Nationwide – Monday 19th October, RTÉ One, 7.00pm
Tonight’s Nationwide pays a visit to Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford where part of the film Brooklyn was made. The film is based on Wexford author Colm Tóibín’s novel, also called Brooklyn, which tells the story of a young Enniscorthy girl who leaves Ireland for America in the 1950s. She falls in love but has to choose between the US and her life back home. Made into a movie starring Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson, Brooklyn is being tipped as an Oscar contender. Reporter Helen McInerney visits Enniscorthy where local people will get to see the film before it goes on general release.
Also in the programme, reporter Marian Malone meets a Limerick woman who when exploring her family history, stumbled across a link to one of the greatest inland waterways disasters in the history of the United States. The Eastland Disaster claimed the lives of 844 people when a steamship capsized at Chicago’s quayside in just 20 feet of water.
Nationwide – Wednesday 21st October, 7.00pm, RTÉ One.
This year the Association of Irish Musical Societies, known simply by its members as AIMS, is celebrating its 50th birthday. AIMS is one of Ireland’s most successful amateur organisations and tonight, Nationwide focuses on the people and activities of AIMs, from promoting professional standards through to encouraging youth participation, developing the talents of the people who give of their time and energies to entertain us all.
Every year, the AIMS organisation runs a national competition to recognise excellence in amateur musical theatre throughout the country. Nationwide looks back on 50 years of AIMs and musical theatre in Ireland beginning with the announcement of the winner of this year’s Best Overall Show award in Killarney in June.
Many people spend many happy years involved in amateur musical societies and there are others who use the grounding on the amateur circuit to advance to become professionals. For young Irish people interested in starting off a career in musical theatre, the journey up to now involved travelling to the UK to attend college there, however in recent times this has changed with the opening of the College of Music Theatre in Dublin. Reporter Valerie Waters goes to visit the college.
There are many people who come up through Ireland’s amateur circuit and go on to become professionals. There are a number of Irish singers and dancers who are making a good living in the business and Nationwide goes to The West End of London to meet some of these performers.
Nationwide – Friday 23rd October, 7.00pm, RTÉ One.
Tonight, Nationwide visits Achill Island in County Mayo, one of Ireland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. It’s the largest island in the country and is accessible from the mainland by bridge. With its majestic mountains, breathtaking landscapes and miles of unspoilt beaches, Achill is a paradise for lovers of outdoor pursuits but it’s also a place of retreat for anybody looking for peace and solitude. A visit to Achill can be as active, or as relaxed, as you choose and this evening Nationwide gives a flavour of both. The programme will also be looking at the island’s long history, meeting some of its people and experiencing some of its culture and outstanding beauty, and examining the unique landscape on Achill which is ideal for lots of adventurous and challenging things to do. Reporter Maria Mullarkey takes on Croaghaun Mountain, the highest mountain on Achill which boasts the third highest sea cliffs in Europe.