Get ready for a lineup of captivating stories and insightful narratives as RT 's award-winning series, Documentary on One returns with a brand-new season. Set to premiere on August 19th on RT Radio 1, the new episodes promise an array of thought-provoking stories with the first instalment titled Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths in Ireland, Nov '84 .
Documentary on One continues its legacy of delivering in-depth explorations of intriguing and compelling topics. The upcoming episodes are set to enthral audiences with meticulously crafted stories that span a wide range of subjects, offering an immersive and enriching experience for listeners.
The season opener, Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths in Ireland, Nov '84 , takes listeners on a journey, diving into the iconic music scene of the 1980s. Through a combination of interviews, archival material and expert insights, this episode offers an unparalleled glimpse into the legendary band's visit to Ireland during a pivotal moment in their career and in the history of the Northern Irish Troubles. Produced by documentary makers David Coughlan and Donal O'Herlihy, music enthusiasts and history buffs alike will be captivated by the anecdotes and perspectives shared in this unique documentary.
It's a look into a tour that involved paramilitarism, politics, emigration, unemployment and the soundtrack to a generation as the iconic Mancunian-Irish band pitched up in Ireland for nine gigs in ten chaotic days at the height of the Troubles.
On October 12, 1984, the IRA blew up a section of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, narrowly missing British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Amidst widespread condemnation, Morrissey, lead singer of The Smiths, praised the bombers and turned the band's upcoming Irish tour into a political storm. Formed in Manchester in the early 80s, The Smiths are regarded as one of most influential bands of all time. The four members: Guitarist Johnny Marr, lead singer Morrissey, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce all had Irish backgrounds and the nationwide November '84 tour was very much a homecoming.
But it was less than 10 years since the UVF had killed members of the Miami Showband and tensions increased as the band reached the border counties. Why did one of the biggest bands of the 1980s go from headlining Glastonbury to playing a community centre in Donegal? And what happened when The Smiths found themselves in the middle of one of the biggest political flashpoints of The Troubles?
Documentary on One will continue for 10 weeks and will include a wide range of topics. The next instalment of Documentary on One will air on August 26th at 2pm on RT Radio 1 and will look at polyamory, the practice where a couple encourages each other to form romantic attachments with other people. Documentary-maker, Mary-Elaine Tynan speaks to Irish polyamorists in What If She's Prettier Than Me?
Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths in Ireland, Nov '84
Narrated by David Coughlan
Produced by David Coughlan & Donal O'Herlihy
Where to listen:
RT Radio 1 - Saturday 19th of August 2023 at 2PM
Also available from here and wherever you get your podcasts
About:
Documentary on One is a renowned series produced by RT Radio 1, offering in-depth explorations of various topics through expertly crafted audio documentaries. With a commitment to storytelling excellence, the series captivates audiences with its thought-provoking narratives and engaging content.
More from RTE
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
Following today's EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RT 's pos...
04/12/2025
The ninth series of Dancing with the Stars returns to screens in early
2026 and will be proudly sponsored by Hyundai
Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz an...
03/12/2025
S an Nollaig
Celebrate 2025's top Irish sporting stars with RT Sport Awards live from RT Studios on RT One and RT Player
RT pays tribute to Ror...
02/12/2025
S an Nollaig
Hollywood blockbusters The Banshees of Inisherin, Barbie and Oppenheimer make their Irish TV debut
Tune into the classics such as Love Actual...
02/12/2025
Showcasing fresh Irish storytelling and emerging talent Storyland 2025 signals a fantastic time for Irish drama
RT and F s ireann/Screen Ireland are proud to...
01/12/2025
As the festive season approaches, RT Supporting the Arts is proud to showcase a...
01/12/2025
Festive specials of Christmas in Kilmainham presented by Marty Whelan, High Road Low Road, Callan Kicks the Year and Keys to My Life
Ring in the New Year with ...
01/12/2025
Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RT audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, has died at the age of 68.
In a state...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
24/11/2025
Ahead of the new ninth series of Dancing with the Stars, kicking off in January 2026, RT and Shinawil have announced the arrival of three new faces to the hit ...
20/11/2025
It's the Late Late Toy Show BIG BIG Ticket Giveaway day!
It's the Late ...
20/11/2025
The How To Gael pocast gals, comedian Chris Kent and quizzer Darragh Ennis drop by for the fifth episode of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In
In the penultimat...
20/11/2025
Tonight on RT Prime Time, Marie Crowe on how a Reading School changed her son&#...
19/11/2025
Michael D. Higgins: Ireland's Ninth President features RT Archives footage and interviews across seven decades
Watch Wednesday 19 November at 9:35pm on RT...
18/11/2025
DJ Carey: The Dodger starts Monday 24th November at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Pl...
14/11/2025
The Late Late Toy Show blasts off!
RT launches The Late Late Toy Show's of...
13/11/2025
Legendary actor and proud Irishman Gabriel Byrne will be in studio this week to ...
13/11/2025
Tonight's crucial Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifier v Portugal at the ...
13/11/2025
In the fourth episode of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In the lads are joined b...
12/11/2025
RT Choice Music Prize
In association with IMRO and IRMA
2 0 2 6 K E Y D A T E S
Irish Album of the Year 2025 Shortlist 19th January
Irish Song of the ...
12/11/2025
Parents jailed for over two years after bringing their daughter to hospital for ...
11/11/2025
After international award wins, the much-loved children's series returns with 13 brand new episodes with some very special children and guests including Ros...
10/11/2025
76 animals. Six locations. Two Irish stars. One Pet Mobile.
From surfing dogs t...
07/11/2025
SLEIGH BELLS RING ARE YOU WINNING?
THE LATE LATE TOY SHOW BIG BIG TICKET GIVEAWAY EXCLUSIVE ACROSS RT CHANNELS
On Friday 21 November, listeners across all R...
06/11/2025
RT Announces Alex Walden as General Manager of the
RTE Concert Orchestra
Alex Walden, renowned orchestra manager, most recently for the BBC Concert Orche...
06/11/2025
Actors Steve Coogan and anna Hardwicke will be on the Late Late Show this week ...
06/11/2025
In the third episode of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In actor Danny O'Carr...
05/11/2025
New schedule will be live on-air Monday 10 November
Brand-new Today with David McCullagh from 9am
Oliver Callan in all-new extended show from 11am to 1pm
Kie...
05/11/2025
Explore the future with Science Week on RT
Dive into a week of innovative, themed programming and content across RT television, radio and online
Includes a ...
05/11/2025
Get ready for six weeks of United FC, a brand-new, feel-good teen docuseries kic...
04/11/2025
Begins Thursday November 6 on RT One and RT Player at 10:15pm
Camogie: Inside...
03/11/2025
They've made that decision and ruined an awful lot of people's lives.
...
31/10/2025
The RT Raidi na Gaeltachta Award 2025 will be presented to journalist P il n N Chiar in at the Oireachtas na Samhna in Belfast tomorrow, Saturday 1 November,...
31/10/2025
RT lyric fm is calling for choirs across Ireland to share their festive music-m...
31/10/2025
Three awards were presented to RT Raidi na Gaeltachta broadcasters at the Oire...
31/10/2025
RT continues its proud tradition of championing Ireland's vibrant arts and cultural landscape through its RT Supporting the Arts initiative. This November...
31/10/2025
RT selects Irish independent production company to produce Christian Worship on...
30/10/2025
RT Concert Orchestra in November and December
Collaborations with RT Radio 1's Sunday Miscellany (2 December) and RT 2FM's Late Breakfast (9 Decembe...
30/10/2025
Johnny B and Johnny Smacks are back tonight for the second episode of the new se...
30/10/2025
First look of Jon Bon Jovi's interview with Patrick Kielty
Jon Bon Jovi is ...
29/10/2025
RT PUBLISHES 2024 ANNUAL REPORT
RT REPORTS NET SURPLUS OF 5.5 MILLION IN 2024
A YEAR WITH MANY SPECIAL EVENTS UEFA EUROS 2024, THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMP...
24/10/2025
FIRST PLACE AND 5,000 LYNDA McCARTHY FOR WITNESS'
SECOND PLACE AND 4,000 ANGELA FINN FOR A SPECTRUM OF SORROW'
THIRD PLACE AND 3,000 IAN FE...
24/10/2025
RT will provide extensive coverage of the results of the Presidential Election across television, radio and online on Saturday, 25 October 2025.
Throughout th...
24/10/2025
New Coaches, New Families and New Challenges Set for Ireland's Fittest Famil...
24/10/2025
Westlife, Imelda May and Ben Elton among the guests on this week's Late Late...
Get ready for a lineup of captivating stories and insightful narratives as RT 's award-winning series, Documentary on One returns with a brand-new season. Set to premiere on August 19th on RT Radio 1, the new episodes promise an array of thought-provoking stories with the first instalment titled Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths in Ireland, Nov '84 .
