Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

Proinnsias O'Conluain spends Christmas with the only five families living on the island of InishTurk off the coast of Mayo. This is to be their final Christmas on the island. A quiet, simple life is coming to an end - as they all plan on moving to the mainland. (1973)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the course of last Christmas Eve, an incredible series of events took place on a remote farm in Co. Wexford involving Santa Claus, his reindeers and the Mulready family. Recorded over the last year, we piece together this extraordinary story where Blitzen, one of Santa’s reindeers got badly injured and needed to be nursed back to health (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An examination of the art of busking. Dick Warner speaks to musicians on the streets of Dublin about the life of a busker. They describe the highs and lows of the job, including travelling around the country and abroad, the attitudes of shopkeepers and the general public. Featuring plenty of music recorded on the streets. (First Broadcast 1977)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This documentary charts the development of Television in Ireland, since the first broadcast on Telefís Éireann in 1961 later renamed as RTÉ. On New Year’s Eve, the first programme was launched by President Eamon De Valera. People across Ireland found homes with a TV set, a rare household item in this era and began to watch this new medium. (1992)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick 'Bob' Gallagher emigrated to the United States from County Mayo in Ireland in 1962. He fought in the Vietnam War and for his bravery was awarded the prestigious Navy Cross medal. Just weeks later, the 23 year old Marine Corporal was killed in combat. A campaign has started to have a US navy ship named in his honour. (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation into the ICP, a firm in America and Ireland that tests new drugs on volunteer healthy humans, before being used on people with diseases. Doctors, Professors of medicine, pharmacologists, nurses, and volunteers for drug testing are included in an exploration of the reasons for testing these new drugs. (First Broadcast 1983)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This documentary looks to the history of the Wexford Festival Opera since its formation in 1951. From the outset the Festival became one of the world’s leading opera festivals. Under its founding director, Dr Tom Walsh, the festival began a steady climb to international success which continues to entertain audiences to this day. (1991)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish writer William Trevor passed away on Nov 20th 2016. To mark his passing we revisit his most well known short story, which was later adapted into a TV film, and which led to teenage obsession that just won't go away. Éamon Little and Eugene O'Brien explore the iconic TV film that coined the phrase 'Will you come into the field, Bridie?’ (2016)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.