Nicholastown's Niamh directing Church and Irish State documentary

Michael McDowell. Pic by Michael Foley Photography, via Wikipedia Creative Commons.

The recent filming at Kilcullen Parish Church by a television producer originally from Nicholastown is part of a feature length documentary due to be transmitted on RTE television next year, writes Brian Byrne.

'Rome v Republic' will be presented by Senator Michael McDowell and examines the Catholic Church's relations with the Irish State over the last 200 years.

It is being directed by Niamh Sammon, who is originally from Kilcullen. She has previously directed and produced a number of documentaries for RTE, including 'Ireland's Health Divide' in 2017. Others were 'Medication Nation', also in 2017, and 'Hidden Impact: Rugby and Concussion' in 2015.

Niamh also produced 'Fine Gael: A Family at War' and a four-part Haughey documentary about the life of former taoiseach Charles Haughey. She is currently a PhD candidate and tutor at Dublin City University and a freelance television Producer/Director.

Prior to working full-time for a decade with RTE's Current Affairs Department, Niamh worked with the BBC, and with Channel 4 News.

Michael McDowell is a former leader of the Progressive Democrats, a former attorney-general and former minister for justice.

The documentary starts with the founding of Maynooth Seminary in 1795, and includes interviews with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin. Clonliffe College, the former diocesan seminary in Dublin, also features.



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