Best RTE Documentary Podcasts (2025)

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First Conviction: Bonus - Behind the Scenes 47:46

Play Pause

22m ago47:46

47:46

As a combined project of a podcast series and TV documentary, First Conviction was over 15 months in production. In this bonus episode - and in a first for RTÉ - we give an insight into how the entire production was made through all of those involved. Hosted by Aoife Hegarty (Deputy Editor, RTÉ Investigates), we hear from Tim Desmond (Producer, RTÉ…

1
First Conviction: Bonus - Behind the Scenes 47:46

2h ago47:46

47:46

As a combined project of a podcast series and TV documentary, First Conviction was over 15 months in production. In this bonus episode - and in a first for RTÉ - we give an insight into how the entire production was made through all of those involved. Hosted by Aoife Hegarty (Deputy Editor, RTÉ Investigates), we hear from Tim Desmond (Producer, RTÉ…

1
Old Friends and New Beginnings 38:04

14m ago38:04

38:04

Ravens, crows and the last Irish wolf, diplomatic journeys and a poetry journal’s elegant farewell, with John MacKenna, Denise Blake, Zoë Devlin, Paul Muldoon, Nell Regan, Paul Johnston, James Harpur and Billy CollinsBy RTÉ Radio 1

1
First Conviction: 06 - Limbo 29:39

4m ago29:39

29:39

Having spent two years in jail, Sayeed and Halawa are relieved when the Court of Appeal make a ruling on their case. As they return home to their children, they hope life might begin to return to normal - but nothing about their lives is now normal. The DPP continues to pursue this case. A second trial takes place, before a third is scheduled - unt…

1
First Conviction: 06 - Limbo 29:39

9d ago29:39

29:39

Having spent two years in jail, Sayeed and Halawa are relieved when the Court of Appeal make a ruling on their case. As they return home to their children, they hope life might begin to return to normal - but nothing about their lives is now normal. The DPP continues to pursue this case. A second trial takes place, before a third is scheduled - unt…

1
First Conviction: 06 - Limbo 29:39

2d ago29:39

29:39

Having spent two years in jail, Sayeed and Halawa are relieved when the Court of Appeal make a ruling on their case. As they return home to their children, they hope life might begin to return to normal - but nothing about their lives is now normal. The DPP continues to pursue this case. A second trial takes place, before a third is scheduled - unt…

1
Dead Reeds | The Lyric Feature 48:01

15h ago48:01

48:01

Paddi Benson and Grace Lemon are two uilleann pipers who play and write music together in London. In their new Lyric Feature on RTÉ lyric FM, The Dead Reeds, they explore the stories bound up in uilleann pipe reedsBy RTÉ lyric fm

1
Starry Skies and Student Rites-of-Passage 36:55

24m ago36:55

36:55

The art of persuasion, the pity of war and the sanctuary of home, with tributes to the late, great Conor Gearty and Sister Stanislaus Kennedy; the writers are Gerry Stembridge, Kathy Donaghy, Tess Hughes, John O’Donnell, Eileen Battersby and Rachael HegartyBy RTÉ Radio 1

151
First Conviction: Update 1:34

8d ago1:34

1:34

Just a quick message to say we’re pausing the release of the concluding episode of this series until this day next week - Wednesday November 12th, the same day on which our TV documentary from RTÉ Investigates airs on RTÉ One at 9.35pm. If you do have any knowledge or information on this story please contact us immediately and in confidence by emai…

1
First Conviction: Update 1:34

1d ago1:34

1:34

Just a quick message to say we’re pausing the release of the concluding episode of this series until this day next week - Wednesday November 12th, the same day on which our TV documentary from RTÉ Investigates airs on RTÉ One at 9.35pm. If you do have any knowledge or information on this story please contact us immediately and in confidence by emai…

1
First Conviction: Update 1:34

16d ago1:34

1:34

Just a quick message to say we’re pausing the release of the concluding episode of this series until this day next week - Wednesday November 12th, the same day on which our TV documentary from RTÉ Investigates airs on RTÉ One at 9.35pm. If you do have any knowledge or information on this story please contact us immediately and in confidence by emai…

1
A Sonic Artic return | The Lyric Feature 52:15

4d ago52:15

52:15

Composer and sound recordist, Karen Power and her microphones revisit the remote, magnetic spaces of the Arctic which she first visited and recorded more than a decade previously.By RTÉ lyric fm

1
Ghosts, Goldcrests and a Lost Manuscript 40:32

4d ago40:32

40:32

A prayer for Rudolf Valentino, fleeting memories and a snowy night of opera in St Petersburg, with Georg Grote, Louise Kennedy, Beth Kilkenny, Justin MacCarthy, Roslyn Dee and John F DeaneBy RTÉ Radio 1

1
First Conviction: 05 - 750 days 28:26

15d ago28:26

28:26

Having been found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison, Sayeed and Halawa are taken to separate jails in Ireland to serve out their sentences. Deprived of their freedom, and with their children now placed in the care of relatives, life in prison is hard beyond belief. But they cannot give up hope - and from inside their prison cells, they begi…

2
First Conviction: 05 - 750 days 28:26

10d ago28:26

28:26

Having been found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison, Sayeed and Halawa are taken to separate jails in Ireland to serve out their sentences. Deprived of their freedom, and with their children now placed in the care of relatives, life in prison is hard beyond belief. But they cannot give up hope - and from inside their prison cells, they begi…

1
First Conviction: 05 - 750 days 28:26

23d ago28:26

28:26

Having been found guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison, Sayeed and Halawa are taken to separate jails in Ireland to serve out their sentences. Deprived of their freedom, and with their children now placed in the care of relatives, life in prison is hard beyond belief. But they cannot give up hope - and from inside their prison cells, they begi…

1
Black Siren - | The Lyric Feature 46:21

24d ago46:21

46:21

This weeks Lyric Feature is -Black Syren, which tells the largely forgotten story of Rachel Baptist, a Black Irish soprano, who predominantly appeared in Irish "pleasure gardens” in the 1750s and 1760s performing arias by Handel and Arne among others.The feature is presented by journalist Saibh Downes.…

251
A Last Briquette and a Magic Mountain 35:51

11d ago35:51

35:51

Silver sparks, a bog for a pillow and the ‘deserts of the midlands’… A ‘Writing the Bog’ special programme, part 2, in collaboration with the Bog Bothy project by the Irish Architectural Foundation and 12th Field, with writers Adam Trodd, Anne Gately Mercier, Kevin McDermott, Marion McGarry, Isabella Chiadini and Alexander McMaster…

1
First Conviction: 04 - Verdict 28:27

16d ago28:27

28:27

Sayeed and Halawa are facing two charges in court - an act of FGM against their daughter, and child cruelty. If found guilty, they face up to 14 years in prison. Despite all medical witnesses agreeing FGM did happen, as Sayeed takes the stand to give evidence, he is confident the truth will come out… If you have any information or knowledge about t…

1
First Conviction: 04 - Verdict 28:27

1M ago28:27

28:27

Sayeed and Halawa are facing two charges in court - an act of FGM against their daughter, and child cruelty. If found guilty, they face up to 14 years in prison. Despite all medical witnesses agreeing FGM did happen, as Sayeed takes the stand to give evidence, he is confident the truth will come out… If you have any information or knowledge about t…

1
First Conviction: 04 - Verdict 28:27

27d ago28:27

28:27

Sayeed and Halawa are facing two charges in court - an act of FGM against their daughter, and child cruelty. If found guilty, they face up to 14 years in prison. Despite all medical witnesses agreeing FGM did happen, as Sayeed takes the stand to give evidence, he is confident the truth will come out… If you have any information or knowledge about t…

1
The musician that is me - | The Lyric Feature 57:40

18d ago57:40

57:40

"Ahead of her celebratory concert with the NSO, this feature reflects on the career of US-born composer Jane O'Leary, who has made an immeasurable contribution to contemporary Irish classical music since moving to Ireland in 1972."By RTÉ lyric fm

1
A Stolen Tulip and a Hare’s Eyes 37:54

18d ago37:54

37:54

Creative discoveries from reading to singing to dancing to painting - a live selection from Waterford Writers’ Weekend and the Red Line Book Festival with Frankie Gaffney, the late Eileen Battersby, John Connell, Catherine Foley, AM Cousins, Rosaleen McDonagh, Kathleen Murphy, Donal Clancy, the Far Flung Trio and more…

1
First Conviction: 03 - Trial One 26:51

1M ago26:51

26:51

Having had their children under supervision and monitored by authorities for three years, and having had to sign on bail twice weekly during that time, Sayeed and Halawa finally face trial, the first of its kind in Ireland. They continue to say the crime never happened and hope that finally, someone will listen… If you have any information or knowl…

1
First Conviction: 03 - Trial One 26:51

1M ago26:51

26:51

Having had their children under supervision and monitored by authorities for three years, and having had to sign on bail twice weekly during that time, Sayeed and Halawa finally face trial, the first of its kind in Ireland. They continue to say the crime never happened and hope that finally, someone will listen… If you have any information or knowl…

1
First Conviction: 03 - Trial One 26:51

23d ago26:51

26:51

Having had their children under supervision and monitored by authorities for three years, and having had to sign on bail twice weekly during that time, Sayeed and Halawa finally face trial, the first of its kind in Ireland. They continue to say the crime never happened and hope that finally, someone will listen… If you have any information or knowl…

1
Connie Gets a Rewrite | The Lyric Feature 55:15

25d ago55:15

55:15

Constance "Connie" Smith was born in 1929 on Limerick's Wolfe Tone Street and would later become a star who burned brightly, but all too briefly, during the golden age of Hollywood cinema.By RTÉ lyric fm

1
Architecture, Home and the City 39:09

26d ago39:09

39:09

How do the places we build shape our lives? A programme marking Open House Dublin Festival of Architecture, with Éimear Arthur, Cormac Murray, Emmett Scanlon, Kevin Marinan, Graham Hickey, Julie Cruickshank and FELISPEAKS. Supported by the Irish Architecture FoundationBy RTÉ Radio 1

1
First Conviction: 02 - Waiting & Hoping 28:30

1M ago28:30

28:30

By RTÉ Documentary on One

1
First Conviction: 02 - Waiting & Hoping 28:30

1M ago28:30

28:30

It’s only after four days in hospital that Sayeed and Halawa begin to understand they’re in real difficulty. No one appears to believe them. Within a week of arriving to hospital with their injured daughter, they’re sitting in a police station, answering questions about what happened. It’s beginning to feel like the entire system is closing in arou…

1
First Conviction: 02 - Waiting & Hoping 28:30

1M ago28:30

28:30

By RTÉ

1
First Conviction: 01 - The Incident 28:32

1M ago28:32

28:32

By RTÉ Documentary on One

1
First Conviction: 01 - The Incident 28:32

1M ago28:32

28:32

By RTÉ

1
First Conviction: 01 - The Incident 28:32

1M ago28:32

28:32

September 2016 is where this story begins. A young married couple are at home in Dublin on a Friday morning with their two young children. Having changed her nappy, their 21 month old daughter turns, runs and falls. Her cries startle her parents who go to comfort her. As they pick her up, they notice she’s bleeding. Panicked, they take her to hospi…

1
A New series begins with 'A corner of the Burren' 54:38

1M ago54:38

54:38

By RTÉ lyric fm

1
Ringing Bells and Magic Nights 35:22

1M ago35:22

35:22

Saluting some treasures of our culture, language and landscape; remembering Brian Friel on his tenth anniversary, and a poem for the late, much-missed Manchán Magan with Dominic Dromgoole, Adam Trodd, Bernadett Buda, Aoife Barry, David Grant and Noelle LynskeyBy RTÉ Radio 1

1
Both Sides Now 33:18

1M ago33:18

33:18

Homecomings and departures, a friend for all seasons and tributes to Derek Mahon, Michael Hartnett and more, with Donal Hayes, Grace Wells, Joe Whelan, Mary O’Donnell, Mike MacDomhnaill, Beth Kilkenny and Mary O’MalleyBy RTÉ Radio 1

1
First Conviction: Trailer 4:10

2M ago4:10

4:10

An investigation into the case of a couple imprisoned for a crime against their child - that never happened… Publishing weekly from October 8th 2025 - a new 6-part podcast series & TV doc (Nov 12th) from RTÉ Documentary On One and RTÉ Investigates. Previous series include Stolen Sister, Where is Jón?, The Real Carrie Jade, Runaway Joe, Finding Sama…

1
First Conviction: Trailer 4:10

2M ago4:10

4:10

By RTÉ Documentary on One

1251
First Conviction: Trailer 4:10

2M ago4:10

4:10

By RTÉ

1
Strange Days and Seasonal Moods 37:28

2M ago37:28

37:28

September rituals and youthful rites of passage, with Paul Muldoon, Carol Taaffe, Conall Hamill, Georg Grote, Antonia Hart and Frank ShouldiceBy RTÉ Radio 1