One Hundred Years of Names

Why have certain Irish names, from Cornelius to Bridget, all but vanished over the past century and others (Sean, Jack, Aoife) taken such firm root?

How does a name shape, limit or expand your horizons?

And what do our current favourite names say about the values we consider important: innovation, heritage, tradition, prettiness, fashionability, uniqueness.

This documentary takes us from the Rotunda hospital to the Central Statistics office in Cork to the National Archives, hearing a wide range of personal stories along the way.

First broadcast 25th July 2009.

Produced by Sarah Binchy

Production Supervision by Ann Marie Power

Sound Supervision by Richard McCullough

Pictured is Dashiell McCarthy, son of Christine Monk and Fergal McCarthy, who feature in the documentary.

"We thought he deserved an unusual name," they said.

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries