​My Love of Radio

When sounds are captured, I consider it to be the most beautiful of confinements. True, many moments are meant to flow with the gentle waters but others make it on to audio and trickle through the sound waves to our ears. That's when the magic happens.! From beginning to end, I fell in love with this process of confinement... first writing the words that would bring to life the pictures, producing that quality that would lure the listener in, and finally, embellishing and stripping things back in equal measure.
​​Writing, Producing, Sound... That's what I love.
​Jump To:  --  KIDS DRAMA  -  DOCUMENTARIES  -  LIVE RADIO --

Children's Radio Drama

A Handful of Women

Written and produced by: Ann Dalton
Directed by: Judie Chalmers;  Recorded by  John Lynch @RTE 
Edited by: Rupert McCarthy-Morrogh
First Broadcast on RTE Jnr Digitial Radio : February 2020
Funded by: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)
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​A chance to return to Great Gran Peg’s box of memories (as explored in my previous radio docu/drama – What about the Children) and to delve further into Great Gran’s childhood. Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with ‘young Peg’ through the campaign for women’s suffrage in Ireland. Prepare to be captivated by Great Gran’s stories of ‘invisible’ women as she awakens a message of empowerment for all young people. Production is now complete on this new project! Tune in to RTE Jr podcast stream for A Handful of Women  an exciting new historical docu/drama funded by the BAI.

Mrs. Tilly Tolly and the Boy who goes Bonkers 

Written and produced by: Ann Dalton
Directed by: Judie Chalmers; Recorded by Brian Nammock @RTE
Edited by: Rupert McCarthy-Morrogh
First Broadcast on RTE Jnr Digitial Radio : July 2019
Funded by: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)

This two part radio drama is aimed at children aged 6 to 10 years. It is an action packed drama that moves along in a delightful atmosphere of fun and acceptance, of difference and of not always fitting inside a 'neat box'. 

It follows a day in the life of the Tilly Tolly’s, just your regular Irish family….or perhaps not! We are invited to join them on their chaotic mission to save their son, Conor who jumped from the tree in their front garden on to the wheels of a low-flying jet! 
While Mr. Tilly Tolly tells the tale on the Six O’Clock News, Mrs. Tilly Tolly and Conor's sister, Amelia go full speed ahead with the ‘real’ rescue mission......

What about the Children

Written and produced by: Ann Dalton
Directed by: Judie Chalmers; Recorded by Brian Nammock @RTE
Edited by: Rupert McCarthy-Morrogh
First Broadcast on RTE Jnr Digitial Radio : Easter 2017
Funded by: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)
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This is a three part documentary/drama aimed at children aged 8 to 12 years. This drama explores the voices of children from a period in Irish history when their voices largely went unheard. 

Where to begin….Katie and her Great Gran Peg tune in to a current report of war in Syria. Katie, scared by the image portrayed reaches out to her Great Gran who in turn draws us back to a time in Irish history, when she too, as a young girl, was scared. Through Great Gran Peg’s box of memories, we are transported back to Ireland of 1916, immersed in the world of Peggy as a young girl and her friend, Frankie. Their everyday dramas are interspersed with authentic snippets of news and adverts of products, some of which are still available today such as Chiver’s Jelly and Horlicks! 

Starboy

Written and produced by: Ann Dalton
Directed by: Judie Chalmers
Recorded by Niall O'Sullivan @RTE and Edited by: PJ Rankin
First Broadcast on RTE Jnr Digitial Radio : New Year's Day 2017
Funded by: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)

This two part radio drama is aimed at children aged 5 to 10 years. Ann has drawn again on an experienced and talented director and cast, to bring this story to life. It portrays the everyday life of Starboy and his sister Luna with a touch of magic that sometimes sparkles, sometimes glimmers but through every scene draws us in to a world of sensitivity and dreams.

This is the story of Starboy and his sister, Luna. Some might say Starboy appeared out of the blue but his sister Luna, even to this day, still believes that he was a gift from the stars. But as her love for her brother deepens, so too does her worry. What if Starboy decides to return some day to where he came from? What then! ​

The Adventures of the Stripy Pyjamas

Written and produced by: Ann Dalton
Directed by: Judie Chalmers
Recorded by Niall O'Sullivan @RTE and Edited by: Rupert McCarthy-Morrogh
First Broadcast on RTE Jnr Digitial Radio : New Year's Day 2016
Funded by: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)

This two part radio drama is aimed at children aged 6 to 10 years. Ann has drawn on an experienced and talented director and cast, to bring this story to life. It exudes a sensitivity that will melt your heart, and a humour that will cause you to explode with laughter! 

This is the story of Charlie and his special stripy pyjamas. Charlie is a young boy, full of energy and lots of feelings that need to be unravelled. His big sis, Lizzie helps him solve some of these feelings and joins him in the odd bit of mischief! By night his special stripy pyjamas come to the rescue…..

The Lonely Flower

Written and produced by : Ann Dalton
Directed by: Judie Chalmers
Recorded by Niall O'Sullivan and Edited by Carl Mullan @ RTE
First Broadcast on RTE Jnr Digital Radio: New Year's Day 2015

This radio drama is aimed at children aged 4 to 8 years. It draws the listener into a world where animals and inanimate objects all come to life. It promotes empathy with the ideas and feelings of others and mixes this with a good 'ole dollop of humour! 

Join the Lonely Flower and all the creatures of the meadow, along with the Golden Sun, the Cheeky Wind (Breezy Bill) and the Old Oak tree. They all bring a little happiness to the flower, but will a surprise visitor to the meadow, be the one at last to make her dreams come true?

Radio Documentary

From the Punjab to Pana

 ​Researched and written by: Ann Dalton
 Presented and Produced by: Ann Dalton
Edited by: Ann Dalton
First Broadcast on Cork City Community Radio  in  2013

A 30 minute documentary on the Pakistani women of Cork city. What do they think when they arrive in this city? What appeals to them about the culture.  What doesn’t? The Pakistani women of Cork, forthright and humorous, tell us how they feel about life in this city.
 
Ann was the researcher, producer and sound editor on this documentary. She wishes to thank the Pakistani women of Cork for sharing their stories, and creating an honest and inspiring portrayal of their experiences. 

The Great Cover Up!

Researched and presented by: Ann Dalton
Produced and Edited by: Ann Dalton
First Broadcast on Cork City Community  Radio 2013

This is a 5 minute documentary on hubcaps. (Really?!) Three year old Sami is fascinated by hubcaps! This short documentary delves into ‘Samiland’ and explores the psychology of this age group. 

This documentary features clips of Sami sharing his enthusiasm for hubcaps and his endless stream of questions – What is underneath them, how do you take them off and why do some cars have odd ones? These clips weave in and out of the documentary, providing evidence of a specific characteristic in this age group, while at the same time drawing the listener in to Sami’s world. 

Radio talk shows/features

Le Cheile on CCCR 100.5FM

​​Presented and produced by: Ann Dalton and Barra O'Caoimh
Sound engineer: Ann Dalton
Broadcast: on Cork City Community Radio 2012 - 2014

​Ann researched, presented and produced over 100 programmes of Le Cheile, an Irish/English bilingual talk show on CCCR 100.5FM.  The show used both languages, cúpla focal Gaeilge agus Béarla, to present everything from literature to horticulture! It highlighted events both locally and nationally, and had a great array of live guests - musicians, artists, historians and lots more. 

'Cork Matters' ON Irish Radio International

Researched by: Ann Dalton and Ann Marie Lewis
Co-presented/produced by: Ann Dalton and Ann Marie Lewis
Broadcast on Irish Radio International in 2013

Ann co-presented and produced Cork Matters, a weekly magazine programme on Irish Radio International (IRI), during the Summer of 2013. The show highlights life in Cork City and County, providing up to date info on local events and talent. Ann also recorded features and interviews at both local and national festivals and events for broadcast on IRI. 
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