In his new series Creedon’s Retro Roadtrip, John Creedon retraces the route of the only holiday his entire family ever took. Back in 1969 John and his eleven brothers and sisters were loaded into his father’s enormous Mercedes, those that wouldn’t fit were piled into a borrowed caravan and the entire family took off on a two week road trip around the country. On the way around the country they visited Butlins, missed Lough Neagh and got caught in an Orange parade.
Over forty years on John Creedon takes off on his own journey to see how the people and the country has changed and to visit those places his parents captured forever on grainy home cine and in black and white photos.
Episode One:
With the keys for his Merc and his caravan in tow Creedon’s epic journey begins where it ends, in the Rebel city of Cork!
First stop on his roadtrip are the crossroads in Mallow, for a spot of Irish dancing. Then it’s on to Cashel where John and local pharmacist Sean Ó Duibhir recall the infamous Fleadh Cheoil of 1969.
Next stop is Carlow to meet the proud owners of an original barrel top wagon. John and his caravan travel to the heart of Dublin city where Nelson’s Pillar is revived – in memory only -and the brutalist architecture of Ballymun is bemoaned. Last stop is the Royal Meath Show, the best spot to bag yourself a premier Irish Hererford heifer.