
Scannal celebrates two decades of trusted storytelling with
Scannal 20 Bliain
Three one-hour documentaries look back and update some of the biggest stories including:
-The Kerry baby scandal
-Brian Lenihan's on mature recollection' in 1990 Presidential race
-Thierry Henry's hand ball
RT 's much-loved Irish language series Scannal marks its 20th anniversary with three hour-long documentaries this August. The programmes look back at some of the biggest stories covered by Scannal which shocked, appalled, entertained or outraged the nation.
For the last 20years, Scannal has charted Ireland's social history by delving into the scandals that have shaped Ireland. Scannal 20 Bliain will revisit Scannal's most memorable episodes bringing them up to date and looking at what audiences can learn today from those scandals. From Pee Flynn's ill-fated Late Late Show interview to Thierry Henry's hand-ball horror, from the tragic deaths of Ann Lovett and her baby son in a grotto in Granard and to the Lansdowne Road riot, Scannal has examined the impact of major events on the individuals, families and communities at the heart of them and on us as a nation.
Broadcasting on three consecutive nights on RT One and RT Player, reporter Garry Mac Donncha will guide viewers through the moments in Ireland's social history that still resonate today in Scannal 20 Bliain.
Executive producer for RT Sarah Ryder said: When we started Scannal 20 years ago, Ireland was a very different place. Not everyone was ready for a series examining the impact of major events on the individuals, families and communities at the heart of them and how those events often changed the course of Irish history. But because we told the stories with journalism, integrity and attention to factual detail, the first series was incredibly well reviewed and Scannal became an instant hit with viewers. Many of the stories the team has covered over two decades have continued to evolve and many others continue to impact us to this day. As the series continues its popularity on RT One and RT Player, the 20th anniversary is a great opportunity to recap and update some of the most interesting and impactful stories featured on Scannal over the decades. It's been a really interesting journey putting this series together and we hope viewers will get as much out of watching the programmes as much as we did making them.
In the three episodes of Scannal 20 Bliain, some of Scannal's regular contributors, and some of the people at the center of the stories, reflect on how different events shocked and often changed the country and what lessons can be learnt in today's post-truth world.
Beginning on Monday 5 August at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player, the special anniversary series begins with Believe In Me' which looks back at some of the blunders, bluster and downright howlers which gripped the nation and brought down many a career. The second episode Only a Woman; examines how life has changed for Mn na h ireann over the past half-century through five key stories. The third episode Own Goals' looks at some of the sporting and not-so-sporting moments which enraged, divided or united the nation.
Presented and narrated by long-time Scannal reporter Garry Mac Donncha, Scannal 20 Bliain airs over three consecutive nights at 6.30pm on Monday 5 August, Tuesday 6 August and Wednesday 7 August on RT One and RT Player.
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