NATIONWIDE WEEK 14
MONDAY 6TH APRIL
NO NATIONWIDE – BANK HOLIDAY
WEDNESDAY 8TH APRIL
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
PROGRAMME FROM DEERFIELD HOUSE - RESIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO IRELAND
Nationwide visits the historic Deerfield House in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Built in 1776, for the first 150 years of its existence, it was at the epicentre of British rule in Ireland as the official residence of the Chief Secretary of Ireland. The Chief Secretary had an important role at cabinet and office holders included Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington, Robert Peel and Viscount Morpeth.
America was one of the first countries in the world to recognise the Irish Free State and in 1927 the first envoy arrived and the legation was offered the former Chief Secretary's Lodge as its base. When Ireland became a Republic in 1949 the mission was upgraded to Embassy and in time the building became the Ambassador’s residence. In the 1970s it was named Deerfield by the then Ambassador Shannon’s wife, Elizabeth.
Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh meets the current ambassador Edward Walsh and his wife Lynn as they prepare to host an event for Irish companies investing in America and they talk about their new life in Deerfield. Bláthnaid also looks at the archive of former ambassadors and Massachusetts born Larry Donnelly, describes how US Irish relations have evolved over the years.
It is an extraordinary coincidence that Deerfield House dates from 1776 as the US prepares to celebrate this July, 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
FRIDAY 10TH APRIL
PRESENTER ANNE CASSIN
On this evening’s programme, Nationwide meets a young Kerry man who has taken on a series of adventure challenges in some of the most remote and inaccessible places on Earth. The team also uncovers the long‑lost story of a Tipperary man who, like thousands of his generation, went off to war in 1914 and who was one of more than 35,000 who never returned.
At school, tales of great explorers and their exploits inspired young Kerry man Chris Barrett to always pursue his passions. Luckily for him, this has led to some epic adventures as a young adult.Reporter Brian Hurley met up with in his homeplace in Knocknagoshel.
The next story takes the team to County Tipperary, where a family who were clearing out a house unearthed a fascinating handwritten personal account of life on the battlefield during the First World War. The collection includes letters by Irish soldier James Maher from Thurles, as well as his service medals. Maher served with the Royal Field Artillery Regiment of the British Army, and reporter Tomás O Mainnín travelled to Thurles to hear the story.
