RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy (above) at RTÉ’s new season launch in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, this morning with environmental activists Saoi O’Connor (left) and James Dunne; also left from top: Tubridy with Dermot Bannon; Rebecca Gimes, Marty Whelan, Neili Conroy and Tina Kellegher; Eileen O’Higgins, Demi Isaac Oviawe, Tubridy and Anna Geary; Anna Geary, Brian Redmond, Lorraine Barry and Donncha O Callaghan
This morning.
Montrose, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
As you may have spotted earlier, RTÉ launched its new schedule for the forthcoming season.
The season includes factual content:
Quinn Country: “The story of how a billionaire became a bankrupt prisoner, brought down by the collapse of a multibillion-euro gamble on shares in the Anglo Irish Bank, the financial domino which toppled Ireland into economic collapse. Consisting of three 60-minute episodes the makers of this series have been granted unprecedented access to Sean Quinn.”
The Redress Board: “Twenty years after the ground-breaking documentary series States of Fear, RTÉ returns to the stories behind Ireland’s industrial schools and asks, have we learned anything? ”
The Teenage Ambassadors: “Natasha Maimba and Minahil Sarfraz met whilst growing up as asylum seekers in Direct Provision, their childhoods spent in cramped caravans on the outskirts of Athlone. Finally granted leave to remain, this film will follow the journey of these articulate, intelligent and funny young women as they prepare to sit their Leaving Cert exams.
The Yellow Brick Road: “Be it an issue of loneliness, unemployment, relationship, a phobia, anxiety or addiction, four carefully chosen Fairy Godmothers Claire Fullam, Noel Sutton, Greg Xavier and Jordan Dunbar will listen, offer advice and support those in need.”
Brendan Grace – Thanks for the Memories: “A three-part documentary which began following Brendan Grace on his journey to put on a show with the Forget-Me-Nots choir and a group of his showbiz friends in the Olympia Theatre. Then, Brendan got sick. At first with pneumonia, then with cancer. The series changed focus immediately and went from a documentary about a man fighting to put on a show, to the story of a man fighting for his life.”
The Rotunda: “Award-winning series returns this Autumn with eight episodes charting the highs and lows of pregnancy and childbirth in the world’s longest running maternity hospital.”
Pulling with my Parents: “In this brand-new series for RTE 2, a generation who have only known digital dating, let their parents take control of their love lives, including their apps! Can a parental filter help unlock the conundrum of modern hook-ups? Or will ‘Grindr’ be too much for Mum to handle?”
My Big Day Home or Away: “In each of the four episodes, a loved-up engaged couple is given the services of two top class wedding planners, Tara Fay and Bruce Russell. One planner arranges a wedding at home, in Ireland, one plans a wedding away, somewhere fabulous and foreign.”
First Dates Ireland: Ireland’s favourite daters are back for another series which sees hopefuls search for love over the course of dinner in central Dublin. Over 4,000 people applied for the upcoming series, which will air on RTÉ Two early in 2020.”
Niall Tóibín: With exclusive access to rare family archive and countless excerpts from his TV shows, movies and stand up performances, this documentary is a rare insight into one of Ireland’s greatest comical minds. Featuring interviews with all of Niall’s children as well as Pierce Brosnan, Gabriel Byrne and Jim Sheridan.
Ar Son na Poblachta returns to RTÉ One screens in October 2019 as the decade of centenaries continues. Episode one is The story of the life and death of Private George Duff Chalmers – Born in Edinburgh 1902 executed by the IRA in June 1921 and buried in a bog in Co Clare for almost 100 years. Episode 2 deals with Thomas Hodgett, who was abducted from his home never to be seen alive again.
All Hands on Deck: “During each hour-long episode, Francis Brennan will gain an insight into what life is like for the ship’s 1,600 crew members by stepping into the shoes of three of the most senior onboard roles: Maitre ‘D, Entertainment Director and Hotel General Manager.”
Raised by the Village: “After a hugely successful pilot series, Raised by the Village returns for four-part series, featuring 8 teenagers from Darndale, Neilstown, Swords, Waterford and Dundalk. The teenagers are embraced by families in Roscommon, Leitrim, Laois and Donegal.”
Sirloin Steaks & Semtex: “Documentary told by Brian Kerr and the League of Ireland players who made the trip to Libya to play against the Libyan national side in 1989 when he Gadaffi regime was public enemy number one.
“The film uses the RTE Archive to contextualise the overt and covert links between Libya and the Irish State in the 1980s – as beef went one way in major deals between Irish beef barons and Gadaffi’s State while guns came the other way as Gadaffi backed the Provisional IRA as a proxy force in his war on the West.”
Children of the Troubles: Joe Duffy explores the lives and tragic deaths of the children who were killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Building Ireland: Join our team of experts in Architecture, Engineering and Geography as they explore and celebrate some of the finest examples of Ireland’s building and engineering heritage.
DIY SOS Ireland: “‘The Big Build’ is an inspirational and feel-good format for RTÉ One, which will see a deserving family facing hugely difficult personal circumstances get a significant home makeover to help improve their quality of life. Presenter Baz Ashmawy and his team of experts set out to renovate the homes of deserving families, changing their lives.”
Beyond The Menu: “Presented by award-winning chef, Mark Moriarty, this exciting series goes behind the kitchen doors at some of Ireland’s top restaurants run by young chefs.”
Goodbye House: “The series features downsizers from all walks of life and from all over Ireland, who are looking for new beginnings.”
The Test: “From Cork, Donegal and Limerick, across the Midlands to Dublin and Wicklow, each episode will follow the journeys of learner driver as they are put through their paces before taking their driving test.”
Cat Hospital: “Nestled in the leafy environs of Glanmire near Cork City sits Ireland’s only purpose-built cat veterinary hospital. The cameras follow Claire Meade and her team of veterinary specialists as they attend to some poorly felines.
Home Rescue: “Architect Róisín Murphy and builder Peter Finn and the crew are back to rescue six cluttered houses around Ireland.
Mary Black – Only a Woman: “A documentary celebrating the Irish Singer.”
Changing Ireland: “A look at the effects of Social Entrepreneurs on the people whose projects they are designed to assist.”
As regards drama and comedy, RTÉ writes: