An Extraordinary Affair
The time: Ireland, mid 1700s. Young Eleanor Butler is from one of the most notable families in the country and lives in a grand castle.
2012 / Leeanne O'Donnell / Liam O'Brien / RTE, Ireland
The time: Ireland, mid 1700s. Young Eleanor Butler is from one of the most notable families in the country and lives in a grand castle.
Her life is full of careful manners, fine things and many people who would like to see her married to a gentlemen her equal. But Eleanor remains unmoved by all of her suitors, and her life of privilege is turned on its head when she falls in love with Sarah Ponsonby, a woman whose life is equally proscribed, living just two miles down the road. Together, they cast off their fates, challenge their times, and scandalize all of Ireland.
An Extraordinary Affair was produced by Leeanne O'Donnell and Liam O'Brien and first aired on the RTE's Documentary on One.
Behind the Scenes: read an interview with Leeanne O'Donnell about the making of An Extraordinary Affair.
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Leeanne O'Donnell has worked in radio in the UK and Ireland since 2004 and loves how the best radio allows a good story to tell itself. She has worked as a presenter, reporter and freelance producer across a number of radio genres. In 2006, Leeanne established her own production company, Whistling Gypsy Productions. Her documentary, An Extraordinary Affair, won the silver medal for Best Documentary at Ireland's Radio Industry Awards, the PPIs.
Liam O'Brien is the Series Producer of the RTE's Documentary on One.
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