Don't Look Back in Anger

In 2002 the Irish public saw two headline‑grabbing episodes. On the football field, Roy Keane’s confrontation with manager Mick McCarthy dominated the sports headlines, while in politics Bertie Ahern led Fianna Fáil to a general‑election victory, though the party didn't secure an outright majority. Both stories held the nation’s attention, showing how sport and politics each sparked vigorous debate and shaped public discourse that year. The Keane‑McCarthy clash highlighted tensions within the national team and prompted endless analysis of player‑manager dynamics, and Ahern’s result forced Fianna Fáil to seek support from smaller parties to form a government. Together they marked a year of memorable public confrontations and political manoeuvring.

The 2003 programme presents a collection of headline stories from that year, each set to music that was popular at the time. Structured as an episode, it pairs contemporary news events with the soundtrack that defined the era, giving viewers a sense of both the headlines and the cultural backdrop. It's designed to blend news and nostalgia, letting the past feel immediate, and by aligning each report with period songs, the episode aims to evoke the atmosphere of 2003, letting the audience experience the news alongside the melodies that were on the radio and in clubs then. It runs as a straightforward compilation, each story being introduced briefly before the accompanying track plays, creating a rhythm that mirrors the year's pace.

2004 was marked by several headline events. A devastating tsunami struck South East Asia, causing widespread loss of life and damage to coastal communities. In the same year, governments introduced bans on smoking in public places, aiming to protect public health. Meanwhile, Irish equestrian Cian O'Connor initially claimed Olympic gold, only to have the medal later stripped following a controversy. These stories dominated news coverage throughout the year, reflecting both natural tragedy and significant policy shifts, as well as the dramatic reversal of a sporting triumph. The events were widely reported across television, newspapers and online platforms, shaping public discourse.

This 2005 episode forms part of an archive news documentary series that revisits the most significant headlines from the previous two decades. The programme draws on past reports to give a retrospective look at the events that captured public attention over the last twenty years. It uses archived footage and original reporting to illustrate how each story unfolded. In the current instalment, the focus narrows to the year 2005, examining the headline stories that dominated that particular year. By concentrating on 2005, the episode offers a snapshot of the pivotal news moments that defined the period. The segment provides concise summaries and contextual background, helping viewers understand the impact of those headlines within the broader news landscape of the time.

This archive news documentary series revisits the headline stories that have shaped the past twenty years. Each episode examines a different year, and the current instalment turns its attention to the events that made the news in 2006. Using contemporary footage and reports from the time, the programme offers a concise recap of the most talked‑about incidents, political developments and cultural moments that defined that year. By focusing on 2006, the show provides viewers with a snapshot of the year's most significant headlines, placing them within the broader context of two decades of news coverage. The episode strings together the key reports, giving audiences a clear overview of 2006's most impactful news.

The series digs into archived news reports, turning the clock back to examine the headlines that shaped earlier years. In this installment, the focus is squarely on 2007, offering a look back at the stories that made the news that year. By revisiting these past reports, the programme gives viewers a chance to see how events were presented at the time, without adding any new commentary. It’s essentially a retrospective collection of the year’s most notable headlines, presented straight from the original archives. The footage is drawn directly from the original broadcasts, preserving the tone and style of the period’s journalism.

The 2008 episode is an archive news documentary that revisits the major headlines that dominated the media in earlier years, with a particular emphasis on the events of 2008. Using footage and reports from the time, the programme pieces together the stories that captured public attention, offering a concise overview of the year's most talked‑about occurrences. By drawing on contemporary news archives, the episode provides viewers with a snapshot of the period’s defining moments without adding commentary or analysis. The broadcast is presented as a single episode, fitting within the broader series that regularly revisits historic news cycles. Its concise format keeps the focus tight, allowing the audience to grasp the significance of each story without distraction.

Released in 2009, this episode forms part of an archive news documentary series that revisits the major headlines of the last twenty years. Each instalment surveys a different year, and the current week’s focus is on the events that dominated the news in 2009. The programme draws on contemporary footage and reports to give viewers a concise recap of the most talked‑about stories from that period, presenting them in a straightforward, factual manner without added commentary. By concentrating on a single year, the episode offers a snapshot of the issues that shaped public discourse at the time. As an episode, it follows the series' established structure, delivering the review in a compact format.

The archive news documentary revisits the most significant headlines from the past twenty years, offering a retrospective look at the events that shaped recent history. In this week’s installment, the focus turns to the year 2010, examining the key stories that dominated the news cycle at the time. By drawing on archival footage and contemporary reports, the programme provides a concise overview of 2010’s major developments, situating them within the broader context of two decades of news coverage. This approach allows viewers to see how the events of that particular year fit into the larger narrative of recent media history.

It’s a 2011 programme presented as an episode‑style archive news documentary. The film looks back over the headline stories of the past twenty years, with this particular broadcast zeroing in on the events that defined 2011. By stitching together contemporary reports, footage and on‑the‑ground recordings, it offers viewers a retrospective glance at the year’s most significant news items. Through a curated mix of reports, interviews and archival material, the episode aims to place 2011 within the wider timeline of recent history, providing a concise yet comprehensive snapshot of its impact on society.