The RTÉ Player team share their top picks to watch on RTÉ Player this week.
What’s Trending?
There has been a 35% increase in the number of carers who are aged 85 and over recorded in Census 2016 with thousands of people all over the country spending virtually their entire lives caring for loved ones who are unable to care for themselves. In a specially extended programme, RTÉ Prime Time travels around the country to visit some of those carers and those whom they care for. We meet 85 year old Jack Brennan whose beloved wife, Bernie has Alzheimers Disease and cannot even perform the most basic tasks for herself. Jacinta Walsh (51) from Drogheda takes care of her 18 year-old son Sam who has autism and is learning disabled with a number of health conditions including type 1 diabetes. Teresa Kinsella who is over 80, lives in Castleknock in Dublin and takes care of her daughter Fiona (54) who has an intellectual disability. Carers provide over 6.5 million hours of care per week. On average, carers care for their loved ones for almost the equivalent of a full 40-hour working week with almost 9% providing full-time 24-hour unpaid care and no real break at all. Carers worry that they themselves will become ill, leaving no-one to take care of their relative, and many do. This RTÉ Prime Time full-length documentary is followed by a studio discussion where the issues raised will be debated with carers, experts, and politicians. Watch RTÉ Prime Time – Carers in Crisis, now on RTÉ Player.
What’s New?
My Astonishing Self: Gabriel Byrne on George Bernard Shaw
Internationally-renowned Irish actor Gabriel Byrne explores the life, works and passions of George Bernard Shaw – a giant of world literature, and, like Byrne, an emigrant Irishman who had to leave to be heard. Pygmalion. Saint Joan. Major Barbara. Man and Superman. Heartbreak House. This documentary is the story of the great man behind great works. Gabriel Byrne believes that Shaw is the most relevant thinker, artist, and literary genius Ireland ever produced but one of many that had to leave Ireland to find his focus, his voice, and his soul. In London, the shy teenager from Dublin became an activist, a socialist, pacifist, & feminist. Shaw started out as a campaigner, but turned his street speeches and sermons into plays, theatre and drama. Shaw used his outsider’s perspective to provoke the establishment. He was prepared to stand up against discrimination of any kind: economic, race, or gender. With Ireland in his heart, Shaw made England his home and London his stage. His insight was ageless – his words, quotes and ideas still resonate almost seventy years after his death. Shaw went against the grain: he was a life-long Socialist, Pacifist, Vegetarian and he was a Feminist before the word or concept had arisen. He believed, more than anything, in human beings. Shaw was also a 20th Century Social Media Sensation. He loved photographs, motor cars, naturism, film cameras, self promotion, the brand. This documentary follows the life and influences of George Bernard Shaw, with very real revelations in very real places. From the bed he was born in to the one he died in; from his English home to his Irish heart; from his handwriting as a ‘nobody’ to the words that made him famous. My Astonishing Self features contributions by President Michael D. Higgins, Shaw’s biographer Sir Michael Holroyd, actors Gemma Arterton & Ralph Fiennes, historians Fintan O’Toole, Rachel Holmes & Diarmaid Ferriter, author & comedian Dara O Briain, theatre directors Josie Rourke & Nicholas Hytner, and critic Michael Billington. Watch it now on RTÉ Player.
What Not to Miss?
Neven Maguire follows his recent culinary TV journey around Italy with another selection of Christmas recipes that viewers have come to expect and rely on, in his two new Christmas programmes. His fifth year presenting Christmas programmes, the hugely popular chef is including goose in this year’s menu. In Neven’s first Christmas Menu he prepares Crispy Goat’s Cheese and a delicious Lobster Bisque. Roast Goose, Turkey Satay and Vera’s Sherry Trifle are also included in this programme with Oat Biscuits, Fig and Cranberry Chutney, and Candied Walnuts to finish. In his second Christmas Menu Neven makes delicious Sausage Rolls as well as Sliced Lamb with Blue Cheese and Plums on Toast for starters. He also cooks Rib of Beef and Barley Risotto with Ham. Spiced Cranberry Florentines, mini Custard and Apple Puff Pastry Tarts, and a selection of Cocktails complete Neven’s Christmas Menu. Watch the first instalment of Neven’s Christmas Menu now on RTÉ Player.
Pick of the Week
After the Headlines – Charlie Bird
Veteran journalist Charlie Bird returns to some of the biggest news stories in Ireland and, meeting those at the heart of each case, explores what happened after the cameras stopped rolling and the media spotlight moved on. In the first of three episodes, Lost at Sea explores the evening of January 10th 2007 when the country first became aware of a huge tragedy unfolding off the coast of Dunmore East. A fishing trawler, the Pere Charles, disappeared from radar just a few miles South of Hook Head with 5 men onboard. Other trawlers and rescue services were at the scene within minutes, but the boat had vanished beneath the waves. Despite a massive search, none of its crew were ever seen again. And the storm wasn’t over yet. As the country watched in horror, news of another boat in difficulty began to emerge. On the same night, just 30 miles away, another trawler, the HoneyDew II disappeared without a trace. In all 7 fishermen where lost that night and none of their bodies were ever recovered. 10 years on Charlie Bird meets some of the families and friends of those lost at sea and reveals a fishing community still haunted by the loss. Watch now on RTÉ Player.