Haughey (TV series)

Haughey is a four-part mini-series documenting the life of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey which was first broadcast on Irish television channel RTÉ One in June and July 2005. It was aired as part of RTÉ's summer schedule that year.[1]

Haughey
GenreDocumentary
Created byMint Productions
Directed byNiamh Sammon
Country of originIreland
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producersMiriam O'Callaghan and Steve Carson
ProducerNiamh Sammon
Running time4×52 minutes
Release
Original networkRTÉ One
Original release13 June (2005-06-13) –
4 July 2005 (2005-07-04)

Haughey is a creation of Mint Productions, the company founded by presenter Miriam O'Callaghan and her producer husband Steve Carson, responsible for the 2003's Fine Gael: A Family At War and later the 2008 Bertie documentary series.[2][3] Unlike Bertie, which saw one of Haughey's successors as Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, give a "marathon" three-hour interview to the cameras and national television,[4] Haughey could not be persuaded to take a direct part in the series. However, he did give his blessing to the involvement of his family and friends in co-operating with the programme.

List of episodes
  • 1. The Outsider (13 June 2005)
  • 2. Arise and Follow (20 June 2005)
  • 3. The Survivor (27 June 2005)
  • 4. Disclosure (4 July 2005)

Reception

The programme provoked much debate throughout its four-week run, drawing fire from many individuals, some with "already sharpened axes to grind anew". The series was accused of being "too soft" on its subject. Desmond O'Malley thought his screened interview unlike that which actually happened. Some of the interviewees were criticised as viewing their part "through the distorting mirror of bitterness or loyalty", whilst "others bore grudges, others were staking their positions for posterity". The series was noted for the wry contributions of former secretary to the government Dermot Nally, the contrasting observations of Haughey's son Seán with those of his daughter Eimear, and the performance of Pádraig Flynn before the camera, which was described as "utterly extraordinary". Questions were, however, raised if a better programme could have been made after Haughey's death when people would feel freer to speak.[5]

Quotes from the papers
  • "'Haughey' is a whale of a story, told with a fine energy in this production", Sunday Independent[6]
  • "'Haughey' was gripping television from beginning to end...it will be an important source for the history of Fianna Fáil in the Haughey period", Sunday Independent [7]
  • "An extraordinary story...neither a black-and-white morality tale nor a rehabilitation", The Irish Times [8]

References
  1. "RTÉ Television reveals summer programming". RTÉ. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2005.
  2. "Ahern to receive Mint TV treatment". The Irish Times. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  3. "Bertie's life and times in the frame". Irish Independent. 2 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  4. "Bertie to bare all in three-part series charting career". Irish Independent. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  5. "Farewell to Haughey and sexy Nigella". The Sunday Business Post. 10 July 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2005.
  6. "We are indeed a forgiving people". Irish Independent. 19 June 2005. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2005.
  7. "Haughey documentary was gripping television". Irish Independent. 10 July 2005. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2005.
  8. "When it comes to Haughey give credit where credit is due". Irish Independent. 7 July 2005. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2005.
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