Nationwide – Monday 27th July – 7.00pm on RTÉ One
Tonight on Nationwide, presenter Mary Kennedy learns about the remarkable story of the Scottish fisherman who left his fishing boat behind to set up an organisation which is today feeding millions in Africa. Magnus Macfarlane Barrow, founder of the charity Mary’s Meals, left the nets and fishing boats behind to become a charity worker not knowing that one day his efforts would be sustaining lives in many parts of the developing world. His work is supported by many people in Ireland and recently he came to visit Donegal to meet some of them. Mary Kennedy meets him for a chat at Trinity Hall in Letterkenny.
Also in the programme, RTÉ’s Midlands Correspondent Ciaran Mullooly visits the Heart of Ireland Festival in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. This is the first year of the festival which has been set up to honour those who work tirelessly in communities up and down the land
Nationwide – Wednesday 29th July – 7.00pm on RTÉ One
This evening, Nationwide focuses on stories of Church of Ireland communities around the country.
Reporter Cathy Halloran travels to the beautiful and historic village of Adare in Co. Limerick, where the Church of St. Nicholas is marking its 700th year. It has played a significant role in village life over all those centuries, and the whole community has been taking part in a number of celebrations to mark this historic milestone.
Reporter Valerie Waters goes to St. Bartholomew’s Church in Ballsbridge, Dublin, a very busy parish church with a very special choir. Valerie pays a visit to Ballsbridge to hear the choir and see the church’s ongoing renovation work.
Also in the programme, Nationwide presenter Mary Kennedy visits Dún Laoighaire, Co. Dublin, where a couple of years ago a new Vicar arrived and within a short space of time, had made her presence felt beyond the local Church of Ireland community.
Nationwide – Friday 31st Jul– 7.00pm on RTÉ One
Tonight’s Nationwide features stories from the West of Ireland. Reporter Aine Lally meets Tommy Stenson, a 16-year-old secondary school student from Co. Mayo with a passion for Sean Nós dancing. Nationwide reporter Maria Mullarkey visits Henri Hedou, a Frenchman who moved to Co. Mayo forty three years ago to work as a potter, and the programme also features a famous French song which has helped to strengthen the brand of Connemara in France and greatly assisted in increasing the number of French holiday makers to the West.