Nationwide comes to Wicklow

Colm the camera man carrying his equipment on the Miner's Way Trail

Joan Kavanagh

Niall Martin, Robbie Carter and Jane Clarke planning the day

Joan Kavanagh

The support team - Carmel O'Toole and Anne Savage

Joan Kavanagh

Surveying the landscape while socially distancing

Joan Kavanagh

The inverview - Niall Martin, Colm and Robbie Carter

Joan Kavanagh

Robbie Carter

Carmel O'Toole, Anne Savage and Jane Clarke

Joan Kavanagh

Pat Dunne with his faithful sheepdog being interviewed by Niall Martin with Colm on camera

Joan Kavanagh

Carmel O'Toole with Niall Martin and Colm at the conserved New Crusher House

Joan Kavanagh

Jane Clarke reciting her poetry at Baravore Bridge

Joan Kavanagh

Jane Clarke

Joan Kavanagh

Carmel O'Toole with Niall and Colm having presented them with copies of her book 'Glenmalure, The Wild Heart of the Mountains'

Joan Kavanagh

At the end of the day - Joan Kavanagh, Charles O'Byrne, Pat Dunne, Niall Martin, Colm and Jane Clarke

Joan Kavanagh

On a beautiful sunny day in August last the Nationwide team visited the valleys of Glendasan and Glenmalure to interview former miner Robbie Carter, historian Carmel O’Toole and sheep farmer Pat Dunne to learn about the rich mining heritage of the three valleys. Award Winning poet Jane Clarke recited a number of poems she has written depicting the miners’ lives.

Robbie Carter spoke to Niall Martin, the RTE Nationwide interviewer about his years working in the Glendasan Mines in the 1950s, explaining the process that he and his mining colleagues went through to extract the lead ore from the Moll Doyle and Fox Rock mines. He also related the traumatic events of the January night in 1957 when Robbie was working in the tunnel with his colleague and cousin James Mernagh were caught up in an explosion in which James was fatally wounded.

In Glenmalure well known sheep farmer Pat Dunne was interviewed about the number of people who visit the Glenmalure area and Carmel O’Tooole showed Niall the results of a major conservation project on the Old Crusher House which was possible through funding from the Heritage Council and Coillte with input from the Glenmalure Pure Mile Group.

The Nationwide programme aired on 23rd October and devoted the half hour show to Wicklow, non only visiting Glendasan and Glenmalure but also Wicklow Way Wines who make strawberry and raspberry wines and are part of the Wicklow Food trail and the many walking routes and trails in the Wicklow Mountains. St Kevin and his founding of the monastic settlement in Glendalough was not forgotten either. Wicklow County Council’s Heritage Officer Deirdre Burns discussed future plans for the world renowned site.