MONDAY 14TH JUNE
On this evening’s programme, presented by Anne Cassin, we have stories of restoration and renovation of old country houses in Counties Kilkenny and Carlow.
BALLYSALLAGH HOUSE, CO KILKENNY This story is about the restoration and refurbishment of a 300-year-old Irish Country House in County Kilkenny. Ballysallagh House is home to Geralyn and Kieran White and thanks to their dedication, flair and hard work the building has been preserved to the highest standards but transformation did not happen overnight, far from it, as Anne Cassin found out when she visited them recently.
DEERFIELD HOUSE, CO CARLOW The restoration of old buildings can be a project, obsession or a life-long journey and Deerfield House in Tullow, Co. Carlow has been a work in progress for 35 years for building conservation specialist Edward Byrne and his wife, Marian. Our reporter Mary Fanning went to meet the couple and to hear about the years of work that’s into making their house and home.
WEDNESDAY 16TH JUNE
As it is Bloomsday, Anne Cassin meets the woman who has written a book, not about James Joyce but about his wife Nora Barnacle. Plus, actor Jamie Beamish at home in Waterford tells us about life growing up in the city.
NORA BARNACLE Today is Bloomsday – 16th June – a date made famous in literature by James Joyce who wrote Ulysses. He chose this date in which to set Ulysses because it’s the date that he first walked out with Nora Barnacle, the love of his life, the mother of his children and the inspiration for so much of his writing. Here in Dublin and elsewhere people have been celebrating Bloomsday, but our first story this evening takes us to Galway the birthplace of Nora Barnacle where Anne Cassin met author Nuala O’Connor to hear about her latest book, ‘Nora – A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce’
ACTOR JAMIE BEAMISH The film industry, like many others, was shut down for many months during the Pandemic. Waterford actor Jamie Beamish spent much of his lockdown time back in his hometown. Anne Cassin met up with him to chat about his recent successes.
FRIDAY 18TH JUNE
Bláthnaid NíChofaigh presents two stories of small family farm businesses as our reporters meet a Kilkenny man who went to Bulgaria to buy an apartment but came home with a wife and having bought a farm there. Plus, how a family holiday to Italy found a Tipperary couple bringing home a herd of cattle to rear and breed on their farm in Two Mile Borris in the Premier County.
LAVENDER FARM It’s often been said that working with your partner can be stressful but for Ian and Aoife Dowling the calming effects of Lavender keeps them on an even keel. Their Lavender Business stretches from Ireland to Bulgaria and their products are much in demand all over Ireland. Recently Helen McInerney visited them at their home in County Kilkenny.
BLACKCASTLE FARM Many farmers around Ireland are continually looking to diversify and to grow their business. This story is of a County Tipperary family farm business where some years ago, John Commins and his wife Ann set off on a journey to breed cattle that they had sourced abroad. The result has been a Premier success, our reporter Mary Fanning has been to Blackcastle farm in Two Mile Borris.