Monday 11th March, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
With the biggest Irish language festival in Ireland and the world, Seachtain na Gaeilge, taking place this week, Nationwide is celebrating the Irish language and culture.
Presenter Mary Kennedy travels to Ballyphehane in Cork, where the community there share in all aspects of Irish culture all year round. This happens through a group called Club Ceoil, which runs classes in Irish music, language and much more. Mary goes along to find out more.
There are several Gaeltacht areas in the country where Irish is spoken on a daily basis however for those in Dublin who want to use the language on a daily basis, there can be a difficulty in finding enough people to share the passion. Recently though, new opportunities have arisen with a Pop Up Gaeltacht in the capital. Nationwide meets one of the founders of the Pop Up Gaeltacht in Dublin City. The word is spread through social media about the location of the Pop Up Gaeltacht, which happens on the last Thursday of each month in a different pub around the capital. Nationwide finds out how it all got started.
Wednesday 13th March, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
This evening, Nationwide continues its celebration of all things Irish.
Continuing to mark Seachtain Na Gaeilge, reporter Valerie Waters goes to meet a young woman whose parents are both Nigerian and who is a fluent Irish speaker. Valerie visits the M.A. student of Media to get a sense of her life in Dublin at both her work place and at college.
St Patrick’s Day is also famous for the Dublin Dog Show and for decades has been associated with the RDS. These days the Dog Show is a two day event based at the Irish Kennel Club’s exhibition centre near Dublin airport. Niall Martin was at last year’s St Patrick’s Day Event.
Friday 15th March, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
As Seachtain na Gaeilge finishes on March 17th, Nationwide has its final programme this evening celebrating the Irish culture.
Irish traditional music is an important part of Irish culture. It’s known around the world with trad sessions attracting tourists in their droves to the country. Recently in Borris in Co. Carlow a group of young people gathered from all over Ireland to celebrate traditional Irish music making. Reporter Helen McInerney went along to watch.
Waterford Glass has released a special edition of crystal which celebrates three of nine native breeds of Irish dogs, inspired by the book The Curious History of Irish Dogs written by David Blake Knox. The decanter stoppers feature the Irish Wolfhound, the Irish Terrier and the Kerry Beagle, and capture the dogs personality with striking detail. Three Irish breeders and enthusiasts share their insights of the dogs and David Blake Knox tells the programme of Ireland’s own social history which is interwoven with our canine friends.