Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

Fr O'Hickey was an Irish Catholic priest and a Professor of Irish at Maynooth College. In 1909 he clashed with the Bishops and establishment over his belief in Irish and duly dismissed. However, Fr O'Hickey didn't go down without a fight.. (Broadcast 1979)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbit Overhead Mi Lord was recorded three years before Dunraven Estate in County Limerick was sold. It follows the last driven pheasant shoot on the estate. It features recordings of the then owner, the 7th Earl of Dunraven. (First Broadcast 1981)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Skehan talks to locals of Bantry, Co. Cork about their concerns for the welfare of the bay and the once thriving fishing industry that was based there in the wake of two major oil spillages. This prescient documentary was made 4 years before the Betegeuse disaster at Whiddy Island in 1979. (First Broadcast 1975).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of how a lost mother was found. Michael O’Keeffe was put into care at aged 2. He did not have any contact with his mother growing up, but 50 years later he decided to look for her and found her in London. (First Broadcast 1994)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A biography of fiddle player, Mickey Finn who was born in Co Kilkenny in 1951. His life was short and tragic for Mickey was addicted to alcohol and drank himself to death. This documentary explores symbiotic relationship between traditional music and alcohol and the consequent waste of this single life. (First Broadcast 2007)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The biography of one of Ireland's most celebrated talents in literature – James Joyce. Born in Dublin in 1882, and best known for Ulysses, this documentary takes a look at the literary legacy left behind from a man of such poetic brilliance. On the centenary of his birth, an array of contemporary writers speak of his life. (First Broadcast 1982)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of sound reproduction began in 1877 when Thomas Edison found a way of causing sound waves to vibrate and be recorded onto tin foil. Then in 1887 the first record was invented. This documentary celebrates 100 years of the gramophone. (First Broadcast 1977)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of Factory Lives; A six part series on factory closures in Ireland taking one example from each decade and examining the causes for the collapse against a backdrop of economic development in this country. Paddy O'Gorman tells the story of the closure, in 1953, of Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath. (First Broadcast 2004)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Irish literature’s greats; George Bernard Shaw is celebrated in this documentary. Born in Dublin in 1856, Shaw initially struggled for success before plays such as Pygmalion brought him to the attention of the theater going public. His plays, criticism, politics and humour are remembered in this tribute. (First Broadcast 1991)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A biography of the fascinating life of James Joyce; a giant of literature in Ireland. We learn why he had such a strained relationship with Dublin and gain an insight into the creation to some of his iconic and award winning works. (First Broadcast 1982)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Storyteller Eddie Lenihan is a master of language. In 1999 Eddie began a campaign that lead to the NRA rerouting the Ennis Bypass around a lone bush at Latoon, near Newmarket-on-Fergus, co. Clare. The bush is the site where the fairies of Munster gather before they set out to do battle with those from Connaught. (First Broadcast 2009)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countess Constance Markievicz is known for her participation in the Easter rising in Dublin in 1916 and her time spent as part of the Irish Cabinet. Members of her family paint a picture of the woman behind the 'rebel', looking at her history in politics, her love of her family and her Ford Model-T. (First Broadcast 2009)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maurice Manning traces the history of the Blueshirts in Ireland. The Blueshirts was the nickname for the National Guard which was an Irish extra-parliamentary security organisation active in the 1930s. Led by Eoin O’Duffy, they provided protection for political groups such as the Cumann na nGaedheal. (First Broadcast 1974)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since it was founded in 1948 the RTÉ Symphony orchestra has seen over 60 of success at the forefront of symphonic music in Ireland. Ever wondered what it takes to be a member of a world renowned orchestra? The Musicians of the RTESO reveal the hard work required along with an account of the orchestra's fascinating history. (First Broadcast 1982)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of a homeless man who swapped the dangers of urban subsistence for the rural forest sanctuary of the Dublin Mountains. For three years he has made the woods his home; it is where he feels safe, but excursions to the city rekindle his old problems. (First Broadcast 2009)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1904, Father John Creagh instigated an economic boycott against the small Jewish community in Limerick and forced a lot of them to leave the city. This documentary has the framework of a diary kept by a fictitious teenage boy during this time. (First Broadcast 1998)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Lang travels to Dingle in Co Kerry, to meet Fungie the Dolphin. Fungie is a friendly bottlenose dolphin, who has lived in the harbor since 1983. Barry talks to the locals about his story and the games the adventurous dolphin likes to play. (1989)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1974, after severe drought, Ethiopia in Africa was devastated by the disaster of famine. Up to an estimated 1 million were left dead. Still under the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie, Ethiopia was an inhospitable destination both politically and geographically. (First Broadcast 1976)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A journey into the realms of Catholic belief. The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is an Irish Catholic fraternal organisation. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in America, but AOH was very active in Northern Ireland in the 1970’s. (First Broadcast 1976)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look at the fascinating life of Co. Mayo poet Paul Durcan. He talks us through his childhood and his award winning work and the experiences that have informed them, including mental health issues after being committed to a psychiatric hospital whilst a student at college. (First Broadcast 1982)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.