The people, places and stories that make Northern Ireland unique, presented by Anne Marie McAleese.
Your Place and Mine visits Ballymoney to hear about local motorcycling legend Joey Dunlop
The strong winds of Storm Debi have destroyed a beautiful tree at Garrison on the shores of Lough Melvin. The artist, Michelle Duffy, has been painting the tree for as long as she can remember. She spoke to Anne Marie McAleese about the loss of the picturesque ash, and recalled a time when she and Anne Marie went together to visit that very tree. And Singtonicity at Derry Well Woman is an innovative and creative way of improving health and well-being, through singing, breathing, voice-work and relaxation exercises. The group's leader, Siobhan Heaney, says that you can't worry and sing at the same time. She met Brian Kernohan at one of the group's sessions. Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.
Monica Massey Beresford, who grew up in Derrylin in Fermanagh, became a resistance leader in Denmark. She died in Waldheim concentration camp in 1945 but her courage and incredible life have been honoured by the Ulster History Circle with the unveiling of a Blue Plaque at Kinawley Parish Church on Main Street in Derrylin. Lord Dunleath of Ballywalter, her great nephew, and Lady Dunleath, told Anne Marie McAleese her story. With archive recording from the BBC TV programme, SOE: Subversion (1984). And a highwayman, Joseph Scott, wreaked havoc around the mountain road between Limavady and Macosquin near Coleraine in the 1800's. His life and times and eventual demise feature in the most recent edition of the Bann Disc, Coleraine Historical Society's Annual publication. Clive Hunter, who wrote the article, met Helen Mark at the ruins of the old family cottage in the townland of Camm to hear how the notorious brigand came to meet his death. Programme presented by Anne Marie McAleese.
A new digital timeline telling the history of glass-making and a decade of Innova Dance.
Slieve Gullion welcomes visitors for its Footsteps in the Forest Halloween experience. Anne Marie McAleese also hears about the huge burial cairn at the summit of Slieve Gullion, known as The Calliagh Berra's House, which is the highest surviving passage tomb in the UK or Ireland. Deirdre Donnelly reports on the story of a young curate from Derry, George Vaughan Sampson, who escaped the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette just before the French Revolution. He returned to Derry where he became headmaster of the city's first school and later became rector of the Church of Ireland in Aghanloo near Limavady. Recently, his last resting place has been discovered, forgotten for almost 200 years, by Roe Valley historians, Betty and Matt Ferguson. Presented by Anne Marie McAleese. Listen to the whole show on BBC Sounds.
Life Cycles is an initiative in Derry to restore bicycles which would have been dumped. Monica Downey started the project during lockdown, when people were cycling for exercise and to get about. So far they have saved 790 bikes in partnership with Zero Waste North West, and given away 150 fully restored bicycles. Helen Mark went to visit. And Anne Marie McAleese hears the remarkable story of Robert Hart, from Portadown in County Armagh, who became one of the most powerful people in China. In the 19th century many Irish people worked and lived in China, Japan and Korea - but Hart was one of the most notable, involved in administering taxes on the opium trade, and presenting China overseas. His life and times are the focus of a new book by historian Robin Masefield from Holywood, County Down. Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.
Evelyn Milne is inspired by her granddaughter, Bethany, to pick litter from the road at her townland, at Tullyhappy near Newry. They hope to inspire others to do the same in their own areas. And Jenny Hope from Larne and Tanya Dragininie from Bangor join the fight against Covid and cancer, after learning with the Open University. Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.
Willie Magowan, an artist from Garvagh whose work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute in America, explains the historic art of banner painting. He shows Anne Marie McAleese into the workshop at the back of his house where he creates the banners. And in Sion Mills, the Buildings Preservation Trust has reopened the newly-refurbished Stables Museum. It's an historic building that outlines the life and times of this industrial village which started with the establishment of Herdman's Mill in 1835. Molly McNutt from Strabane, the new tourism co-ordinator, and Celia Ferguson, one of the Herdman family, gave Brian Kernohan a guided tour. Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.
A pilgrimage to St Moninna's Holy Well at Killeavy and a royal visit to Garvagh Forest.
Helen Mark visits site of the crash of an historic Dragonfly helicopter in Lough Foyle with the man who found it, Johnny McNee of the Marine Plan Team of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. He describes it as little more than a "lawnmower with wings". She also sees the 'back entries' of Belfast - which are being transformed into new green spaces - with Brid Ruddy in Wildflower Alley, and Amberlea Neely of the '9ft in Common' Project - named after the width of the alleyways.
Justice Teresa Doherty CBE has received numerous awards for her work on human and women's rights around the world, but tells Anne Marie McAleese she's still a "wee cutty" from Portstewart. And Dr Sunil Paulraj on Toccata, the choral group based in Belfast, with around 100 professional and semi-professional members from a whole range of backgrounds, who will tour Tanzania in 2023.
Eva Baxter tells Anne Marie McAleese about the great hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander, and Carol Dooey has a song for Christmas from the Cookstown hub.
Patrick Davey on his song, Christmas Eve on Rathlin performed by the Blackstaff Céilà Band & Folk Group, and memories of Christmas in wartime Armagh Irene Campbell, from Lurgan, and Elizabeth McHugh, from Hamiltonsbawn, interviewed by Johnny Caldwell.
Santas on horseback in Saintfield, and the Bannside Library in Belfast that contains thousands of Rev Ian Paisley's books.
A special podcast celebrating the books that make Northern Ireland unique: featuring crime writer Kelly Creighton from Newtownards reading from The Town Red, Fintan Mullan from the publishers, the Ulster Historical Foundation, and the late, great Joan Gaffney from County Armagh with her performance of She Never Got a Man.
The user-led charity for people with disabilities & a step back in time in Armagh.
The Cuilcagh to Cleenish 'Memory Map' gets European recognition, and the First World War hero, Erik Kokeritz, who was buried in Derry with no headstone.
The return of 26,000 light-bellied Brent Geese to the shores of Strangford Lough with Dot Blakely and Paul Stewart, and Litir Ghrá ón Dara Cogadh Domhanda—Armagh man Frank Murray's "love letter from the Second World War", a new BBC 2 Irish language documentary.
Derry's Foyle Valley Railway, and the tramway of the Giant's Causeway.
Memories of The Queen in Fermanagh, and The Tommy Makem Centre in Keady.
The peacocks of Dulrush in Fermanagh, and the nuclear bunker near Portadown.
The trainee rangers of the Belfast hills, a seaplane in Fermanagh, and the Strings and Sings group in Co Down.
Artist, Audrey Kyle, finds inspiration in the Gobbins cliff path, and Martin Strain tells both the story of the distance swimmer, Tom Blower, and also the Chunky Dunkers of Donaghadee.
The elite battalion of US Rangers was formed in Carrickfergus in 1942, and the Jacob sheep from Gortin.
A special 30th anniversary show, broadcast live from the "witch's hat", in Portstewart, presented by Anne Marie McAleese, Featuring some of the people who have contributed to the show over the years, Colum Sands, Ronan Lundy, Helen Mark, Dot Blakely, and John Toal, with a special tribute to Marie McStay. First broadcast in 2021.
Lough Neagh's birds, the community of Toome, and the animals of Annaginny Farm in Tyrone.
The tough lives of the people of Gransha in County Down, and the artist TP Flanagan's Fermanagh inspiration.
A special podcast celebrating the bird life of Oxford Island at Lough Neagh, Myroe near Binevenagh, and the Ecos Centre in County Antrim. Presented by Anne Marie McAleese, with Dot Blakely, and Helen Mark.
Back in 1951 the British Open golf tournament was held at the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush for the very first time. It would be 68 years before The Open returned to the club, which it did in July 2019 when Shane Lowry lifted the Claret jug on the final day. Featuring a past president, a couple of the 250 litter pickers that were on duty that week, and the man who still has the shoes that the winner was wearing when he won the biggest prize in golf in 1951.
A special programme from Rathlin island, the home of puffins, kittiwakes, guillemots, the golden hare and seals. Programme first broadcast in 2011.
Bobbin lace making in the Ards Peninsula and following the sharks along the north coast.
The restoration of this 12th century structure and amazing rescues around our coasts.
A battle between the O'Neills and the O'Donnells and the legendary telescopes of Armagh.
Memories from Enniskillen, a royal basket in Belleek, and the suit worn by Lord Erne.
Lady Moyra from Baronscourt was one of the Queen's Maids of Honour at the Coronation.
One of Northern Ireland's oldest cycling clubs is celebrating 100 years on the road.
A special bike and the North West 200, and the Troughton family with their Armagh Apples.
The story of the Belfast Blitz, and Royal connections with Ely Lodge in County Fermanagh.
Curlews of Lough Macnean in Fermanagh, and life on the shores of Loughmacrory's lough.
The live manger of Tannaghmore with Paul Fearon, children's wishes at Christmas, and music of The Priests with Father Eugene O'Hagan.
The reindeer of Altnamackin near Newry, history from Cuilcagh to Cleenish in Fermanagh, and Nurse of the year Mairead Ryan, from Belfast.
Donkeys in Templepatrick, and donkeys with Santa in Enniskillen.