Tg4s filte reaches mayo

TG4 summer magazine series Féilte visits Sligo and Mayo as it continues its journey of discovery along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Continuing its nine-week tour of the hidden treasures along the enchanting coast of Ireland's western seaboard - following the Fáilte Ireland-promoted Wild Atlantic Way - presenter Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill travels to Sligo and Mayo in this weekend's show (Sunday, July 19) to explore the multitude of historical and cultural attractions, adventure activities, local artisan food, traditional music and song.

While in this part of the world she finds some hidden gems in the towns and villages along the route, as well as some spectacular scenery. 

Each programme highlights a different Discovery Point along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way, and this week the world-renowned Céide Fields in north Mayo are visited in the company of retired professor of archaeology, Séamus Caulfield.

Here, in the 1930s, his father - the local schoolmaster - found the first evidence of what Séamus, years later, discovered were cultivated fields, houses and tombs which had lain hidden for centuries. It is a remarkable Neolithic and Bronze Age landscape - the oldest known field systems in the world, over five and a half millennia old.

Máire Treasa also visits Áit Eile in Enniscrone, where she samples a mouth-watering dish of pan-fried fillet of Rossaveel silver hake, Melville's organic cauliflower three ways, and Kelly's of Newport black pudding and sea samphire. All ingredients are sourced as locally as possible, and all come from the Wild Atlantic Way.

One of the best ways to experience the breathtaking scenery is to cycle, and Máire Treasa goes cycling with Easkey Bike Hire in the company of Seosamh Ó Cionnaith.

Wonderful music this week comes from Áras Inis Gluaire in Belmullet, where fine traditional musicians Liam McGonigle and Shane Mulchrone produce the best of Irish music, while renowned local singers Síle Uí Mhongáin and Creena Mulchrone perform too.

Next weekend (Sunday, July 26), Féilte comes entirely from Mayo, where Máire Treasa takes in another Discovery Point, Ionad Derbhile near Blacksod on the Mullet peninsula. There she gets a valuable insight into the lifestyle of this area in times past - local folklore, archaeology and history - from Jacqui D Uí Mhonacháin. Jacqui also tells her about the extensive research the centre has conducted, dedicated to the memory of the people of northwest Mayo who emigrated to Canada and the United States in the years 1883-84.

Máire Treasa also drops in on Caroline Price of Islandeady West Mayo Brewery, who explains how she and her husband Iain produce traditional, natural beers using malted barley, whole hops and the main ingredient, water from Mayo, on their working farm. Bog myrtle is also used to flavour their porter. They use all natural ingredients, with no preservatives or additives.

Music comes from Gielty's Bar, Achill Island, where we are treated to a beautiful harp solo from the renowned Laoise Kelly (from her latest CD, Fáilte Uí Cheallaigh). There are also a couple of lively sets from John Butler on uilleann pipes and Lisako on fiddle, and a song from local singer, Dermot Maguire.

Also on Achill, Máire Treasa tries her hand at one of the many sporting and adventure activities available in Mayo by taking a surfing lesson from Tomás Mac Lochlainn.

Máire Cháit Uí Mhurchú is a Bean an Tí with summer college Coláiste Mhuigheo in Carrowteigue, and she tells us how she enjoys giving a temporary home to students from all over the country who come to the Mayo Gaeltacht to learn Irish.

Each week on Féilte there's an exciting competition for viewers to have their own chance to sample the Wild Atlantic Way's delights, with fantastic getaway breaks for friends and families. You can see Féilte on TG4 on Sundays at 8.30 p.m. and online at www.tg4.ie.