MONDAY 12TH JULY – GLENGARRIFF
On this evening’s show Anne Cassin explores the picturesque village of Glengarriff on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, famed for its natural beauty and spectacular scenery. We visit Garnish Island, an exotic Island garden and hear about its creation and how its unique micro-climate allows exotic plants to flourish there. We also take a walk through one of Ireland’s most ancient woodlands, Glengarriff Nature Reserve, and we meet a third generation local to hear the fascinating history of how this seaside village became one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations.
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY – ANIMAL LOVERS PROGRAMME
On tonight’s show presented by Anne Cassin, we meet the Donkeys who are cared for at the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary and who it is hoped can be re-homed. Also in County Wicklow we meet the young people who are learning all kinds of equine skills provided by the organisation, Festina Lente.
One of the attractions looking forward to opening its doors to the public again, is the Donegal Donkey sanctuary. Niall Martin paid a visit there recently to see how they’ve been getting on.
And fashionable dogs! One woman from Wexford has spent almost a decade making custom and unique collars for dogs of all sizes. She handmakes each collar from her farmhouse in the village of Adamstown which our reporter, Zainab Boladale, visited.
Valerie Waters reports on Festina Lente, the words Festina Lente mean “hasten slowly” and those words could not be more appropriate for our next destination in Co. Wicklow. It’s a place where various groups and individuals from the community reap the many benefits from the horses and horticulture at a pace that suits each individual in this lovely place.
FRIDAY 16TH JULY – RURAL WRITERS
Ciaran Mullooly reports on tonight’s programme presented by Anne Cassin. The Covid 19 lockdown has confined us all to our homes in recent months – with only 5 kilometres to get out and exercise in but one young county Longford farmer and author has used this opportunity to continue his training for a marathon AND write another book. John Connell from Ballinalee had a best seller with ‘The Cowbook’ a few years ago, telling the stories of his travels around the world and this time he’s back with an account of his travels in his native county Longford with The Jogging Book, which he says has also helped him to cope with the Covid 19 lockdown. Ciaran Mullooly went to meet him.
For a performer not to be able to perform in front of a live audience has been very difficult for members of our artistic community during the pandemic. It’s been a real struggle for many but others have taken the plunge to try something different. The Leitrim-based actor, Seamus O’Rourke decided to write his memoir during the first lockdown and so Anne Cassin travelled to County Leitrim to find out about, ‘Standing in Gaps’.