 Producers Maurice Kelliher and Shaun O'Boyle explore a global effort to improve brain health and reduce the impact of dementia, in "New Knowledge" In Ireland, more than 55,000 people are living with dementia. In this documentary, we visit the Global Brain Health Institute in Dublin, and meet researchers who are looking for new ways to support people living with dementia, to better understand its causes, and to plan for a future where dementia is on the increase.  "New Knowledge" was produced by Maurice Kelliher and Shaun O'Boyle, and was supported by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the Sound And Vision Scheme. New Knowledge Transcript

Newstalk Documentaries

New Knowledge - Documentary On Newstalk

"Letters from Midwinter" provides a rare insight into the private conversations of women in Ireland between 1970 and 2020, through their personal letters. Produced, written and narrated by Susan Dennehy. The Researcher and Script Editor was Joanna Marsden. The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee. Additional support was provided by An Post.

Letters from Midwinter - Documentary On Newstalk

This week on Documentary on Newstalk - to mark the 60th anniversary of the Irish Wheelchair Association Newstalk is broadcasting "A Boy From The North West".  Producer Susan Dennehy and writer Joanna Marsden team up to tell the story of Donegal-man Jack Kerrigan. Paralysed in a diving accident in 1949, he was one of the first wheelchair users to participate in Irish society and one of the members of Paralympics Ireland's first team in 1960. It is a poignant account of what it was like to be a wheelchair user in Ireland in the 50s & 60s. Jack’s memoirs are read by Mikel Murfi and original music is by Andrew Synott. The programme was made with the support of the BAI, Sound and Vision Grant.

A Boy From The North West: The Jack Kerrigan Story - Documentary on Newstalk

This new radio documentary explores what happened when a physicist asked, “What is Life?” All life on this planet has something very important in common: DNA. It’s packed into every cell of our body, filled with instructions and tools for those cells to do what they need to do. It carries important information from one generation to the next, just as it did from the beginning of life throughout evolution to every living thing on the planet today. ‘What is Life?’ examines the impact of a series of public lectures given by Erwin Schrödinger in 1943 in Dublin, when he attempted to understand the chemistry of life and inheritance. "What is Life?" was produced by Maurice Kelliher and Shaun O'Boyle, and was supported by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the Sound And Vision Scheme.

What is Life? - Documentary On Newstalk

Another chance to hear the critically acclaimed, award winning ‘Coma’. In a small town somewhere in Ireland, a young man lies in a coma. His daily visitors confide in him and reveal their innermost secrets. COMA was produced by Macanna Teoranta and written by Kevin McCann and Peter Murphy Sound recording by Paddy Greenan and Shane O’Connor, with mastering by Maddu Kambamettu and editing by Seamus Callagy The play was performed by Catriona O’Reilly, James McInerney, Michael Olwell, Orla Cahill, Zoe Hickey, Joanne Brennan, Hugh Leddy, Fergal McAloon, Regina Donoghue, and Sean Nulty. COMA was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland via the Sound and Vision Scheme.

COMA - Drama On Newstalk

Centenarian Joe Veselsky takes us on a personal journey through his first thirty years, the most turbulent of the twentieth century in Eastern Europe. ‘No Ordinary Joe' is recounted by Joe Veslesky. Recorded, produced and edited by Éamon Little, with editing assistance from Ted Little. Sound mixing was by Alan Kelly. ‘No Ordinary Joe' was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television license fee, and received a special mention from the Whickers Radio & Audio Funding Award, 2020.

No Ordinary Joe - Documentary On Newstalk

  Journalist Sinead Aherne was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2017.  Breast Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women in Ireland. Most are over 50, but younger women can also get the disease too. Sinead was 32 when she was diagnosed.  Produced and presented by Sinead Ahern, ‘Breast Cancer and Me’ explores life with cancer and life afterwards. ‘Breast Cancer and Me’ originally aired on WLR and was awarded silver in the documentary category at the 2020 IMRO Radio Awards. And was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

Breast Cancer and Me - Documentary On Newstalk

Four stories of separation & reunion. Giving an insight into Ireland’s very recent history when adoption was the number one solution to pregnancy outside marriage. "A Pocket of Time - The other side of the Irish Adoption Story", originally broadcast in April 2014 and was produced by Susan Dennehy. The programme was made with the support of the BAI, Sound and Vision fund.

A Pocket of Time - The other side of the Irish Adoption Story - Documentary On Newstalk

Documentary On Newstalk: A Pocket of Time - The other side of the Irish Adoption Story

Originally aired in 2016, produced by Eric Moylan and narrated by former professional boxer, olympian and Limerick man Andy Lee.  This documentary examines the relationship between the Limerick and sport. A city where there is 101,000 capacity across 5 stadia for a metropolitan population of 105,000 people. What drives the passion for Ireland’s sporting capital? A City's Love Affair was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television licence fee.

A City's Love Affair - Documentary on Newstalk

Breast Cancer and Me

‘From Boxing to Bingo: The Story Of Dublin’s National Stadium’. Producer Brian Byrne tells the story of how the home of Irish boxing came to be home to so much more. It's where U2 signed their first record deal. It's where 16 Irish Olympic medallists got their first licks in. It's where, for the past 40 years, Bingo has been called 3 nights a week. It's where, for the past 4 year, sold-out crowds have come to watch OTT wrestling. And it’s where every Sunday you’ll find the All Nations Church gathered to pray. This 'where', is Dublin's National Stadium. Featuring voices from families for whom the stadium became more than just a building. ‘From Boxing to Bingo: The Story Of Dublin’s National Stadium’ aims to capture some of the magic moments the stadium has borne witness to over the years. CREDITS: ‘From Boxing to Bingo: The Story Of Dublin’s National Stadium’ was produced by Brian Byrne. And was funded by the Sound and Vision scheme. With special thanks to David McCartney, Ann Smith, Sinead Mooney, Gary O'Neill, Aonghus Óg McAnally, John Aherne, Art O'Brien, Francesca Lalor and Cian Hogan. As well as all those at the IABA, Over the Top Wrestling, and the All Nations Church who contributed. Managed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Sound and Vision scheme provides funding in support of high quality programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience.

From Boxing To Bingo: Documentary On Newstalk

Written by Niall Murphy The Fabulous Doctor Singer is based on true events from 1950s Ireland & brings to life the main players involved in a scandalous stamp collection scam that lead to one of the lengthiest court cases in the history of the Irish state. It tells the story of the most unlikely pyramid scheme of the 20th century and the flamboyant huckster, who masterminded it Dr. Paul Singer. Starring Steve Furst, Colin Murphy & Phelim Drew and an ensemble cast featuring Cillian O'Dee, Janet Phillips, Peter Campion, Maurice O'Donoghue, Donagh Deeney, Michelle Read, Marcus Lamb, Liam Heffernan, Gráinne Bleasdale and Sean T Ó Meallaigh this black comedy recounts the tale of an outrageous scam that made fools of the Gardaí, the Attorney General, thousands of investors and the most renowned legal minds of the day. This is a Macalla Teo production; written & directed by Niall Murphy, produced by Cian Mac Cárthaigh with sound supervision by Steve McGrath and Cúán Mac Conghail as Executive Producer. This radio play was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the Sound & Vision funding scheme.

The Fabulous Doctor Singer: Drama On Newstalk

From the Amazon to the Emerald Isle looks at climate change through different eyes in various parts of the world yet all with an Irish link. We hear from Irishmen Peter Hughes and Liam Carey, who have spent a lifetime working in Latin America, about the devastation being caused to the Amazon and its indigenous peoples.

From the Amazon to the Emerald Isle

This weekend, Documentary on Newstalk airs the premiere of ‘The Bots’, in which IMRO-nominated producer Brian Gallagher looks at the lives of those who live, work, study, and relax in the vicinity of Ireland's National Botanic Gardens. The Bots will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 30th August at 7am with a repeat broadcast on Saturday 5th September at 9 pm.  Using a lively mix of interviews, location recordings, sound effects and music, The Bots explores the stories behind one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions, The National Botanic Gardens. Director Matthew Jebb gives an overview of the role of the Botanic Gardens and explains how it hosts six hundred thousand visitors each year.  Matthew also tell of its research role, and how the blight that caused the Potato Famine of the Eighteen Forties was identified by the then director of the Gardens. Blathnaid Farrell, who grew up nearby, reminisces about the Gardens when she was a child, while librarian Alexandra Caccamo tells of a history going back much further, with some books in the library dating back to the sixteenth century. Matthew Jebb talks of the joys of living on site, and tells the story of the Director’s Residence, which predates the founding of the Gardens in 1795. Brendan Sayers gives an insight into the running of the glasshouses, and how tropical heat needs to be generated for some plant species. Glyn Anderson and Charlotte Salter Townsend talk about the guided tours they give, with Glyn reflecting on the refreshment options available to the modern-day visitor. Contributors and visitors reminisce lightly about their memories of the first thing they ever grew, while Ciaran Kavanagh and Alfreda O’Brien, who run the nearby Gravediggers pub, talk about the colourful associations between their premises and the Botanic Gardens. John Mulhern, Principal of the Teagasc College of Horticulture, discusses how hundreds of students study at their Glasnevin site within the Gardens, while Felicity Gaffney, the manager of the Visitor Centre, gives details of the surprising range of cultural and artistic events that are staged each year in the fifty-acre grounds. Matthew Jebb tell of the wildlife he’s encountered while living on site, and Colin Kelleher talks of his role as a taxonomist and the task of naming the vast numbers of specimens that have been catalogued in the Gardens. The programme concludes with contributors revealing what the Botanic Gardens means to them, and their hopes for its future. Quotes from THE BOTS: “The first place we made for was the glasshouse.  And when you went in the heat would just hit you.  In those days you wouldn’t have central heating at home – so that was super.”  Blathnaid Farrell, childhood visitor to the Botanic Gardens. “Our back garden is about an acre and it backs onto the Botanic Gardens and the cemetery.  The neighbours are basically the cemetery people and plants.” Ciaran Kavanagh, The Gravedigger Pub. “One of the real pleasures of the job is that I wake up at work each morning.” Matthew Jebb, Director, Botanic Gardens. “Our book collection extends back to the Fifteen Thirties.” Alexandra Caccamo, Librarian. “The pub, the cemetery, the Botanics, it’s like the Bermuda Triangle – you do disappear in that triangle in Glasnevin, and before you know it, four hours have passed.” Alfreda O'Brien, The Gravedigger Pub. “In the Herbarium there are about six hundred thousand dried specimens”.  Colin Kelleher, Taxonomist. “The world is changing quite a lot, and I think the big positive is that more and more people are paying attention to the natural world.” Charlotte Salter Townsend, tour guide. “It took 25 years to put it together.  There are 11 kilometres of glazing bars in this building, and it’s a work of art.”  Matthew Jebb, Director, Botanic Gardens. “I used to go into the hothouse - when I missed Italy.” Ciaran Kavanagh, The Gravedigger Pub. CREDITS: The Bots was produced by Brian Gallagher, and funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee. BROADCAST: The Bots will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 30th August at 7am with a repeat broadcast on Saturday 5th September at 9 pm. Podcast goes live after first broadcast. LISTEN LIVE ONLINE: 'The Bots can also be listened to online at: www.newstalk.com PODCAST: The Bots is broadcast as part of the Documentary and Drama On Newstalk Series, which showcases the best of original, homegrown and groundbreaking Irish Radio features. Podcast full series here:  https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/page/1/filter?filter_selected=show-filter&show=documentary-drama-newstalk&series=all Listen and subscribe to Documentary on Newstalk on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.        

The Bots: Documentary On Newstalk

Newstalk 106-108 FM features many documentaries from the plight of the Malawi people to video documentaries on Aurora Borealis.

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Newstalk Documentaries

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