Documentaries on KCLR

'The first thing I had to do was go out and buy a skirt’, so says Loretta Kenny after her first day in the Carlow Sugar Factory when she came to realise that women didn’t wear trousers there when she started in 1979. ‘ It was just jaw-dropping to walk into the factory to see the massive machinery in 100-foot high ceiling, big vessels big moving machines and you wouldn’t think that passing the road’, recalls former fitter Joe McDonald. In the 2nd programme in the radio documentary series ‘Oh Sugar Sugar’, some of the former workers recall their first day on the job, the company’s sports and social club and its involvement with the community, their participation in the tops of the town and trips abroad. The apprenticeship scheme within the factory provided young people with great skills that were highly sought after and a pride and an ideas and inventions scheme encouraged innovation within the company. Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television license fee and sponsored…

In December 1925 Bishop Foley came to the window of the old town hall and announced to the many excited people gathered there that the sugar factory was coming to Carlow. Thus began an important era in Carlow’s history and the first programme in KCLR’s 7 part series ‘Oh Sugar, Sugar’ looks at the set-up of the factory, its expansion and contraction and gives an overview of the industry which was to make such a mark on the socioeconomic and rural landscape of Carlow. Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television license fee and sponsored by the Sugar Factory Display at Carlow County Museum and the local studies section at Carlow’s Central Library

“The Burning Of Woodstock” was first broadcast on KCLR on October 17th, 2022 and was supported by the Decade Of The Centenaries Grant 2022. The play was written and directed by Gillian Grattan and was performed by Aoibhín Murphy, Delia Lowry, Declan Taylor and Brendan Corcoran. Sound design, production and editing by Martin Bridgeman. Special thanks to Eddie Cody, Davy O’Dwyer, Theresa Hayes and Stacy Jane Williams and to KCLR for studio facilities. Research and newspaper articles were sourced from the Bureau of Military History, The British Newspaper Archives, from the books “The Story of Of Woodstock in Inistioge” by Thomas J. Whyte and “Kilkenny In Times Of Revolution” by Eoin Swithin Walsh. The Kilkenny County Council Decade of Centenaries Programme 2022 is supported by the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.

A radio documentary that records some of the events that took place in Carlow to commemorate the Easter Rising of 1916 and tells the story of some of the main Carlow people who took part in that day.

Programme 8 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow features interviews with people who have, over the years, cared for and maintained the River in condition

Programme 7 in the Follow Me Up the Barrow series features some of the flora and fauna living in and around the River

Programme 6 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow looks at the various ways people use the river for recreation

Programme 5 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow features interviews with fishermen and explores the various fish that make the river their home.

Follow Me Up the Barrow tells the stories and experiences of the river by people that know it best… the fishermen, the old boatmen, the lock-keepers, rowers, canoeists and river ‘guardians’. Through the accounts of their experiences a unique, informative and historical picture of the Barrow is compiled through this radio series. Programme 4 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow explores the history of boatmaking and talks with local boating enthusiasts who use the Barrow.

Follow Me Up the Barrow tells the stories and experiences of the river by people that know it best… the fishermen, the old boatmen, the lock-keepers, rowers, canoeists and river ‘guardians’. Through the accounts of their experiences a unique, informative and historical picture of the Barrow is compiled through this radio series. Programme 3 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow features interviews with the boatmen who would have been on the barges going up and down the Barrow canal system and beyond.

Follow Me Up the Barrow tells the stories and experiences of the river by people that know it best… the fishermen, the old boatmen, the lock-keepers, rowers, canoeists and river ‘guardians’. Through the accounts of their experiences a unique, informative and historical picture of the Barrow is compiled through this radio series. Programme 2 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow features interviews with the Lock Keepers, who over the years operated the locks for the barges to pass through on their way up and down the river.

Follow Me Up the Barrow tells the stories and experiences of the river by people that know it best… the fishermen, the old boatmen, the lock-keepers, rowers, canoeists and river ‘guardians’. Through the accounts of their experiences a unique, informative and historical picture of the Barrow is compiled through this radio series. Programme 1 in the series Follow Me Up the Barrow which looks at the history of the river and the process in making the Barrow navigable.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. The one certainty of life is death. In this the last program in the series ‘As We Like It’, we explore the last stage in Shakespeare’s seven stages of man through interviews with Hospice Nurse, Margaret Cox, Death Matters Festival Co-ordinator Anne Cody, psychotherapist Mark Redmond, historian Pat Nolan and many more.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. Old age! What is old age? Do we respect our elders? These and other philosophical questions are discussed in this episode of ‘As We Like It’. With contributions from Aisling Brett, manager of Dalton House and participants of the Art Course that runs there, Joe Butler of Carlow Older Person’s Forum, The Carebears Group from Ossory Youth, druid Eimear Burke and psychotherapist Mark Redmond and more.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. Our ‘As We Like It’ series moves on to the next phase, Middle Age or Justice. In this program we hear from Martin O’Carroll partner with Poe Kiely Hogan Solicitors Kilkenny, Shem Caulfield, Thomastown, Lucy Glendinning, Kilkenny, dietitian Aislinn Murphy, psychotherapist Mark Redmond and Druid Eimear Burke as this discuss the challenges and rewards of this life stage.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. The Soldier phase of life is the working phase, the time for earning and focusing on what profession makes you happy. In this program we hear from Gemma Lawlor, Guidance Counsellor with Tyndall College, Carlow, the students from Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown,Captain Kieran Brennan from James Stephen’s Barrack’s Kilkenny and many more.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. Love! What is love? We grapple this and other questions in this the third stage of life – Lover. We hear from Dr Noel Kavanagh, lecturer in Philosophy at Carlow College, the staff involved in wedding preparations with the Griffin Hotel Group, psychotherapist Mark Redmond, some residents from Tinnypark Nursing Home Kilkenny and Druid Eimear Burke.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. In the second program in our ‘As We Like It’ series we feature the second stage ‘Schoolboy’. Sit back and relax while you listen to people’s memories of school, current school experiences, teacher’s thoughts on education and learning and the transition into teenage life. Contributions from Psychotherapist Mark Redmond , Druid Eimear Burke,, Forest School Facilitator Maura Brennan , former Ballyhale National School principal Joe Dunphy and Guidance Counsellor at Tyndall College Gemma Lawlor.

As We Like It’ is a radio series that explores the seven stages of life, presented in seven parts, originally airing on KCLR in 2019 and produced by Monica Hayes through the Sound & Vision scheme. The first stage of life – Infancy. In this program we explore the miracle of birth and the development of the infant We hear from Professor Ray O’Sullivan Consultant Obstetrician at St Luke’s Hospital, Psychotherapist Mark Redmond, Doula, Gentle Birth Instructor and Baby Massage Therapist Eilis Walklett, Jo Scobie, Sonographer with the Women’s Health Clinic Kilkenny, The Ryan Family whose mother was a midwife in Carlow in the 1950 up to the late 1980s and some of the mothers who attend Cuidiu Kilkenny.

Rambling houses are great for preserving stories and songs from times past. In Part 2 of ‘Civil War and the Oral Tradition’, presenter Dave Barron explores their importance with Eddie McDonald, who hosts rambling sessions at his home in Clonmore. It’s in places like this that songs from the Civil War are heard. In particular, the songs and poetry that tell the story of the shooting at Sheen where Miley Carroll and James O’Toole were killed. Hear these songs sung by local Carlow people in this documentary which is based on an essay written by Dave Barron, ‘Civil War and the Oral Tradition’. This documentary is part of Carlow County Council’s Decade of Centenaries programme and funded by Carlow Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Songs contain the emotions and perceptions of people at a particular time, whereas the history books tell of the facts. In the absence of many songs about the Irish Civil War, presenter Dave Barron looks to America and the songs written by the Irish who participated on both sides of the American Civil War. There he finds emotions and thoughts that are reflected in what little songs and poetry he has found about the Irish Civil War. ‘Civil War and the Oral Tradition’ is based on the essays of Dave Barron and part of Carlow County Council’s Decade of Centenaries programme and funded by Carlow Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

It’s 2015 and Bridge Street in Callan, Co Kilkenny is full of nothing only empty shops. Dirt from passing traffic has caked to the windows, the shop fronts are rotting, and the once colourful street that bustled with activity and economic vibrancy has lapsed into a ghostly monument to a dim past. But from decay and ruin will come new life and creativity. A street theatre event will aim to immerse people into the past through installations inspired by collected stories and, through this interactive experience, stimulate a shared dream of a brighter future for Bridge Street. This radio documentary charts the progress of the Equinox Theatre Group in Callan as they collect and collate some of the old stories associated with the street. From these stories, they, in conjunction with Devious Theatre Group in Kilkenny and Trasna Productions, will devise a massive live theatre event that will be presented to the people during the Abhainn Ri Festival 2015. How will it go? What will be the challenges along the way?…

Part 4 of 4. Former Kilkenny captain and five-time All-Ireland senior hurling winner with the Cats, Michael Fennelly takes a walk back through one of the biggest games in Kilkenny's coloured hurling history - the 1967 All-Ireland senior hurling championship final, the day the black and amber tide turned as Kilkenny overcame Tipperary in what would prove to be a watershed moment for the county.

Part 3 of 4. Former Kilkenny captain and five-time All-Ireland senior hurling winner with the Cats, Michael Fennelly takes a walk back through one of the biggest game in Kilkenny's coloured hurling history - the 1967 All-Ireland senior hurling championship final, the day the black and amber tide turned as Kilkenny overcame Tipperary in what would prove to be a watershed moment for the county.

Part 2 of 4. Former Kilkenny captain and five-time All-Ireland senior hurling winner with the Cats, Michael Fennelly takes a walk back through one of the biggest games in Kilkenny's coloured hurling history - the 1967 All-Ireland senior hurling championship final, the day the black and amber tide turned as Kilkenny overcame Tipperary in what would prove to be a watershed moment for the county.

In this first part of a four-part series, we'll hear from former Kilkenny GAA chairman Ned Quinn, hurlers Eddie Keher, Jim Treacy, and Tom Walsh along with sports writer Enda McEvoy on the buildup to 3 September 1967, the day that Kilkenny would beat Tipperary in an All-Ireland senior hurling final for the first time in 45 years.

This is the last programme in the series, and it features ways in which we get joy out of Trees. To this end Monica met wood-turner Liam Kirwan who takes great pleasure in making wooden objects from different types of trees. But first she took a walk with Kilkenny man and Coillte manager Mick Power to hear about Coillte's open forest policy

The Acorn Project is a community engagement project in Kilkenny which aims to build connection with nature through developing workshops that get people out into the woodlands, saving seeds, planting seeds and growing native trees.

OSB is an example of an engineered wood product. And what is OSB- Orientated Strand Board? Well, have a listen to find out. In this programme Monica meets Neil Foot, CEO of Smartply and Medite and David Murray who oversees Technical Affairs and Ireland's Sales at both companies.

Andrew O'Carroll is Kilkenny's Representative on the National IFA Farm Forestry Committee and Monica meets him and Michael Somers, Forestry Advisor with Teagasc and regular contributor to this series, at Andrew's Sitka Spruce plantation in Ballygorteen, Paulstown to chat about all things forestry.

At the John F Kennedy Arboretum in New Ross Co Wexford there is a big collection of trees from all over the world. These trees are nice to look at and the arboretum is a beautiful place to visit but there is also research and conservation work being carried there too. The results of this work are proving to be particularly important given the weather changes we are experiencing due to global warming

This week Monica visits Lisnavagh House in Rathvilly Co Carlow to meet William Bunbury. He has come up with ways to add value to the hardwood trees that have fallen on their estate by establishing Bunbury Boards and Lisnavagh Timber Project.

In this programme Monica takes a visit to the Castlecomer Discovery Park to explore the role of Trees in supporting our mental health and wellbeing.

In this programme, recorded at Oak Park research centre in Carlow, Frances McHugh, Forestry Advisor and Ian Short, Dheeraj Rathore and Oliver Sheridan, research scientists, talk about how the work that they do and how it is translated into practical measures in the forest.

Towards the end of 2021 there was a farm walk where interested parties learned about Agroforestry - a system of combining trees and grass on the same plot of land and rearing animals around it.

Between pruning and debudding Christmas trees demand a lot of care during their ten years of growing. Michael O'Gorman of Celtic Christmas Trees, Kilkenny gives us an insight into the process

This week Monica visits Coillte's Ballintemple Tree Nursery just outside Ardattin Co Carlow. There they process seeds and rear trees from seed before being sent out to the forest for planting. In this piece we hear from Dermot O'Leary Nursery Manager and Monica Murphy, Seed and Veg Propagation Manager

In this programme hear about ash die back disease and the hope that resistant trees, growing in a wood in Kilkenny, can save the day... The loss of ash is too big to contemplate from an environmental and hurling point of view.

The presence of the Oak Tree in our life does not and should not depend on its economic value. However a new use for its wood could be emerging in the form of staves for whiskey barrels. In this programme Monica meets farmer Ger Daly who grows oak trees, Bernard Walsh of Walsh Whiskey, Audrey Gleeson of the Independent Stave Company, Ian Leonard from Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ireland and Enguerrand Vandenbossche from Tullamore Dew Distillery

Trees and Water is the topic of this episode in Trees: From Seed to Sawdust

'I have never been sorry that I planted trees'. So says one farmer in the 6th programme in Trees: From Seed to Sawdust. To plant or not to plant? Plant - it's good for the environment & your back pocket.

This programme is recorded at the Irish Wood Producer's Wood Chip Depot in New Ross and explores the role of wood chip from an environmental and economic perspective.

Trees are important in every facet of our lives. Especially in relation to music and creativity which trees have been giving us, here in Ireland, for a least 4,150 years.

Have you ever seen the letters FSC on a box of tissues or on the wrapping paper enclosing the paper for the printer. In this programme we explore the concept of sustainable forestry management and how the letters FSC and PEFC certify wood products which have been made from forests managed sustainably.

Rod and Julie Calder Potts grow apple trees at Highbank Orchard just off the Callan Road Kilkenny. In this programme we hear the secrets of how to grow healthy organic apple trees and run a successful business making Highbank Orchard Apple Syrups, Vinegars, Ciders and other products

It’s all about creating community engagement with the River Nore with the ultimate aim of establishing a long term Trust that looks after the community’s interests in the river. This is the final programme in the series and it explores the future of the project as it transitions into the Nore Vision Catchment Trust.

In Programme 8 we explore how industry has moulded itself around the geological landscape of the River Nore in the form of mining, milling, brewing and more.

The River Nore provides a great space for outdoor activities and in this programme we feature some of the people who swim, fish, walk and boat on the river.

In the 6th programme in the Nore Vision radio series we visit the uplands of the River Nore, talk about the farm walks organised by Nore Vision, discuss farm ecology and explore the role of the farmer and farm policy in improving the water quality of the River Nore

Nore Vision is a project established by Leader to create community engagement with the River Nore and to set up a river trust that looks after the governance of the river. The following programme looks at the problem of litter and it’s impact on the environment and the economy.