The BBC's Fergal Keane is to write and present the first major TV series about the history of Ireland in nearly 30 years.

A multi-million-euro collaboration between BBC and RTE, the story will be told in six hour-long episodes, airing on both broadcasters during 2011 and involving some of Ireland's top documentary makers.

In an interview with the Sunday Tribune, Keane (48) said : "In documentary terms this is the biggest thing I have ever taken on. I do feel a responsibility to get it right. I see it as a chance to bring two things together, my passion for Irish history and everything I have experienced in conflict over the last 25 years."

It's not the first time Ireland and Britain's state broadcasters have collaborated on a history of Ireland. In 1980, writer and historian Robert Kee wrote and presented Ireland – A Television History, rated by the BBC as one of the most important series in the corporation's history.

However Keane, the BBC's former Northern Ireland correspondent, says much has changed in the intervening years.

"Thirty years is a long time without a TV history," said Keane, who grew up in Dublin and Cork. "In 1980 the Troubles were still ongoing. Much has happened since then with more historical research done."

While Kee had 13 episodes to tell Ireland's story, Keane has just six.

"It shows you how TV and time has changed," Keane said. "Nowadays six hours is considered a lot of time. How are we going to fit everything in? TV is all about condensing and the key will be big themes."

With that in mind The Story Of Ireland will be divided into themes such as land, faith, and identity.

"These are all the things that have come up for me as a foreign correspondent. If we tried to fit everything in, we would be here till the end of time," he said.

Missing from the series will be the usual big-name contributions from the likes of Gerry Adams, Bertie Ahern or Ian Paisley.

"Very often what you get with politicians is their version of things. I'll be reading everything they've said but this will be my take on it," said Keane.