If you thought RTÉ's 'Rough Riders' was good, check out these excellent documentaries on Irish sport and its effect on society.
A Year Til Sunday
A look back Galway’s winning All-Ireland campaign in 1998, directed by the award-winning Pat Comer, we get some stunning footage from behind the scenes as the Tribesmen won their first All-Ireland football title in 32 years.
Here’s part 1, and simply follow the YouTube links to access the rest of the documentary.
http://youtu.be/HkqUjQRxiJA
Ceasefire Massacre
This short but searing documentary, directed by Alex Gibney, looks at the events of June 18
th, 1994.
As Ireland took on Italy in their opening World Cup clash at the Giants Stadium, gunmen burst into the Heights Bar in Loughinisland and opened fire, killing six innocent men.
This ESPN 30 for 30 documentary juxtaposes the joy of Ireland’s win against the tragic backdrop of what was happening in Northern Ireland.
http://youtu.be/2lnWWQaHeeg
Red Mist
Wildfire Films produced this excellent take on Roy Keane’s exit from Ireland’s World Cup squad in 2002.
Featuring contributions from Eamon Dunphy, Tommie Gorman, Marian Finucane and, eh, Jeremy Paxman, this clip will bring it all back.
Yet again.
The Notorious Conor McGregor
Following the Dubliner as he prepared for his first fight on American soil against Hawaiian Max Holloway, this marked the true beginning of Ireland’s love affair with one of our most charismatic and unique competitors.
There are lots of great insights, to the story of the hat he carries around everywhere he goes, his own ‘Jerry Maguire,’ his diet and the highest of praise from Dana White himself.
http://youtu.be/_J5J7exuwnI
In The Blood
The 2008 documentary examines Ireland’s relationship with horse racing, with this clip featuring some riveting thoughts from Ted Walsh on the difference between the National Hunt and flat racing, which he claims is ‘just a business’ and effectively not a sport for the purists.
Click
here to see what he has to say.
What did we miss? If there are any other Irish sporting documentaries you'd like us to cover, let us know in the comments section below this article or tweet us @JOEdotie
