Mint Productions
Encyclopedia
Mint Productions is an Irish
production company that has produced documentaries and television series for RTÉ
, BBC
and Channel 4
. The company, founded by RTÉ television presenter Miriam O'Callaghan
and her producer husband Steve Carson
, has produced a number of series, including Fine Gael: A Family At War (2003), Our Lady's (2003), its follow-up Return to Our Lady's (2005), Legal Eagles (2004), Making Babies (2004) and Junior Doctors (2006). Amongst its most noted achievements are Haughey
(2005) and the IFTA
-winning Bertie
(2008), two separate series on the lives and political careers of two of Ireland's more prominent taoisigh
, Charles Haughey
and Bertie Ahern
.
The 2001 Mint-produced Ireland's Own
examined the popular Irish magazine of the same name which was celebrating its 100th anniversary that year. The same year's Pearse - Fanatic Heart was a biopic of Irish rebel teacher Patrick Pearse
. In 2002, Mint produced three biographical documentaries for BBC Four
; Sharpton on the preacher Al Sharpton
, Berlusconi on Italia
n politician Silvio Berlusconi
and Mary Robinson: The Outsider on former President of Ireland
Mary Robinson
. That same year they produced Venezuela: The Two-Day Coup for the station. This focused on the period that April when the Presidency of Venezuela
exchanged hands thrice in two days. Matthew Bourne: The Entertainer was a joint production for BBC Four/BBC Two
on the controversial choreographer Matthew Bourne
in 2002. A return to RTÉ led to Eamonn, a documentary on TV presenter Eamonn Andrews
. All the Queen's Men was a joint production between RTÉ and the Irish Film Board
which focused on the reasons behind hundreds of young Irishmen opting to fight in the British Army
. In 2003 Paul Seawright: Hidden was produced for BBC Four. It focused on the Belfast
photographic artist who grew up during the Troubles
. Abu Hamza examined the controversial preacher Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri
who has since been jailed in the UK
. For a period of six months in 2002-03 Crash was filmed for RTÉ. It focused on the car crash epidemic that blights the Irish nation. Emmet was an account of the Republican
revolutionary Robert Emmet
who was hanged and beheaded in Dublin in 1803. In 2004 Who Kidnapped Shergar was produced for Channel 4
and RTÉ. It detailed the 1983 disappearance of the famous racehorse from County Kildare
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
production company that has produced documentaries and television series for RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. The company, founded by RTÉ television presenter Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan is an Irish television current affairs broadcaster, chat show host and radio presenter with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has presented the leading current affairs show, Prime Time, since 1996, and her own chat show, Saturday Night with Miriam, since 2005...
and her producer husband Steve Carson
Steve Carson
Steve Carson is an Irish director and producer of television. He is the editor of current affairs at Raidió Teilifís Éireann as of November 2011 and was appointed Director of Television in January 2009....
, has produced a number of series, including Fine Gael: A Family At War (2003), Our Lady's (2003), its follow-up Return to Our Lady's (2005), Legal Eagles (2004), Making Babies (2004) and Junior Doctors (2006). Amongst its most noted achievements are Haughey
Haughey (TV series)
Haughey is a four-part mini-series documenting the life of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey which was first broadcast on Irish television channel, RTÉ One in June and July 2005...
(2005) and the IFTA
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
-winning Bertie
Bertie (TV series)
Bertie is an IFTA-winning four-part miniseries documenting the life of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, which was broadcast on Irish television channel, RTÉ One in 3 November 2008. The series examined in close detail how he operated as leader of the country and what drove him through his political...
(2008), two separate series on the lives and political careers of two of Ireland's more prominent taoisigh
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
and Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
.
The 2001 Mint-produced Ireland's Own
Ireland's Own
Ireland's Own is a family magazine published weekly in Ireland. It specialises in lightweight content, traditional stories, knitting patterns, and uncontroversial family content, including puzzles and recipes. It was launched in 26 November 1902 by John M...
examined the popular Irish magazine of the same name which was celebrating its 100th anniversary that year. The same year's Pearse - Fanatic Heart was a biopic of Irish rebel teacher Patrick Pearse
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916...
. In 2002, Mint produced three biographical documentaries for BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
; Sharpton on the preacher Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
, Berlusconi on Italia
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
n politician Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
and Mary Robinson: The Outsider on former President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
. That same year they produced Venezuela: The Two-Day Coup for the station. This focused on the period that April when the Presidency of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
exchanged hands thrice in two days. Matthew Bourne: The Entertainer was a joint production for BBC Four/BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
on the controversial choreographer Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne OBE is a British classical and contemporary ballet and dance choreographer.-Biography:Matthew Bourne was born in Hackney, London in 1960. He went to William Fitt and Sir George Monoux School in Walthamstow, London...
in 2002. A return to RTÉ led to Eamonn, a documentary on TV presenter Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews, CBE , was an Irish television presenter based in the United Kingdom.-Life and career:...
. All the Queen's Men was a joint production between RTÉ and the Irish Film Board
Irish Film Board
The Irish Film Board is Ireland’s national film agency and major film funding body. It was recommended for abolition by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in 2009.-Formative years:...
which focused on the reasons behind hundreds of young Irishmen opting to fight in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. In 2003 Paul Seawright: Hidden was produced for BBC Four. It focused on the Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
photographic artist who grew up during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
. Abu Hamza examined the controversial preacher Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri
Abu Hamza al-Masri
Abu Hamza al-Masri is an Egyptian Sunni activist known for his preaching of a violent and politicised interpretation of Islam, also known as militant Islamism or jihadism...
who has since been jailed in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. For a period of six months in 2002-03 Crash was filmed for RTÉ. It focused on the car crash epidemic that blights the Irish nation. Emmet was an account of the Republican
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
revolutionary Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
who was hanged and beheaded in Dublin in 1803. In 2004 Who Kidnapped Shergar was produced for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and RTÉ. It detailed the 1983 disappearance of the famous racehorse from County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
.