Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

The story of Christine and Dominic Meenagh; a visually impaired couple. Their son Declan is also visually impaired. They go through their daily routines and the history of their health and disability. Christine works as a telephonist and Dominic is a house husband. Featuring the positives and difficulties of their lives. (First Broadcast 1990)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Irish think we handle death better than most. But two Limerick women, Sinéad and Katie, don’t necessarily agree. They want to explore death in a humorous, yet deadly serious way. By holding a series of workshops, they invite people to share their hopes, fears and experiences of death, which they do, just not in the way you'd expect... (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look at the struggles for men and women on social welfare. Unfairly called ‘spongers’, these unemployed people talk about what it is like to be ‘on the dole’. Qualified teachers and tradesmen reveal the complexities of the welfare system and the difficulties they have in trying to find work. (First Broadcast 1978)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life in darkness, miners speak of life below ground dealing with explosives, accidents on the job, workplace strikes and real fact of those who die in the mines. The lack of death inquest and frustration with management. The Ashington Colliery mine created many jobs as well as stories and folk songs, which we hear in this documentary. (1978)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish whiskey was once the most popular spirit in the world with distilleries located across Ireland. Presenter Al Byrne delves into the history of whiskey and its production in Ireland. Al visits Middelton distillery to see firsthand the production of whiskey, hearing from whiskey tasters, coopers, production staff and the Power family. (1979)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer and Broadcaster John Theocharis presents a personal odyssey through the city of his birth, Alexandria in Egypt. After 30 years John revisits his old city and joins one barber in a small barber shop to hear how life has changed since he left. Mr George, a local philosopher would recall stories told to John and his school friends. (1998)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Documentary On One team selects extracts and short documentaries from their online archive to mark the spookiest night of the year. From being buried alive to making your own coffin. Bodysnatchers who are snatched by death and horror movies that are a scream to watch. (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Cooke is from Dublin. At age 9 she developed epilepsy and suffers about 15 seizures every day. Since leaving hospital at 17 in a wheelchair, she has used running to help her recovery and deal with her illness. She now runs marathons. Despite long-term stays in hospital and frequent seizures, Katie wants to live as normal a life as possible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2016 Hollywood movie tells the story about Irish soldiers besieged in Congo in the 1960s. Some years earlier, radio producer, Tom McGuire spoke to survivors of the battle. They told of the confusion around their role and the UN's failure to learn lessons from their ordeal. (2004)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'In Good Cheer' goes beyond the bottle to meet the numerous personalities and the heritage involved in producing Ireland's very own liquid gold. Presenter Julie Duane who once worked in the laboratory at Irish Distillers visited Bushmills Distilleries, the oldest licensed distillery in the world in Midleton Co Cork and Co. Antrim. (1998)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The seanachai or storyteller has been part of the Irish folk tradition for years. In 1992 in The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Co. Down in Northern Ireland, ‘yarnspinners’ from the North and South and the U.K. gathered. With recordings of funny and poignant stories. (First Broadcast 1992)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan Keenan examines the support available to people who would like to setup a business by following the efforts of Harry Lynam as he engages with the Industrial Development Authority to try and get his company Lake Electronics off the ground. (1980)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The history of cursing stones in counties Mayo and Sligo. There are many superstitions relating to the stones going back to pagan times. It is said that no matter how many people count the stones, they will come up with different amounts and the stones were used to curse enemies. (First Broadcast 1977)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mountjoy Prison in Dublin is the oldest prison in Ireland. In this documentary an ex-convict gives an account of the everyday routine for the incarcerated men. He gives the history of his crimes and how he was remanded on charges from armed robbery to assault. He discusses loneliness and missing the joys of everyday life. (First Broadcast 1983)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two women, born almost 50 years apart, recall meeting their husband, falling in love and marrying. We hear the contrast in experiences as they prepare for the big day and as time passes after the wedding day itself, we hear our brides reflect on the inevitable adjustments that happen as they settle into the rhythm of married life. (1989)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of pigeon racing has been transformed by big money deals and the €310,000 sale of a champion named Bolt. But where does the sport in Ireland figure in this world? We follow fast talking Dubliner John O’Brien and a host of characters as they compete in a 200km from Cork to Dublin (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Gorbachev’s Russia of 1988, perestroika was a political movement which reformed the Communist Party and the country as a whole. The development had impacts on culture, religion and society in Moscow and Leningrad at the time. Censorship was lifted on the playing of rock music and the Bolshoi and Kirov theatres expanded. (First Broadcast 1988)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John S Doyle describes life in Mexico as he travels through Mexico City and Oaxaca encountering different people and hearing their stories. John also speaks to UCD's Declan Kiberd on his unusual meeting with former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. (1997)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peadar Mercier, the first ever professional bodhrán and bones player, captured the pulse of Irish traditional music. 25 years after his death, his son Mel traces his father's unique life story - from his protestant heritage, to world tours with The Chieftains & a 10 year adventure with composer John Cage into the world of experimental music. (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of the author Anna Maria Hall; born in Dublin in 1800. She moved to the U.K in 1815 and married Samuel Carter-Hall, often publishing under the name of Mrs. S. C. Hall. Anna joined Samuel in travelling through Ireland in the 1820s and 30s, and her writing often included social commentary on her native land. (First Broadcast 1981)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.