Exploration of Listen to the Land Speak: An affectionate paean to a partially overlooked Ireland

Exploration of Listen to the Land Speak: An affectionate paean to a partially overlooked Ireland

In a captivating six-part series, Manchán Magan's production, "Listen To The Land Speak," is set to air on RTE One, offering viewers a unique blend of cultural exploration, personal reflection, and visual storytelling. Each episode, lasting an hour, delves into Ireland's untamed corners, distant gleaming mountaintops, and misty sites of ancient worship.

The journey begins with the first episode, focusing on the Burren region in County Clare. Magan will travel through this unique landscape in search of hidden stories and ancient sites. The second episode takes viewers to the Mourne Mountains in County Down, where Magan uses storytelling to connect the natural world with Irish mythology and folklore.

The third episode, airing on March 10th at a new time of 10.30pm, will see Magan exploring the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. In the fifth episode, the spotlight shifts to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, straddling County Offaly and County Laois. The sixth and final episode will examine the Wicklow Mountains.

Throughout his career, Magan has been making television, and his specialty is the rambling, shaggily moreish travelogue. His production, "Listen To The Land Speak," is a long-form love letter to Ireland, emphasizing the connection between nature and spiritual or cultural healing.

Magan weaves his personal journey, including his cancer diagnosis and treatment, into the narrative, creating a deeply intimate and reflective tone. The documentary features stunning and dramatic cinematography, capturing Ireland's landscapes across four seasons, from winter solstice to Samhain.

By exploring often disregarded and half-forgotten aspects of Ireland, Magan seeks to preserve and share Ireland's rich cultural heritage, focusing on the importance of ancient traditions and myths in modern times. Through his explorations, Magan reflects on themes of personal growth, resilience, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

"Listen To The Land Speak" is more than just a travelogue; it's a meditation on the Irish landscape and its untapped reservoirs of history. It's a call to listen to and learn from the land, encouraging viewers to connect with Ireland's spiritual and cultural roots.

In the third episode of "Listen To The Land Speak," Manchán Magan travels to the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, integrating his personal journey with travel and uncovering hidden stories rooted in the landscape's rich history. The fifth episode, set in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, straddling County Offaly and County Laois, continues this exploration, emphasizing the connection between travel and preserving Ireland's cultural heritage.

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