"Slí na mBeaglaoich" airing April 7 on TG4
In TG4's brand-new series "Slí na mBeaglaoich," father and son duo Bre‐ anndán and Cormac Ó Beaglaoich will once again head off on an epic Irish mu‐ sical journey together in their beloved campervan, Beauty.
This time around, they will travel up through the stunning midlands of Ireland immersing themselves in the rich musi‐ cal and cultural tapestry of the Shannon region.
In the third instalment of this hugely popular series, they take on a route through eleven of Ireland’s most stun‐ ning coastal counties, in search of great stories, tunes, songs and of course, meeting with some incredible charac‐ ters along the way.
Setting off from their home in Kerry to‐ wards Limerick, East Clare and Tipper‐ ary in episode one, departing Tipperary and travelling all the way towards East Galway, Offaly and into Westmeath in episode two, then onto Longford, Roscommon and Leitrim for the third episode before finishing in Cavan and Fermanagh in the final episode. Their journey will take in some of the most beautiful, quirky, and historically inter‐ esting sites along this stunning route which is home to some of the most eclectic and talented musicians, singers and dancers in Ireland.
Ep 1 - TX 07/04/24 Breanndán & Cormac take on a route from Limerick, into East Clare and Tip‐ perary in their trusty camper Beauty meeting friends - new and old - along the way. Starting out their journey in Limerick city, they meet with historian Maura Cronin before moving on to the renowned Curragower pub to meet Cor‐ mac’s old friend and concertina player Katie O’Sullivan. They drive into the Limerick countryside then towards Ca‐ herconlish to hear from piper Mickey Dunne and his daughter Bríd Dunne on fiddle. They drive towards the stunning Glenstal Abbey where Noirín Ní Riain and the Monks of Glenstal Abbey wel‐ come them. In Killaloe, Co. Clare they meet old friend Cormac McConnell where they share a glass of wine and a song and they take a boat trip from Mountshannon to Inis Cealtra with mother and daughter Paula and Eva Carroll. Finishing this leg of the journey they meet fiddler Eileen O’Brien and her brother Donnacha O’Brien who chat about the legacy of their father - the es‐ teemed Paddy O’Brien.
Ep 2 - - TX 14/04/24 Breanndán & Cormac travel from Tip‐ perary, into East Galway, Offaly and Westmeath in their trusty camper Beauty meeting friends - new and old - along the way. In this second instalment of the series, they visit the home and farm of accordion player Ned Kelly, who performs for them alongside Keelan Mc‐ Grath. Cormac & Breanndán are excited to meet up with a dear friend - Ann Con‐ roy Burke who meets them in the stun‐ ning surrounds of Portumna Castle & Gardens. They go on a spooky visit to the infamous Leap Castle - home of whistle player Seán Ryan - and his daughter Ciara tells them some spinet‐ ingling stories from the castle before entertaining them with some music and dance. Granddaughter of Seán ‘ac Don‐ nacha - Ailbhe Nic Dhonnacha - meets the two in Ahascragh where she sings for them and tells them about her grandfather’s important legacy in the area. A boat trip around Lough Ree with Manchán Magan gives more insight into the folklore and mystery that surrounds the River Shannon. They finish up with a lakeside cuppa, chat and tunes with piper Diarmuid Ó hAlmháin and concert‐ ina player Deirdre Nic Dhonnchadha on the banks of the river at Portlick Forest. Ep 3 - TX 21/04/24 Breanndán & Cormac travel from Long‐ ford, into Roscommon and Leitrim in their trusty camper Beauty meeting friends - new and old - along the way. In this third instalment of the series, they visit the home of Peter Carberry who has great welcome for them. Peter is joined by his daughter and granddaugh‐ ter Angelina & Shaunagh Carberry be‐ fore bringing them to one of his favourite haunts - The Rustic Inn in Abbeyshrule - to meet piper and friend Padraig McGovern. At Barley Harbour, the rain pours down on them, but dancer Mairéad Casey jumps into the camper for shelter to dance a few steps. Cormac has a surprise for Breanndán - a ziplin‐ ing excursion in Lough Key Forest which makes for some hilarious viewing and in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, they meet flute players Patsy Hanly & Tom‐ my Guihan who explain the reason for the popularity of the flute in that neck of the woods. At the home of Sean Mac Di‐ armada in Kiltyclogher, historian Prin Duignan chats about his life and contri‐ bution to that area in Co. Leitrim. In Drumshanbo, fiddler Ultan O’Brien and singer Zoe Basha chat about what drew them to living in the area from a creative point of view, before singing a stunning song. Finally, in Arigna Mines, piper Neillidh Mulligan chats about his father and his work in the mines and on the Arigna Valley railroad before playing a tune with son Fiachra Mulligan and daughter Caoimhe Mulligan who dances a few steps deep inside the mines.
Ep 4 - TX 28/04/24 Breanndán & Cormac travel from Leitrim into Cavan & Fermanagh in their trusty camper Beauty meeting friends - new and old - along the way. In this fourth and final instalment, they go to the home of the legendary flute player John McKenna where Dave Sheridan, Seán Gilrane & Lorraine McSweeney chat about the significance of McKen‐ na’s recordings on the development of the strong flute tradition of the area. At Keshcarrigan, Co. Leitrim, singer Eleanor Shanley chats about the area she grew up in as a child, and how it has devel‐ oped into the Shannon-Erne link water‐ way. She and & Breanndán reminisce on their days performing together as part of Folk the Recession and share a song together. They meet much-loved char‐ acter and writer Michael Harding at the Shannon Pot in Cavan - the original source of the River Shannon. In Cashel, Co. Fermanagh singer Rosie Stewart in‐ troduces them to her sisters and they chat about growing up in a border area before singing a song for them. In En‐ niskillen, brothers Mickey & Cathal Mc‐ Connell take great delight in welcoming Cormac & Breanndán into their local pub. Mickey chats about his famous song Only Our Rivers Run Free before performing it, and together they all play a few tunes.
TG4 will broadcast "Slí na mBeaglaoich" on Sunday nights at 9:30pm (21:30), beginning on April 7, 2024.