Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

How does a petite, not-particularly-sporty advertising executive become a world record breaking power lifter? Clare Connolly is pushing herself to her physical and psychological limits to lose fat, gain muscle and to try to lift twice her bodyweight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During World War Two, 32 Irishmen spent five years in captivity at the Farge Concentration labour camp. They became known as "Hitler’s Irish slaves". In 2014, we joined the last survivor of that group, as he travelled back to Germany for one final visit. For over 60 years, Harry Callan suffered from recurring nightmares because of this era. (2014)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1984, a 15 year old girl gave birth to a baby boy beside a grotto in Granard, Co. Longford. Bothe she and her son had died. This documentary looks at the impact this story had on the nation. (Broadcast 1996)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Ancient Ireland, Fairs were a social gathering, for buying and selling - but they were also a place where you could hire labour - men, women and children. Claire Cunningham examines the intracies of the Irish Fair, most particularly, the Strabane Fair.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Brown has handicapped the Liffey Swim for 25 years. 2009 was his last year - The Curious Ear was there. Joe Brown has handicapped the Liffey Swim for 25 years. 2009 was his last year - The Curious Ear was there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garda John Wilson awoke one night to find a rat tied to the front door of his home. He was shocked but not surprised - John Wilson is a Garda Whistleblower; the man who exposed a culture of 'ticket-fixing'. What's it like to be a whistleblower?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of a laughing Irish 'quizzer' - John Nolan runs table quizzes, he hosts a quiz show on his local radio station. In October 2013, John travelled to Liverpool to compete at the European Quizzing Championships. Does he have what it takes to win?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports people will tell you it’s not a real sport and actors will tell you it’s not acting - the world of Irish pro wrestling and the rise of one of its biggest stars 'Sheamus' from small Irish venues to entertaining 50,000 people at Madison Square Garden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A beautiful, yet tragic story - of how the lives of two boys born profoundly disabled in 1960's Ireland took incredibly different paths - based entirely on how their families came to grips with the situation (2007)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Documentary On One team travelled to various parts of Ireland to record memories of Christmasses past and wishes for this Christmas – in letters to Santa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster Paddy O’Gorman hears from the young Irish who left for London as Ireland was deep in recession. Making home in Britain wasn’t easy as accommodation, jobs & social welfare were difficult to secure. London brought hope to many but also the grim reality of those working in uncertain employment from building sites to Soho sex clubs (1984)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tale of puppy love: Ger Philpott with his three beautiful dogs - Frost, Thunder and Drizzle and his quest to have a litter of puppies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Dr. Noel Browne proposed a new mother & baby scheme that would lead an Irish government into political chaos in 1950. If introduced, it would have allowed free health care to mothers & their children up until the age of 16. In the end, the scheme failed, but who exactly was to blame; the doctors, politicians or bishops? (1980)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A story about hearing voices - and learning to live with them. About how your past shapes your future, until you begin to understand it. Do you think that people who hear voices are just plain mad? If so, this documentary might make you think twice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish writer Sheelagh Conway grew up in the village of Limehill, East Galway. A village in rural Ireland enriched with stone walls and flat green fields. Conway emigrated to Canada and became involved with the Women’s Movement. Sheelagh returned home with RTÉ Producer John Quinn to recall her childhood, her memories & the people of Limehill (1994)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diving for buried treasure no longer the story of fairy tales – with over 17,000 shipwrecks recorded in Irish waters, do we think about what lies beneath these seas?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In '48 The Irish Government enacted the Republic of Ireland Act. Legislation that officially closed the door to British Rule and association. A topic that was discussed throughout every home & church across Ireland over 70 years ago but what did it to mean to Irishmen and Irishwoman. We hear from politicians guiding Ireland through this time (1949)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1930 a boat set sail from Southampton carrying 29 Lions rugby players on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. 83 years later, a woman from New Zealand is delivering a very special relic from that tour to the Dunne family in Dublin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you search 'November 22, 1963', you get lots on the death of JFK, but lots more happened in Ireland that day: births, deaths, dinner in the middle of the day. Even small boys cheting their grannies out of chocolate. Plenty really.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela has always wanted children, but in the absence of Mr Right, she took an alternative route to motherhood. She chose artificial insemination - and a sperm donor from Denmark. The question is, would it work? Would she finally have a baby of her own?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.