MONDAY 30TH MARCH
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
SEAN O’CASEY’S THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS
Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars made its legendary debut at Dublin’s old Abbey Theatre in1926 causing riots and grabbing newspaper headlines. One hundred years on, as it returns to the Abbey, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh looks back at the life of O’Casey with his daughter Shivaun and meets some of those involved in the new production.
WEDNESDAY 1ST APRIL
PRESENTER ANNE CASSIN
WELLS HOUSE IN COUNTY WEXFORD
In the first of two programmes focusing on two great houses in the Southeast of Ireland, the Nationwide team travel to Gorey in County Wexford to explore the beauty of the historic Wells House and its stunning, extensive gardens. Recognised as one of the largest tourist attractions in the County, this evening’s programme delves into the history of this 17th Century Victorian House, set amid 480 acres of woodlands and gardens. The team also meets those who are charged with its upkeep and who welcome visitors from home and abroad.
During the 1800s, the Doyne family engaged renowned architect Daniel Robertson who completely redesigned the house and its surrounds including the facade of the house, much of the interior design, the terrace garden, the arboretum and the impressive tree lined avenue. Wells House holds a unique collection of drawings by the renowned architect, and Anne chats to local historian Eileen Wickham, who has been going through the extensive archive researching the work of Daniel Robertson.
FRIDAY 3RD APRIL
PRESENTER RICHARD DOWNES
MOUNT CONGREVE HOUSE & GARDENS IN COUNTY WATERFORD
Nationwide continues their exploration of some of the great houses in the Southeast of Ireland and this evening the team are in County Waterford to see how income is being generated to maintain and preserve Mount Congreve House & Gardens.
Home to six generations of the Congreve merchant family, the estate remained in their care until 2011, when the last family member, Ambrose Congreve, passed away and left the house and gardens to the people of Waterford.
Presenter Richard Downes learns of the rich history of the house and hears about the tourism offering that now helps to sustain it. He also hears how the gate lodges of the estate have been restored to help with the costs of keeping this great facility open for visitors from home and abroad.
