RTÉ’s former head of religious programming, Fr Dermod McCarthy, has died at the age of 83.

A significant influence in the early days of television production in Ireland, he was part of a team of pioneer filmmakers on the series ‘Radharc’.

Link: https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/1022/1540030-dermod-mccarthy/

Originally from Co Leitrim, Fr McCarthy held the position of administrator of the Pro Cathedral in Dublin for 16 years before moving to RTÉ.

Between 1965 and 1982, he made TV documentaries with two other priests in Ireland and around the world.

As a Clonliffe College seminarian, he had been interested in drama and took on the role of lighting many plays, which earned him the nickname ‘Sparks’.

In 1959, Archbishop John Charles McQuaid of Dublin sent two priests to New York to learn something about the new medium of television, which was on the cusp of beginning in Ireland.

On their return, Fr Joe Dunn and Fr Desmond Forristal gathered a number of like-minded creative priests, including Fr McCarthy, and began to produce short experimental films.

Although he was sceptical of the venture, Archbishop McQuaid gave them a gift of £300 towards the cost of a 16mm sync-sound camera and wished them well.

When the films were shown to Michael Barry, who was to be controller of the new television service, he immediately commissioned them for broadcast.

‘Radharc’ was first aired in January 1962, just 12 days after the new Irish television service was launched.

The team of priest-filmmakers produced more than 400 programmes over the following 34 years.

The ‘Radharc’ team tackled difficult and often controversial topics, and as clergy, the team was often allowed a level of access that lay filmmakers may not have been able to achieve.

In 1964, the team filmed a documentary highlighting the inequality of the northern Catholic nationalist community, but it was considered too sensitive politically to broadcast at the time and was not permitted to be aired for 25 years.

Some of their documentaries, such as the 1968 film ‘Open Port’ about prostitution in Cork, were controversial and debated in public.

‘Mother of the Kennedys’ was a unique extended interview with Rose Kennedy, whose sons, President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy, were both assassinated. She explained how her faith helped her through the tragedies.

The series, which was regularly in the top ten most-watched programmes on RTÉ, was critically acclaimed and received many awards, both national and international.

In 1981, Fr McCarthy was the “interlocutor” or intermediary in the kidnapping of businessman Ben Dunne by the IRA.

He met with the kidnappers, publicly appealed for Mr Dunne’s release, and was involved in attempts to negotiate his freedom.

When he retired, Fr McCarthy became RTÉ’s chaplain and continued to contribute to religious programmes for a number of years.

‘Talented musician and raconteur’

RTÉ’s Commissioning Editor of Religious Content described Fr McCarthy as a proud Gaeilgeoir and a Leitrim man to his fingernails.

Paying tribute to the “talented musician and raconteur”, Roger Childs noted that religion was never something that only happened on Sundays in cold buildings for Fr Dermod.

“If it mattered, he believed, faith should be woven into every aspect of life, and he wanted to make programmes that reflected that,” he said.

Mr Childs also pointed out that Fr McCarthy established the documentary series ‘Would you Believe’, which produced landmark documentaries for 25 years.

The former RTÉ Chaplain initiated and, for many years, led the annual All Souls Service of Remembrance for RTÉ colleagues who died during the preceding year.

He always insisted that the organisation host their grieving family members afterwards for lunch and a chat, before they dispersed.

“It’s a poignant irony that his own name will be added to this year’s rollcall at that event, on Monday 3 November,” Mr Childs said.

In Maynooth, where Catholic Bishops have been meeting for their autumn conference, prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of Fr McCarthy.

Funeral details: https://rip.ie/death-notice/rev-fr-dermod-mccarthy-dublin-killiney-608947

The death has occurred of

Rev. Fr. Dermod McCarthy

Killiney, Dublin / Ballinamore, Leitrim

Killiney, Co. Dublin and formerly of Ballinamore Co. Leitrim, 22nd October 2025 at Our Lady’s Manor, Dalkey, Co. Dublin.

Pre-deceased by his parents Michael and Vera McCarthy and his nephew Michael Darragh.

Former Administrator of the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin and former Head of Religious Affairs in RTÉ.

He will be sadly missed by his sister Beth (Earley), brothers Mel & Michael, brother-in-law Joe, sister-in-law Rovena, nephews & nieces; Alan, Eoin, Ronan, Kathy, Breifne, Ruth, Muireann and Colm, grandnephews, grandnieces, the wonderful caring staff at Our Lady’s Manor, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell, his fellow priests, his former colleagues, his many relatives, friends and neighbours.

Rest in Peace

Fr Dermod will lie in repose at Quinn’s Funeral Home, Glasthule, Co. Dublin A96 EW88 this Thursday evening, October 23rd, from 5pm until 7pm.

A Mass of Farewell will be celebrated in the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, Dalkey on Friday at 12 noon after which his remains will be conveyed privately to his hometown of Ballinamore Co. Leitrim.

Reposing at Smith’s Funeral Home, High St. Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim N41 TD62 on Friday evening, October 24th, from 7pm until 9pm.

Funeral Mass on Saturday in St. Patrick’s Church, Ballinamore at 12 noon followed by burial in the family plot in Fenagh Abbey Cemetery, Fenagh, Co. Leitrim.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Funeral Mass may be viewed at www.churchtv.ie/ballinamore