Emerald Nightingales uncovers the overlooked story of the Irish nurses who became central to the building of Britain’s NHS. Narrated by Helen Behan, the documentary follows generations of young Irish women who left home in search of opportunity after being denied nursing training in Ireland. Crossing the Irish Sea in the mid-20th century, they entered an unfamiliar and often unforgiving healthcare system, training in outdated hospitals while questioning whether they had made the right choice. Through archival material and personal testimony, the film reveals how perseverance, solidarity, and skill transformed hardship into purpose - showing how Ireland’s loss became Britain’s gain, and how these women quietly helped shape the soul of the National Health Service.
Emerald Nightingales made its television debut on RTE One.
