#Radio - RTÉ Radio's Documentary on One strand has made the shortlist of the 2013 Prix Italia broadcasting awards for a wonderful tale of a connection made across the ocean.
Listed among the top three for 'Overall Quality' in the awards shortlist, Message in a Bottle begins on Christmas Day 1945, when 21-year-old American servicemen Frank Hayostek stuffed a note in a bottle and threw it from the deck of his troop carrier.
After eight months at sea, the bottle washed up on a beach near Dingle where it was found by 18-year-old Breda O'Sullivan, who began a correspondence with Frank that soon blossomed into a firm friendship.
Saving up for six years as they wrote back and forth, Frank finally made the trip to Ireland to meet Breda in person - with the whole world watching.
Made by Peter Mulryan with assistance from Liam O'Brien, and originally broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on 4 August 2012, the 45-minute documentary is available to stream or download from the RTÉ website.
The winners are due to be announced this afternoon at 4pm CET with a live stream available from the Prix Italia homepage.
