‘Heartbreaking to watch' – RTE viewers left stunned by ‘powerful' Housewife of the Year documentary

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

RTE viewers were left stunned after watching the "powerful" and "heartbreaking" Housewife of the Year documentary.
The documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ciaran Cassidy, had its Irish TV premiere on
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Housewife of the Year had its Irish TV premiere on RTE One last night
Credit: Instagram
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The documentary sparked a strong reaction from RTE viewers
Credit: Instagram
It looked back at the "shocking" Housewife of the Year competition, which ran from 1968 to 1995.
The annual contest saw women from across the country compete for the title live on national television.
The competition celebrated "cookery, nurturing, and basic household management skills" - but what was shown on screens didn't always reflect the reality of life for Irish women at the time.
The
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Former contestants told the story of a resilient generation of women and how they changed a country.
Many recalled their direct experiences of marriage bars, lack of contraception, Magdalene laundries, financial vulnerability, boredom and shame, all while being contestants in the competition.
From 1982 onwards, the competition aired on RTE and featured not just the contest itself but also footage of the women at home.
The documentary has sparked a strong reaction from RTE viewers as many took to
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Sylvia said: "It's sad and frustrating, upsetting, limiting, suppressive for a generation who had to stay at home and look after the family."
Keith wrote: "What an awful country we lived in back then, shocking."
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Marc commented: "Watching Housewife of the Year. Incredibly well put together Irish documentary. Is it shocking? I'd say infuriating."
'INCREDIBLE WOMEN'
Grace said: "Housewife of the Year was a masterpiece of contextualisation - such a clever way to present Ireland of the time.
"These diverse women's stories a microcosm of Irish society. So glad they got the opportunity to share their lived experiences since."
Joanne wrote: "Had the privilege of seeing this at the Toronto Irish Film Festival this winter.
"Such a powerful, sobering, film. More power to these incredible women. To all women."
Another added: "Heartbreaking to watch these stories being told. What some of these women have been put through."