In 1978, Radio Dublin made history as Ireland's first 24-hour station. But behind the scenes, a darker story was unfolding. Eamon Cooke, already a convicted criminal, was now in control of the pirate station Radio Dublin and began using his newfound influence to try to insulate himself from suspicion.

If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines

Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Legal advice from Trish Whelan and Deirdre Kelly. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

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Having spent much of his youth and early adult life in some serious tangles with the law, all of a sudden, Eamon Cooke turns the other cheek. It’s as if he was trying to build a shield of protection around himself while at the same time committing the most serious crimes against children. And then he sets his eyes on an even better cover - taking over the pirate station, Radio Dublin.

If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines

Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

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Long before he ruled the airwaves of Dublin’s pirate radio scene, Eamon Cooke was a man defined by a different kind of interference. His youth wasn't just rebellious; it was at times violent, volatile and unpredictable. These were the first glimpses into someone who was fast growing up into becoming a very dangerous man.

If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines

Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Publishing weekly from May 12th 2026, Pirate Predator is a new series from RTÉ telling the definitive story of Eamon Cooke, a man of many faces who, on one hand, became a cult like figure - filling a void for disillusioned youth through Radio Dublin in the 1970s and 1980s - while on the other became one of Ireland's most prolific child sexual abusers.

If you have any information about Eamon Cooke please contact us, in confidence, at [email protected].

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Meg Daly uncovers her family’s hidden history of slavery in Jamaica. In this programme, we hear from local Jamaicans who helped Meg in her search for her ancestry and their family connections with slavery. Meg and her family also speak of the profound shame they now feel over the behaviour of their ancestors. (2026)

Produced by Chris Nikkel and Ciarán O’Neill with Tim Desmond, Ronan Kelly and the Documentary On One team.

Diary reader: Patrick Dunne.

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Stories from an Irish entertainment family which travelled the roads of the country over several decades. Stories like the man who died on stage; the man who refused to die on stage and the lack of virgins in Glenties! (2025)

Narrated by Kevin Sullivan

Produced by Ronan Kelly

Agnes’ book: "The End of the Strolling Players"

First broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, 2PM, Monday 27th October 2025

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In 1986, a Limerick man called Terry Madigan came up with a plan to raise money for his local GAA club and community that everyone thought was crazy. Terry wanted to create a world record for the longest game of GAA football ever to be played. It would be 60 hours of football - non-stop on a full-sized pitch over a whole weekend. If this was going to work, it would need 14 brave men and the whole parish of Kilcornan to get involved. This is the story of that record attempt - the highs; the lows; the hallucinations - all set against the backdrop of a community of people bonded by the love of their parish and GAA.

Narrated by Shauna McGreevy. Produced by Shauna McGreevy and Nicoline Greer (2026)

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Four-part mockumentary: Episode 4.

It’s Christmastime at 30 Acres and Glenn, Iseult and Holly are hiding out in Glenn’s bomb shelter with their hostage, Sean Granite. Alistair Crowe plans to strike a deal with Holly, sidelining the others, so that he can advance his plan to sell the 30 Acres estate. If he can secure the release of Sean Granite, his government contacts will support him to establish a prison on the site.

However this will depend on Sean - and Sean is a much changed man after his period of captivity at the hands of the 30 Acres Says No campaign.

Cast

Barbara Bergin, (Iseult)

Shane Casey (Glenn)

John Colleary (Sean)

Philippa Dunne (Pat)

Barry Murphy (Alistair)

Stefanie Preissner (Holly)

Colm Tobin (Colm)

Aidan O'Donovan (TV Presenter/Priest)

Produced by Kevin Brew for Drama On One with Kevin Reynolds and Gorretti Slavin. Produced by Liam O'Brien for Documentary On One with Tim Desmond, Ronan Kelly, Nicoline Greer and Shauna McGreevy. Sound Design by Damian Chennells. Audio product support by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design by Niamh McKeown. 

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Four-part mockumentary: Episode 3.

The developer of 30 Acres, Sean Granite, was once a titan of the construction industry. Now he’s a prisoner in Glenn’s jeep as it hurtles across the mangled roadways of the estate. The kidnapping wasn’t planned, and Holly, Iseult and Glenn have to figure out what to do next. Their 30 Acres Says No manifesto, issued in response to the repossession order on their homes, has gone viral.

RTÉ’s Prime Time are planning a live broadcast from Holly’s home. Pat Granite launches a search operation for her missing husband, unaware that some of those participating know exactly where Sean is. Alistair Crowe offers advice to Pat, as he attempts to assert an interest in the Granite Empire. Glenn’s DIY approach to medical treatment brings unforeseen side-effects, as does the appearance of a clearly drunk Iseult on live television.

Cast

Barbara Bergin, (Iseult)

Shane Casey (Glenn)

John Colleary (Sean)

Philippa Dunne (Pat)

Barry Murphy (Alistair)

Stefanie Preissner (Holly)

Colm Tobin (Colm)

Aidan O'Donovan (TV Presenter/Priest)

Produced by Kevin Brew for Drama On One with Kevin Reynolds and Gorretti Slavin. Produced by Liam O'Brien for Documentary On One with Tim Desmond, Ronan Kelly, Nicoline Greer and Shauna McGreevy. Sound Design by Damian Chennells. This episode also featured the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with Director/Leader Mia Cooper. Audio product support by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design by Niamh McKeown. Publishing weekly.

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Four-part mockumentary: Episode 2.

Holly, Glenn and Iseult have received repossession letters. Soon all three will be evicted from their homes. But they’re not giving up without a fight. They cobble together a manifesto for their new campaign - 30 Acres Says No.

Their first meeting is in Glenn’s survivalist-themed man-shed, complete with a stash of iodine tablets and a hoard of 1916 memorabilia and weapons. Holly searches for her uncle, Sean Granite, the developer of 30 Acres, in the hopes of reversing the repossession order. Then Holly learns that her uncle fudged the paperwork related to the purchase of her home. It would be probably better for everyone if she left Glenn’s antique revolver where it belonged, but she hasn’t.

Cast

Barbara Bergin, (Iseult)

Shane Casey (Glenn)

John Colleary (Sean)

Philippa Dunne (Pat)

Barry Murphy (Alistair)

Stefanie Preissner (Holly)

Colm Tobin (Colm)

Aidan O'Donovan (TV Presenter/Priest)

Produced by Kevin Brew for Drama On One with Kevin Reynolds and Gorretti Slavin. Produced by Liam O'Brien for Documentary On One with Tim Desmond, Ronan Kelly, Nicoline Greer and Shauna McGreevy. Sound Design by Damian Chennells. Audio product support by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design by Niamh McKeown. 

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Four-part mockumentary: Episode 1.

December 2009. Colm is an investigative reporter for RTÉ, assigned to the story of an enormous ghost estate called 30 Acres. Only three inhabitants remain on this barren wasteland; Holly, Glenn and Iseult.

Holly is an entrepreneur intent on re-launching her salon as an alternative tourist venture - the world’s first ghost estate tour. Glenn loves the freedom of life on the vacant estate, hunting otters in the moonlight. Iseult has finally found the seclusion she craves. But the developer of this unfinished housing project, Sean Granite, is bankrupt. A government-appointed liquidator, Alistair Crowe, is on the scene, with dastardly plans to evict Holly, Glenn and Iseult. It seems like their days on the 30 Acres estate are numbered. Or are they?

Cast

Barbara Bergin, (Iseult)

Shane Casey (Glenn)

John Colleary (Sean)

Philippa Dunne (Pat)

Barry Murphy (Alistair)

Stefanie Preissner (Holly)

Colm Tobin (Colm)

Aidan O'Donovan (TV Presenter/Priest)

Produced by Kevin Brew for Drama On One with Kevin Reynolds and Gorretti Slavin. Produced by Liam O'Brien for Documentary On One with Tim Desmond, Ronan Kelly, Nicoline Greer and Shauna McGreevy. Sound Design by Damian Chennells. Audio product support by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design by Niamh McKeown. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.