MONDAY 25TH NOVEMBER
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
WILD ATLANTIC WAY FROM COUNTY GALWAY – PROGRAMME 4
Nationwide continues their exploration of the Wild Atlantic Way with stories this evening from County Galway. The Wild Atlantic Way was launched in 2014 and is one of the most successful tourism initiatives developed in this country. This iconic coastal route stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, all the way down the west coast to Kinsale in County Cork. The Nationwide team visits some the great scenic areas along the coast of Connemara and meets locals and visitors who love nothing more than to explore this beautiful part of the West of Ireland including the City of the Tribes and watch the sun go down on Galway Bay.
Connemara is an area of outstanding beauty which has benefited from the large numbers of visitors coming off the Wild Atlantic Way and travelling inland to explore. Reporter Niall Martin has been around Connemara and north County Galway to visit Clifden, a charming town located between the Twelve Bens mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean.
Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is in Galway city, what many consider the halfway point on the Wild Atlantic Way and is a favourite amongst tourists. She hears all about the impact of this iconic coastal route on the county.
Reporter Zainab Boladale travels to the Gaeltacht community of Carna, where she finds out how its not just visitors who love the Wild Atlantic Way as she speaks with members of Carna Walking Club, a group passionate about their coastal surroundings and preserving the Irish language. The members of this walking club are made up of locals who gather regularly to embrace the joy of exploring their stunning coastal landscape.
WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
WILD ATLANTIC WAY FROM COUNTIES CLARE & LIMERICK – PROGRAMME 5
Nationwide continues their mini-series of programmes on ten Years of the Wild Atlantic Way as the team visit Clare and Limerick to discover how the visitor attractions on and near the coastline are recording increased visitor numbers since the branding and promotion initiative commenced.
Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh drops in on Shannon Airport, the international gateway airport on the route, and meets Mary Considine, CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, to find out how the airport has developed in lockstep with the Wild Atlantic Way over the last decade.
At one of the major tourist attractions in Clare, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Bláthnaid meets Margaret Jenkins of Fáilte Ireland to get an overview of progress and future plans for the Wild Atlantic Way in the Mid-West. Nationwide also visits some family businesses and attractions that have grown and thrived on the route, from Hazel Mountain Chocolate and Caherconnell Stone Fort and Sheepdogs in the Burren in North Clare, to the Loop Head Lighthouse and Kilbaha Art Gallery on the beautiful Loop Head peninsula in West Clare.
Bláthnaid concludes her journey in the Mid-West by meeting Margaret O’Shaughnessy at the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum on the Southern shore of the Shannon Estuary in County Limerick.
FRIDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
PRESENTER ANNE CASSIN
WILD ATLANTIC WAY FROM COUNTY KERRY – PROGRAMME 6
In the final episode of Nationwide’s mini-series featuring stories from the Wild Atlantic Way, the team conclude their journey in Counties Kerry and Cork with visits to locations such as Kinsale and Valentia, all of which have seen visitor numbers increase over the last decade.
In County Kerry, reporter Brian Hurley visits Valentia Island, a beautiful spot on the Iveragh Peninsula. Valentia is attracting increasing numbers of visitors because of the Wild Atlantic Way and this evening Nationwide takes viewers on a tour of the island, highlighting why it has become a must-see destination along this iconic coastal route.
Presenter Anne Cassin heads to Kinsale, a picturesque town in County Cork which is the finishing point on the Wild Atlantic Way, all depending on where you begin your journey. Kinsale has long been a favourite with tourists and Anne hears how visitor numbers have soared due to the Wild Atlantic Way.
In Kinsale and along the Cork coast, many small enterprises have started like Gormú Eco-Adventures which has thrived thanks to the increased tourism in the area. Reporter Reem El-Hassany meets the founders, who combine eBike tours with Irish folklore, to offer visitors a unique way to explore the Wild Atlantic Way.
For the last story Nationwide returns to Kerry and to Valentia where another new enterprise has been having success. This business involves relaxing with over half a million bees. Reporter Brian Hurley has been finding out all about it.
