Gerry Kelly goes on a personal journey to discover the story behind his favourite song. Made famous by the Irish folk group, The Fureys, and recorded by a host of musicians down the years, The Green Fields of France is also known as No Man's Land or Willie McBride. In this documentary first broadcast on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, Gerry travels to France and comes face to face with the scenes that inspired the song's writer, Eric Bogle, in a moving attempt both to understand more about World War One and to discover who, if anyone, was the real Willie McBride. (A BBC Radio Ulster Production. First published 2016)

Gerry Kelly goes on a personal journey to discover the story behind his favourite song. Made famous by the Irish folk group, The Fureys, and recorded by a host of musicians down the years, The Green Fields of France is also known as No Man's Land or Willie McBride. In this documentary first broadcast on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, Gerry travels to France and comes face to face with the scenes that inspired the song's writer, Eric Bogle, in a moving attempt both to understand more about World War One and to discover who, if anyone, was the real Willie McBride. (A BBC Radio Ulster Production. First published 2016)

Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland and beyond telling real life stories. With over 1,800 documentaries on offer, the Documentary On One Podcast has the largest archive of documentaries available in the world, dating as far back as 1954, right up to the present day. Winner of over 400 national and international awards. Producer of podcast series 'Where is Jón?', ‘The Real Carrie Jade’, 'Runaway Joe', 'Finding Samantha', 'Tiger Roll', 'GunPlot' and 'The Nobody Zone'. Immerse yourself in a world of sound, story and character.

Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland and beyond telling real life stories. With over 1,800 documentaries on offer, the Documentary On One Podcast has the largest archive of documentaries available in the world, dating as far back as 1954, right up to the present day. Winner of over 400 national and international awards. Producer of podcast series 'Where is J&oacute;n?', &lsquo;The Real Carrie Jade&rsquo;, 'Runaway Joe', 'Finding Samantha', 'Tiger Roll', 'GunPlot' and 'The Nobody Zone'. Immerse yourself in a world of sound, story and character.

Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland and beyond telling real life stories. With over 1,800 documentaries on offer, RTÉ Documentary On One has the largest archive of documentaries available in the world, from 1954, to today.

Documentary on One Podcast

Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland and beyond telling real life stories. With over 1,900 documentaries on offer, the Documentary On One Podcast has the largest archive of documentaries available in the world, dating as far back as 1954, right up to the present day. Winner of over 400 national and international awards. Producer of podcast series 'Where is Jón?', 'The Real Carrie Jade', 'Runaway Joe', 'Finding Samantha', 'Tiger Roll', 'GunPlot' and 'The Nobody Zone'. Immerse yourself in a world of sound, story and character.

Multi award winning documentaries from Ireland and beyond telling real life stories. With over 1,900 documentaries on offer, the Documentary On One Podcast has the largest archive of documentaries available in the world, dating as far back as 1954, right up to the present day. Winner of over 400 national and international awards. Producer of podcast series 'Where is Jón?', 'The Real Carrie Jade', 'Runaway Joe', 'Finding Samantha', 'Tiger Roll', 'GunPlot' and 'The Nobody Zone'. Immerse yourself in a world of sound, story and character.

100yrs after the Battle of the Somme in WW1, Gerry Kelly sets out to discover the story behind his favourite song, The Green Fields of France. Also known as Willie McBride or No Man’s Land, Gerry tracks down Willie McBride’s family, and finally solves...

The Green Fields of France

Having spent much of his youth and early adult life in some serious tangles with the law, all of a sudden, Eamon Cooke turns the other cheek. It’s as if he was trying to build a shield of protection around himself while at the same time committing the most serious crimes against children. And then he sets his eyes on an even better cover - taking over the pirate station, Radio Dublin.

If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines

Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

Having spent much of his youth and early adult life in some serious tangles with the law, all of a sudden, Eamon Cooke turns the other cheek. It’s as if he was trying to build a shield of protection around himself while at the same time committing the most serious crimes against children. And then he sets his eyes on an even better cover - taking over the pirate station, Radio Dublin.If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplinesCredits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

Pirate Predator: 02 - The Innocent

Long before he ruled the airwaves of Dublin’s pirate radio scene, Eamon Cooke was a man defined by a different kind of interference. His youth wasn't just rebellious; it was at times violent, volatile and unpredictable. These were the first glimpses into someone who was fast growing up into becoming a very dangerous man.





If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplines

Credits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

Long before he ruled the airwaves of Dublin’s pirate radio scene, Eamon Cooke was a man defined by a different kind of interference. His youth wasn't just rebellious; it was at times violent, volatile and unpredictable. These were the first glimpses into someone who was fast growing up into becoming a very dangerous man.If you've been affected by any issues raised in this episode, please visit rte.ie/helplinesCredits: Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.

Pirate Predator: 01 - The Electrician

Publishing weekly from May 12th 2026, Pirate Predator is a new series from RTÉ telling the definitive story of Eamon Cooke, a man of many faces who, on one hand, became a cult like figure - filling a void for disillusioned youth through Radio Dublin in the 1970s and 1980s - while on the other became one of Ireland's most prolific child sexual abusers.

If you have any information about Eamon Cooke please contact us, in confidence, at documentaries@rte.ie.Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce. 
Previous RTÉ Documentary On One series include Stolen Sister, Where is Jón?, The Real Carrie Jade, Runaway Joe, Finding Samantha, First Consignment, GunPlot, Tiger Roll and The Nobody Zone. 

Publishing weekly from May 12th 2026, Pirate Predator is a new series from RTÉ telling the definitive story of Eamon Cooke, a man of many faces who, on one hand, became a cult like figure - filling a void for disillusioned youth through Radio Dublin in the 1970s and 1980s - while on the other became one of Ireland's most prolific child sexual abusers.If you have any information about Eamon Cooke please contact us, in confidence, at documentaries@rte.ie.Pirate Predator is hosted by Peter Mulryan. The series is written, recorded and produced by Peter Mulryan, Nicoline Greer, Shauna McGreevy and Liam O'Brien. Original music soundtrack is composed and performed by Alma Kelliher with Ste Carolan on guitars. Sound design is by Damian Chennells. Audio Product Support is by Nigel Wheatley and Áine McManus. Design and creatives by Sorcha Kelly and Mark Hennessy. Marketing by Christopher Hayes, Maria Buckley and Hilary O'Callaghan. Promos by Liz Ivory. Publicity by Kate Smyth. Additional online editorial content by Anna Joyce.&nbsp;<div><i class="italic" style="font-family: var(--default-font-family,ui-sans-serif,system-ui,sans-serif,&quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;,&quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;,&quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;,&quot;Noto Color Emoji&quot;); background-color: var(--color-white);"> </div><div><i class="italic" style="font-family: var(--default-font-family,ui-sans-serif,system-ui,sans-serif,&quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;,&quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;,&quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;,&quot;Noto Color Emoji&quot;); background-color: var(--color-white);">Previous RTÉ Documentary On One series include Stolen Sister, Where is Jón?, The Real Carrie Jade, Runaway Joe, Finding Samantha, First Consignment, GunPlot, Tiger Roll and The Nobody Zone.&nbsp; </div>

The Green Fields of France

In 1 playlist(s)

Documentary on One Podcast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips