IRELAND WITH MICHAEL

#201 The Rose of Mooncoin
A tour of the medieval city of Kilkenny (home to “Black Marble”, the first witch in Europe, and Kilkenny Cats). Michael meets concert violinist Patrick Rafter who performs for in the Great Hall of Kilkenny Castle. He visits the old stables of the Castle, which have been transformed into the Kilkenny Design Center, hosting local artisans.
Michael joins his old friend and High Kings member Darren Holden, they discuss their shared careers, performing on Broadway together, their love of hurling and the rivalry between their Counties. Michael’s own father is from Kilkenny, arch nemesis to Michael’s own county of Wexford in Ireland’s national sport of hurling. Michael performs his favorite Kilkenny song ‘The Rose of Mooncoin’ in honor of his father.

Short Description: Michael Londra tours the medieval city of Kilkenny with a stop to explore the old Kilkenny castle stables, which have been transformed to host local artisans. He meets violinist Patrick Rafter for a performance in the Great Hall of Kilkenny Castle and connects with friend Darren Holden, member of the group High Kings for friendly conversation along with playful banter about the rivalry between their Counties. Michael performs his favorite Kilkenny song, “The Rose of Mooncoin” in honor of his father.

#202 Waterford Treasures
The episode begins at the House of Waterford Crystal and follows the process of making the world-renowned glass. He learns how the crystal was cut to reflect the light, because candles were so expensive. The wealthy would invite guests on moonlit nights to reflect the light off their crystal and silver. Hosted by singer and Waterford native Glenn Murphy, Michael talks to the skilled glassblowers about the years they spend training to become masters of their craft. Glenn performs the song The Parting Glass.
Next, a tour of Bishop’s Palace and the Waterford Treasures exhibits, the Museum of Silver, and the National Clock Museum, featuring Museum Director Eamonn McEneaney (knighted by the Norwegian Monarch for his Viking expertise). He finishes at Reginald’s Tower, oldest civic building in Ireland, and Eamonn tells him of the city’s Viking history.
Michael is hosted by a young traditional music band Tulua and enjoys a performance of polkas and reels.
Finally, Michael heads to Stradbally Cove to meet sand artist Manu, a South American sculptor who creates temporary Celtic designs in the long strand of the Copper Coast, so large that they are best viewed by drone.

Short Description: Michael visits various places throughout Waterford including Bishop’s Palace, the Museum of Silver, and the House of Waterford Crystal where he talks to skilled glassblowers about training to become masters of their craft. Waterford native, and singer Glenn Murphy performs the song “The Parting Glass.” He meets with the traditional music band Tulua and for a performance of polkas and reels. And stops by Stradbally Cove to meet sand sculptor artist Manu, who creates temporary Celtic designs in the long strand of the Copper Coast.

#203 The Kerry Dances
On to the Dingle Peninsula which has a knack for attracting artisans and keeping them there. The town of Dingle is full of small businesses such as The Little Cheese Shop offering local cheeses from farms all over the County and Murphy’s Ice Cream made with 100% locally sourced ingredients. Michaels sample Gin Ice Cream (highly recommended!!!). Dingle hosts fun cruises along the coast, so the show follows the Sea Safari to investigate the marine life that surrounds the Peninsula. The area is also a surfing destination, prompting a visit to Inch Beach, and the home to Arctic explorer and hero Tom Crean whose pub (the South Pole Inn) operates to date.
David Geaney World Champion Irish dancer many times over, owns a pub in town where he dances for Michael. Michael sings a song on emigration and the land left behind.
Later, an unmissable stop by Dingle Whiskey to see how they make their “Uisce Beatha” (Water of Life, putting Michael in the mood for a visit with Irish music legend Joanie Madden of the famed band Cherish the Ladies to discuss her recent NEA Heritage Award and for a few tunes on the whistle.

Short Description: The Dingle Peninsula is filled with small shops, must-see attractions, and skilled artisans. World Champion Irish dancer David Geaney, owns a pub in town where he performs for Michael. Michael sings a song on emigration and the land left behind. He visits Inch Beach to catch a wave, and cruises the coast following the Sea Safari to investigate the marine life that surrounds the Peninsula. A stop by Dingle Whiskey leads to a visit with Irish music legend Joanie Madden of the famed band Cherish the Ladies for a few tunes on the whistle.

#204 The Galway Girl
Michael meets the quintessential Galway Lady, Michelle Lally - lead singer of Irish music legends Dé Dannan. Michelle sings the perfect Galway song.
He then tours Galway City with local historian Brian Nolan who tells stories of the streets downtown, full of buskers and alive with young people. Brian takes Michael to view the Cathedral made of Connemara marble and the more ancient monastery outside the city, that features Ireland’s own leaning tower.
In Connemara, the Gaelic-speaking region of Ireland, Michael meets the future of Irish music; Seamus and Caoimhe O Flaharta; two young traditional musicians and singers. They perform a duet of Sean Nós singing with the Wild Atlantic as their backdrop, combining a truly ancient tradition with modern harmonies.
Finally, Michael heads over to Lough Cutra, a private castle in South Galway for an exclusive tour of the Castle. Loch Cutra is not open to the public but was a stop for Prince Charles and Camilla on their last trip to Ireland. The episode ends with a cooking class from Irish TV chef Andrew Rudd who talks about local produce and the farm to table food movement.

Short Description: Michael meets the quintessential Galway Lady, Michelle Lally - lead singer of Irish music legends Dé Dannan for a beautiful vocal performance. He tours Galway City with local historian Brian Nolan. In Connemara, the Gaelic-speaking region of Ireland, Michael meets musicians Seamus and Caoimhe O Flaharta who perform a duet of Sean Nós singing with the Wild Atlantic as their backdrop. On to South Galway for a private tour of the Lough Cutra Castle, and ends with a cooking class from Irish TV chef Andrew Rudd.

#205 The Pirate Queen of Mayo
County Mayo is the birthplace of Michael’s grandfather. This episode sees Michael drive out to Achill Island to follow the life of Grainuaile (Grace O Malley – The Pirate Queen).
From there it’s on to Westport House, a gorgeous mansion built on the site of the Pirate Queen’s former castle. Michael interviews the house historian, in both a dayroom and the dungeons, and talks about gentry life in the west of Ireland.
Grainuaile’s life story is anything but dull, as Michael finds out about her several husbands and her interactions with Queen Elizabeth I. The trail leads across the wild coast of Achill, showing spectacular Irish scenery (the Bronx is the next parish, clear across the Atlantic) to discuss peat-harvesting on this boggy isle, tales of maritime legends, and to hear the slow airs of Joanie Madden.
Local band Billow Wood entertain in Belleek Castle in Ballina. Michael stops at the North Mayo Genealogy Center at Enniscoe outside the town of Ballina to learn about his ancestry from a local genealogist and ex-archaeologist who helps people trace their ancestors.
Michael sings a song that was popular in Ireland during the time his great grandfather lived in Mayo. The episode finishes on the Mayo/Galway border in the village of Cong, home of the 1952 John Wayne/Maureen O Hara movie, The Quiet Man. Michael learns how the movie affected the village and revisits some of the iconic scenes and moments from the film.

Short Description: County Mayo is the birthplace of Michael’s grandfather. He drives to Achill Island to follow the life of Grainuaile (Grace O Malley – The Pirate Queen). From there it’s on to Westport House, a gorgeous mansion built on the site of the Pirate Queen’s former castle. The trail leads across the wild coast of Achill to discuss peat-harvesting on this boggy isle, tales of maritime legends, and to hear the slow airs of Joanie Madden. Michael stops at the North Mayo Genealogy Center at Enniscoe outside the town of Ballina to learn about his ancestry, and sings a song that was popular in Ireland during the time his great grandfather lived in Mayo.

#206 The Land of Yeats
The episode begins in Sligo town, steeped in the history of Nobel poet laureate William Butler Yeats. Michael is hosted by Yeats’ scholar Susan O Keeffe, who discusses his connection to the county, his importance in literature and his beautiful poetry in a tour of the Yeats Center. Michael visits his graveside in Drumcliffe, just outside of town, overlooked by the flat-topped mountain Ben Bulben. He hears Aileen
Mythen singing Down By The Sally Gardens written by Yeats himself then drives south to Thoor Ballylee, the castle and cottage where Yeats summered and a constant in his poetry.

Michael heads on to Mohill, in the nearby County Leitrim to visit the gravesite of Turlough O’ Carolan, the blind harpist, composer, and travelling bard to discuss his importance in Irish music. Seamus O Flaharta performs O’Carolan music on the Harp.
Outside the town of Mohill is one of Michael’s favorite Castle-Hotels, Lough Rynn. He tours the castle and walled gardens with hotel/estate manager, Ciaran Reidy who tells him how he takes care of a sprawling medieval estate in the 21st century.
Next, it’s up the road to Belleek Pottery to talk about their delicate lacelike creations and how a local landlord and benefactor started it all to create work for locals during the Great Hunger. Michael talks to some of the local artisans who work at the factory about how Belleek has affected their own lives.

Short Description: The episode begins in Sligo town, steeped in the history of Nobel Poet Laureate William Butler Yeats. Yeats’ scholar Susan O Keeffe discusses Yeats’ connection to the county, his importance in literature and his beautiful poetry in a tour of the Yeats Center, where Aileen Mythen sings “Down By The Sally Gardens” written by Yeats himself. Michael drives south to Thoor Ballylee where Yeats summered and a constant in his poetry. Michael heads on to the town of Mohill, to visit the gravesite of legendary blind composer Turlough O’ Carolan, meets Seamus O Flaharta who plays O’Carolan music on the Harp. He then visits the sprawling medieval estate of Lough Rynn and finishes with a trip to the world-renowned Belleek Pottery, founded by a local landlord to create employment during the Great Hunger.

#207 Beyond the Pale
All the stops in this episode are a short drive from Dublin. The episode begins with a tour of the Kilruddery Estate, just south of the capital city, hosted by Lord Ardee of Meath himself. He shows Michael his home which has been in his family for 400 years and highlights how the estate is thriving.
Michael then heads to one his favorite spots from his tours around Ireland, the National Stud, where world class horses are bred and trained. He tours the connected exquisite Japanese gardens, meets with his friend Aileen, and sings an old Dubliners song with her.
Onwards down the road to Powerscourt House and Gardens - the absolute grandest of estates. Michael stops by to visit the walled gardens, with ornate fountains and statues and stops to taste Fercullen Whiskey (distilled in the Mill House of Powerscourt) paired with local artisan foods. Just down the road from the estate is Avoca Handweavers as well as the lavender fields used by Fragrances of Ireland to create their perfumes. He ends the day at Glendalough, the peaceful monastic valley with a performance from Valda Chamber Choir.

Short Description: A tour of the Kilruddery Estate hosted by Lord Ardee of Meath who shows Michael his home which has been in his family for 400 years. Michael heads to a favorite spot, the National Stud, where world class horses are bred and trained. He tours the connected exquisite Japanese gardens, meets with his friend Aileen, and sings an old Dubliners song with her. Down the road he visits Powerscourt House and Gardens to explore the ornate fountains and statues and stops to taste Fercullen Whiskey paired with local artisan foods. Just down the road from the estate is Avoca Handweavers as well as the lavender fields used by Fragrances of Ireland to create their signature perfumes. He ends the day at Glendalough with a performance from Valda Chamber Choir.

#208 The Mad Dash
This episode is a wild compendium of sites from around the country. It begins in splendor on the shores of Loch Corrib at Ashford Castle, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Michael explores its history and get an insider view on what it’s like to a stay at the 5-star resort, including stories from staff on the stars they have met over the years.
Michael performs a duet of the song Maggie with tenor Glenn Murphy.
He gets a lesson in making Guinness bread at the Ferrycarrig Hotel with his cousin, singing chef in residence Tony Carty.
Michael tours the gorgeous Mount Congreve Gardens.
Michael then visits a rather unusual Tudor house in Carrick on Suir, County Tipperary.
In Galway, he meets the artistic director of Macnas, the creators of the fantastic puppet parades which define the city, making it European Capital of Culture in 2020.
Michael performs with a full band of musicians from all over the country. He stops at Wells House to hear young Sean Nós performer, Iona Ritchie, to visit the Faery Forest located on its grounds and to talk to storyteller Joe Brennan who regales him with ancient tales of the faery folk.

Short Description: In a wild compendium of sites around the country, Michael visits the shores of Loch Corrib at Ashford Castle, gets a lesson in making Guinness bread at the Ferrycarrig Hotel, tours the gorgeous Mount Congreve Gardens, and even meets the artistic director of Macnas, the creators of the fantastic puppet parades in Galway. He performs a duet of the song Maggie with tenor Glenn Murphy. He stops at Wells House to hear young Sean-nós performer, Iona Ritchie, to visit the Faery Forest located on its grounds, and to talk to storyteller Joe Brennan who regales him with ancient tales of the faery folk.