Tag: https://www.newgrange.com/

Countries, Ireland

Irish road trips really are the best craic

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Ask an Irishman for directions and they might tell you ‘Oh, I wouldn’t start from here’… Irish road trips really are the best craic.

Irish humour is renowned the world over and in my 13 years in Ireland I took away that their greatest export was their craic.

And it makes sense that Tourism Ireland have put the fabled craic at the centre of their latest campaign.

On the road… their country roads.

On the road: In Monaghan

The Irish country roads I have travelled all my life.

Tourism Ireland has partnered with Channel 4 to create a new mini-series, called Stand Up Road Trip.

A funny thing happened

Walk this way: The Wild Atlantic Way

Comedians Seán Burke and Suzi Ruffell drive across Ireland squirrelling away the funny things they hear.

All so they can gather enough material for a stand-up show in Limerick.

Beginning in Ireland’s Ancient East our deadly duo head into Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and on to the Wild Atlantic Way.

Seán and Suzi have prepared no jokes for the show so are relying on the punters to write their gags.

The digital-first mini-series includes three episodes, which will be available to view on Channel 4’s YouTube channel.

The episodes will also be promoted on the Channel 4 streaming platform, as well as on Channel 4’s Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

And they are hoping to pull in 6.4 million views.

A drive through the ages

Tomb with a view: Newgrange

In the first episode, viewers follow Seán and Suzi as they visit Newgrange with its neolithic chamber.

Before taking in the Carlingford Oyster Company (insert your own gag).

The first part of the comedians odyssey is here.

Episode two will go live on 5 October and episode three on 19 October.

 

Countries, Ireland

Adrian Dunbar in Greystones

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Jesus, Mary and Joseph and his little donkey… is that Adrian Dunbar in Greystones, my old stomping ground?

Adrian has long been a national treasure in Ireland, and much loved too now in the UK on the back of his award-winning performance as Hastings in cop series Line of Duty.

All of which Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland naturally know and have got behind him as he promotes the island in his latest venture.

Harbour delights: Greystones and Da Boss

Adrian Dunbar: My Ireland is the Fermanagh actor’s new series which goes to air on Channel 5 this evening, 23 November (8pm).

The two-part series will follow Adrian, who introduced the wider world to some choice Irish phrases such as the above, as he returns to his hometown of Enniskillen.

We’ll join the ever-likeable Adrian as he visits places that hold fond memories for him.

And he will also check out some places he has always wanted to visit but has never before found the time.

Garden of Ireland

Power of Ireland: Powerscourt

And I guess that is where the word went up of Adrian Dunbar in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland.

Mind you there have been one or two celebs there over the years, Ronnie Drew out of the Dubliners, Damian Rice and ahem, yours truly.

Of course, we didn’t need any steer that Adrian was visiting the jewel of Wicklow.

As we recognised straight away the train, its destination and the platform.

From almost 14 years of standing on it… and that’s not far off as the DART (the Dublin Rapid Transport) is notorious for its poor efficiency.

But friendly staff, and I got to know the guards there well.

Dart and craft

On our way to the train: Greystones

So much so that they shared their idiosyncratic Irish wisdom with me on my first Christmas works do.

When I turned up at the DART station at 6pm one evening and booked a return ticket to Dublin, 15kms away.

The guard was insistent that I should get a taxi home or stay the night in Dublin as the last train back was 11.30pm.

Back to Adrian and he will kick off by visiting the towering cliffs of Slieve League, Glenveagh National Park in my mum’s own Donegal and Devenish Island in Lough Earne.

While the world will be his, well… he’s off to the Carlingford Oyster Company in County Louth and visit MacNean House & Restaurant in Co. Cavan in the midlands.

And meet celebrity chef Neven Maguire.

Train of thought

The world’s our… Carlingford

In episode two, which will air on 30 November, he will meet artist Jim FitzPatrick in Howth and another well-known chef, Richard Corrigan – who will give Adrian a tour of his Virginia Park Lodge.

Viewers will see Adrian visit prehistoric Newgrange, verdant Powerscourt Estate and the remote Hook Lighthouse.

They’ll also see him taking that trip on the DART in Wicklow… and remember Isambard Kingdom Brunel (and Michael Portillo) were all over the Bray-Greystones tunnel along the Irish Sea.

And he will cycle across the Kilmacthomas Viaduct on the Waterford Greenway.