Katie Hannon explores untold stories in new series. The Records Show on RTÉ

Katie Hannon pictured in Ireland’s National Archives

Katie Hannon returns with a brand-new series of The Records Show, uncovering extraordinary stories hidden within Ireland’s National Archives.

This Sunday, journalist and broadcaster Katie Hannon will once again bring history to life in the second series of The Records Show, airing at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Across three episodes, Hannon digs into rarely seen documents from the National Archives before travelling across the country to investigate the stories behind them.

The series uncovers a fascinating mix of history, culture, and intrigue — from the surface of the moon to Steven Spielberg’s County Wicklow hideaway, and even to the heart of Ireland’s once-thriving international sports car industry in Castleblaney, County Monaghan.

Among the revelations are tales of a no-nonsense judge and his moral vigilantes, a proposal to transform Nelson’s Pillar into an Irish Statue of Liberty, and the story of an undocumented arrival who ended up dining with the President of Ireland.

Music fans will also enjoy unexpected appearances from John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the first episode.

“The stories from the Archives that feature in The Records Show are about astronauts, rock stars, Hollywood actors and royal banquets. But more than anything, the series is about people and the lives lived in Ireland,” RTÉ confirmed.

A personal journey into Ireland’s past

Katie Hannon pictured in Ireland’s National Archives

Presenter Katie Hannon said:

“Having thoroughly enjoyed working on the first series of The Records Show, I couldn’t wait to get back into the National Archives to start working on a fresh batch of files for the second series. And with so much material to choose from, our research unearthed documents that touched on every aspect of Irish life over the past century and before, from high politics and legal drama, to family secrets and national tragedy.

“Along the way, there were some extraordinary discoveries and some genuinely revealing insights.

“We were also privileged to get exclusive access to the extraordinary operation behind the much-anticipated publication of the 1926 census next year. I can only hope that people enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

The National Archives – Ireland’s memory

The collaboration with the National Archives of Ireland is central to the series. Director Orlaith McBride said:

“The National Archives is delighted to partner with RTÉ in bringing a new series of The Records Show to audiences this autumn.

“With over 60 million records under our roof, the National Archives is truly a treasure trove of Irish history dating back over centuries and up to the present day.

“The Records Show lifts the lid on untold stories revealed through the records. It delves deep into these documents tracing how they impacted the lives of people across Ireland.

“The stories range from the quirky to the serious and will allow audiences to understand better the role of the National Archives as the memory of the State.”

Broadcast details

Series two of The Records Show begins on Sunday at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

The programme is produced by Midas Productions and commissioned by RTÉ, in association with the National Archives, with support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.