children in NI attend a formally integrated school. Why has the pace of change been slow, and what consequences does this have in a post-conflict society?

The housing episode will focus on record waiting lists for social housing and record homelessness as the north is facing an unprecedented level of need for homes. Housing issues have a long political history in the north; discrimination in housing allocation kicked off the civil rights movement. 60 years later, it still resonates in a society facing a lack of affordable homes and residential segregation.

45% of young people in the north are impacted by paramilitaries, according to government officials. One young man tells his story of how he ended up in drug debt to his local paramilitaries and was faced with the prospect of either paying up, joining the organisation or being badly beaten. At one point he tried to take his own life. His friends have been shot, joined up, or are in prison. He describes an ‘endless cycle’ where the only route out is often ‘death or prison’. But he managed to pull himself out of the situation and is now speaking out to let other young people know there is a way out. He describes how paramilitaries operate in plain sight in his community and exercise coercive control over the people there.

From a tiny base, the number of ethnic minority people in the north has grown five-fold in the past 20 years. After decades of conflict, it’s a sign of a more ‘normal’ society, where people see the north as a peaceful destination to live their lives in safety. Inequality and prejudice still exist – ethnic minorities are under-represented in politics and the needs of the community have sometimes been overlooked in policymaking. The community is still reeling after racially motivated violence flared in the summer. In a society that too often views things through a prism of orange and green, what role might ethnic minority communities play in the future of the north?

The episode on cost of living will explore the common perception that life, and houses, are cheaper north of the border. But as the cost-of-living bites, and wages in the north are often well below those in the Republic, ordinary people are struggling.

Meet RTÉ News’ Newest Presenter – Dubliner Florence Okojie

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Dubliner Florence Okojie announced as RTÉ news2day presenter  

First time television presenter Florence Okojie aged 23 from Dublin is the newest addition to the news2day team. news2day is RTÉ’s news service designed specifically for children, featuring Irish and international news of interest to a young audience.

Following a call out by RTÉ to media and journalism graduates across the country, and a comprehensive audition process, Florence was chosen to join the team. She begins broadcasting today, Monday 2 September, on RTÉ News channel and news2day will be available for schools to stream or watch back on the RTÉ Player. After the conclusion of the Paralympic Games, news2day will also return to its usual weekday slot on RTÉ2 next week.

Florence grew up on Dublin’s northside before moving to Stepaside at the age of 16. She attended primary school at St. Marnock’s National School and secondary school at Portmarnock Community School. After fourth year she made the move to the other side of the Liffey. Florence completed her final two years of secondary school in St Raphaela’s in Stillorgan. She went on to study Media & Politics in DCU. After graduating in 2023, she started working as a news reader for Spin1038. Florence loved this job as every day was different. In her spare time, she loves running, sea swimming, reading and doing crosswords.

Speaking about her new presenter and reporter role, Florence said:  “I’m thrilled to join the news2day team. It’s truly a full-circle moment and a dream come true to have gone from watching the show as a child in primary school to now being part of it! Seeing the amazing reports produced over the years has made me excited about what lies ahead. news2day reaches thousands of children across the country, and I feel privileged in helping give primary schools a personal platform while also informing them about important events happening in Ireland and around the world.” 

Florence joins news2day presenter Barry Gallagher from Donegal. Barry has been with news2day since September 2023.

news2day is broadcast Monday-Friday at 4.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ News channel. This week RTÉ’s paralympic coverage will air on RTÉ2 and news2day will broadcast on RTÉ News channel only. news2day will return to RTÉ2 on Monday 9 September. In addition to young viewers tuning in at home, news2day is also watched online on the RTÉ Player in many classrooms throughout the country and used as a teaching tool. Watch Barry and Florence on RTÉ news2day at: www.rte.ie/news2day

NEWS2DAY.
Picture by Shane O’Neill, Coalesce.

RTÉ is supporting 24 arts and cultural events all over Ireland this September

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Watch our promo: RTÉ Supporting the Arts | What’s on – YouTube

This September RTÉ is delighted to support the Arts Council’s Culture Night initiative – celebrating culture, creativity and the arts – along with 23 other events nationwide, spanning theatre, history, poetry, art, music, opera, exhibitions and more.

In Dublin, the Dublin Theatre Festival will bring audiences the best of Irish theatre, while the Fringe Festival will showcase the work of new and emerging artists. The Irish Film Institute Documentary Festival will have an extensive programme of long and short form non-fiction films.

A series of music events, from classical to jazz, will take centre stage in Mayo, Wexford, Waterford, Limerick and Louth, in addition to a literary festival in Wexford and an art and nature festival in Wicklow. In Drogheda, the Seán Corcoran Series will host a programme of traditional and multi-disciplinary arts.

Here are the events supported by the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme this September:

Nationwide We are Music Generation | www.musicgeneration.ie

Dublin Abbey 120 Years | www.abbeytheatre.ie

Dublin Temple Bar Gallery + Studios at Dublin Port: Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home | https://www.templebargallery.com/whats-on/events/longest-way-round-shortest-way-home

Dublin Dublin Theatre Festival | www.dublintheatrefestival.ie

Mayo Westport Festival of Chamber Music |            www.westportchambermusic.ie

Dublin Hilary Heron: A Retrospective | https://imma.ie/whats-on/hilary-heron-a-retrospective/

Nationwide Irish National Opera | http://www.irishnationalopera.ie/

Dublin Dancing at Lughnasa | https://www.gatetheatre.ie/production/dancing-at-lughnasa-gate-theatre/

Dublin National Museum of Ireland – Make a Date with your Museum | www.museum.ie

Dublin Society & State: Ireland Through Its Records | http://www.nationalarchives.ie/news/exhibition-society-state-ireland-through-its-records/

Wexford Write By The Sea Literary Festival 2024 | www.writebythesea.ie

Dublin Dublin Fringe Festival | https://www.fringefest.com/

Wexford New Ross Piano Festival | www.newrosspianofestival.com

Wicklow The Shaking Bog Festival |            www.shakingbog.com

Nationwide Culture Night 2024 | www.culturenight.ie

Nationwide Bangers and Crash Percussion Sextet – An immersive concert featuring composer Brian Irvine  | https://soundwavesmusicspace.com/events/

Dublin Women Impressionists Exhibition | www.nationalgallery.ie

Dublin Agreement | https://www.gatetheatre.ie/production/agreement/

Drogheda Seán Corcoran Series | www.seancorcoranseries.com

Dublin IFI Documentary Festival 2024 | www.ifi.ie/docfest/

Waterford Autumn Concert Season 2024 – Waterford Music | www.waterford-music.org

Limerick Limerick Jazz Festival 2024 | www.limerickjazz.com

Drogheda Boyne TradFest | www.boynetradfest.ie

Carlingford and Dublin Night Watch: Romantic Choral Music from Vienna | Night Watch: Romantic Choral Music from Vienna – Chamber Choir Ireland           

Every year, RTÉ supports 170 arts and cultural events all over Ireland through the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme. Spanning film, music, dance, opera, festivals, literature, theatre and exhibitions, and with dedicated promotion on RTÉ’s television, radio and digital services, and extensive support across RTÉ’s social channels, the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme is a lifeline to Ireland’s creative and cultural sectors. 

To find out more information about RTÉ Supporting the Arts and to apply visit About RTÉ Supporting the Arts – About RTÉ (rte.ie)

Find out what’s happening near you on www.rte.ie/culture

Podcast-inspired docudrama The Nobody Zone: Interview with an Irish Serial Killer heads for Netflix UK & Ireland

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Netflix UK & Ireland has acquired RTÉ Factual’s in-house docudrama The Nobody Zone Interview with an Irish Serial Killer, based on RTÉ Documentary on One’s award-winning podcast.

The 2 x 50 mins docudrama, which will roll out on Netflix on September 1, was produced and directed by Brian Hayes and executive produced by Darragh Byrne from RTÉ Television’s Factual Department. The two-parter is based on RTÉ Documentary on One and Third Ear Denmark’s acclaimed true-crime podcast The Nobody Zone. Since The Nobody Zone was first published in 2020, it has gone on to receive more than five million podcast listens in almost 200 countries. And it continues to receive hundreds of thousands of new listens each year, proving its enduring power as a story by drawing in new audiences at home and abroad.

The TV adaptation blends documentary and drama to draw viewers into the warped world of Kieran Patrick Kelly, an Irish drifter who was arrested in London in 1983 for a relatively minor misdemeanour. During his interview with the police, however, Kelly confessed to a series of brutal murders going back over 30 years, recounting his crimes with spine-chilling candour over 120 minutes of taped interrogation. But was Kelly really Ireland’s most prolific serial killer? Questions remain about the real purpose of his unprompted confession — questions that Byrne and the team of documentary-makers set out to answer with the help of investigators, forensic psychologists, researchers and even a builder who employed Kelly as a casual labourer.

Darragh Byrne from RTÉ Television’s Factual Department said: “It was great to be able to offer a fresh dimension to this story using the ‘lip syncing’ technique that director Brian Hayes so powerfully deploys, producing in-house the highest production standards for an international audience.’’

Liam O’Brien, RTÉ Documentary on One series produce, said: “The original podcast’s success was volcanic and for good reason. Not only was The Nobody Zone a real, untold story — the gold standard for any true-crime title — but its gripping mix of plot twists, tension and raw testimony was better than any Hollywood movie script.”

Edel Edwards, head of programme sales at RTÉ, added: “Darragh, Brian and Liam have done an incredible job of migrating this extraordinary story from podcast to screen. The fact that Netflix has picked it up for Ireland and the UK is more confirmation that the streamers’ appetite for true-crime continues to build — as long as the quality is right.”

RTÉ Submission to Coimisiún na Meán on the Broadcast Moratorium

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Further to the Consultation Document issued by Coimisiún na Meán on the Broadcast Moratorium, RTÉ’s position is outlined as follows:
RTÉ acknowledges the comprehensive consultation document which outlined the policy objectives and background, along with various options in respect of the moratorium.
RTÉ’s position and that of other broadcasters was outlined in the Statutory Report published by the then BAI in March 2023, namely that the moratorium should be removed.
It is RTÉ’s view that Coimisiún na Meán should adopt Option 5, that is, the abolition of the moratorium for election/referendum coverage and that broadcast content would continue to be regulated by the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News & Current Affairs and within this, the election rules (Rule 27).
As it currently stands, it is entirely anomalous that RTÉ online news could report on significant breaking story, particularly one based on disinformation / misinformation in the moratorium period, but that RTÉ television and radio could not report it.
If a story based on misinformation or disinformation emerges in what would be the moratorium period, broadcasters should have editorial freedom to report on this and bring relevant facts into the public domain. This is central to the democratic process in the digital era.
It is RTÉ’s view that this is also consistent with the policy objectives set out by Commission in that it allows a broadcaster the scope to deal with misinformation/disinformation on all platforms, thereby providing voters with equitable access to information.
Placing the obligation on a broadcaster to act within the Code, during that would be the moratorium period, is no more nor no less, than the obligation that already exists throughout the election period.
In all circumstances, it will fall to the broadcaster to make an editorial decision on what stories should be carried during what would normally be the moratorium period, and where a story is published, it will be for the broadcaster to ensure it is in keeping with the regulatory codes and election rules.

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

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RTÉ – in collaboration with Ireland’s independent production sector – will deliver a rich range of distinctive public service content this season. From compelling documentaries that deepen public understanding of historical and contemporary issues, to blue chip natural history series celebrating our island, quality Irish drama and entertainment, as well as the largest selection of cross-platform young people’s content nurturing inclusivity, emotional literacy and environmental awareness in Ireland’s youngest citizens. This new season, RTÉ remains committed to providing audiences with unique Irish content that informs, entertains and inspires, as Béarla agus as Gaeilge.

  • 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.”
Factual 

RTÉ continues its commitment to broadcasting documentaries that reflect and examine Irish life – educating, informing and entertaining audiences by offering a range of diverse insights into Ireland of the past, present and future.

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).
Real Irish Lives

This season, RTÉ shares a range of authentic stories that highlight the vibrant fabric of Irish society, from the Irish experience abroad to the culinary delights of home, and from coming-of-age stories to wise reflections on life.

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.
Entertainment

This season’s entertainment line-up delivers high-quality, homegrown content for the whole family to enjoy together.

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.
Arts & Culture

RTÉ continues to celebrate and support the nation’s artistic and cultural heritage this season, with a rich selection of music, documentaries and celebrations.

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.
Drama

Delivering a fresh season of superb Irish drama, from compelling thrillers to heartwarming comedies, RTÉ showcases the wealth of Ireland’s storytelling talent.

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 a mother would go to keep her baby close. 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

 

RTÉ’s ‘Ireland’s Wild Islands’ earns international acclaim with nominations at two prestigious film festivals

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RTÉ One’s acclaimed natural history series, Ireland’s Wild Islands, has garnered international recognition with nominations at two of the world’s leading wildlife film festivals, Wildscreen in the UK and Green Screen in Germany.

Ireland’s Wild Islands has already made waves in Ireland, having won Best Specialist Factual Series at this year’s RTS Ireland Awards and its success continues.

At the Wildscreen Festival, series presenter Eoin Warner has been nominated in the On-Screen Talent category for his extraordinary voyage around the coast of Ireland in a Galway Hooker. This deeply personal journey, which aired over three parts on RTÉ One last April and May, was undertaken in memory of Warner’s late father, who first introduced him to the wonders of the sea before he tragically passed away.

Wildscreen, known as the largest and most prestigious festival for wildlife filmmakers, celebrates excellence in natural history storytelling. The festival’s Panda Awards are often referred to as the ‘Oscars of the natural history film world.’ 

Eoin Warner said: “I’m so honoured to be nominated at Wildscreen, up against such massive international competition and it’s especially gratifying to be a finalist with such a personal Irish project. Our islands are very special places and vital sanctuaries for some of our most precious and wonderful wildlife”. 

The Green Screen festival, taking place in Germany, stands as Europe’s most significant event for natural history filmmakers, drawing the world’s top wildlife documentarians. Ireland’s Wild Islands has been short-listed as Best Marine Film.

Produced by Crossing the Line Productions and commissioned by RTÉ’s Head of Factual Content, Colm O’Callaghan, Ireland’s Wild Islands is a three-part RTÉ series featuring the hidden worlds and wild creatures of our most remote Atlantic islands and the challenges they face to survive in a rapidly changing world.

Notes: 

Ireland’s Wild Islands is available to watch on RTÉ Player.

The series was produced in partnership with ARTE, Love Nature, WRAP Fund, Tourism Ireland and with the support of incentives for filmmaking provided by the Government of Ireland.

Appointment | Joseph Hoban announced as RTÉ’s new Head of Communications, Marketing and Social

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Joseph Hoban has been announced as RTÉ’s new Head of Communications, Marketing and Social. The role integrates  RTÉ’s full range of communications, marketing and social media operations, including brand strategy.

Joe will now lead RTÉ’s single communications, marketing & social team, delivering an integrated brand restoration strategy for RTÉ and for RTÉ’s channels, content, events, and product brands. Joe will also lead the RTÉ Brand Project and continue to lead the events and partnerships portfolio.

Joe joined RTÉ originally as Senior Press Officer, Television, and has held a number of roles in RTÉ, including Communications and Marketing Manager in Radio, Head of Corporate Communications, and more recently Head of Brand Projects. Joe is a member of the board of the Celtic Media Festival, and was Chair of the Communications Expert Group of the European Broadcasting Union from 2016 until 2024.

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