Clean Break reaches its heart-stopping final episode on RTÉ One; Richard Dawkins talks to father confessor Gay Byrne on RTÉ One; and TG4's Hollywood in Éirinn travels to Ballyvourney, where Song for a Raggy Boy was filmed - here's our top telly for today
Clean Break, RTÉ One, 9.30pm
In the final episode of Billy Roche's Clean Break, the wall of silence that surrounds the Rane kidnapping is about to collapse. Frank has reached breaking point and is about to bring the whole house of cards down around him, unmasking the enemies who are out to destroy him and anyone who stands in their way. Meanwhile Jenny’s curiosity leads her to discover vital evidence that could place her in grave danger.
The Meaning of Life, RTÉ One, 10.35pm
Now this should be interesting - father confessor Gay Byrne deftly explores the life, beliefs and values of Prof. Richard Dawkins, the High Priest of atheist rationalism and author or The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion. As ever, Gay manages to elicit some surprising revelations, such as Dawkins’ brief period of fervent Christianity, inspired by Elvis Presley (not Bono), plus some highly controversial opinions about the harm done to children by religious instruction and about the morality of abortion. Gay deftly probes Dawkins’ incendiary opinions that religious indoctrination can damage children more seriously than sexual abuse or that choosing not to abort a foetus with Down’s Syndrome can be “immoral.” But he also finds Dawkins happy to acknowledge that human beings are more than the sum of their biological parts and perfectly ready to admit that applying his rationalist sledgehammer to fundamentalist religious nuts can be counter-productive: “If you’re trying to persuade somebody of something, it’s not obvious that the best strategy is to make them look stupid.”
Hollywood in Éirinn, TG4, 8.00pm
Actor Denis Conway takes a look at the impact that big Irish films had on the Irish people and communities where they were filmed. In the final episode, he travels to the west cork village of Ballyvourney to meet the locals involved in the making of Song for A Raggy Boy. Despite its tough subject matter, tonight's show reveals tales of a happy crew proud of their work. With contributions from Aidan Quinn, Iain Glenn and director Aisling Walsh, it is the locals who shine with their constant willingness to make it alright on the night.
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