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 by the Sugar Factory Display at Carlow County Museum and the local studies section at Carlow’s Central Library

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 

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?  

Have a listen to ‘Bridge Street Will Be’, the radio documentary.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

Mick Power is National Estates Manager with Coillte with responsibility for biotic risk and we meet him in Castlemorris Woodlands just outside Kilkenny.  Castlemorris is an old landed gentry estate which came into the hands of the state back in the 1920s.  There has always been a woodland area on the 600-acre site and the trees that we see today are third generation trees.  It contains a mix of species and is managed under a continuous cover management system.  Mixtures of different types of trees are best, according to Mick, who advocates the old adage of planting the right tree in the right place.  

Coillte's open forest policy is not just of benefit to them from a safety point of view, but it delivers a wonderful amenity to the public as well.  Their commercial activities support the development of woodlands like Castlemorris which have mainly been set aside for biodiversity and recreation.  Mick has borne witness to many changes over the 40 odd years working with trees but one of the most recent and positive developments has been people's increased engagement with nature and trees.  From Mick's point of view, there is nothing as nice as hanging out with trees.

Another man who likes to spend time with wood rather than woodlands in Kilkenny woodturner Liam Kirwan. He makes everything from earrings, to bowls and uses many different types of local wood in his projects.  For example, he makes pens from 32 different Irish timbers. Does anyone remember the lovely Beech tree that used to grow in the Kilkenny Castle park?  It was over 200 years old when it fell in a storm and its timber was distributed to craftspeople from which they could make things.  Liam makes pens from this wood, but they are very popular, and he doesn't have that much left now.  

Wood from the fruit trees can look the same but others are very distinctive like ash with its pale colour and London Plane with its herring bone effect.  Always cut with the grain, use dry wood and give the object the respect of a good finish is what makes a well-turned piece - that and the patience of the turner.   They are a patient people- like trees.  

Through funding from the Woodland Support Project, the Acorn Project has collaborated with Irish Seed Savers who are running workshops to train community seed savers in how to extract seeds and get them to germinate; the seeds having been already collected in their locality during the autumn.  These seeds will then be planted in tree nurseries - wooden boxes - in parks or green areas, until the saplings grow to about two years old when they will then be planted out into areas designated by the community.  Jeremy Turkington is Orchard Manager at Seedsavers who takes the groups through the processes in stratifying the seeds.

Monica meets Maura in the Millenium Park, Freshford where an Acorn Box containing young saplings are growing in beautiful leaf mould compost.  Using leaf mould to grow trees makes complete sense to workshop facilitator Donal O'Leary who runs Waste Down.  Waste Down provides training in composting and they also sell compost too.  He came to Durrow last autumn to train the tidy towns committee on how to compost leaf mould in their locality.  It's always best to leave the leaves on the ground for wildlife but, if you're removing leaves from drains or to make car-parking space, then putting them in a heap afterwards to compost in a great way of getting the best use out of them. 

The Acorn Project runs forest school for children to get them out in the woods playing and learning about trees and the uses of trees. This according to Maura, will benefit them by cultivating a deeper connection to nature as they grow up into adults.  An exciting new project which has just begun is called Waking the Seeds and involves 20 women who are exploring their connections to the woods through art.  The workshop is a  co-facilitation between Maura and Kilkenny based artist Rachel Burke.

Restoring our forests acorn by acorn is the motto for Maura who believes that little things can achieve a lot.

This process takes place at Smartply located in Belview Co Kilkenny where Monica meets Neil Foot.  She is taken on a tour around the plant beginning first in the log yard where stacks upon stacks of logs have been delivered from the plantations and are ready to be processed.  The first step is debarking, and the bark is used in heating processes further down the line.  Then the stripped log is taken through a very noisy process of 'waferising', where it's torn up into wafers or large flakes.  These large flakes are then dried, misted with adhesive resin, and laid down in specially orientated layers to form a woody mat.  This woody mat is then pressed and a board - Orientated Strand Board (OSB) is made.

It sounds easy, but it's a complex product.  Between both Smartply and it's sister company Medite, which makes MDF, 90 truckloads of tree logs come in and 50 truckloads of product leave each week.  360 people are employed between both sites, and they are the largest timber processer in the country.  They are owned by Coillte who took over the running of Smartply in 2002 when the original owners, Louisiana Pacific left Ireland.

According to David Murray, OSB and other engineered wood products are well positioned to fill the need for more sustainable building construction products.  Ireland needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and wood, which acts as a store of carbon is a good material to use in this respect. It's also very warm and when well insulated, can reduce heat loss from houses.  Smartply produce an array of different OSB products, some are flame retardant others are made to be specifically airtight, they can be used indoors and outdoors, under the ceiling or below the floor and of course are the material of choice in timber frame houses.  

Only 1 in 5 houses in Ireland are timber frame.  This is low compared to the likes of Scotland where 80% of the houses are timber frame.  Education in the versatility of engineered wood products may help to increase this, along with a change in policy.  Why is this important to do?  Because every little bit we do will go towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and keeping global warming to below 1.5 C and Trees are a very important part of that process.  

In fact, Michael Somers says that is the third best tree in the world for sequestering carbon.  Michael has brought his hypsometer with him to the plantation which is an instrument that's used to measure the height of trees. Andrew's trees are doing really well, and they need thinning.

A license is needed to thin or clear fell a plantation like Andrew's.  According to a recent report the Department of Agriculture is currently processing 100 such licenses a week but still there is a bit of a backlog which Andrew believes could, and may well be, addressed through reforms of the licencing process.  In meantime though, with his IFA hat on, Andrew is anxious that licences for small private forestry owners are not relegated to the bottom of the pile in favour of the bigger Coillte plantations.  It's the small private landowners after all who are key to the development of the forestry industry in Ireland

Another potential key to the forestry industry, particularly in relation to carbon, is the potential carbon sink of Ireland's hedgerows which up to now have not been included in the nation's carbon accounts.  According to Andrew including hedgerow cover alone in Carlow and Kilkenny would double the percentage of land currently under forestry - and who knows how much carbon that could be.  A good hedgerow gives Michael Somers great joy, and he believes they need to be cared for depending on their age and type.  

Ash die back is currently decimating the hedgerows in Ireland and it has also had a big impact on forestry owners with ash plantations.  It's tough on them seeing their potential pension pot dissolve in front of their eyes.   There are options that the Department could offer to help their situation says Andrew while adding that he sees great potential in the forestry sector.

Michael also sees great potential in the sector, and great potential for harnessing new markets in the hardwood industry which is still relatively untapped here in Ireland.  And while carbon is important and Sitka Spruce ticks that box, it is also important to keep biodiversity in mind too when considering planting options.  A mixture of trees is best.  But carbon leads us on to carbon credits and carbon trading and that grey area that will in time be sorted.  In the meantime, it's the right tree, in the right place, its carbon, biodiversity, and it's an income stream too.  Get someone like Michael out with the hypsometer is Andrew's appeal to landowners about to clear fell or thin - get the best price for your timber by knowing it's value.  

Kevin Naughton is head gardener at the arboretum and he takes Monica around the park, stopping at intervals to show the broad ranges of trees that they have in their collection.  The trees are mainly breed from wild seed collections and the arboretum features trees from Asia to Australia, the parts of America and Europe. It's managed by the OPW under the co-ordination of the Botanic Gardens in Dublin and it's five principles of being are as a centre of education, recreation, research, conservation and demonstration.  

There is lots of wildlife and biodiversity at the arboretum which is nurtured and sustained through various practices which include allowing the grasses to grow during the summer months.  

Over the years many storms and the two most recent hurricanes have taken down a lot of trees at the park causing it to close for sometimes months at a time.  These storms are becoming more frequent and could well be indicative of the changes in weather being caused by the warming of our planet.

In fact, climate change is being studied at the Phenological Gardens at the JFK Arboretum.  Kathleen Carroll, has for the past 40 years being recording the dates of the seasonal cycles of the trees.  She has found that spring is coming 2 to 3 weeks earlier than when she first began her data collection.  Will our trees be able to adapt to these changes in climate, and what sort of trees will be best suited to climate in the coming years?

Climate change and habitat loss is having a huge impact on the diversity of conifers around the world.  As part of their conservation role, the JFK Arboretum is taking part in the International Conifer Conservation Project (ICCP).  Gary Mentanko is in charge of this project at the arboretum. He explains that 1/3 of the conifers around the world are under threat and that the arboretum is planting 1,300 threatened conifers over the next year in the hopes that they can save the genetic diversity of these important trees.

Over the years storms have taken down some of the old trees.  William Bunbury of Lisnavagh, on looking at them being removed to the sawmill and seeing all the tonnes of wood in them, felt that he could add value to them.  Thus, he came up with the concept of Bunbury Boards and Lisnavagh Timber Project.  

Bunbury Boards are chopping boards which are made from the trees that fall in the estate.  The Lisnavagh Timber Project sells planks of hardwood timber for furniture making; they also make the furniture for their customers too.  

Each year William hires a mobile sawmill to come and cut the trees which have fallen due to storms or which have been removed due to ill-health.  He air drys the planks of wood in open sheds until such time as they are ready for the kiln.  When properly dried the timber is then ready to be processed into chopping boards or furniture.  

William also uses the wood as firewood to heat the big house and other cottages on the estate which saves oil and reduces their fuel bill, he also uses some of the wood in new building projects - like the new venue built 5 years ago for weddings or yoga retreats.

William appreciates the trees and the wood they produce and always looks forward to see what the timber will look like once it's milled.  

This programme begins by using the Marteloscope Training plot to determine how the decisions a forestry owner makes during the thinning processes will impact on the objectives they have for their forestry.  Sometimes a tree will be thinned based on its height and diameter which may be smaller than another tree close to it.  By removing the smaller tree, the other tree will have more room to growth and therefore it will be more valuable in relation to its timber.  In other situations that same small tree might be kept if the landowner wants to maintain a certain biodiversity level and that tree, though small, has lots of little nooks and crannies for insects and birds to live in and feed from.  

Biodiversity is an important part of forestry and the more diverse a system the more resilient it will be in the face of shocks in the form of pests or storms.  Farmers who planted monocultures of ash trees are realising this now because so many of the ash trees are dying from ash die back disease.

There is ongoing research into ash die back and results show that 15% of ash trees currently being monitored by Teagasc have a certain degree of tolerance to the disease.  The work now is to breed these trees and test them to make sure that their progeny is also resistant.  Research is also investigating the possible role of the trees microbiome in defending the fungal infection from gaining too strong a foothold in the tree.

Other research projects at Teagasc involve the improvement of the alder and the downy and silver birch trees.  Birch trees weren't traditionally known for their timber value but due to the tree breeding programme at Teagasc the researchers have been able to select for trees that tick all the boxes in relation to timber and biodiversity attributes and these birch seeds are now being used by farmers who decide to grow them as part of the forestry grant scheme.  

For landowners, making the decision to grow trees is not a simple one.  Teagasc provides an advisory service to support them in this process and the tree research helps to refine this advice.  Farmers can then feedback to the advisors on how they got on and this can then help the researchers to refine their processes even further if needs be. 

Jim McAdam pioneered the system in Northern Ireland and in this programme we hear him deliver a talk at a farm walk in Headford Co Galway where he goes through the benefits of agroforestry and the findings from 30 years of research into the system.  Not only do trees provide welfare benefits to the animals on the site in relation to shelter and shade, the trees presence also means that the land is better drained and the animals can stay out for longer - a farmer doesn't have to bring the animals in as early to house them over winter.  This has knock on effects in relation to ammonia emissions.  Trees also sequester carbon and under an agroforestry scheme the carbon is bound more tightly in the soil and isn't as easily lost to the atmosphere as a result.  

Eugene Curran is a district forestry inspector with the Department of Agriculture and he along with Liam Kelly, Teagasc Forestry Advisor, explains the processes whereby interested farmers and landowners can find out more about the Agroforestry scheme.  Listen to this if you are a farmer on the fence!

A huge amount of work goes into caring for Christmas Trees.  After they reach a certain age they require yearly pruning and de-budding to achieve a nice shape.  Each year, says Michel, 'each tree is handled 4 or 5 times'.  

60% of people surveyed as part of this Trees series have artificial rather than real Christmas Trees.  It would be nice if more people bought real Christmas trees.  It supports the local economy - Michael employs 10 or 12 people at this time of the year, it's more environmentally friendly compared to the plastic artificial ones and once they are replanted each year they are a good carbon sink.

Michael plans to retire in ten years time.  He planted his last tree last year.  He has been into trees all his life and he has enjoyed the Christmas trees.  Other people do too.  Michael tells of a man who works in finance who takes December off to sell Christmas trees!  

In this programme we visit the nursery and meet Dermot O'Leary Nursery Manager and Monica Murphy, Seed and Veg Propagation Manager.  Monica explains the process of seed stratification where seeds are first extracted from their casings and then exposed to a series of treatments - be it alternative hot and cold temperatures - in order to break dormancy.  They process 25 - 30 different seeds at the nursery and if they are not used immediately, they are put in cold storage for use later.

The seeds are planted out in seed beds in the fields that form part of the 130 hectare site and are cared for until they reach a certain height.  They are then lifted and graded and transplanted to the forest to begin their new life there.

Currently 80 people are employed at Ballintemple.  This is their busiest time of year - when the trees are being lifted,  and the dry spell at the moment is helping the process immensely.  

The loss of ash from our hedgerows and fields is massive from an environmental point of view.  It also impacts on an important part of our culture - hurling and the making of hurls.  There is a demand for 360,000 hurls annually in Ireland and this industry is important to support.  This programme features Tom O'Donohue a 4th generation hurley maker from Drakelands Kilkenny.  Tom talks about the importance of the Irish ash, the unique softness of the wood that makes it easy to work with and the potential evolution of bamboo and carbon fibre hurls.

So as the industry keeps its fingers crossed for the continued good health of the ash die back resistant trees, Mick Power calls for all of us to be careful in relation to moving organic material around the world.  As our climate changes the trees in Ireland could become more susceptible to other pests and diseases that could cause further damage to our woods and forests.

Bernard Walsh is founder and managing director of Walsh Whiskey based in Carlow.  Bernard explains the role of the wood in adding flavour to the whiskey and the traditions around using ex-bourbon barrels.  Because whiskey distillers are always experimenting, Bernard does not rule out using Irish Oak barrels as a 'finish' in the maturation process.  But, he says, 'we need to think long term.  Plant now for the next century'

The Independent Stave Company is a relatively new company which imports barrels to Ireland to furnish the growing demand for casks.  Audrey Gleeson of the Independent Stave Company explains what they do and indicates that they are already visiting oak plantations in Ireland to see if Irish Oak could be used in barrel making

In the meantime, the coopers are re-gathering in Ireland and a profession that had all but been lost is getting a new lease of life.  Ian Leonard is running Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ireland, a new cooperage in Kildare and Enguerrand Vandenbossche is a French cooper working from Tullamore Dew Distillery.  They talk about their work and about the real need to train more Irish coopers to sustain the growing whiskey market in Ireland.  

And while Ger Daly's oaks slowly come to maturation for their potential use as staves he takes his time to enjoy them and be with them - something that as he gets older, he appreciates more.

But we must be careful when harvesting trees near water courses.  Sediment from the harvesting process can enter rivers and streams and can cause terrible damage to the plants and animals living there.  Eibhlín Vaughan is from Crosspatrick in Co Kilkenny, and she is doing her PhD in Sediment and Water and Trees as part of the Hydrosed project at UCD.  The results of her work will ensure that Ireland can achieve 18% forestry cover without impinging on our obligations as part of the Water Framework Directive.

Nowadays buffer zones mean that trees can't be planted up to the banks of rivers and streams.  However, if a farmer was to plant outside a buffer zone that was near a water course, then Michael Somers recommends a Native Woodland managed on a continuous cover management system.  Hear all about this in the 7th programme in Trees: From Seed to Sawdust - Trees and Water

In this programme Monica Hayes meets the Irish Wood Producers at their wood chip depot in New Ross. The Irish Wood Producers are a not-for-profit company which supports farmers who plant trees by providing training and forestry services to them.  In this programme we meet Alex Kelly, manager, Nicholas Sweetman, Director and Nicholas Roberts, Wood Chip Depot Manager and explore with them the role of money and the environment in their wood chip business. The programme also features Will Gabbett, a Kilkenny forester and member of the Irish Wood Producers group.  

Paddy Cleere is one man who is carrying on this tradition of musical instrument making.  He is based in Tullaroan and what's special about Paddy is that he makes his guitars and mandolins etc partly from the wood of local Kilkenny trees.  Paddy talks about the importance of the grain for sound and strength of the instrument and about the types of wood that can be used.

Barry Comiskey and Micheal Somers are both foresters who play music.  Barry likes to play his tin whistle in the woods and so give the music back to the trees and animals of the forest.  Michael talks about the rare woods used in musical instrument making and highlights the importance of trees in every facet of our lives - especially in relation to music and creativity which trees have been giving to us for a least 4,150 years.

Trees: From Seed to Sawdust is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of the Woodland Support Project.

The programme then moves to Murray's Sawmills in Ballon Co Carlow.  The sights and sounds of the busy mill are recorded and the processes of cutting the logs described by John Ryan, Purchasing Harvester and Forester for the company.  Outside the mill there are big stacks of timber ready to be sent to the market. The timber is marked FSC - Forestry Stewardship Council - certifying that the timber has come from sustainably managed forests

The Calder Potts run a lucrative business by adding value to their apples and making, cider vinegar, apple syrup, cider, treacle etc.  They are an example of a local business growing trees in a sustainable way and with a low carbon footprint

The story of how he was bought, the highs and lows of his career, his retirement and death will be told for the first time in this documentary by, amongst others, his owner Dan O’Neill and trainer Tom Foley.

Produced by Monica Hayes and funded by the BAI with the television license fee.

Mad About Danoli was nominated for a PPI Irish Radio Award in 2015.

Labelled variously as 'the stateless', 'Asia's new boat people' and 'the disowned and denied', this ethnic Muslim minority claim that the Burmese government is persecuting them and committing acts of genocide.

‘The Story of a Rohingya Journey’ tracks documentary presenter Angela Mahon on her journey to Bangladesh going to a refugee camp there and hearing the plight of the people who have fled violence, rape and the murder of relatives in their homeland.  

The documentary touches on the positive effects of integration by recording the experiences of some of the Rohingya refugees who came to Carlow in 2009 as part of the UNHCR resettlement programme. 

Presented by Angela Mahon.
Produced by Monica Hayes.

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?  

Produced by Monica Hayes for KCLR, Bridge Street Will Be was supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

This preview by Monica Hayes gives you an insight into our next documentary, Bridge Street Will Be.

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.

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

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, psychotherapist Mark Redmond and more.

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

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 they discuss the challenges and rewards of this life stage.

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

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.

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

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

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

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.

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

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.

Produced by Monica Hayes with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under the television license fee.

They return with a relic of St Willibrord, who spent 12 years studying in Carlow in 678AD, and which now resides on permanent display in the Cathedral of the Assumption Carlow.

Produced by Monica Hayes for KCLR, made with the support of Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee, and Carlow County Council.

In the documentary series 'Three Miles Over, Three Miles Down' we explore the rich heritage of the mining culture and social history. It's a five part series originally broadcast on KCLR with  support by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the license fee. 

In the final programme we tell the story of the closure of the mines, its impact on the town, the communbity fight back and the establishment of the Castlecomer Discovery Park.

Presented by Martin Bridgeman. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

In the documentary series 'Three Miles Over, Three Miles Down' we explore the rich heritage of the mining culture and social history. It's a five part series originally broadcast on KCLR with  support by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the license fee. 

Programme 4 delves in to the industrial relations in Castlecomer in the 20th century. We hear about the main characters of the time, the mine owner Captain Wandesforde and his adversary, union leader and later ally Nicholas Nixie Boran. We hear about the strikes, the miner's health struggles and the fight for compensation.

Presented by Martin Bridgeman. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

In the documentary series 'Three Miles Over, Three Miles Down' we explore the rich heritage of the mining culture and social history. It's a five part series originally broadcast on KCLR with  support by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the license fee. 

The third programme is all about impact the mines had on life in Castlecomer. We hear about the life over ground, the miners social life and hear from the wives and daughters of the miners. 

Presented by Martin Bridgeman. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

In the documentary series 'Three Miles Over, Three Miles Down' we explore the rich heritage of the mining culture and social history. It's a five part series originally broadcast on KCLR with  support by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the license fee. 

In programme two, we hear about the the life of the miners underground and hear from some of former miners who tell their stories of life at the coal face and from their families.

Presented by Martin Bridgeman. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

This is Martin Bridgeman and in my 5 part documentary series 'Three Miles Over, Three Miles Down' we explore the rich heritage of the mining culture and social history. It's a five part series originally broadcast on KCLR with  support by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the license fee. 

In the first programme we hear about the history and indeed the pre-history. We hear about the unique geology of the are in the Leinster coalfield the story of mining from the Iron age to the closure of the mines in the late 1960s.

Presented by Martin Bridgeman. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

This is Martin Bridgeman and in my 5 part documentary series 'Three Miles Over, Three Miles Down' we explore the rich heritage of the mining culture and social history. It's a five part series originally broadcast on KCLR with  support by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the license fee. 

Produced by Monica Hayes. Supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland through the television license fee.

Produced by Monica Hayes for KCLR. Supported by the Broadcastings Authority of Ireland with the television license fee.

Produced by Monica Hayes for KCLR. Supported by the Broadcastings Authority of Ireland with the television license fee.

Produced by Monica Hayes for KCLR. Supported by the Broadcastings Authority of Ireland with the television license fee.

His story and the stories of the schism at the time in Callan are explored by producer Monica Hayes across four episodes.