TV50: The Radharc Squad, RTÉ One, Tuesday 4 December, 10.15pm
The Radharc Squad tells the story of one of the greatest adventures in Irish television history by exploring how of a group of Catholic priests turned filmmakers produced over 400 groundbreaking, influential and often controversial films between 1962 and 1996.
Marking the 50th anniversary of both Radharc and RTÉ, this compelling 2 part documentary series comprises selections from the Radharc archive as well as revealing interviews with key figures and commentators who examine the value and legacy of the Radharc films to Irish broadcasting.
Just over fifty years ago, spotting the likely influence of the soon-to-be-launched national TV broadcaster, Archbishop John Charles McQuaid put together and trained a small group of filmmaker priests, to offer programmes to Telefis Éireann. If the idea was to create a Trojan horse of Catholic influence at the heart of the national broadcaster, some of its consequences were unexpected. This two part documentary tells the story of the Radharc team and its role in the evolution of Irish television and culture.
TV50: Radharc: Down and Out In Dublin, RTÉ One, Thursday 6 December, 11.55pm
To accompany RTÉ’s series The Radharc Squad (Tuesday at 10:15pm), an opportunity to see one of Radharc’s classic early episodes, from 1964, which offered television audiences unprecedented insights into the lives, personalities and beliefs of the capital’s homeless.
TV50: Radharc: Pain Is The Price, RTÉ One, Thursday 13 December, 11.55pm
To accompany RTÉ’s series The Radharc Squad (Tuesday at 10:15pm), an opportunity to see a classic episode of Radharc, which introduced the world to the voice and work of Columban missionary Fr Shay Cullen. Since nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to protect the rights and liberties of poor Filipinos from crime and sexual exploitation, Fr Shay was, in 1978, an unknown, whose stand made him a target for the corrupt Marcos regime. This film gave him a platform and the limited protection of an international audience.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjW72wpRBrQ[/youtube]