NATIONWIDE WEEK 26
MONDAY 26TH JUNE
PRESENTER ANNE CASSIN
DUBLIN STRUCTURES THE SPIRE
This evening Nationwide is looking at monuments on the Dublin skyline as Anne Cassin join the crowds welcoming the Spire on O’Connell Street which was completed in 2003. The programme also joins the construction team finishing the work on the viewing lift and platform at Dublin’s Smithfield in 2000. And more recently, 6 years ago we see how a Glass Spire was added to a Church in the Liberties.
THE SPIRE AT 20
The highest monument in Dublin is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, the Spire on O’Connell Street is an iconic structure which thousands of people pass every day on their way to and from work or going shopping or out for the night. Not many people think about, how it was built and how such a large structure remains in place despite some of the storms that have battered the country in recent years. On this it’s, 20 year we look back on the making of and the assembly of Dublin’s highest monument.
WEDNESDAY 28TH JUNE
PRESENTER ZAINAB BOLADALE
A FOCUS ON BALLYDEHOB, COUNTY CORK
Nationwide is in Ballydehob in West County Cork where Zainab meets music fans and hear about the history of this small town which was once home to the strongest man in the world. She meets an Italian living in County Cork, who is a digital film maker who was in Ballydehob to tell the story of wrestler Danno O’Mahony.
BALLYDEHOB JAZZ FESTIVAL/REPORT ZAINAB BOLADALE
West Cork attracts tourists all year round and this evening, we have stories from a town which is known to be the Gateway to the Mizen Peninsula. Ballydehob is a coastal village, which since 2007, has played host to a wonderful Jazz festival with over 40 live music and dance performances as well as workshops and a village parade. Zainab Boladale went along to find out more.
DANNO O’MAHONY, IRELAND’S STRONGEST MAN
In the 1930’s a young man from Ballydehob became famous in the United States and around the world. Known as the Irish Whip, Danny O’Mahony was a fighter who won the National Wrestling Association’s, World Heavy Weight Championship. Today in Ballydehob there is a statue of The Irish Whip on the main street. We look at the story of his rise to fame and of his tragic death at aged 38 as a result of a car accident in County Laois in 1950.
FRIDAY 30TH JUNE
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
HERITAGE STORIES
CHANGING IRELAND/REPORT NIALL MARTIN
Over the last number of years there have been major changes in many parts of rural Ireland. Shops, garages and other services have for many reasons ceased trading. Our reporter Naill Martin met a photographer who has been travelling the country to photograph some of these changes.
RURAL MUSEUM/REPORT BRIAN MCVEIGH
Life on farms in rural Ireland has changed dramatically over the last 40 years and many of the old ways of doing farm work is being lost and forgotten. However, there are a number of collectors who have been gathering implements of yesteryear and putting them on display for visitors to the country. We went to one of these museums of rural life in County Donegal.