NATIONWIDE WEEK 32
MONDAY 8TH AUGUST
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
BALLINTUBBERT GARDENS & HOUSE, COUNTY LAOIS
Nationwide visits Ballintubbert Gardens & House in Co. Laois, a 14 acre estate with a fascinating history dating back hundreds of years. Renowned for its spectacular gardens which include a mix of landscapes and lawns, wildflower meadows, water features and woodlands – designed over decades by the hands of many dedicated gardeners. We hear about the recent award they won for becoming ‘Ireland’s first fully organic ornamental garden’. We also hear about the many theatrical and literary greats including actors Sir John Hurt, Sebastian Shaw, poet laureate Cecil Day Lewis, all, whose legacy lives on at Ballintubbert.
WEDNESDAY 10TH AUGUST
PRESENTER ANNE CASSIN
This evening Anne Cassin presents stories from different parts of the country all celebrating achievement in different fields of endeavour.
CREATE BT/REPORT ANNE CASSIN
We meet some of Ireland’s most exciting and talented designers and see their work at the annual Create 2022 event, curated by Brown Thomas in Dublin which showcases 27 designers in fashion, jewellery, hats, knitwear and shoes. Anne Cassin has been to Create to talk to the designers and see their creations.
FEMALE BOTANIST/REPORT ANNE CASSIN
Now to a female pioneer from another era and field of endeavour entirely. We head to County Cork to find out about Ellen Hutchens. Ellen was born in 1785 in Ballylickey, near Bantry and is widely regarded as Ireland’s first recorded female botanist. Next week the annual Ellen Hutchens Festival gets underway – offering a range of events designed to encourage people of all ages to explore the natural and cultural heritage of Bantry Bay.
CLARE QUILT/REPORT ZAINAB BOLADALE
We often meet people who show us what it means to have pride in their own place and this next story is a great example of that. Ennis local, Valery Larkin, wanted to highlight all the best features of County Clare through a textile project called The Clare Quilt. Our Reporter Zainab Boladale has been finding out all about it.
FRIDAY 12TH AUGUST
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
On this evening’s programme Nationwide focus on some trail blazing Irish women.
ALEEN CUST/REPORT MARY FANNING
Pioneering Irishwoman, Aleen Cust was the first woman to study veterinary in Ireland or the UK at the Veterinary College in Edinburgh. She qualified in 1900 and it was an Irish vet who allowed her practice in Roscommon, but it was 1922 before she was admitted to the male dominated register and given the title MRCVS. She’s relatively unknown outside veterinary circles and a committee has been established in the West of Ireland to commemorate her and honour her trail blazing path. Reporter Mary Fanning retraced the story of this extraordinary woman.
WICKLOW WOMEN/REPORT HELEN MCINERNEY
The role of women in Ireland has gone through huge changes over the past 100 years but this change didn’t happen by itself. Ground-breaking women were role models for those who sought freedom to choose their own path. We hear the story of some of these inspirational women of courage. Helen McInerney has the story.