ALL WALKS OF LIFE – Episode 1 of 6
RTÉ One (New Series)
In a brand new series, former President Mary McAleese brings a fascinating and diverse selection of people from All Walks of Life on spiritual journeys along some of Ireland’s most stunning and ancient pilgrim trails. Tapping into her own sense that Irish spirituality is uniquely rooted in our landscape, the former President talks to her walking companions about how life has shaped their values and beliefs (or lack of them), and how, in turn, those values have shaped their lives.
JOE CANNING: Friday 17th of January 2020, RTÉ One, 8.30pm
Mary McAleese’s companion on the first pilgrimage is Galway hurler Joe Canning. Together, they climb the stunning Mám Éan pass in Connemara and, as they walk, Joe tells Mary about the valuable lessons he’s learned from both winning and losing All Ireland Finals; he describes the impact of nearly losing both his parents to cancer; and he reveals how his role as a UNICEF Ambassador, allowed him to see firsthand the appalling devastation in Syria, during a trip to war-torn Aleppo.
The Mám Éan pilgrim path has been popular with local people since pre-Christian times, when Lughnasa was celebrated at the top of the pass. The Catholic pilgrim tradition fell into disrepute due to faction fighting and poitin drinking, and was only revived in the last few decades.
Growing up in Portumna, Co. Galway, as the youngest of seven, religion has always been important to Joe. ‘I think it’s very important the values it gives you’, he tells Mary, ‘it’s part of our upbringing and more than anything it’s nice to be nice. I think a lot of people in today’s society are too busy for stuff, for even just reflecting, self-reflection. A lot of people have their head stuck in phones and social media’.