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RTÉ needs to give young people a chance
Reeling in the Years – Captivating a sense of nostalgic bliss
By Katie Barragry
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It goes without saying that RTÉ’s Reeling in the Years has been a firm family favourite for years. As a country that boasts such a rich heritage, it’s hardly surprising that Ireland would pass up the opportunity to relive history through this weekly nostalgic documentary. While it reflects on years gone by, viewers find themselves enthralled in memories and the personal stories associated with seminal moments in history. Even the theme song evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and excitement as you sit back and reflect on the events of the selected year.
After several successful seasons and countless repeats, the new series of the programme focuses on the 2010s and seems to have been welcomed with open arms by many. But what is it about Reeling in the Years that appeals to the Irish public? Is it the overwhelming sense of nostalgia? Is it recalling where you were at a particular moment in time? Or, as a nation, are we just obsessed with recalling the past?
I asked a friend of mine the same question to which she replied, “It’s just so Irish!” which sums the series up perfectly. I wonder if other countries have a programme devoted to recalling the formative moments of their country’s history.
There is something really special about sitting around the TV watching the series with your family and friends. With every episode accompanied by a playlist of number ones, it is an instant conversation starter as you begin to recollect the years gone by. All of a sudden, you are discussing where you were when you heard the startling news of Bloody Sunday, the Twin Towers, the Haiti Earthquake, or the election of a new President. Next, you’re racking your brains to remember who won the All-Ireland that year and trying to remember who was Taoiseach at that particular point in time.
The programme provides a platform of discussion and nostalgia that seems to appeal to every generation. Ireland is a nation renowned for its storytelling and giving a programme like Reeling in the Years a platform gives Irish people a chance to share their own stories of times gone by. It gives us the optimum opportunity to share our experiences and this valuable storytelling is then preserved for future generations.
From high profile Royal visits to the depths of economic depression, the series highlights both the positive and challenging moments. Many will agree that the series instils a sense of pride in what our small country has endured and has overcome in the past. There is a feeling of accomplishment as the programme demonstrates the resilience we have shown and the developments we have made throughout the decades. Whether it is a world news story or smaller local event there is a moment of time that will resonate with everyone for one reason or another. We are a proud nation and Reeling in the Years gives us an opportunity to celebrate and showcase our past accomplishments. Isn’t it worthwhile reflecting on what we’ve overcome as a nation and how much we’ve achieved? I think so.
RTÉ needs to give young people a chance
By Darren Casserly
Recently RTÉ launched a series by the name of Iarnród Enda where former Taoiseach Enda Kenny travels around old Irish railroads. I disliked the idea of a man like Enda Kenny getting to host a series like this with no prior experience of hosting. Another reason for my feeling is the fact that many of the closures of the lines he travels are as a result of governments that he was a part of.
It’s no secret that RTÉ have been struggling financially for some time and one has to wonder how much does it cost to hire a man like Enda Kenny and would it not be used better elsewhere. They could have still made the series with a less expensive host and the quality would not be much different.
This is, however, part of a larger problem, RTÉ doesn’t give young people a chance. Any of the shows that the broadcaster has made in the last decade has been met with very little positive reaction. Yet they continue to go down the same trodden path again and again. It is not a case that there isn’t the talent available all you have to do is look at the adaptation of Irish writer Sally Rooney’s novel, Normal People, made by and starring mainly Irish people, yet it was financed by the BBC. This has happened time and time again, Irish people have to go abroad to get an opportunity, from Father Ted to The Young Offenders most people would say that they are Irish shows, and, in a way, they are, but they in truth are not. It’s time RTÉ give people like these a chance more often than once every few years. Stop making people have to go abroad to make their dreams come true do it here and maybe then they would not have to rely on buying most shows from abroad.
I know some of you might say there are some RTÉ player exclusives that are giving Irish creators a platform and yes, while it’s great that their doing this, the player has been heavily criticized in the past for it’s poor quality in terms of video quality and others complaints like this. Player exclusives are a start, but that’s all it is and more backing needs to come in the future. The young people of Ireland are talented and while RTÉ may have a few problems one that when solved would be of huge benefit to the broadcaster is believing in the talent that is here and giving them the backing that they would get abroad. It has worked in the past with shows like Love/Hate and Hardy Bucks and it can happen again.
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
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