TG4 to screen major treatment of history of transport in Ireland

Éire & Taisteal is a seven-part documentary series on Irish transport evolution.
The series covers Ireland’s earliest roads, waterways, railways, motor cars and aviation.
Irish maritime innovation continues today with technology for hazardous waters.
The Great Southern and Western Railway became a backbone of Ireland’s railway network.
Aer Lingus was established in 1936 and Ryanair’s growth is featured.

TG4 is to screen the first major treatment exploring the evolution of transport in Ireland.

Éire & Taisteal is a new seven-part documentary series exploring the extraordinary evolution of travel and transport in Ireland. The series features archive footage, expert contributors, historic locations and extraordinary surviving machines, bringing together centuries of Irish social, industrial and technological history. The documentary has been produced by Abú Media for TG4.

Episode 1: Monday, September 7th
Episode 2: Monday, September 14th
Episode 3: Monday, September 21st
Episode 4: Monday, September 28th
Episode 5: Monday, October 5th
Episode 6: Monday, October 12th
Episode 7: Monday, October 19th

The journey begins with Ireland’s earliest roads and waterways and an island whose relationship with travel was inevitably shaped by the sea. From the arrival of the Vikings in their longships, through centuries of trade and the sailing ships that carried generations of Irish emigrants towards the promise of a new life, to the revolutionary arrival of steam power, the sea connected Ireland to the wider world. That tradition of maritime innovation continues today, with Irish technology helping vessels safely navigate some of the world’s most hazardous waters.

On land, the series traces Ireland’s roads back as far as the Iron Age and follows the extraordinary inventors and entrepreneurs who found new ways to get people moving. The series discovers the innovations of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, the arrival of the bicycle, and the remarkable transport network created by Charles Bianconi, before the motor car began to transform Irish life. The coming of the railway changed the country forever, with the Great Southern and Western Railway from Dublin to Cork becoming a backbone of Ireland’s railway network. The series ultimately presents the story of Ireland itself and of the constant desire to move, explore, innovate and connect with the world beyond Irish shores.

TG4 shared:

The journey begins with Ireland’s earliest roads and waterways and an island whose relationship with travel was inevitably shaped by the sea. From the arrival of the Vikings in their longships, through centuries of trade and the sailing ships that carried generations of Irish emigrants towards the promise of a new life, to the revolutionary arrival of steam power, the sea connected Ireland to the wider world. That tradition of maritime innovation continues today, with Irish technology helping vessels safely navigate some of the world’s most hazardous waters.
On land, Éire & Taisteal traces Ireland’s roads back as far as the Iron Age and follows the extraordinary inventors and entrepreneurs who found new ways to get people moving. We discover the innovations of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, the arrival of the bicycle, and the remarkable transport network created by Charles Bianconi, before the motor car began to transform Irish life.
The coming of the railway changed the country forever. The Great Southern and Western Railway from Dublin to Cork, constructed between 1845 and 1849, became a backbone of Ireland’s railway network. Rail brought people, produce and places closer together and had a profound impact on Irish industry, agriculture, sport, tourism and everyday life.
By the beginning of the 20th century, another transport revolution was underway. By 1903, some 1,500 motor cars were already registered in Ireland, and the country found itself at the forefront of the emerging world of motor racing. As cars became faster and more sophisticated, new laws were introduced to govern this rapidly changing world. But war, revolution and restrictions on movement would soon dramatically alter how and where people could travel.
After the Second World War, Ireland remained a predominantly rural and agricultural country. Inventor Harry Ferguson revolutionised farming through his tractors, while his remarkable career also stretched from early aviation to the development of the four-wheel-drive Ferguson P99 Formula One car. By the 1950s, car ownership was becoming possible for ordinary families, and vehicles such as the Morris Minor, Volkswagen Beetle and Honda 50became familiar sights on Irish roads — and enduring symbols of a changing rural Ireland.
Finally, Éire & Taisteal takes to the skies. From pioneers Richard Crosbie and Lilian Bland to the historic Irish connections of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, Ireland played a remarkable role in the early story of flight. The establishment of Aer Lingus in 1936 connected the Irish Free State directly with Britain and Europe and gave the young nation control over its own aviation services. That story continues through the extraordinary growth of Ryanair and Ireland’s emergence as a world leader in aircraft leasing.
Featuring archive footage, expert contributors, historic locations and extraordinary surviving machines, Éire & Taisteal brings together centuries of Irish social, industrial and technological history.
Ultimately, this is not simply a series about trains, planes, automobiles and ships. It is the story of Ireland itself — and of our constant desire to move, explore, innovate and connect with the world beyond our shores.