Monday 27th May, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
Nationwide this evening features the very different stories of two people who have lived very interesting lives – the West Cork woman who was by the side of US General Dwight Eisenhower during the D Day landings, and the story of an American photographer who has made his home in a wonderful house in County Donegal.
Next week there will be ceremonies in France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings and while most people are familiar with the stories of the Irish who fought in the First World War, there is less known of the Irish who participated in the Second World War and in the Normandy landings. Recently a book was published which brings together some of the stories of these Irish men and women. Nationwide hears the story of Cork woman Kay Summersby, who while not at the front, was very much there in the background, at high powered meetings which led to the invasion on that fateful day 75 years ago.
Nationwide also meets a world famous New York born photographer and visual artist. Richard Noble, who has photographed some of the biggest names in music and film history, has called Donegal his home for over four decades. In advance of an exhibition of his work in Letterkenny, Richard invites the Nationwide team to his home.
Wednesday 29th May, 7.00pm, RTÉ One.
Tonight on Nationwide, the programme features stories from picturesque County Donegal. The team meet a hotelier who has spent a lifetime in the hotel business and who believes there is no place better in the world than Donegal. Plus in Killybegs, the college training the next generation of catering students celebrates its 50th birthday.
Presenter Mary Kennedy meets Noel Cunningham, a proud Donegal man who has been lauded as a tourism ambassador for his native county. Mary spends a day with Noel, visiting his old haunts and they began in his favourite place in Donegal, the Sliabh League Sea Cliffs.
Donegal has some of the finest offerings for tourists visiting the Wild Atlantic Way with stunning scenery, attractions and top-class hospitality and food. In terms of hospitality and food many of the people involved in tourism in Donegal were actually trained in the county. For decades now Donegal has been producing, not just the best people for its own tourism businesses, but for hotels, restaurants and attractions nationally and internationally. It’s been known for years as the Killybegs Tourism College and this year it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Friday 31st May, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
On Nationwide this evening, the programme visits the world’s first free trade zone at Shannon, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The brainchild of the late, great, Dr Brendan O’Regan, Shannon Free Zone started with 30 acres, but has grown to some 600 acres today. The Zone became a trend-setter, renowned worldwide for innovation, and now employs more than 8,000 people. We find out about the origins and evolution of the Shannon Free Zone and hear how it’s the location for Ireland’s largest cluster of North American investment.
EI Electronics is an Irish-owned company that employs more than 700 people here and generates 200 million euro in annual worldwide sales. It designs and manufactures fire and carbon dioxide alarms for the home, and has been operating in Shannon for 56 years, and for more than 30 of those years as an Irish-owned company. Reporter Marian Malone finds out more.