[ReacherCreature]

Originally Posted by Einhard

That's a bit unfair. RTE is a public service broadcaster afterall, and people seem to like Fir City and Eastenders. And it's slightly ironic that you complain about RTE's lack of historical programming in a thread dealing with, er, a historical programme by RTE. Generally speaking, I've always found RTE quite good at producing history documentaries, although it is a bit limited in its scope.

Yeah but The Story of Ireland is one of the few documentaries I've seen that encapsulates Ireland's history. There should be way more IMO.

[lebowski11]

I've enjoyed this series so far but I agree with most here who find it a little vague. For instance, the Batlle of Aughrim; the bloddiest in Irish history does not even recieve a cursory mention. However I'd imagine that the vagueness in much of the series stems from the editing than anything else. The contributors on the series are some of the finest historians in the country, yet most only get a brief cameo to explain the relevance of certain events.

[thesilvervoice]

I believe it is a co-production between RTE and the BBC

[bitter]

Hats off to Keane for this show. A lot of Irish people need to let go of this "victimhood" mentality. It is only detrimental to the progress of Irish Society as a whole. Brendan Behan was a prime example as he cried victimhood yet grovelled to the London Theatre world to show his plays and gain their acceptance.

[Cynical Apathy]

I'd imagine RTE gave him a limit of 4 or 5 episodes to fit it all in.

There's a misconception among most "patriotic" Irish people that we were happy go lucky farmers living in bliss until the damned English came over and raped our grannies. When in fact 99% of the population were peasant slaves living in a feudal society under chieftains, provincial kings and high kings. Each one of these were as tyrannical as any British lord. The common Irish person had to do their willing, work their fingers to the bone, fight their wars all for a reward of food.

[owenc]

Oh yes i was watching it i didn't know irish people planted people in the mainland until i seen that which was very interesting and hopefully will tell certain people certain things... The most interesting thing about it was the one where by the norse came over and planted norse people which i also never knew happened... hmm

[The Scientician]

The parts I've seen I've enjoyed. Keane isn't the best of presents imho but the people he interviews are usually great. It's a broad sweeping overview so would probably appeal more to a British (or other foreign) viewer people who've studied Irish history at school. I noticed one or two slight inaccuracies. I felt he jumbled up the dates of things a bit in his telling.

[PatsytheNazi]

Originally Posted by Cynical Apathy

I'd imagine RTE gave him a limit of 4 or 5 episodes to fit it all in.

There's a misconception among most "patriotic" Irish people that we were happy go lucky farmers living in bliss until the damned English came over and raped our grannies. When in fact 99% of the population were peasant slaves living in a feudal society under chieftains, provincial kings and high kings. Each one of these were as tyrannical as any British lord. The common Irish person had to do their willing, work their fingers to the bone, fight their wars all for a reward of food.

'Sigh' . Yet another wannabe comedian...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Duckworth_Luas]

Originally Posted by Cynical Apathy

...fact 99% of the population were peasant slaves living in a feudal society under chieftains, provincial kings and high kings. Each one of these were as tyrannical as any British lord. The common Irish person had to do their willing, work their fingers to the bone, fight their wars all for a reward of food.

Crickey! So much fail it's impossible to quantify! Buy yourself a history book on Gaelic Ireland, available in all book stores.

[KeithAFC]

Good show. Still waiting to see the one on 1916 and the rising and the Somme (if it does get mentioned).

[old hippy]

Originally Posted by owenc

Oh yes i was watching it i didn't know irish people planted people in the mainland until i seen that which was very interesting and hopefully will tell certain people certain things... The most interesting thing about it was the one where by the norse came over and planted norse people which i also never knew happened... hmm

Lolz @ the mainland

[Cynical Apathy]

Originally Posted by Duckworth_Luas

Crickey! So much fail it's impossible to quantify! Buy yourself a history book on Gaelic Ireland, available in all book stores.

Just prior to the Norman invasion, who worked for the tuath, the over-kings, the provincial kings etc?.. and fought their wars? Maybe not in the traditional sense of the word (feudalism) which there's a lot of debate over, but I would still describe it as a land of hierarchy who rule over peasants and slaves. The Irish armies, were levies forced to fight by their rulers. In that sense I stand by what I've said and unless you're willing to quantify, your opinion is useless...

For most Irish people nothing really changed until the atrocious Elizabethan times.

[weeboab]

Was watching this tonight, and was very surprised to discover that James Connolly was in fact born in Glasgow!!!
Strange then that I used to live in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, where the tenement block where I had a flat, actually had a plaque on the wall describing it as the birthplace of James Connolly. I must also inform my friends in the James Connolly Society in Edinburgh, that they are in fact marching in the wrong city to commemorate this great Scottish Socialist.

Maybe Feargal is thinking of that other great son of Scotland, Billy Connolly, who was in fact born in Glasgow, but maybe didn't have quite the same impact on workers rights?

[Penfailed]

I find it good viewing. I also saw it tonight and have watched every episode. I think the time constraints limit the detail too much though.

[V480]

Originally Posted by weeboab

Was watching this tonight, and was very surprised to discover that James Connolly was in fact born in Glasgow!!!
Strange then that I used to live in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, where the tenement block where I had a flat, actually had a plaque on the wall describing it as the birthplace of James Connolly. I must also inform my friends in the James Connolly Society in Edinburgh, that they are in fact marching in the wrong city to commemorate this great Scottish Socialist.

Maybe Feargal is thinking of that other great son of Scotland, Billy Connolly, who was in fact born in Glasgow, but maybe didn't have quite the same impact on workers rights?

That's right, Connelly was born in Edinburgh, his father used to shovel ****e for a living, sorry I couldn't think of a more polite way of putting it. Isn't Billy Connelly of Irish parentage??

I missed the last few epsisodes so hopefully this will be repeated or released on dvd. It was a very well put together series in my view, though I know not everybody agrees on its content. The last episode was possibly the weakest of the ones I saw, though that's possibly because it focused on the period of Irish history I am most familiar with already.