Roscommon to feature on RTÉ this week

Rathcroghan will feature in the first episode of a new RTÉ One show Listen to the Land Speak, which is presented by Manchán Magan.

Listen to the Land Speak sees Manchán Magan reveal the profound knowledge and wisdom contained in our landscape and myths and explore how they have shaped the way we look at the world as he himself learns to live with stage 4 prostate cancer.

Filmed over four seasons, the film unfolds from Winter Solstice to Bealtaine through Reek Sunday to Samhain – exploring how the stories and myths associated with the rivers, mountains and lands around us are crucial to unlocking aspects of how we need to rebuild our relationship with nature today. Along his journey, he meets respected archaeologists, mythologists, writers and shamans that offer different perspectives on how our ancestors related to the land and landscape around them.

But it also becomes an unexpectedly personal story – because as he seeks to help heal society’s relationship with nature, Manchán also realises that there is a serious illness within himself that makes him see these ancient sites and beliefs in a whole new light.

In the first of two episode Manchán visits Loughcrew, one of the ancient sites that is very close to his heart and his home. On his own land we learn about what drew him to the ancient stories and myths and how connecting with lore and nature helped in his own struggles of early youth. Manchán rows on the river Boyne and visits Rathcroghan, and along his travels meets writer Ellen Ryan, archaeologist Marion Dowd and mythologist Martin Shaw. The episode culminates with a big Bealtaine celebration at the Hill of Uisneach.

The show will be broadcast on RTÉ One this Thursday night, July 17 at 10.10 p.m.