MONDAY 23RD JUNE
PRESENTER ANNE CASSIN
On this evening’s Nationwide there are stories of Cowboys at home on the ranch, not in the wild west of America but on the hills of County Donegal. Plus, in the Banner County, a woman with a passion for traditional Irish music and folklore tells us about an archive of music and stories that she has gathered and put up online.
The Wild West has long captured the Irish imagination, thanks in no small part to the Hollywood films of the 1950s and ’60s. Today, all these years on, that interest lives on and reporter, Mary Harte has been to meet some Modern Irish cowboys in County Donegal.
Meanwhile, in Kilfenora, County Clare, a new digital archive has recently been launched, celebrating the rich musical and storytelling traditions of the region. Aoife Kelly, the woman behind the project, has gathered a treasure trove of local music and stories, now available online and reporter Tomás Ó Mainnín met up with her to hear all about it.
WEDNESDAY 25TH JUNE
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
ANIMAL STORIES
This evening’s Nationwide programme features heartwarming stories about farm animals and our beloved pet dogs. The team discovers holiday spots across the country that warmly welcome our four-legged friends. Also on the programme is a remarkable woman who brings farm animals into care homes, offering comfort and familiarity to elderly residents who once lived on farms.
Dogs have truly become part of the family, and with summer approaching, many of us are eager to take them along on day trips and getaways. A new guidebook is being published this month, highlighting dog-friendly destinations in every County and reporter Niall Martin hit the road to explore what dog-friendly Ireland has to offer.
The team heads to County Cork to hear about an unusual project that’s bringing farmyard animals to the residents of care homes across Munster. The residents of Kinsale community hospital are gathering for a very important visit, once a fortnight the sights sounds and even smells of the farm are brought to them.
FRIDAY 27TH JUNE
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
ART AND CREATIVITY
On this evening’s Nationwide programme the team travels to County Mayo to meet a talented bronze sculptor to see him at work. Also highlighted on the show is a new initiative which is bringing creativity into the lives of older people across Ireland.
Australian sculptor Mark Rode moved to Ireland to follow his passion for bronze figurative sculpture. Twenty years later, he’s built a life and career in the west of Ireland. His work includes everything from gallery pieces to some of the country’s most recognisable public sculptures. The team visited his studio in Killasser, County Mayo, to see where it all takes shape.
The WISE Network is an initiative that supports and trains professional artists who work with older people. It’s run by Age & Opportunity, Ireland’s national organisation that promotes active and engaged living as we age. Zainab Boladale visited a nursing home in Meath to see how creativity is helping to connect and support older residents.
