Hands (TV series)
| Hands | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary, biography |
| Written by | Benedict Kiely Ray McAnally |
| Directed by | David Shaw-Smith |
| Narrated by | Benedict Kiely |
| Composers | Jolyon Jackson, Paddy Glacken, Matt Molloy |
| Country of origin | Republic of Ireland |
| Original languages | English, Irish |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 37 |
| Production | |
| Producer | David Shaw-Smith |
| Running time | 24–27 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | RTÉ1 |
| Release | 1978 – 1989 |
| Related | |
| |
Hands is an Irish television documentary series broadcast by RTÉ between 1978 and 1989, covering traditional Irish crafts.[1][2][3][4]
Production
Creator David Shaw-Smith began with Telefís Éireann in the 1960s, working as a cameraman with Gerrit van Gelderen and became an independent filmmaker in the early 1970s. he and his wife Sally, an illustrator, travelled Ireland in a VW van recording traditional craftsmen.[5]
Episodes
| No. | Episode title & topic | Narrarted by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wool Spinning | Seamus Ó Catháin | 7 April 1978 |
| 2 | Irish Patchwork | Seamus Ó Catháin | 2 July 1981 |
| 3 | Irish Lace | Mairead Reynolds | 1 April 1983 |
| 4 | Irish Embroidery | Linda Ballard | 1 May 1989 |
| 5 | Donegal Weavers[6] | Ray McAnally | 8 March 1980 |
| 6 | Dublin Woolen Mill | Ray McAnally | 19 June 1981 |
| 7 | Donegal Carpets | Ray McAnally | 24 April 1979 |
| 8 | Tailor | Benedict Kiely | 5 May 1979 |
| 9 | English Silk | Alec Taylor | 4 March 1985 |
| 10 | Carriage Building | Seamus Ó Catháin | May 1978 |
| 11 | Cavan Cabinetmakers | Benedict Kiely | 1980 |
| 12 | Cavan Cooper | Ray McAnally | 5 June 1981 |
| 13 | Chair Maker John Surlis | Benedict Kiely | 1 March 1980 |
| 14 | Dublin's Viking Longship | Éamonn Mac Thomáis | 1988 |
| 15 | Harp Making | Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin | 1989 |
| 16 | Hurlmaking | Diarmaid Ó Muirithe | 1983 |
| 17 | Irish Spinning Wheel Making | Ben Kiely | 1991 |
| 18 | Shannon One Design | Ben Kiely | 1988 |
| 19 | Carley's Bridge Potteries | Ray McAnally | 1980 |
| 20 | Belleek Potteries | Benedict Kiely | 1987 |
| 21 | Clay Pipe Works | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe | 1983 |
| 22 | A Dublin Silversmith | Éamonn Mac Thomáis | 1980 |
| 23 | Powers of the Metal | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe | 1989 |
| 24 | Stone | Éamonn Mac Thomáis | 1981 |
| 25 | Dublin's Workhorses | Éamonn Mac Thomáis | 1983 |
| 26 | Shoe Making | Ray McAnally | 1979 |
| 27 | A Dublin Bookbinder | Dr. Maurice Craig | 1981 |
| 28 | The Saddler | Brian McSharry | 20 May 1983 |
| 29 | Curraghs | Seamus Ó Catháin | 1978 |
| 30 | Rushwork | Seamus Ó Catháin | 1989 |
| 31 | Basketmaking | Andy O'Mahony | 1978 |
| 32 | Wexford Thatcher | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe | 1981 |
| 33 | Fermanagh Country | Benedict Kiely | 1980 |
| 34 | Stoneground | Andy O’Mahony | 1978 |
| 35 | A Dublin Candlemaker | Éamonn Mac Thomáis | 1982 |
| 36 | Of Bees & Bee Skeps | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe | 1983 |
| 37 | Lighthouse Crafts[7][8] | Dick Warner | 1989 |
Legacy
Hands has been described as one of "Ireland’s favourite" television programs, and has been rebroadcast several times to the extent that it is one of the "most broadcast" RTÉ productions.[9][10]
Harvey O'Brien, in his The Real Ireland: The Evolution of Ireland in Documentary Film (2004), said "The series was marked by its close-up observation of the techniques involved, and though lacking an explicit social commentary always gave the sense that these skills were gradually disappearing.".[11]
For over 20 years, the original film sat in tea chests in a barn in Creagh, County Mayo. In March 2013 archivists packed all 1,800 film cans into storage containers and brought them to the RTÉ Archives.[10]
In 2013, it was revisited in the series In Good Hands.[12]
From Christmas 2021 all programmes online at RTE Player to celebrate 60 Years of Television.
References
- ^ O'Brien, Harvey (22 March 2018). The Real Ireland: The Evolution of Ireland in Documentary Film. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719069079 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Old hands at film-making". The Irish Times.
- ^ Byrne, Terry (1 January 1997). Power in the Eye: An Introduction to Contemporary Irish Film. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810832961 – via Google Books.
- ^ "BM/E's World Broadcast News". Broadband Information Services. 1 May 1982 – via Google Books.
- ^ "About - Hands".
- ^ "Donegal Weavers Are 'In Good Hands' with New RTE Series! – Donegal Daily". www.donegaldaily.com. 16 May 2013.
- ^ "Hands Series - Cottageology - Irish Cottages & Culture". 5 May 2010.
- ^ "Others - Hands".
- ^ McLysaght, Emer (4 August 2013). "What's the greatest episode of Irish television, ever?". The Daily Edge.
- ^ a b Cummins, Steve (5 April 2012). "RTÉ Revisits 'Hands' Series, GMarsh Begin Production". The Irish Film & Television Network.
- ^ O'Brien, Harvey (22 March 2018). The Real Ireland: The Evolution of Ireland in Documentary Film. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719069079 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Watch In Good Hands on RTÉ Player". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.