Hands (TV series)

Irish TV documentary series about crafts

Hands

Title card

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 episodes| 37
Production
Producer| David Shaw-Smith
Running time| 24–27 minutes
Original release
Network| RTÉ1
Release| 1978 (1978) –
1989 (1989)
Related

* In Good Hands

Hands was an Irish television documentary series broadcast by RTÉ between 1978 and 1989, covering traditional Irish crafts.[1][2][3][4]

## Production

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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]

## Episode list

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# | Broadcast date | Title | Narrator

|
|
|

1 | 17 April 1978 | Wool Spinning | Seamus Ó Catháin
2 | 3 July 1981 | Irish Patchwork | Seamus Ó Catháin
3 | 11 April 1983 | Irish Lace | Mairead Reynolds
4 | 11 May 1989 | Irish Embroidery | Linda Ballard
5 | 18 March 1980 | Donegal Weavers[6] | Ray McAnally
6 | 19 June 1981 | Dublin Woolen Mill | Ray McAnally
7 | 24 April 1979 | Donegal Carpets | Ray McAnally
8 | 15 May 1979 | Tailor | Benedict Kiely
9 | 4 March 1985 | English Silk | Alec Taylor
10 | 1 May 1978 | Carriage Building | Seamus Ó Catháin
11 | 1980  | Cavan Cabinetmakers | Benedict Kiely
12 | 5 June 1981 | Cavan Cooper | Ray McAnally
13 | 11 March 1980 | Chair Maker John Surlis | Benedict Kiely
14 | 1988  | Dublin's Viking Longship | Éamonn Mac Thomáis
15 | 1989  | Harp Making | Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
16 | 1983 | Hurlmaking | Diarmaid Ó Muirithe
17 | 1991  | Irish Spinning Wheel Making | Ben Kiely
18 | 1988  | Shannon One Design | Ben Kiely
19 | 1980  | Carley's Bridge Potteries | Ray McAnally
20 | 1987 | Belleek Potteries | Benedict Kiely
21 | 1983  | Clay Pipe Works | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe
22 | 1980 | A Dublin Silversmith | Éamonn Mac Thomáis
23 | 1989 | Powers of the Metal | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe
24 | 1981  | Stone | Éamonn Mac Thomáis
25 | 1983  | Dublin's Workhorses | Éamonn Mac Thomáis
26 | 1979 | Shoe Making | Ray McAnally
27 | 1981  | A Dublin Bookbinder | Dr. Maurice Craig
28 | 30 May 1983 | The Saddler | Brian McSharry
29 | 1978 | Curraghs | Seamus Ó Catháin
30 | 1989  | Rushwork | Seamus Ó Catháin
31 | 1978  | Basketmaking | Andy O'Mahony
32 | 1981  | Wexford Thatcher | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe
33 | 1980  | Fermanagh Country | Benedict Kiely
34 | 1978  | Stoneground | Andy O’Mahony
35 | 1982  | A Dublin Candlemaker | Éamonn Mac Thomáis
36 | 1983  | Of Bees & Bee Skeps | Diarmuid Ó Muirithe
37 | 1989  | Lighthouse Crafts[7][8] | Dick Warner

## Legacy

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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 (TV series).[12]

From Christmas 2021 all programmes online at RTE Player to celebrate 60 Years of Television.[clarification needed]

## References

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1. ^ O'Brien, Harvey (22 March 2018). The Real Ireland: The Evolution of Ireland in Documentary Film. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719069079 - via Google Books.
2. ^ "Old hands at film-making". The Irish Times.
3. ^ Byrne, Terry (1 January 1997). Power in the Eye: An Introduction to Contemporary Irish Film. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810832961 - via Google Books.
4. ^ "BM/E's World Broadcast News". Broadband Information Services. 1 May 1982 - via Google Books.
5. ^ "About - Hands".
6. ^ "Donegal Weavers Are 'In Good Hands' with New RTE Series! – Donegal Daily". www.donegaldaily.com. 16 May 2013.
7. ^ "Hands Series - Cottageology - Irish Cottages & Culture". 5 May 2010.
8. ^ "Others - Hands".
9. ^ McLysaght, Emer (4 August 2013). "What's the greatest episode of Irish television, ever?". The Daily Edge.
10. ^ a b Cummins, Steve (5 April 2012). "RTÉ Revisits 'Hands' Series, GMarsh Begin Production". The Irish Film & Television Network.
11. ^ O'Brien, Harvey (22 March 2018). The Real Ireland: The Evolution of Ireland in Documentary Film. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719069079 - via Google Books.
12. ^ "Watch In Good Hands on RTÉ Player". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.

## External links

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* Official website
* Official YouTube channel

*[No.]: Number