Former RTÉ legend makes surprise return to national broadcaster
Retired RTÉ Newscaster Bryan Dobson will make a return to our television screens this summer with a new documentary he co-presents with Dearbhail McDonald.
The former News at One host who is 65, retired from the State Broadcaster in January 2024 after 37 years hosting both radio and television news programmes.
This new documentary 'The Irish Missionaries' is among a slew of new home produced programmes set to hit our screens this summer and will see Dobson and co-presenter Dearbhail McDonald examine the evolution of the 'Irish Missionary Movement', from the cover ups of countless reports of abuse to heroic acts of self-sacrifice and philanthropy. Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald feature in The Last Irish Missionaries documentary. Pic: RTÉ
The Documentary also sees Dearbhail and Bryan exploring why so many people feel called to the religious life and felt compelled to spread the Gospel in some of the most remote parts of the globe.
Another programme set to air this summer is 'The Phone Box Babies', which tells the stories of three newborns who were all abandoned in the 1960s in different parts of Ireland. The programme brings together these three strangers with very similar beginnings as babies, across different parts of the country.
Random passersby had discovered the infants in phone boxes, and in a car, without any identifying information or clues as to where they belonged. Helen Ward, John Dowling and David McBride who feature in The Phone Box Babies. Pic: RTÉ
This new documentary uncovers details about the babies' `birth parents, where they were born, and why they were given up, and sees them come together as adults 50 years later, to embark on an emotional rollercoaster journey to uncover their true identities.
Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson will also present her own programme entitled 'Mrs Robinson' in which she will look back over her career to date with particular emphasis on her struggles to right the wrongs on the battles for justice and equality over the last 50 years.
All in all, a number of interesting home grown programmes to watch out for this summer season.
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