Townlands Episode Guide

Episode Guide

• The Agency

  New series showcasing the work of independent film-makers, beginning with The Agency, a documentary about The Celia Holman Lee Agency in Limerick, where everyone dresses for the races and nobody says no to the boss. Celia rules her company with an iron fist and the part-time models ply their trade throughout rural Ireland, far from the glitz and glamour of Milan and Paris

• Animal Rescue

  The work of Ireland's Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, following inspectors who deal with all aspects of animal care, from domestic pets to wildlife, and sometimes encounter harrowing cases of neglect

• Aon Focal Eile: The Richie Kavanagh Story

  Profile of singer-songwriter Richie Kavanagh, who discusses how he launched his music career when psoriasis made his job as a fountain-maker impossible. The programme also examines his first number one hit 10 years ago and the role his family plays in recording his albums and organising his concerts

• Back on Track

  Cahal O'Shannon investigates the restoration of Ireland's railway network, beginning his journey at Whitehead, and travelling through Cavan and Leitrim to Enniscorthy, having a pint on the way in an A-class diesel engine in a pub in Castlerea

• Basketmaker of Lough na Fooey
• The Beaten Path

  Damien Wright, environmental correspondent with the Irish Examiner, investigates the apparent lack of access to the countryside

• Beyond the Dark Mountain

  The story of Mountain Mine, a relic of the copper reserves in the Beara peninsular, Co Cork. The site is just one of the many remains of the country's huge industrial heritage, which can be found in remote locations all over the country

• Bianconi

  A profile of Charles Bianconi, who revolutionised the transport system of 19th-century Ireland by operating horse-drawn carts out of Clonmel, Co Tipperary. He charged a penny-farthing a mile and his customers were farmers and small merchants who couldn't afford the coach service of the day. Within 30 years, he had 800 horses on the roads each day and the former peddler, who came from modest beginnings, died a millionaire

• Birr Restoration Project

  The development of Birr Castle, Co Offaly, as a Historic Science Centre, commemorating the achievements of the Earls of Rosse in the fields of astronomy, photography and engineering

• Blowins

  Reflections on the good old days

• Body Searchers

  A look at the brave and often harrowing work carried out by the Search and Recovery unit of the Grainne Uaile Dive Club in Ballina, Co Mayo. Established in 1981, the volunteers retrieve bodies from seas, rivers, lakes and caves around the treacherous area, and here they talk about their most dangerous and challenging dives and where they find their motivation

• The Brothers

  The story of elderly brothers Nicholas and Paddy Butler, who endure a harsh existence on an isolated farm in the Comeragh Mountains. Their farmhouse decor remains unchanged since their parents left, yet their modest lifestyle belies the fact that they are millionaires through years of successful beef farming

• Building on the Edge

  An offbeat look at the world of house building, focusing on Leitrim-based architect Peter Cowman, who teaches people how to be their own architects. Featuring the construction of a Latvian log-house in a Mayo field, and the experiences of Peter's students as well as a look at his own low-cost home

• The Chowder Club

  A look at the lives of twins Noel and Roy Spence, who gave up secure jobs as schoolteachers to build replica Fifties cinemas in their back gardens : one in an old henhouse, the other in a farmyard. Both fanatical movie buffs, the brothers fund their unusual lifestyle by making Santa grottos in the run-up to Christmas and produce commercial videos for local businesses

• Common Ground

  Damien Enright looks at the village of Castletownshend, West Cork, as it tries to retain its unique architectural and literary heritage whilst satisfying growing demands to expand and modernise

• Communion Kids

  An insight into the lives of two eight-year-olds from Dublin's Fatima Mansions who are preparing for their first holy communion - Adam has an innocent outlook on life, family and girls, while Lorna spends her spare time practising her disco dancing routine

• Connemara's Hidden Garden

  An account of the five-year project to restore Kylemore Abbey's Victorian walled garden to its former glory, which involved the painstaking reclamation of beautiful brickwork, walls, paths and ornamental wrought-iron features, and the replanting of flowers, trees and shrubs

• Cook with Love

  Reflections on the good old days

• Cook with Love

  Profile of Neven Maguire, who hails from the border village of Black Lion in Co Cavan, and has been making a name for himself as one of the most exciting chefs in Ireland : some describing him as a one-man advertisement for the local cusine of the North West

• Cruisers

  An insight into the tactics of modified car owners to attend underground gatherings where they can show off their prized possessions. These events do not meet with approval from the Gardai and they are organised like a military operation where no one knows the exact location until a few hours before it is due to take place

• Dinny

  The life and music of violinist Dinny McLaughlin

• Docklands

  Reflections on the good old days

• Enright's Way : Blow-Ins

  Part three. Damien Enright continues to tour the highways and byways of Ireland, meeting long-term immigrants in their adopted homes. Why do foreigners flock to Ireland rather than another European country such as Spain, which is cheaper and has better weather, and how do they enrich Irish society?

• Enright's Way : Landscape With Whispers

  Part one. Damien Enright investigates claims that Ireland's ancient monuments are disappearing at the rate of 1,500 a year. Is economic growth damaging the country's history and should more be done to protect sites of national and prehistorical importance?

• Enright's Way : The Beaten Path

  Part two. Damien Enright asks why so many areas of Ireland's beautiful countryside are made inaccessible to the public by landowners, and proposes that Ireland should adopt the more walker-friendly by-laws that exist in other countries

• Eye of the Storm

  Profile of Donegal surfer Richard Fitzgerald, who owns and runs a surf shop in Bundoran and his British best friend Gabe Davies who is a successful professional surfer. The two men discuss their love of riding the waves and ambition to take the sport to a new level by trying out the waters of Mullaghmore, shattering the myth there is no real surf in Ireland

• Fields of Gold

  Munster rugby captain and comeback king Mick Galwey's rise from forgotten sportsman to legendary status

• The Fishing Cot

  Profile of fishermen on Ireland's southern rivers, who have netted salmon and sea trout from their 'cot' boats for hundred of years, but now find livelihoods threatened by depleting stocks and new legislation to protect migrating fish, forcing many to take other jobs to supplement their income

• Football Crazy

  Insight into Wexford millionaire Mick Wallace's passion for football, from his regular trips to Turin to see his beloved Juventus play to his part-time role coaching the county's under-18 and under-16 teams and his latest project : building two football pitches, a gym and dressing-rooms in the town

• For One Night Only

  Documentary charting the efforts of Dermot Hallion, who has spent almost half his life behind bars, to take control of his future and become a successful playwright. The programme records the preparations for his first production For One Night Only, going behind the scenes as he directs the other players through rehearsals and strives to get everything perfect for the opening night at Portlaoise's Dunamaoise Theatre

• Galway Gallops

  An account of how Willie Leahy turned the town of Loughrea into a Mecca for the equestrian elite. The creator of the country's only horse museum, he decided to set up the West of Ireland International Horse Trials, which have attracted foreign Olympic medallists and local pony riders alike

• Gods, Faeries and the Misty Mountains

  Profiles of four very different women who have made Donegal their home, following their belief that it is the place where they truly belong. Mireille, a French GP, Kay, an American novelist, German-born Lucia and Patricia, who travelled from New Zealand, share their stories of how the area made them want to put down roots

• Gone Dancing

  Documentary following teenage hopefuls over the weeks leading up to the Celtic Classic in Tralee, one of the biggest events in Irish ballroom dancing. Dublin brother and sister Niall and Melanie Matthews hope to walk off with the honours in the Latin section, while 15-year-old Michelle Roche is preparing to take to the floor with a new partner

• A Good Innings

  Documentary about men from diverse backgrounds and nationalities who share their love of cricket

• The Hawk's Well : Twenty Years A-Growing

  An affectionate look back at two decades of Sligo's Hawk's Well Theatre. The first purpose-built theatre in rural Ireland, the Hawk's Well has enjoyed more than 20 years of theatrical success, yet its most famous graduates are Westlife's Shane, Kian and Mark, who were in an adult production of Grease when producer and choreographer Mary McDonagh suggested they try out a 'boy band thing'

• The Hill

  The story of St Grellan's, one of the first local authority housing estates in Ireland, which was built in Ballinasloe in the 1930s and is now seen by locals in a less than positive light. There remains a strong sense of community in St Grellan's despite the current state of disrepair and the inhabitants still believe they can change people's attitudes toward the estate for the better

• Home

  Three homeless men living in Dublin describe their backgrounds and experiences

• Homeless World Cup

  Documentary following Ireland's participation in this year's Homeless World Cup, staged in Gothenburg, capturing the build-up to the tournament as well as the atmosphere surrounding the matches. Beginning with a bonding weekend prior to the main event, the film reveals how people were plucked from the streets to take part in the sporting celebration alongside 26 other countries, and explores how the team felt about scooping the trophy, as well as what the tournament has done to raise the issue of homelessness in Europe

• I Was You

  Reflections on the good old days

• If These Walls Could Speak

  A look at the changing face of mural painting in Northern Ireland. Traditionally using house gables as a canvas, the medium has become an arena for political expression, and here both Republicans and Loyalists share their reasons for using the art form to spread their message

• In the Barber's Chair

  Insight into life in the male-dominated world of the barber's shop, including profiles of some of the diverse characters who frequent a traditional establishment in Dublin run by a 90-year-old, a trendy hairdresser's in Temple Bar, a mobile service and a disco barber's in Cavan

• In the Footsteps of Augustine Henry

  Documentary tracing the work of Irish botanist Augustine Henry, who journeyed to China during the 19th century, and discovered more than 1,000 new plant species and varieties. The explorer's great grand-niece Stephanie Henry continues the family tradition by joining an expedition to the hills above the Yangtze River to collect samples, along with presenter Helen Dillon and head taxonomist of Glasnevin Matthew Jebb

• Into the Valley

  Examination of the history of the inhabitants of the Black Valley in Co Kerry, and their tradition of carrying tourists through the Gap of Dunloe using a pony and trap. Gene Tangney, a third-generation ponyman, reveals a tight-knit community which is dominated by the seasons and the landscape which surrounds them

• Island Life

  The story of Tony Smith, a Drogheda man who decided to make a new life for himself on the tiny island of Inishbofin off the north-west coast of Donegal, following him over the course of a year as he struggles to convert a derelict house into a hostel, battling against harsh elements and unpredictable weather

• A Journey's End

  The story of 55-year-old Gerry Devaney, who discovered the origins of his birth last December. After 30 years of searching, he was delighted to meet relatives still living in Swinford, Co Mayo, and took the chance to visit his mother's grave

• Killing Swings

  Documentary offering an insight into the often stressful and dangerous occupation of operating tower cranes

• The Killorglan Cast

  Reflections on the good old days

• Landscapes with Whispers

  Reflections on the good old days

• The Last of the Cotsmen

  Documentary offering an insight into the lives of Ireland's inland fishermen

• Liam O'Neill : Woodturner

  Woodturner Liam O'Neill reminisces about his life and work

• A Light Undimmed

  Documentary focusing on the ways in which All Hallows priest college has evolved to keep up with an ever-changing Ireland. Initially a thriving seminary which catered for hundreds of students preparing for priesthood, it now functions primarily as an education centre for lay people hailing from all walks of life. The programme follows the lives of five of its new breed of students

• Lights Action Bark

  Documentary examining life at Fircroft Kennels in Co Kildare, home to many of the pampered performing pups being groomed for star performances on television and the big screen. Trainers Mary Owens and Rita Moloney reveal how their puppy love paved the way to their current careers and demonstrate how to teach any dog a few new tricks

• Living Architecture

  Profiling an architect who goes against the norm by sharing his knowledge so ordinary people can build their own low income country homes

• Love's Old Sweet Song

  Profile of Irish-American tenor John Feeney, the son of a shopkeeper in Co Mayo, whose life-long love Maura Ruddy from nearby Ballina helped him realise his dream of becoming a professional singer on the international stage. He arrived in America in 1928, where he gained a reputation, signing a recording contract with Decca Records and producing his biggest popular hit When It's Moonlight in Mayo from his first session

• The Man Who Shot Beckett

  Reflections on the good old days

• The March

  After the Battle of Kinsale, Irish prince Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare was forced to flee his winter quarters in Glengarriff, Co Cork. On the last day of 1602, he and 1,000 followers : more than half of them women, children, servants and the elderly : began the 300-mile trek north to Leitrim. It meant literally hacking their way in blizzard-like conditions through country overrun with English forces : and two weeks later only 35 survivors arrived at their destination. This documentary tells the story of 50 walkers who celebrated the 400th anniversary of the historic trek by following in O'Sullivan Beare's footsteps : how many of the modern-day walkers will stay the course? Last in series

• Men of Iron

  Exploring the history of road bowling, a sport particularly popular in Cork and Armagh, where a great rivalry exists between the two counties. The documentary charts the efforts of Bhaile Mhuirne star John Creedon as he competes for the prestigious Jerry Desmond cup

• Miles to Paint

  Documentary following artist Corrina Earlie's 500-mile journey across Europe's oldest pilgrimage trail : the El Camino Del Santiago in Spain. Travelling on foot through the arduous mountain passes, she set out in search of inspiration for her first solo landscape exhibition

• Millstreet Maestro

  The life and career of champion rally driver Billy Coleman, who after almost 20 years of racing retired to raise his children and run the family farm in Millstreet. Today Billy continues to help drive the Coleman racing dynasty forward by coaching his sons Robbie and Gordon, who are making waves in the world of Formula Ireland

• Miss Etiquette

  Fly-on-the-wall documentary following Margo Bellew as she gives lessons in etiquette, passing on the vision of Lady Constance Shaw, who left £2,400 in her will in 1944 to be used for the improvement of social arts and manners in the women of Ireland. Margo visits the Jockey Club in the Curragh, a secondary school and a high-level boardroom briefing, before reviewing her progress after a four-week period

• Most Haunted

  A visit to Leap Castle, Co Tipperary, renowned as the most haunted castle in Europe, which has seen many murders through the years including the entire McMahon clan, who were pushed down a long shaft onto wooden spikes, the murder of Thaddeus in the Bloody Chapel and the cruel death of enemies imprisoned in the underground dungeons. This documentary meets the current owners, the Callanan-Ryan family, and asks why they have chosen to live in a place so rich in paranormal activity

• Muckross House

  Billy Vincent looks back to his childhood in the 1920s when his family owned Muckross House

• The Munster Mob

  Cameras follow three sets of people as they travel the exhausting Munster dog show circuit. Far removed from the elitism of Crufts, the event attracts canines from all over Ireland and the UK, with chaos being the order of the day as entrants are groomed, powdered and trimmed into winning form

• The Nook

  A sweet-shop owner reflects on his life on the day he puts down the shutters for the last time

• Not Fade Away

  Documentary exploring the pioneering work of French philanthropist Albert Kahn who, in 1913, funded a sociological project to photograph the world. For the Irish leg of his epic journey, he enlisted the help of fellow countrywomen Mdmes Mespoulet and Mignon, and together they created a unique collection of colour images depicting life in turn-of-the-century Ireland, capturing for ever a peaceful time before the upheavals of Home Rule and World War One

• On the Trail

  Reflections on the good old days

• Paradise Found : And Lost?

  Reflections on the good old days

• The Photo Lady

  Documentary following photographer Eileen O'Leary as she works with students from the Gaeltacht areas to produce work for a joint exhibition in the Blaskett Centre. Eileen, an award-winning photo-journalist living in Tralee, wants to help communities engage at a creative level with each other

• Preachers

  Brian Gray's documentary contrasting three evangelical preachers and their very different methods of bringing the message of redemption and salvation to 'sinners' throughout the country. Comprising a former alcoholic who converted to Christianity and now travels Ireland's rural roads with a mobile prayer sanctuary, a door-knocking street-preacher from Galway, and a former Coast Guard who brings his Christian roadshow to young people aboard a double-decker bus

• Recording Marjorie

  Documentary chronicling the life of Crosshaven costume designer Marjorie Fitzmaurice who began working in Irish theatre in the 1920s, amassing a wonderful collection of period clothing. Although almost completely blind, she helped Anne Gately of the Passion Machine Theatre Company to find the right outfits for a production in Dublin, and this programme is shown as a tribute to her achievements before she was taken into care

• The Rescuers

  An insight into the work of Doolin's coastal rescue team, who devote their time, energy and lives to saving those who get into difficulty on the cliffs and in the waters of Co Clare's rugged coast. The group comprises 20 volunteers, who are on call around the clock, 365 days a year

• River Run

  Reflections on the good old days

• Saving the Little Tern

  Documentary following Birdwatch Ireland as they endeavour to save the Little Tern - one of the country's endangered seabirds - at Kilcoole, Co Wicklow. The conservation team chart the birds' stay in 2005, during which they have 10 weeks to raise their young before making the return journey to Africa

• Scrap Lads

  Documentary examining the lives of a group of Galway travellers, ranging in age from 11 to 17, who use their entrepreneurial skills to make a living trading in scrap metal - and the impact on their lifestyle of new legislation by Galway Corporation

• See For Me

  Documentary charting the progress of three visually impaired people as they train with new guide dogs at the national training centre in Cork. During the three-week course, Sean O'Connell from Cork, Derry Lawlor from Dublin and Mairead O'Mahony from Tralee deal with real hazards such as cars parked on pavements and building works, but the biggest problem they face is the threat of loose dogs which distract the guide dogs

• The Seven Wonders of Westport

  Kevin Gildea takes a jaunty excursion through some of the more unusual aspects of Westport. As well as visiting the better known sites such as Croagh Patrick and the Clew Bay Heritage Centre, he takes a modern-day Arctic voyage and explores a hippie colony set up by John Lennon

• Show Day

  A visit to the annual Crossmolina agricultural show in Co Mayo, following local competitors Yvonne Craven, Anna Toland and Anne Moyles as they prepare to go head to head in the home produce category. With meticulous baking schedules and kitchen preparations, each is doing all she can to win great glory and laurels bestowed on the triumphant baker

• Sing and You Win

  The story of Archie Simpson, a passionate and inspiring Scotsman, who brought together a rural community to form the Lismorahaun Singers. The 80-strong amateur choir, made up of farmers, teachers, bikers, pensioners, children and mothers, gave a performance of Mozart's Requiem in Ennistymon, Co Clare, on Good Friday this year. The film follows preparations for the concert through to the event itself, which proved a life-changing experience for those taking part

• Sloane Rangers in the Wild West

  Reflections on the good old days

• St. Therese of Lisieux
• Stradbally Hall Days

  Documentary showing the unusual income-generating schemes devised by the owners of Stradbally Hall in Co Laois to pay for its upkeep and renovation. Fifteen generations of the Cosby family have lived in the Georgian mansion, and the current manager of the estate, Thomas Cosby, is determined to restore it to its former glory - organising endless events in the grounds to raise much-needed funds

• Tales of a Townland

  Donal Haughey's documentary about the social history of Killina in South Galway in which he talks to five of Killina's elderly residents about the community of days gone by

• Tall Tales
• Tough of the Turf

  A profile of former jockey Adrian Maguire, from his early success as Point to Point champion through the heady days of Gold Cup and King George Chase triumphs to the work he does today as a racehorse trainer in Laharn Cross near Mallow in Co Cork. He rode 1,024 winners before his life on the saddle was cut short on the advice of doctors following a series of injuries, but his love of racing has never diminished

• Tunnel Vision : The Glen of the Downs

  The three-year battle between environmentalists and Wicklow County Council, whose plans to upgrade the N11 road into a dual carriageway threatened Ireland's first designated nature reserve, the Glen of the Downs forest. The protestors eventually lost their campaign in the Supreme Court, with 15 of their number jailed for contempt, but the case still captured the public imagination and this programme celebrates the first anniversary of their eviction from the site

• Walking the Dog

  Portraits of three dog owners. Willie and his nine-year-old basset hound, Alice and her cairn terrier Rocky and Johnny and his two Yorkshire terriers Cleo and Tina offer an insight into why Dublin's Phoenix Park is often frequented by animal lovers

• Weatherproof

  A celebration of Irish weather featuring people who need to keep their eyes on the sky, from the west coast surfers looking for an approaching low pressure system, to the keeper of the Blacksod Point lighthouse, which played a crucial meteorological role in the 1944 Normandy landings

• The Wedding Dress

  A Cameroonian couple living in Ireland seek a second-hand wedding dress, hoping Dublin's Oxfam Bridal Shop can offer them an affordable gown for the big day. There are also interviews with women across the country who have donated their outfits. Last in series

• Whose Plan is it Anyway?

  The communities of Tallaght and Clondalkin take control of their local planning procedures with the help of EU money in a scheme that allows people to direct programmes of urban regeneration : how good are the planning authorities at being told what to do?

• Why The Guns Remained Silent in Rebel Cork

  Exploring why the violence of the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin was not reflected in Cork, a city that had been noted for its strong nationalist support. Despite Irish Volunteers having taken strong positions in the town centre, they were abandoned when public support for the revolt appeared muted

• Winging It

  Aeronautical engineer Alan Whooley discovers that paragliding is more difficult than he imagined, Roy Tassell talks about his passion for creating model aircraft and John Davies works on his ambition to design, build and fly his own full-size plane made from local materials

• The Wow Factor

  New series showcasing the work of independent film-makers from across Ireland, beginning with this fascinating look at the country's leading innovators and the problems and pitfalls faced by would-be inventors. The programme features a man who created a device which disposes of spiders, the brains behind a clothes hanger and the 'closet' inventor who devised a machine which places golf balls on tees

• Young Pavee Voices

  Young travellers reflect upon their lives, and consider contemporary issues including education, community, work and discrimination. Last in series