Midwest Radio - Documentaries

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St. Vincent de Paul Sep 06, 2010

Show notes

As 2011 has been designed Year of The Volunteer Midwest Radio produced a series of Sunday documentaries based on the works of voluntary organisations in the region that includes Macra na Feirme, St. Vincent de Paul, Mayo Mountain Rescue and the RNLI. The services offered by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul go way beyond offering meal vouchers and clothes. In this documentary we find out how the various branches of this voluntary organisation have expanded to cope with the current recession and why their work is so important to those in financial crisis

Mayo Mountain Rescue Sep 06, 2010

Show notes

As 2011 has been designed Year of The Volunteer Midwest Radio produced a series of Sunday documentaries based on the works of voluntary organisations in the region that includes Macra na Feirme, St. Vincent de Paul, Mayo Mountain Rescue and the RNLI. The Mayo Mountain Rescue offer valued assistance to the emergency services in the county. We take a trek up Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday 2009 to find out why these volunteers put their lives on the line.

Macra na Feirme Sep 06, 2010

Show notes

As 2011 has been designed Year of The Volunteer Midwest Radio produced a series of Sunday documentaries based on the works of voluntary organisations in the region that includes Macra na Feirme, St. Vincent de Paul, Mayo Mountain Rescue and the RNLI. Macra na Feirme continues to grow and in this programme we speak to various Macra groups from the region and find out what makes the organisation such an attraction for young people based in both rural and urban areas of Connacht.

The Blight of the Buachallan Bui Jul 15, 2010

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Being caught for weed nowadays means being caught by the police for possession of an illegal drug such as cannabis. But in the Ireland of the 20th century weeds of a more innocent variety could land a farmer or landowner in court. The Noxious Weeds Act of 1936 was constituted to deal with the problems caused by noxious invaders such as ragwort, thistle and dock. The Act allowed for any person responsible for land on which noxious weeds were growing to be fined upon conviction. This programme entitled “The Blight of the Buachallan Bui” was commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under its Sound and Vision Scheme. Contributors to the 40 minute programme recall how members of the Garda Siochana used to patrol the highways and byways of rural Ireland on bicycles peering across stonewalls and hedgerows to detect breaches of the regulation. Among the contributors to the programme is retired vet Charlie Lydon from Westport who says there was good reason for the strong regulation as ragwort was potentially deadly for cows and horses. Horticulturist Matt Shaw from Castlebar explains that sheep were immune to the toxic effects of ragwort. Other contributors to the programme include retired gardai John Duggan and John Kelly and retired Judge Bernard Brennan as well as Margaret Maloney, Ann Healy and Mary Ruane (all from Foxford Active Retirement Group), Paddy Cannon, John Moran, Aeneas Noonan, Michael Boyle, Senator John Carty, Sean Nixon, Mary Livingston, Johnny Mee, Mattie Gilligan, Henry Jordan, Vincent Troy, Joe Byrne, Geraldine Hynes of Teagasc and Garda Sergeant Martin Murphy (Castlebar). The series is presented by Teresa O’Malley and co-produced by Teresa and Liamy MacNally with technical assistance from Ronan Courell.

I’m only Serving You if You’re Bona Fide Jul 15, 2010

Show notes

This programme recalls the Bona Fide rule which meant that a person could only get a drink in a public house on a Sunday if he/she had travelled in “good faith”, three miles, along a public roadway. The Bona Fide rule, introduced by the British government in Ireland in 1872, remained in place until 1960. Contributors to the programme include many of those who frequented pubs in the 1930s through to the 50s when the rule applied and governed the opening and closing times of public houses. Denied a legal drink in their local on a Sunday resulted in ingenious plots and plans devised by publicans and drinkers to avoid getting “caught on”. If “caught on “ the non bona fide drinker faced heavy fines and could be named and shamed in the local press. Publicans risked losing their licenses for breaching the legislation. Retired gardai and publicans together with patrons recall their experiences in what now seems a different world. The programme is presented by international award winning journalist Teresa O’Malley, Head of News at Midwest Radio and is co produced by Teresa and her newsroom colleague Liamy MacNally with technical assistance from Ronan Courell.

Where are you Going Without A light on Your Bike Jul 15, 2010

Show notes

This programme looks at a time in Ireland when not having a light on your bicycle at night was regarded as a serious offence. If a cyclist was caught by the gardai at night without a light they could face a court appearance and a fine together with the humiliation of being named and shamed in the local newspaper. Among the contributors to the Midwest documentary are people now in their seventies / eighties who were before a District Justice on this offence. They include Mary Livingstone of Castlebar who recalls being caught in Balla without a light by a garda at a roadside checkpoint and Aughagower man Aeneas Noonan who tells of happy days cycling between Aughagower and the dance hall in Westport carrying a young lady on the handlebars of a bike without a light and being summonsed as a result. Others interviewed for the 40 minute documentary include gardai, and retired District Judge Bernard Brennan from Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. The series has been commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority under the Sound and Vision Programme and is presented by award winning journalist Teresa O’Malley and co-produced by Teresa and Liamy MacNally with technical assistance from Ronan Courell.

Mayo Person Of The Year And Meiteal Awards Feb 15, 2010

Show notes

Mayo person of the year and meiteal awards Live from City West Hotel Dublin Presented by Paul Claffey,Teresa O Malley & Noel Howley,

Mayo People Of The Year Awards 2009 Jan 12, 2010

Show notes

Mayo People Of The Year Awards 2009.Live from the Castlecourt Hotel Westport.Presented by Gerry Glennon & Teresa O Malley

Santa Magic Cairde Youth Drama group Jan 04, 2010

Show notes

A special Christmas Eve treat for our listeners as the Cairde Youth Drama group – based in Castlebar – but featuring young people from all parts of Mayo – take to the airwaves with an original radio play entitled Santa’s Magic. The play was written and produced by Aileen Keogh. Sit back and enjoy!

Medjugorje 2009 Dec 30, 2009

Show notes

This documentary features a weeklong trip taken by Mayo pilgrims to Medjugorje in October 2009.Presented by Tommy Marren

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