Intense, unflinching, at times painfully honest just like the man himself. This feature-length documentary provides unprecedented access to Ronan O Gara's life - public and private - over the final four years of his playing career. The film is a deeply personal chronicle of this dramatic period for one of Ireland's most compelling sporting stars; from losing his place as Ireland s rugby No 10 to his decision to retire and move to France as coach to Racing Metro 92, alongside former nemesis, Jonathan Sexton.
Tommy Tiernan completed a European tour in 2014 where each night he performed without any script or preparation. “The idea came from a realisation over the last couple of years that the bits of the show that were improvised each night were often the funniest bits,” says Tiernan. “Then I started listening to this piano player called Keith Jarrett who does full-length improvised concerts. I asked myself: Is that possible in stand-up?"
This programme documents the results.
There is one question above all others to which Irish people seek the answer: who's died. Comedian Ardal O'Hanlon explores Ireland's obsession with death, via the death notices in the newspapers, on local radio and on websites such as rip.ie. O'Hanlon meets a woman who transcribed death notices for a newspaper and a publican who double-jobs as an undertaker and tries to discover why Irish people like gossiping about death.
Aine Lawlor presents a round-up of the events at the Bloom in the Park festival in the Phoenix Park.
Four people tried to assassinate Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Only one person ever came close - her name was Violet Gibson and she was Irish. Violet spent the rest of her life in mental institutions, forgotten by society and by history.