Documentary On One - Rté Documentaries

How a 'joke' helped free a man from the racism of the U.S. Navy. The remarkable story of Lanier Phillips who survived a shipwreck and prejudice. He died last week and his story is told by Chris Brookes. (Battery Radio documentary for RTE, Ireland.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1984, the first TV reports from the famine in Ethiopia in Africa aired. They had a profound effect on the nuns of The Little Sisters of the Assumption. As trained nurses, they decided to go and help. Although surrounded by great death and sorrow, the sisters felt a bond with the people and learned from them. (First Broadcast 1990)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LARPing is a new 'sport'. Live Action Role-playing. Participants pretend to be mythical creatures the like of which you'd find in 'Lord Of The Rings'. Sounds crazy but suspend your scepticism and enjoy Robert McDonald's feature. (Audio documentary RTE)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irishman, Les Dougan, worked as an emergency operator in Melbourne when, in 2008, radio producer, Kyla Brettle, eavesdropped on the kinds of calls he and his colleagues took. A tense, sometimes distressing listen. (ABC Radio on RTE Radio Ireland)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's a former Jesuit, former hotelier, an art lover, gay, contracted HiV - what more can be said? Lots. (A short Irish audio documentary from RTE Radio, Ireland)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We go in search of the truth behind one of Ireland's worst maritime disasters, the sinking of the St Patrick Vessel. A cross channel passenger ferry on the Rosslare-Fishguard route which was targeted by the German Air Force during World War Two, resulting in the death of 30 people. (2012)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pearse Hutchinson was a fiercely interesting man with hundreds of stories to tell. He spent his life as a translator, a poet, a broadcaster and a writer - travelling around the world from the 1950's onwards. He passed away on January 14th 2012.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Irishman in San Francisco who relaxes from selling broccoli by going out and recording ordinary people with extraordinary stories: like the woman who makes erotic Barbies or the man who was the Naughty Santa. (An audio documentary - RTE Radio Ireland)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why move to a rock in the ocean? Cape Clear Island, the most southerly inhabited part of Ireland, is home to Chuck and Nell Kruger. 20 yrs ago they moved to the island to write, to host a storytelling festival and to become part of one pretty large familySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dublin poet, Colm Keegan, lived in a Ballymun tower block until he was 5 years of age. Despite that young age, he has vivid memories of the place. While the towers were being demolished, Colm brought reporter Daniel Carroll along for a visit to his past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1968, writer John Healy published a work that made Charlestown, Co. Mayo famous: "No One Shouted Stop: Death of an Irish Town". In 2007, to gauge the economic life of the town, RTE Radio reported on a day in the life of a local petrol station.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2006, three people died tragically in the Dublin suburb of Firhouse. The media were criticised for distressing the local people with its behaviour; what actually happened was more nuanced. (A short Irish documentary from Ronan Kelly, RTE Radio Ireland).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The priest who married a man to his dead fiancée....and other stories on the wedding bus from Manchester to Galway. (A short Irish documentary from RTE Radio Ireland - 2006)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of an unsung hero. Today, Irishman Carson Harte still battles the legacy of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge Regime years after the wars are over. His aim? To get the wounded back on their feet in the most mined country in the world, CambodiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They're just little computers that sit on the dashboard to tell you where you're going. Except there's more: they have voices and irritating, intimidating 'personalities'. (A short Irish documentary from RTE Radio Ireland and ABC Radio Australia)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hate Valentine's Day? You'll love this: a student doc. on romantic break-ups. Ice-cream and a duvet...or laughing it off with the lads? Find out how the Irish like to leave a lover. (A short Irish documentary from Domhnall Marnell for RTE Radio Ireland).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent years, record numbers from the Republic of Ireland have joined the British army. Why? We join the 'Royal Irish' as they fight the 'War on Terror' against the Taliban - in one of the most dangerous places on earth - Helmand Province, Afghanistan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 19 months old, Diana Serra became a child film star in silent movies. She made $2 million in 1924. Her family lost it all and she had to go back to work again. The story of a bizarre childhood and the remarkable woman who emerged from it. (Jan 2006)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A horrible topic: Female circumcision. But it's part of a joyful community ritual. How do you change one without losing the other. In Londiani, Kenya they're trying. It's not straightforward, especially with the men. (Producer: Mairead Cullen)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many events can take place on a bus, but the drivers are the ones who see the whole show. Dealing with the public, grueling shifts, traffic and time pressures make it tough but the job is very rewarding for many. Producer Kintilla Heussaff, spent a day on the No 16 Dublin Bus route and hears from the driver, inspector and passengers (1990)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.