
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
08/05/2025
The Liveline is now open , said Joe Duffy earlier today, as he previewed this af...
08/05/2025
RT , in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights has reveale...
07/05/2025
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of RT journalist, Fergal O'Brien, as its new Business Correspondent.
In his new role, Fergal will be repor...
06/05/2025
Live from Studio 1 at 7pm, Tuesday May 6
Iconic trad-fusion group K LA will be ...
06/05/2025
First episode airs this Friday at 8pm on RT One and RT Player with Doireann N Ghlac in presenting
Guests include Barry Murphy, Brooke Scullion, Bryan Dobso...
02/05/2025
Well-known faces pushed to their limits in Uncharted with Ray Goggins...
01/05/2025
Munster and Connacht Football Finals onThe Sunday Game Live
Final two days of t...
01/05/2025
Stream all episodes ofLook Who's Hangry from April 29
An RT Player Original in partnership with Heinz...
01/05/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
T naiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and T...
01/05/2025
Exclusive interviews and un-seen footage feature in new two-part series...
01/05/2025
RT Investigates reveals details of Christian Brothers who were senior leaders a...
01/05/2025
RT Statement
The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project is one of the projects that was funded from the proceeds of RT 's land sale in 2017, the init...
01/05/2025
Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | What's on
This May, RT is delighted to support Bealtaine Festival, Fastnet Film Festival, and Dublin Dance Fest...
30/04/2025
You've seen the headlines, now it's time to go Behind the Story
RT News has today (Wednesday) launched a brand-new news podcast, Behind the Story, h...
30/04/2025
Nine major RT dramas will be shot in 2025
142 hoursof high-quality, homegrow...
25/04/2025
All next week RT Nationwide features Dublin Port, the largest freight and passe...
24/04/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
Sinn F in leader, Mary Lou McDonald will joi...
24/04/2025
Episode one airs Sunday April 27th, 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player
Watch: Ke...
23/04/2025
RT will air live coverage on television, radio and online of the funeral of Pop...
23/04/2025
In an email to RT staff today, RT Director-General, Kevin Backhurst confirmed that RT 's Voluntary Exit Programme (VEP) 2025 is open from today, Wednesday...
23/04/2025
RT will air live coverage on television, radio and online of the funeral of Pope Francis which takes place this Saturday, 26 April 2025.
Beginning at 8.30am o...
17/04/2025
Festival programme promises a feast of drama, an action-packed fringe festival a...
17/04/2025
RT 's Ireland's Wild Islands wins Best Series at the 2025 International ...
16/04/2025
Dragon Hearts, an inspiring and emotional documentary following members of Irela...
16/04/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Campbell as Head of RT Radio 1 following a public competition.
In this strategically important role Tara wi...
14/04/2025
Baz Ashmawy Returns For A New Series of The Money List
Baz And The Team Want You To Take Part, You Could Win Up To 30,000 Per Episode
RT Television is looki...
10/04/2025
Champions Cup Rugby, Women's Six Nations, Camogie League Finals, GAA Championship live...
10/04/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
Ten years after being fully acquitted of the...
08/04/2025
The speculation and secrets can cease for the moment as RT today reveals Slane Castle as The Traitors Ireland dramatic setting, coming to RT One and RT Playe...
07/04/2025
Treasure Entertainment to produce six-part series
Series stars Tom Vaughan-La...
04/04/2025
May and June see RT Concert Orchestra performances in Dublin, Offaly, Carlow an...
04/04/2025
The Late Late Show will pay special tribute to the life and sporting career of M...
04/04/2025
UNMISSABLE GAA CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION FREE TO AIR ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS
The Sunday ...
03/04/2025
RT Supporting the Arts | April 2025
This April, RT is delighted to support C irt International Festival of Literature, Incognito Art Sale for Jack and Jill ...
03/04/2025
RT has today launched Clarity, a new strand of coverage in which its journalism will work to counter the deliberate manipulation of facts and challenge false a...
02/04/2025
Stephen Rea: The Fire in Me Now, Thursday 10 April, 10:15pm, RT One and RT Player
Over an acting career spanning decades, Stephen Rea has shown himself to be...
01/04/2025
Tonight, Irish vascular trauma surgeon Dr. Morgan McMonagle will share his firsthand experiences from the front lines in Gaza which he documented through a vide...
28/03/2025
Congratulations to all our nominees and winners at the Gradaim RTS Ireland 2025 which were held at the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin last night, to honour achieve...
27/03/2025
Starring real-life best friends Sarah Goldberg and Susan Stanley
Today, RT , IFC and AMC announced the renewal of dark comedy SisterS, created by, written and...
27/03/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
Ahead of their biggest arena headline tour ...
27/03/2025
In an email to RT staff this evening, RT Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst confirmed as follows:
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to confirm that we have been i...
24/03/2025
TELL US YOUR (SHORT) STORIES
The 2025 RT Short Story Competition is now open for entries
Recognising and rewarding the best new Irish fiction writing for r...
18/03/2025
RT Sport announces live Free-to-Air GAA Championship fixtures
Live free-to-air coverage across the Football and Hurling Championships, Camogie Championship, ...
17/03/2025
After 11 spectacular shows filled with glitz and glamour, highs and lows and captivating dances along the way, Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan ...
14/03/2025
2FM's fresh weekend lineup goes live this Saturday as a host of new presente...
13/03/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
Shake your Shamrocks, Patrick Kielty will be...
13/03/2025
This St. Patrick's weekend, RT invites you to celebrate all things Irish, showcasing the very best of Irish sport, entertainment and live coverage from the...
12/03/2025
Consumer show back following hugely successful first series
10 March 2025 Following a hugely successful first series, The Complaints Bureau returns to RT ...
11/03/2025
RT Prime Time interview Kerry mother whose 5 year old daughter and husband died...
10/03/2025
Aishah Akorede and their pro dance partner Robert Rowi ski became the next celebrity couple to bid farewell to the dance floor on Dancing with the Stars tonight...