Nationwide Revisited is a new series of programmes presented by Michael Ryan. The series, to be broadcast on Thursday evenings at 7.00pm on RTÉ One, takes a journey through the RTÉ archives and revisits people and places to bring their stories up to date. Each week the Nationwide Revisited team will travel to a different part of the country to see how that area has changed over the years and how it has adapted to meet the challenges of today.
This Week’s Nationwide Revisited heads to the Shannon and Clare region to go back to the very beginning of the Shannon success story with the airport free zone and tourist industry that grew from the vision of Dr. Brendan 0' Regan.
The entrepreneurial figure set the template for Duty Free shops around the world and Michael Ryan looks back at those times when Shannon airport was known as Rineanna, when the Flying boats came into Foynes, when the plan to keep tourists in the area was formulated and when the Free zone evolved, attracting manufacturing companies from all over the world to the area. The piece includes an interview with Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development and Martin Moroney, Director at Shannon Airport.
The early days of the world famous Bunratty banquets will bring viewers down memory lane and Michael fast forwards into present times and was amazed that the atmosphere and ambience is still as effervescent nearly 40 years later as American tourists embrace the experience there. The piece includes an interview with John Ruddle, Chief Executive, Shannon Heritage.
Michael then moves some 12 kilometres to the magnificent Dromoland Castle and goes back to 1962 as the home of Lord Inchiquin was about to be turned into a five star hotel and its contents auctioned off. He walks with Mark Nolan, General Manager Dromoland Castle Hotel through the corridors full of history, where very little has changed, and views the portraits and painting that grace its walls.
Michael talk about the presidential visits, the starts, the reputation and the sheer beauty of yet another Irish castle standing the test of time and adding to the wealth the region has to offer. Nationwide Revisited on Thursday 28th October on RTE ONE at 7pm. The programme makers were assisted by Shannon Development
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