Ireland With Michael

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.