Hands (TV series)

Irish TV documentary series about crafts

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 (1978) –
1989 (1989)
Related

* In Good Hands

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

## Production

[edit]

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

[edit]

No.| Episode title & topic| Narrated by| Original release date

|
|
|

1| Wool Spinning| Seamus Ó Catháin| 7 April 1978 (1978-04-07)
2| Irish Patchwork| Seamus Ó Catháin| 2 July 1981 (1981-07-02)
3| Irish Lace| Mairead Reynolds| 1 April 1983 (1983-04-01)
4| Irish Embroidery| Linda Ballard| 1 May 1989 (1989-05-01)
5| Donegal Weavers[6]| Ray McAnally| 8 March 1980 (1980-03-08)
6| Dublin Woolen Mill| Ray McAnally| 19 June 1981 (1981-06-19)
7| Donegal Carpets| Ray McAnally| 24 April 1979 (1979-04-24)
8| Tailor| Benedict Kiely| 5 May 1979 (1979-05-05)
9| English Silk| Alec Taylor| 4 March 1985 (1985-03-04)
10| Carriage Building| Seamus Ó Catháin| May 1978 (1978-05)
11| Cavan Cabinetmakers| Benedict Kiely| 1980 (1980)
12| Cavan Cooper| Ray McAnally| 5 June 1981 (1981-06-05)
13| Chair Maker John Surlis| Benedict Kiely| 1 March 1980 (1980-03-01)
14| Dublin's Viking Longship| Éamonn Mac Thomáis| 1988 (1988)
15| Harp Making| Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin| 1989 (1989)
16| Hurlmaking| Diarmaid Ó Muirithe| 1983 (1983)
17| Irish Spinning Wheel Making| Ben Kiely| 1991 (1991)
18| Shannon One Design| Ben Kiely| 1988 (1988)
19| Carley's Bridge Potteries| Ray McAnally| 1980 (1980)
20| Belleek Potteries| Benedict Kiely| 1987 (1987)
21| Clay Pipe Works| Diarmuid Ó Muirithe| 1983 (1983)
22| A Dublin Silversmith| Éamonn Mac Thomáis| 1980 (1980)
23| Powers of the Metal| Diarmuid Ó Muirithe| 1989 (1989)
24| Stone| Éamonn Mac Thomáis| 1981 (1981)
25| Dublin's Workhorses| Éamonn Mac Thomáis| 1983 (1983)
26| Shoe Making| Ray McAnally| 1979 (1979)
27| A Dublin Bookbinder| Dr. Maurice Craig| 1981 (1981)
28| The Saddler| Brian McSharry| 20 May 1983 (1983-05-20)
29| Curraghs| Seamus Ó Catháin| 1978 (1978)
30| Rushwork| Seamus Ó Catháin| 1989 (1989)
31| Basketmaking| Andy O'Mahony| 1978 (1978)
32| Wexford Thatcher| Diarmuid Ó Muirithe| 1981 (1981)
33| Fermanagh Country| Benedict Kiely| 1980 (1980)
34| Stoneground| Andy O’Mahony| 1978 (1978)
35| A Dublin Candlemaker| Éamonn Mac Thomáis| 1982 (1982)
36| Of Bees & Bee Skeps| Diarmuid Ó Muirithe| 1983 (1983)
37| Lighthouse Crafts[7][8]| Dick Warner| 1989 (1989)

## Legacy

[edit]

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.[clarification needed]

## References

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Official website
* Official YouTube channel

*[No.]: Number