It was a sad day when Bryan Dobson announced his retirement.
He worked in the RTÉ newsroom for an incredible 37 years and in May 2024, he signed off for the last time.
But now we have something to look forward to, as he confirmed that he will be returning to our national broadcaster.
The legendary journalist will team up with Dearbhail McDonald for a new documentary called The Irish Missionaries.
The programme is set to air later this summer.
The synopsis for the documentary reads: “Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald chart the unique evolution of the Irish missionary movement, from religious colonialism to heroic acts of self-sacrifice and philanthropy; from a flourishing of Irish ‘soft power’, to tawdry scandals of abuse and cover-up.
“Today, the Irish missionary chapter is drawing to a close. Ireland’s last missionaries are nearly all elderly – what will be their legacy? And who, if anyone, will take their place?
“Dearbhail and Bryan explore why so many Irish priests, nuns, lay people and other religious felt called to spread the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the world. They also hear firsthand about their experiences and the impact of those individuals worldwide.”
The documentary does not have a release date as of yet, but it is set to air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
