A new radio documentary by multi-award-winning Galway producer Orla Higgins will be broadcast this Saturday, September 2, at 2pm as part of the RTÉ Radio 1 Documentary on One strand.

A Dark Night in Foxford tells the story of the events of a harrowing night in May 1923 and explores the rarely discussed and uncomfortable aspect of sexual violence in the Irish Civil War.

This is a time from Irish history that was shrouded in silence for decades. From June 1922 to May 1923, families, friends and neighbours took opposing sides as the new Irish State was being formed.

“Some stories only started coming to light in recent years with the release of archives from Ireland’s revolutionary period,” explains Orla, whose previous documentaries include Reprisals: The Eileen Quinn Story.

“And official documents from the time have shown that sexual violence against women was one of the hidden atrocities of the conflict that has rarely been spoken about, and seldom acknowledged.

“These files unearthed all sorts of stories and their importance in helping us understand what that generation went through cannot be underestimated.

Pictured: Documentary profile…Catherine Doherty and her daughter Maggie.