Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

Matthew O'Brien from Meath has been counting down to Thursday 17th December 2015 for over a year - the day when the new Star Wars film ‘The Force Awakens’ opens in cinemas worldwide. Matthew has been hooked on Star Wars since he was 4 years old and he invites us into the curious world of a serious Star Wars fan (2015).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two sisters in one Dublin family joined convents, one in Canada, one in Leitrim. Then both women left religious life. At the time, their ‘baby’ brother, Kevin, was too young to understand what was going on. Now, 50 years later, he’s decided to find out. (2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s talk that a papal visit might be on the cards in a few years time. We look back to that other papal visit in 1979, and how – all because of an attack of the poisonous yellow weed ragwort - dairy farmer Terry Grant’s field came to be known as the Pope’s Field. (Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist Shane Stokes follows cyclist Sam Bennett on his first tour de France. Sam grew up in Tipperary and has battled injury, self doubt and the weight of expectation to perform at the highest level in sport. We hear the stories of those battles as the peloton makes its way to Paris during the summer of 2015. (First Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Irish nurse in Saudi Arabia records her life on her phone. At first, it’s the differences in the Middle East but the phone becomes an audio diary of her unravelling life back in Mayo and Kerry. She and her partner struggle to maintain their strained relationship by Skype. Themes: Emigration, Happiness, Relationship, Romance, Travel, Women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 yrs ago Nora Nic Con Ultaigh’s learned of an unusual family story – that her great-grandfather from Galway was once, reportedly, the owner of a Caravaggio painting. Could this be true? Did a work from the great Italian artist once reside in Tuam? If so, where is it now? Nora sets off on a trail – hoping to find some answers (Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In February 2013 St. Brendan’s Mental Hospital at Grangegorman, Dublin finally closed after 199 years. When artist Alan Counihan heard about the personal possessions left behind of people with mental health problems, who had been in this psychiatric institution, he took some of these items home to investigate. Speaking with people who knew life inside the hospital, Alan met with former patients, psychiatric nurses and the hospital Chaplain as they reveal the true nature of life inside the building that, in its day, was known by many names - The Grange, Brendan's, The Mental, The Puzzle Factory. (First Broadcast 2015) Produced by Alan Counihan and Nicoline Greer. Narrated by Keelin Shanley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Gardai entered a chalet on Mayo's Northwest coast in April 2014, they found a scene of desperation and solitude. Scattered amongst the rubbish lay the body of Marsha Mehran, 36. Marsha, an Iranian born, international bestselling author was a recluse and died alone. How did Marsha come to die at the foothill of Croagh Patrick? (Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 2015, earthquakes in the Asian country of Nepal result in over 8,500 deaths. Half a million homes lost. Tim Desmond travels to see the destruction and poverty first hand. Meeting families who lost relatives, livelihoods and farms, Tim examines how a country copes with disaster. Can new technology help improve things? (First Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Dylan Haskins was eleven years old he and his Dad were driving along an Irish road, when a voice boomed out of the radio: “James Haskins, you have been sentenced to death by hanging.” Dylan’s Dad almost crashed the car. Years later, Dylan sets out to unravel a family mystery, and tries to finish what his late father began by answering the question: Is he related to the last man hanged in Wicklow Gaol? And what was the heinous crime that James Haskins committed in order to deserve the ultimate punishment in 1843. (First broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johnny Jameson is a Meath born DJ living in London who entertains Irish emigrants with music and one-liners. He's also a man with an incredible past which includes working with Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, The Monkees and the Miami Showband - as well as meeting Nixon, Springsteen and Bon Jovi! (Broadcast 2015) Themes: America, Music, CommunitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In July 2014, Donegal TD, Joe McHugh became Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs. Only problem? Last time Joe spoke Irish was in school. He had to learn the language fast. We follow him over the last 12 months as he faces criticism, a public deadline and gets to grips with a language politics forced upon him (Broadcast 2015).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 19th, 2011, a young Irish woman named Grace Farrell froze to death on her makeshift cardboard bed in the doorway of St Brigid’s church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It was the coldest night of that New York winter. She was just 35 years old. A few days afterwards, Grace`s friend Emmanuel, who'd also emigrated from Ireland to the US, wrote a story about her for the New York Times. Here, Michael Kealy tells the story of Grace, a Drogheda woman who emigrated to America in the mid-1990s in search of a new life. A tale of two emigrants. (First Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Séamus Darby was the Offaly hero who scored a late goal in the All-Ireland football final of 1982 depriving Kerry of their historic 5-in-a-row. He tells the story of how one of the most famous goals in GAA history impacted on his life and family and a journey which took him from Ireland to the UK and back to Tipperary where he now lives. (2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With over 25,000 weddings taking place every year in Ireland, it’s a very competitive industry for wedding bands. We follow bands from Dublin, Cork and Limerick whose full time job it is to give newlyweds in love a night they’ll never forget – and keep the dance floor moving, despite all the different tastes in music! (First Broadcast 2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Breslin is desperate to find a way around the spiralling rents that are being charged for Dublin property.And she thinks she has hit on the perfect solution - acting as a guardian for properties that need to be protected from robbers and squatters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After seven years of trying to have a baby, Dublin couple Rachel and Daniel have decided to try to complete their family through the emotionally turbulent and expensive surrogacy route. We follow them as they go to America and find a surrogate mother, a donor egg and hopefully, a baby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick O’Connell was a superstar and a cheat.  He was a superstar of soccer in Ireland, Britain and Spain and cheated on his family. He married two women with the same name and same appearance.Patrick, or Paddy O'Connell, played for Ireland in the early days of the national game; he led the country to its first Home Championships title in 1914. He was tall, broad-shouldered, good-looking and robust: he played the final game against Scotland with a broken arm. Narrated by Flor MacCarthy and Richard Fitzpatrick.Additional recording by Fergal McGuire and Colm O'Connor. Produced by Richard Fitzpatrick with Ronan Kelly. (2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Galway barber, Michael 'Chick' Gillen of Dominick Street is known as one of Galway's most famous characters. A man with a larger than life personality, an accomplished boxing trainer and barber. Two decades ago, we spent time with both Chick and his clientele as they talk their through the world of hair and life. (2000)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This multi award winning documentary is about Tralee man, Eric Roche - a world class virtuosic guitarist - and his younger brother Bryan. Considered by many as Ireland's greatest ever guitarists, this is a story of love, music, life and brotherhood. (2009)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.