RTÉ to air new doc on Michael D Higgins using 70 years of archival footage

A new RTÉ One documentary uses seven decades of RTÉ Archive footage to look at the people, places, and events which shaped the political life of former President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins.

This retrospective examines – in his own words and the words of those who know and worked with him – Michael D’s life and work over the years.

READ NEXT: ALERT! Irish households warned as SHEIN recalls chargers amid risk of electric shock and fire

Spanning his childhood to present day, the documentary shows the influence of the War of Independence and Civil War on his family, which shaped a passion for equality and human rights. It looks at his early career in Galway and election in 1981 as Labour Party TD for Galway West, the first Labour TD there since the 1920s.

The documentary reflects on his passionate and lively exchanges on RTÉ Television and radio programmes, going behind the scenes of election counts, TV debates, and interviews from over the years.

Broadcaster and journalist Áine Lawlor questions notable contributors about Michael D.’s life including former President Mary Robinson; Leo Varadkar, who was Taoiseach during his time in office; writer and director Neil Jordan; Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press Magazine where Michael D. was a columnist; Hollywood actor and activist Martin Sheen; and Eamon Gilmore, his friend and former leader of the Labour Party.

READ NEXT: Five counties hit with snow and ice warnings as temperatures set to plummet

On President Higgins’ support for the arts, Neil Jordan says: “The idea of the arts being something that was a right rather than an indulgence became imbedded in the culture and I think that was everything to do with Michael D. Higgins.”

Michael D. Higgins: Ireland’s Ninth President will air this Wednesday, 19 November on RTÉ One at 9:35pm, and will be available to stream on RTÉ Player.