Retired RTE radio icon Bryan Dobson is preparing to make a comeback on television as the host of a new documentary, reports The Mirror.
After 37 years, the former News at One presenter announced his retirement from RTE in January 2024.
However, the seasoned journalist has revealed he will be back on screen this summer to co-present a documentary focusing on the final Irish missionaries, reports The Mirror.
The Last Irish Missionaries follows Dobson and his co-host Dearbhail McDonald as they trace the distinct history of the Irish missionary movement—from religious colonialism to acts of profound selflessness and charity; from a peak in Irish “soft power” to sordid scandals involving abuse and concealment.
As the era of Irish missionaries comes to an end, Dearbhail and Bryan investigate why numerous Irish priests, nuns, laypeople, and other religious figures felt compelled to spread the Gospel worldwide, reports The Mirror.
They also listen to firsthand accounts of these individuals’ experiences and their global impact.
This documentary is part of a new lineup of shows RTE plans to broadcast this summer on RTE One and RTE Player.
Among these is The Phone Box Babies, which will uncover new information about three newborns abandoned in the 1960s at different locations across Ireland, reports The Mirror.
These infants were found by chance by passersby—in phone boxes and in a car—with no identifying details or clues to their origins.
David McBride, born in 1962, was left in a car parked in a Belfast driveway. John Dowling, born in 1965, was discovered in a Drogheda phone box, reports The Mirror.
Helen Ward, born in 1968, was found in a phone box in Dundalk. Each was adopted and grew up in various parts of Ireland.
This documentary reveals the backgrounds of the babies’ parents, their origins, and the reasons behind their abandonment.
Fifty years later, as adults, they find their connection to one another and embark on an emotional quest to discover their true identities, reports The Mirror.
Mary Robinson also presents her own documentary, Mrs Robinson.
In her own words, for the very first time she will share her battles for justice and equality over more than fifty years; on the streets, in courts, at elections, and within the hidden corridors of power.
Pray for our Sinners follows Sinéad O’Shea’s return to her hometown, Navan, Co Meath, to examine the Catholic Church’s influence on the community in past decades, reports The Mirror.
Through firsthand testimonies, the film exposes the suffering of unmarried mothers; the tragedies of mother and baby homes; and widespread violence against children in Catholic schools.
Listen to the Land Speak features Manchán Magan revealing the deep knowledge and wisdom held within our landscapes and myths, exploring how they have shaped our worldview, reports The Mirror.
Filmed across four seasons, the film unfolds from Winter Solstice to Bealtaine, through Reek Sunday to Samhain.
During his journey, he meets esteemed archaeologists, mythologists, writers, and shamans who provide varied insights into how our ancestors related to the land surrounding them.
The story also takes on a personal dimension—while seeking to mend society’s connection with nature, Manchán discovers a profound illness within himself that changes how he perceives these ancient sites and beliefs, reports The Mirror.
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