"From That Small Island - The Story of the Irish," a new four-part documentary series narrated by Colin Farrell that traces 8,000 years of Irish history, will debut on RTÉ One on Sunday, June 8.
The sweeping new series brings to life the extraordinary story of the Irish people, from the island's very first inhabitants to the global diaspora that now numbers over 80 million people.
"From That Small Island" explores the questions: Who are the Irish? Where did they come from? Why does the world turn green every St. Patrick’s Day?
Created by writer and filmmaker Bríona Nic Dhiarmada, the new series is produced by the award-winning team behind "1916: The Irish Rebellion."
"From That Small Island - The Story of the Irish" debuts on June 8. (RTE)
Through rich storytelling, immersive visuals, and the latest scientific discoveries, "From That Small Island" paints an epic portrait of a people whose impact reaches far beyond these island shores.
The series also features an original score from Irish composer Colm Mac Con Iomaire.
Shot on location in 17 countries worldwide - all across the island of Ireland and from Barbados to Belgium, Singapore to Switzerland, UAE to the US - the series provides a compelling narrative of Ireland and the Irish.
In the first episode, which airs on Sunday, viewers are taken back to the ancient Céide Fields and introduced to the earliest settlers, including the remarkable discovery of the remains of a baby with the Down Syndrome gene, cared for and breastfed over 5,000 years ago.
The series then moves through millennia, from the Viking invasions and Christianization of Ireland to the modern era, all while spotlighting personal stories and seldom-told truths.
Highlights from "From That Small Island - The Story of the Irish" include:
- The television debut of the face of “Rathlin Man," a 4,000-year-old ancestor whose face was reconstructed using cutting-edge DNA technology.
- The first written reference to hurling.
- Darker chapters of Irish history, from cannibalism and plague to Irish involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Forgotten Irish explorers: a Galway man on Columbus’s 1492 voyage and two more on Magellan’s circumnavigation.
- A Mayo-born general who rose through the ranks to lead the Argentinian army.
- The Irish-language printing press in Leuven, Belgium, and the Longford priest who heard the final confession of King Louis XVI.
The series also features insight and testimonials from all over the world, including former President of Ireland Mary McAleese.
RTÉ says "From That Small Island" is more than a documentary; it’s a journey through time, identity, and the enduring spirit of a people whose story continues to shape the world.
"From That Small Island - The Story of the Irish" premieres Sunday, June 8 at 6:30 pm Irish time on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Comments