For summer 2014, RTÉ’s television schedule promises new series, documentaries, family shows and exciting sports programmes. Between RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and RTÉjr, a variety of programmes are on offer including brand new series like ‘Callan’s Kicks’, ‘How to be Happy’, ‘The Shelbourne’, and children’s series ‘Boj and Buddies’. RTÉ favourites like ‘The Rose of Tralee’ and ‘Saturday Night with Miriam’ will also return.
Following a successful programme on New Year’s Eve and its ongoing success on RTÉ Radio1, a full series of ‘Callan’s Kicks’ will screen this summer. The six-part weekly sketch show charts the events of the moment, parodying Ireland’s celebrities, media culture, sports stars and politicians. ‘Shakedown the Town’ , presented by Aidan Power, is another brand series, this time a treasure hunt show in which two teams compete for a family holiday.
In ‘How to Be Happy’, psychologist Dr. Maureen Gaffney invites people from across the country to participate in workshops that show how one can improve their happiness. Another new, inspirational series is ‘Way to Go? Death and the Irish’. Presented by Norah Casey, it features first-hand experiences of healthcare professionals and people who are dying who speak openly and honestly about going through the last months of their lives. Meanwhile, ‘Sisters of Science/Deirfiúracha na hEolaíochta’ allows us to rediscover the stories of four remarkable Irish women who remain largely unknown and uncelebrated though they have had world class achievements. The documentary feature ‘No Limbs No Limits’, which tells the inspiring story of Joanne O’ Riordan, who was born with total amelia, will also be broadcast.
The summer schedule will also feature documentaries of well-known Irish personalities on a mission. An hour-long documentary called ‘Room to Improv’ follows Tommy Tiernan across nine European countries on a whistle-stop tour as each night he improvises from scratch. Meanwhile, John Creedon is on a journey to find out everything he can about the Irish weather, including how it has shaped our landscape and nation, in a new three- part series for RTÉ One called ‘Four Seasons in One Day’.
Other Irish presenters returning to the small screen include Miriam O’Callaghan, who is now in the tenth series of her entertainment show, ‘Saturday Night With Miriam’, and Donal Skehan, who brings viewers a new series of ‘Kitchen Hero’. Skehan looks back over the last 50 years to a generation that cooked far more with a far smaller choice of ingredients. Another favourite that will return is ‘The Rose of Tralee’, which Dáithí Ó Sé will present live as Roses from around the world compete to be crowned the 56th Rose of Tralee.
RTÉ also marks the centenary of World War I with a special season of programming across television, radio, mobile and online. In ‘My Great War’, a two-part RTÉ One documentary series, descendants of a young generation of Irish soldiers will journey from Ireland to Europe to hear their history. John Bowman and guests will also discuss Ireland’s role in the Great War and its aftermath. ‘Nationwide’ will have a week of special programmes commemorating WWI with stories about the regiments who took part.
Several documentaries will be included in the new season including ‘The Shelbourne’, an observational documentary series following four months in the exclusive life of The Shelbourne hotel, and ‘Building Ireland’, a new six-part series in some of the finest examples of Ireland’s building and engineering heritage are explored. Another new RTÉ One documentary, ‘Michaela, Peru and the Drugs Run’, goes behind the media frenzy to explore how 20-year-old Michaella McCollum ended up in a Peruvian prison having admitted attempting to smuggle 11kgs of cocaine out of the country.
‘Ireland’s Ocean’ is a major four-part wildlife series exploring the wonderful and diverse creatures that live in the seas around Ireland. Also for animal lovers, new series ‘Pet Island’ meets some of the country’s most pampered animals and their besotted owners. Music-wise on RTÉ One, the best of Ireland and Scotland team up with the best of Nashville as ‘The Transatlantic Sessions’ returns for a sixth series.
On RTÉ Two there’s a massive summer of sport in store with the 2014 FIFA World Cup from Brazil beginning on Thursday 12th June. The GAA Championships continues on RTÉ Two with ‘The Sunday Game Live’ and The Sunday Game highlights show too. Racing fans can look forward to live coverage of the Irish Derby and the Irish Oaks from the Curragh as well as four days of live action from the Galway Festival. A star-studded Irish Open Golf returns to Fota Island Resort, and goals and highlights from the Airtricity League Premier Division will air. There will be live Greyhound Racing from Tralee as well.
For those who prefer drama to sport, RTÉ Two will have brand new series ‘Devious Maids’, ‘Reign’ and ‘Resurrection’ - in which the lives of the people of Arcadia, Missouri, are forever changed when their deceased loved ones return - as well as new series of ‘CSI’ and ‘Person of Interest’. The drama continues over on RTÉ One with ‘Fair City’ as Carrigstown welcomes a new family, the O’Brien’s.
Over on Ireland’s dedicated children’s channel RTÉjr, children of all ages will be kept busy during the summer holidays. New series ‘Boj and Buddies’, co-produced by Irish animation company Kavaleer, is about a free spirited Australian Bilby. The ‘Beo Show Virtuoso’ has special summer themed shows while ‘Reuben & Bo’s Beach Hut’ finds the pair having a well-deserved break after their hard work all year.
