ROSS WHITAKER is quickly becoming one of Ireland’s most celebrated sports documentary makers.
Arguably best known for the award winning ‘Katie’ – which documented the rise of Olympic champion Katie Taylor, Whitaker has been behind the camera since 2007.
Here’s everything you need to know about him:
How did he get involved in TV and film?
Ross is a former commissioning editor at Film Ireland as well as a former festival programmer of Stranger Than Fiction at the Irish Film Institute.
What was his first documentary?
The critically acclaimed “Saviour’s” was his first feature release in 2008. It was a self-funded documentary following the lives of three boxers from St. Saviours Olympic Boxing Academy on Dorset Street in dublin.
The late Olympic bronze medalist Darren Sutherland, Dean Murphy and Abdul Hussein star as “Saviours” brings you to the heart of their daily struggles over a two-year period.
The Sunday Tribune called it the “best Irish film of 2008.”
What other sports documentaries has he made?
Whitaker has been prominent on the Irish sports scene ever since.
In 2012, he directed “When Ali came to Ireland” which looked back at ‘The Greatest’s’ time in the build-up to his fight against Al ‘Blue’ Lewis at Croke Park in 1972.
In 2017, he released Munsterman: Anthony Foley which looked back at the life of the late Ireland and Munster favourite Anthony Foley.
Arguably, his signature piece so far, is his portrayal of Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor in the critically acclaimed ‘Katie’ in 2018.
TAYLOR’S RESURGENCE
Whitaker showed a side rarely seen of Taylor as she rebounded from the toughest time of her life in the spotlight.
Filmed over 15 months, Whitaker charts Taylor’s resurgence in the sport as a professional and her relationship with new trainer Ross Enamait in Connecticut.
Whitaker’s most recent release in 2019, ‘Shane Lowry: Open’ documented Ireland’s newest golf major winner after Lowry’s stunning success at Royal Portrush.
What is ‘The Boys in Green’ about?
MOST READ IN SPORT
Whitaker’s latest offering is a two-part mini series ‘The Boys in Green’ following Jack Charlton’s appointment as manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international football side.
Contributors include current manager Mick McCarthy, John Aldridge, Tony Cascarino, Ronnie Whelan, David O’Leary, Jason McAteer, Kevin Sheedy and Steve Staunton.
The second part will air on RTE 2 at 9.35 on Monday 16 March.