Programme 4
The Unexpected Farmer
Leonie Byrne was born and raised a city girl through and through. She was just starting out as a bespoke kitchen designer in 2002 when she met her husband-to-be in a Dublin nightclub. The last thing Leonie expected was to switch her heels for wellies but that’s exactly what happened when the couple moved to Stephen’s home farm in Carnew, Co. Wicklow. Following the birth of their five-year-old son Luke, Leonie was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression caused by a chemical imbalance, subjecting her to daily doses of medication. She is a remarkable young mother, an ambitious new farmer, and a brave woman, anxious to tell her story. Helen Carroll learns more.
The Robot Man
Frank Murphy has made his name as the inventor of Dynamic Currency Conversion, and the founder, owner and CEO of globally utilised company, Monex.
Despite being brought up on a farm, farming was never on Frank’s agenda until he and his wife Teresa, took over the reins on her own family farm near Banteer in North West Cork three years ago. Never one to sit on his hands, Frank has gone all out in turning the farm into a 5-star beef finishing unit on an impressive scale. Not only that, but he has also installed a Robotic Feeding System called Maria. Darragh McCullough visited the farm and also met with local award-winning butcher, Jack McCarthy, who buys his cattle from the Murphys.
Malt Barley – What’s Yours?
Single malt, double malt, ball of malt- malt is certainly popular with beer and whiskey drinkers, but what exactly is it, how is it made and what does it do?
Ella McSweeney visits the Malting Company of Ireland as well as the Midleton distillery in Cork and follows the magic process which converts barley to the sweet flavour of malt. Beginning with the specific demands of the barley crop, to the roasting that creates the colour of stout, to the distinctive after-taste of the finest whiskey, Ella follows the story of malt.
Ear to the Ground is produced for RTÉ by Independent Pictures.
Series Producer – John Cummins
Presenters – Darragh McCullough, Helen Carroll, Ella McSweeney Directors – Paula Williams, Liam Lavelle Executive Producer for RTÉ – Ray McCarthy
Press enquiries:
TVPR – Ann Coughlan 087 6778045
Pauline Cronin 087 2629967