The fascinating stories of five religious Irish women who worked in the missions abroad; why these women chose the life that they did and the challenges they faced not only on their missionary posting but also the difficulties encountered on return home to Ireland.

CREDITS:

‘Mission Possible’ was produced, recorded and edited by Grainne McPolin.

Assistant Producer: Kelly Crichton

Music: composed and arranged by JJO’Shea

Music: ‘African Percussion’ Pollypony

Studio facilities Thanks to Kerry College, Monavalley Campus, Tralee, Co Kerry

Special thanks go to:

Missionary Sisters of St Columban

Missionary Sisters of The Holy Rosary

Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles

Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul

Dr Carmen Mangion Historian Birkbeck University of London

Dr Yvonne McKenna Sociologist and Author of ‘Made Holy: Irish Women Religious at Home and Abroad

Sr Kathleen McGarvey OLA

Mr David Rose Secretary General AMRI

Sr Susanna Choi Congregational Leader Missionary Sisters of St Columban

‘Mission Possible’ documentary is dedicated to the memory of Radio Presenter Sheila O’Regan RIP.

‘Mission Possible’ was funded by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee.

https://www.newstalk.com/documentary-and-drama-on-newstalk/mission-possible-1454985

The Fixer, a Newstalk exclusive documentary about Sean Moncrieff’s week in Ukraine.

Presented by Sean Moncrieff, produced by Aisling Moore, with additional audio production by Lochlainn Harte.

To coincide with International Roma Day on April 8th 2023, Newstalk present a new radio documentary. Produced by independent radio producer Susan Dennehy, ‘A Roma Girl in Dublin’ reveals the personal experiences of four women from the Roma community living in Ireland.

The stories of four women feature in the documentary ; Gabi Muntean, Vanessa Paszkowska, Sylvia Covaci and Marioara Rostas.

‘A Roma Girl in Dublin' was produced and narrated by Susan Dennehy.

Research by Sean Harper. Sound Mix by Moynihan Russell Studios.

The programme was Funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee.

Documentary on Newstalk, presents a new documentary by producers Shaun O’Boyle and Maurice Kelliher. In 'Looking Up' we meet the astronomers working in an historic observatory in Castleknock Co Dublin.

DIAS Dunsink Observatory is a beautiful building, located in Castleknock in Dublin, and filled with centuries of space-related history, telescopes, stories, artefacts, diaries, and equipment.

We take a tour of the observatory with astronomers who work in this historic building. We explore the site's history, and we discover what kind of scientific research happens there today - from studying solar flares to space weather, nearby planets to distant galaxies.

Looking Up is a Shaun and Maurice production, produced by Maurice Kelliher and Shaun O’Boyle, and was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the sound and vision scheme.

Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie travels to Somalia with Trócaire to see the impact the worst drought in over 40 years is having on the country. He met with those who are providing supports on the ground and also with the families who have been affected as part of Trócaire's Lent Appeal.

Documentary on Newstalk presents - a new three part series, produced and narrated by Patricia Baker. Each documentary charts the life and work of one extraordinary woman who broke the ground for the next generation of women.

Ground Breakers: Dervilla Donnelly is an insight into the life and work of Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at University College Dublin, Dervilla Donnelly. The documentary traces the role she played in Ireland’s’ scientific success, not just with her own scientific research, but with her influence on science policy and as a mentor for some of Ireland’s leading scientist.

Ground Breakers is a Curious Broadcast production funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee.

As part of a series of three programs, Producer Patricia Baker looks at the life and work of three women, who broke ground for future generations. In this episode, a former Supreme Court Judge and member of the Council of State of Ireland, who has been involved in some of the most important children’s and women’s rights and child protection changes in Ireland.

Ground Breakers: Catherine McGuinness, is a Curious Broadcast production funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee. Produced and narrated by Patricia Baker, final mix Domhnaill Corrigan, at Contact Studio. Choral music courtesy of the Culwick Choral Society. Original music score by Gerry Horan.

For more on the series visit www.newstalk.com

Documentary On Newstalk presents "The Good Samaritans" - Produced by Bairbre Flood, made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Sound and Vision Scheme.

What motivates us to help others, and why should we help others? What does the latest psychological research show us about our brains on altruism? And are there ways we can be more effective altruists - especially for those from other countries or future generations?

Psychologist, Dr. Dean McDonnell tells us about the latest research into what’s really going on in our brains when we’re a good samaritan - and how we can encourage this in our children. We hear from Shaza Aldawamneh, a Syrian student in Cork who teaches coding online to refugees; long-time humanitarian Mary Coffey, missionary nun Sr Majella McCarron; MSF coordinator Sarah Leahy, and founder of ‘The Free Humanitarians’ Sean Binder. We’ll also have a look at how we can be more effective altruists with William MacAskill, author of ‘How To Good Better’ and ‘What We Owe The Future’.

Produced by Bairbre Flood with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Sound and Vision Scheme. With thanks to The Kabin Studio Cork for their music, ‘Teach Love, Harsh Winter’.

The beauty, power and wonder of the sea as told by ex-fishermen, marine ecologists and environmental activists.

Producer Bairbre Flood takes to the sea with Colin Barnes, Cork Whale Watch, on an ethical whale and wildlife tour, and meets with volunteers with the Bantry Bay Protect Our Native Kelp Forest campaign, lobster fisherman Kieran O’Shea, and marine biologist Shazia Waheed.

Niall MacAllistar of Sea Kayaking With The Seals brings us out to explore Adrigole Harbour and Padraic Fogarty (Whittled Away: Ireland’s Vanishing Nature) of the Irish Wildlife Trust explains what can be done to help protect the seas.

Produced by Bairbre Flood with funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision Scheme from the television license fee.

In ‘The Southern Cross – The Irish Argentine Connection’, radio producer Ciarán Ryan travels to Buenos Aires, Argentina to find out more about The Southern Cross, a newspaper that was launched in 1875 by an Irish priest.

The Southern Cross has had a lively and fascinating existence since, and this is unpacked in this one-off documentary. A newspaper with a Catholic ethos at its core, The Southern Cross has been a significant part of the Argentine-Irish community for almost 150 years. In a pre-internet era, we will hear that it was very much a part of every Irish household in Buenos Aires and beyond.

The project was supported by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the Sound and Vision Scheme.