NATIONWIDE WEEK 43
MONDAY 27TH OCTOBER
BANK HOLIDAY – NO NATIONWIDE
WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER
PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID NÍ CHOFAIGH
THE CRAFT OF WEAVING IN COUNTY DONEGAL
This evenings Nationwide comes from beautiful County Donegal, where the colours and textures of this magnificent landscape have long inspired generations of local craftspeople. The county boasts a strong heritage in spinning and weaving, and this evening, presenter Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh explores its fascinating history, visiting rural communities where this old cottage craft has survived, down through the centuries.
Bláthnaid also meets with several businesses committed to keeping the ancient craft of weaving alive, including Donegal Yarns in Kilcar, one of the last remaining woollen mills in Ireland and Studio Donegal, a small family run business founded in 1979 to create local employment while preserving the tradition of hand-weaving.
Also featured on the programme is another small, family-run mill called Molloy & Sons in Ardara which began weaving in the 19th century and on the North coast of Donegal, in the village of Downings, lies another company devoted to preserving the ancient craft of weaving, McNutt Woollen Mill.
Bláthnaid also hears how the power loom, introduced in the 1970s, enabled Magee of Donegal, a proud multi-generational family business, to expand and thrive.
Website: www.magee1866.com
Website: www.mcnuttofdonegal.com
Website: www.studiodonegal.ie
Website: www.donegalyarns.com
FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER
PERSENTER ANNE CASSIN
SMALL BUSINESSES
On this evening's programme Nationwide has stories of small niche enterprises in different parts of the country.
The programme opens in Dublin’s Portobello, where a former retail space has been transformed into an unlikely hub for urban farming. Reporter Niall Martin meets a grower cultivating gourmet mushrooms that are as visually striking as they are flavourful.
Next to the story of what might be the world's first off grid, offshore micro distillery, established by a family on an Island off the coast of North County Dublin. Reporter Sinead Courtney took the boat out to this special place which is within view of the Capital.
The team also travels to Waterford, where they meet a couple who set up their business back in 2017, a venture that has won multiple awards to date. After successful careers in a former life, they started again as silver entrepreneurs, making something they are truly passionate about which is 'Irish Gourmet Butter’.
Website: www.irishgourmetbutter.ie
Website: www.lambaywhiskey.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mushroombutcher
