The Lino Crossing - Tales of the observed

The Lino Crossing - Tales of the Observed is a challenging documentary made by Mary Duffy, disabled artist and ex radio producer in RTÉ Radio 1.

The documentary which was made in 1999 was Mary's first, and was nominated by RTÉ Radio for the Prix d'Italia Broadcasting Awards, in the same year.

In the documentary, Mary Duffy explores how disables people break the mould.

How they cope with the often crass. rude and clueless comments and attitudes of the abled.

A poem by Rosaleen MacDonagh, describes an incident in a cafe where her food arrives. There's a woman sitting across from her who begins by asking her name and continues to question her in an authorative manner.....

With one exception, all the people featureed in this documentary have been asked to remove themselves from public places.

For example, Mary says "People have been put in the guard's van while travelling by train. It happened to me in Dublin airport. I was asked to leave and it's so embarassing and upsetting."

This documentary focuses on disabled people's response to being in the public gaze.

In doing to it provides a rare insight into the lived life of disabled people, unvarnished accounts of the struggle for rights, for tolerance, for acceptance, for love, for respect.

Those participating in the documentary include Martin Naughton, Donal Toolan, Mairead Manton, Rosaleen McDonagh and Cearbhaill O'Meadhra.

Producer: Mary Duffy

(First broadcast 3rd March, 1999)

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - A 'Documentary on One' radio production