Summer of facts & drama on RTÉ
Five new factual series are among the highlights of RTÉ's summer line-up.
Well-known Irish journalists discuss some of the major stories of their careers on 'The Big Story', a new six-part series on RTÉ 1.
'The Enforcers' takes a behind-the-scenes look at the work of health and environment officers, featuring sting operations, hidden cameras and crime-scene cleaning.
Other must see shows are 'Traffic Blues', which followed the men and women of the Garda Traffic Corps over a six month period and 'Higher Ground' which features the efforts of eight rural entrepreneurs to diversify and start up innovative businesses.
Three new documentaries will be screened including a new programme which catches up with some of the key figures surrounding the assassination of Lord Mountabatten. Paddy O'Gorman is back with 'O'Gorman's Summer' and the 1974 British & Irish Lions tour will be under the spotlight in 'McBride's Invincibles'.
A new drama, 'Father & Son', starring Dougray Scott, Stephen Rea and Sophie Okonedo and depicting the complexity of modern inner city life was co-produced by RTÉ and ITV. Written by Emmy-award winning Irish writer Frank Deasy, Scott stars as ex-criminal Michael O'Connor who returns to Manchester from his quiet life in Ireland to help keep his son out of prison.
Miriam O'Callaghan returns to the sofa for the fifth series of 'Saturday Night with Miriam', while Derek Mooney is back with the 'National Lottery's Big Money Game'. Food lovers can tune into 'Trish's Mediterranean Kitchen', with Trish Deseine while Clodagh McKenna's 'Seafood Adventure' will focus on the best produce from the sea.
RTÉ Sport is serving up a feast of live GAA Championship action along with special programmes to mark GAA125. 'The Road to Croker' has undergone a makeover, previewing the weekend's action on Friday nights and reprising treasured GAA memories.
Soccer fans have the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa to look forward to, while League of Ireland action is on Mondays with Con Murphy. Racing from Galway features live coverage from Ballybrit in July.
'Private Practice' and 'Entourage' return to our screens and two new series 'Harpers Island' (which begins on Monday) and 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' will also be aired over the summer.
'The Full Set' also returns for a third series of Irish traditional music, while Aoibhinn Ni Shulleabhain, Brian O'Connell and Blathnaid Ni Dhonnchadha present 'The Reel Deal' - traditional music with a contemporary twist featuring up and coming performers.
A new quiz for 8-12 year olds, 'Watch Your Language', will be presented by Roisin Ni Thomain, while Sinead Kenney presents a new series of 'Eye2Eye'.
