CountryWide

Damien visits a group water scheme in Balleybay in Co Monaghan where locals are hoping to combat the effect of pesticides and other impurities to help ensure high water quality.

Michael Moroney, Chief Executive of the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland is in studio to highlight the issue of contractors posting videos of pulling stunts whilst driving machinery which has become an increasing problem amongst younger contractors in the social media age.

Ahead of the reopening of museums and attractions on Monday 17th May Countrywide reporter Mick McCarthy visits The Old Garda Barracks in Cootehall, County Roscommon who will be welcoming visitors for the very first time as they open their John McGahern exhibition and reading room to the public.

Damien is joined by an expert in public speaking and toastmaster John Keating to discuss the art of public speaking and how we can all learn how to speak in public.

Brenda Donohue meets a new foster parent who decided to foster after a reflective lockdown. More information on becoming a new foster parent can be found at www.fosteringfirstireland.ie

On this week’s countrywide, The importance of hedgerows, The folklore behind May Day, Hidden treasures in charity shops, Reopening the open farm and Seamus O’Rourkes bank holiday advice.

Damien is on the farm in Rathgormack in Co Waterford to find out more about new measures to protect hedgerows and their importance for bio diversity and the important role they have played on Irish farms down through the years.

Folklorist Shane Lenihan tells Damien about some of folklore behind May Day on May Day 2021 including washing faces in the morning dew, butter selling, flower harvesting and why we should look out for hares on May Day.

Mayo author Liam Horan outlines his love of the charity shops in his own unique style.

Brenda Donohue is on Leahy’s Open Farm in Dungourney, Midleton in Co. Cork to see first hand the joy open farms can bring, how the family business is being handed on to the next generation and the opportunities in agri tourism.

Countrywide reporter Suzanne Campbell reports on a new survey by Price Waterhouse Coopers which shows that 75% of small to medium sized Irish Food companies say they expect to grow next year.

Leitrim poet and Countrywide unofficial resident wordsmith Seamus O’Rourke has enlisted the help of some musician friends to give us some much needed advice this bank holiday weekend.

Countrywide Full: On this week’s countrywide, surviving a farm accident, reaction to the new climate action bill, a new survey gauges the mood of farmers, the Kildare man living with goats in a Mongolian yurt and unique mosaic shop fronts in the west.

Damien is on the farm in Co Waterford with farmer Gillian O Sullivan. Gillian gives her reaction to the new climate action bill and the issues facing farmers aiming to meet climate targets.

With the silage season almost upon us, the Health and Safety Authority are renewing their appeals to farmers. Farm accident survivor Aengus Mannion tells his story. Dr Eimear Smith, a farmer and consultant in rehab medicine gives her view on the importance of health and safety on the farm as a doctor who has dealt with farm accidents.

Brenda Donohue meets Kildare man Ciaran Curran who has swapped the bright lights of London to return to live with his family in Skerries, near Athy, Co Kildare where he now raises goats on his back lawn.

Each year the farm accountancy firm IFAC conducts a survey of farmers to get a sense of how they are running their business. Declan McEvoy from IFAC joins Damien to discuss the findings of this year’s survey. The survey can be found at https://www.ifac.ie/

Author Laura Early has written a book looking at the rich history of shopfront mosaics in the west Ireland. Ella McSweeny heads west to meet Laura and take in some of the beautiful mosaics that can be seen on shop fronts in the region. See more at https://www.lauraearleyart.com/

On this week’s Countrywide, Minister Charlie McConnell on the new Agri-food strategy 2030 Report, Searching for the legendary Curlew in Kerry, Westmeath Footballer and farmer John Heaslin on a busy time on the farm and football field and celebrating this years Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards winners.

Damien is in Co Cavan to meet gardener Donal McEvoy at his nursery in Virginia to get some gardening and horticultural tips and learn about the joy of gardening.

Suzanne Campbell reports on the 2021 Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards on what been another challenging year for food production in Ireland.

Minister for Agricultural Charlie McConalogue joins Damien to discuss the newly published Agri-food strategy 2030 report released today. The report highlights new targets for farming into the next decade.

Countrywide reporter Hannagh Quinn Mulligan is on the hunt for one the country’s most elusive birds, the Curlew in Co Kerry ahead of world Curlew day on the 21st of April. Numbers of Curlew have dropped dramatically over the last number of years with new conversation efforts underway across the country to protect the rare species.

Westmeath footballer and farmer John Heaslin tells Damien about combining football and farming leading to a very busy life on the playing and farming fields.

On this week’s Countrywide, Marty is in Blacklion in Co Cavan to get a feel for what life is like in rural Ireland, We visit a Micro Dairy in Mayo, Reimagining a family home in Galway, Agri shows during lockdown, the future of Macra Na Ferime and the joy of lambing season.

Marty takes a trip to Blacklion in Co Cavan to get a feel for what life is like in rural Ireland according to some of the locals who make the town their home.

Marty speaks with Catherine Cotter of the Irish Shows Association which represents many of the Agri shows across the country in what is a very difficult time for the Agri show sector.

Countrywide reporter Lorna Siggins meets American writer Betsy Cornwell who is hoping to turn an old knitting factory near Carraroe in County Galway into a family home.

Ella McSweeney is in Co Mayo to meet Sinead Moran and MJ McGrath, two young dairy farmers. They’re one of a handful of farmers in the country who’ve decided to build a ‘micro dairy’.

Incoming president John Keane and outgoing president of Macra Na Feirme Thomas Duffy chat to Marty about the future and continued importance of Macra Na Ferime.

Farmer and author John Connell describes lambing on the farm.

On This week’s countrywide, Marty is amongst hens in Tipperary, mixing farming and writing, we meet some chocolate makers ahead of Easter Sunday, we find out just what exactly a cludogue is and the folklore around Easter and the church and the pandemic at Easter.

Marty is on the Magner farm is Tipperary home to a pasture fed flock of 1000 hens to find out more about egg production and some of the hens woolly friends.

So why do we have Eggs at Easter? Folklorist Shane Lehane tells Marty about some of the folklore associated with Easter.

Ahead of a bumper week for chocolate consumption countrywide reporter Suzanne Campbell meets some chocolate makers.

Brenda meets farmer, vet and author Orla McAlinden to find out how the farm inspires her writing.

As we face our second Easter in lock-down Marty speaks with parish priest at Knock in County Mayo and Rector of the Shrine there Fr Peter Gibbons in what would usually be an incredibly busy weekend in knock.

On this week’s countrywide, Easter Spring lamb sales, Countrywide reporter Hannah Quinn Mulligan brings her granny to get her vaccine, How artificial light is smothering the dark sky at night, Farming in New York and what exactly is going on between Glanbia and its milk suppliers.

Countrywide reporter Hannah Quinn Mulligan brings her granny Catherine to get her vaccine.

Associate Professor in Astrophysics in the School of Physics, Trinity College Brian Espey tells Damien about the issues caused to our natural environment by too much artificial light ahead of International Dark Sky Week 2021 next week.

Galway based US author Ryan Dennis remembers growing up on a New York farm and its similarities to farming in Ireland. Ryan’s new book “The Beasts They Turned” is available now.

Damien discusses the issues between milk suppliers and Glanbia which have emerged over the past few weeks over new plans by Glanbia to curb peak milk production amongst suppliers.

Countrywide reporter Suzanne Campbell reports on the high demand for lamb at Easter and the growing sales of lamb year round.

On this week’s countrywide, Trainer Paul Hennessy on a bumper week for the Irish at Cheltenham, Organic growing in a Galway school, the legalities of rights of ways on farms and making the move to organic farming.

Champion trainer Paul Hennessy reflects on a record breaking week for the Irish at Cheltenham.

Specialist in agricultural law solicitor Aisling Meehan discusses the legal issues of rights of way on farm and agricultural land.

Countrywide reporter Lorna Siggins visits two Galway schools who are embracing organic growing from the classroom as part of the Get Ireland Growing initiative.

Continuing on this week’s organic farming and growing theme Darragh McCullough and Grace Maher of the Irish Organic Association talk to Damien about moving from traditional to organic farming and we hear from some farmers who have made the move.

This week on Countrywide, Suzanne Campbell reports on the recent mountain fires in Co Wicklow, Sherkin Islands and the Haiku, Refurbishing old coast guard stations, rejuvenating rural Ireland and Damien meets local food produces Tipperary.

Countrywide reporter Suzanne Campbell reports on the recent wild fires in the Wicklow mountains.

Storyteller Patsy Atkinson tells Damien about a new book of Haiku poetry created during lock down on The Sherkin Islands.

Countrywide reporter Lorna Siggins visits Rossmoney, near Westport in County Mayo where a restoration of an old coast guard station is underway.

Seamus Boland of Irish Rural link and Martina Earley CEO of Roscommon Local Development discuss the opportunities lockdown has created to rejuvenate rural Ireland.

Damien is in Co Tipperary to meet local food producers who are meeting the obstacles of Covid.

A new roadmap for Irish Agri, A Cheltenham festival like no other, celebrating life on the farm through art, John Creedon’s Irish Atlas and the diary of a new farming mother.

Damien reports on the new Agri strategy 2030, a new roadmap for Irish Agri production.

Countrywide reporter Suzanne Campbell talks to Irish stakeholders in this year’s Cheltenham festival in what will be a Cheltenham festival like no other.

Ella McSweeney visits the farm of June Danaher in Co Limerick, Jane’s farm is one of five farms featured in a new exhibition by artist Mary Burke celebrating life on the farm.

John Creedon tells us what we can expect from the new series of Creedon’s Irish Atlas where John and his team explore the hidden meanings and folklore behind place names throughout the country.

Countrywide contributor Mary McElhone outlines what the first year of having a new born and working on the farm has been like.

On this week’s Countrywide, Marty is on the Crowe family farm in Co Cavan meeting some new calves, Horse welfare in Ireland, LGBT+ rights in the travelling community, remembering the devastating effects of foot and mouth two decade on and marriage on Whiddy Island.

Marty is on Crowe family farm in Co Cavan the meeting some new arrivals.

Countrywide reporter Suzanne Cambell reports on how horse welfare in Ireland has traditionally deteriorated during spring in the week the government launched a new animal welfare initiative.

Brenda Donohue meets LGBQT+ rights activist Johnny and Albert who are both member s of the travelling community and who are raising funds and awareness for LGBT+ rights in minority communities.

Marty discusses the impact of foot and mouth on the farming community with Darragh McCullough and sheep farmer Mathew McGreehan 20 years on from the outbreak.

Well known Whiddy Island ferryman, farmer and publican Tim O’Leary talks to Marty on the morning of his wedding day.

On these weeks Countrywide, Marty Morrissey lives the high life in Dublin’s Airfield estate, Taking to the seas’ in Galway, Cattle ploughing in Mayo, Cork’s John Spillane chats and sings some tunes from his new album and celebrating an all star week in Cavan.

Marty Morrissey heads to Dublin’s Airfield estate to find out more about the estates renowned gardens.

Countrywide reporter Lorna Siggins takes to the seas with fishermen from Galway.

Music and chat from Corks own John Spillane. Johns new album "100 Snow White Horses" is out in April.

Countrywide reporter Ella McSweeney is in Mayo to meet a farmer who has a unique way of ploughing with cows.

Newly announced football All Star Cavan’s Padraic Faulkner speaks to Marty about his award and a momentous year for Cavan football.

On This week’s Countrywide, lambing season in Meath and Mayo, how the Gardai are helping to beat the blues, farming and technology and Bord na Móna ‘s just transitions plans.

Damien is back on the farm in Co Meath and Co Mayo for lambing season.

Countrywide reporter Suzanne Campbell reports on Bord Na Mona’s ongoing plans to transition from peat burning.

Author and CEO of Cainthus, Aidan Connolly on the future of tech and farming. Cainthus work with farmers to develop the world’s most advanced technology for dairy farms.

Brenda Donohue reports from a new Garda initiate to encourage the public to sit and chat with a guard.

On this week’s Countrywide: Spring Calving in Kilkenny , The Women’s Shed, preserving our bees, the future of live exports and former rugby international and farmer John Hayes previews this weekend’s six nations.

Damien is on the Sheehan’s farm in Co Kilkenny for Spring calving.

Countrywide reporter Brenda Donohuereports from a women’s shed in Wexford.

Billy Kelleher, MEP and Caroline Rowley from Ethical Farming Ireland debate the issue of the ethical transporting of livestock across Europe.

Countrywide reporter Lorna Siggins meets bee custodians who are helping with a major NUIG study on bees.

Former Ireland International and Limerick based farmer John Hayes looks ahead to Irelands 6 nations opener against Wales this weekend and life on the farm after rugby.

This week on countrywide, dealing with farming debt, helping farmer’s navigate personal insolvency issues, the joy of goslings and CEO of Greencore Patrick Coveney.

Damien meets a farming couple who worked their way out of debt and saved their farm from a vulture fund.

Personal insolvency expert Gary Digney discusses the issue of managing farm finances.

Countrywide reporter Hannah Quinn Mulligan reports on yet another busy week on her family farm where new goslings are to the fore.

CEO of Greencore Patrick Coveney joins Damien in studio for a wide ranging discussion on the impact of Covid on the food and agricultural industry.

On This week’s countrywide; Damien meets two awarding winning cork farmers, The problem of seed imports post Brexit, Brenda Donohue finds out more about the Islands only human milk bank in Fermanagh , fostering the entrepreneurial spirit and poet Seamus O’Rourke