Cúinne Glas na nDéise, a new Irish-language series for WLR FM, profiles 10 individuals who have changed their lives in response to the climate crises.
Mostly based in Gaeltacht na nDéise, they have all introduced new practices to their businesses/jobs and to the way they live their lives.
Is this the greenest corner of the county? All 10 contributors to the series talk about their aims to have a positive impact on climate change and make a difference in both small and big ways.
The series looks at climate change in West Waterford and at what the locals are doing to address the increasing changes being witnessed in climate and the environment.
The all-Irish-language series, which was made with the support of Coimisiún na Meán, charts the lives of 10 people and asks them to explain what they’ve done in response to the climate crises.
Those who took part include Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda, sales, marketing and general manager of Waterford Oysters; Mairéad Ní Choistín, owner and creator of the organic vegetable company Garraí Mara; Cian Ó Conchúir, a physiotherapist whose vision helped create Sólás na Mara, the seaweed baths sanctuary on Helvick Pier and Criostóir Ó Faoláin, Green Party member and the newly appointed director of Coláiste na Rinne. Others include Gaelscoil teacher Lorcán Ó Muirí, Liam Suipéil, former director of Coláiste na Rinne, and Séamus Mac Craith, beekeeper, a retired teacher and a farmer.
Listeners will also hear from engineer Darach Breathnach, academic Caitríona Breathnach, and organic farmer Séamus Ó hAoláin. They’ll explain some of the green initiatives they’ve introduced and what others they plan to unfold. The first programs in this new series will be broadcast over 10 weeks at 6.30 pm each Tuesday, with the first one going out on 2 January 2024. Bígí ag éisteacht.
One of the participants Lorcán ó Muirí, a primary school teacher, helped spearhead the setting up a vegetable patch for children who regularly visit a nearby public playground.
Another participant in the series is Liam Suipéil, a former director of Coláiste na Rinne, who oversaw the implementation of many initiatives in the Irish-language college, where he worked for almost 50 years. These include installing solar panels, introducing recycling practices, establishing a sustainable garden and retrofitting the college itself, and the introduction of goats, chickens, and other animals to the grounds to allow students to get a sense of the impact these animals have on the college farm and kitchen.
Séamus Mac Craith, an inspiring and passionate conservationist, talks about his lifelong interest in bees. As a member of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society, which was established in November 2012, Séamus continues to harvest honey, to create biodiverse areas, and promote the conservation, study, improvement, and re-introduction of the Irish honey bee.
In another program, Darach Breathnach, who has built a “passive house” in the Gaeltacht, talks about his interest in the environment. His “passive house” at the top of Baile na nGall has been built using Quad-Deck Insulating Concrete Forms. It has triple-glazed windows as well as featuring an air heat pump and solar panels. It is a zero-rated passive house.
Máiréad Ní Choistín who set up Garraí Mara, a sustainable business that grows fruit and vegetables for local consumption, describes how her produce is grown on a small patch of land in Old Parish. She talks about the mental health benefits of working closely with nature and how she now grows all her vegetables without using any chemicals. She sells all her produce locally.
Caitríona Breathnach, who is from Old Parish in Gaeltacht na nDéise, works in Áras Uí Rathaille in UCC. In this series, she recalls life growing up on the farm and the sustainable way of life they had when she was a child. She talks about her increasing awareness of the importance of recycling and protecting the environment.
In another instance, listeners will hear about Waterford Oysters(Meitheal Trá Na Rinne Teoranta), an international business based in Dungarvan Bay, which has introduced changes with a view to becoming more sustainable. With its offices based in An Rinn and spearheaded by Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda, Waterford Oysters has fully embraced the objectives of Origin Green Ireland, the national sustainability program. The business continues to effect change in its daily and long-term operations. In the last 30 years, it has become an award-winning producer recognised for its innovative developments such as ensuring that the farming of oysters is sustainable with 100% of the oysters that are supplied are grown by farmers who have EcoPact Certification.
Cian Ó Conchúir, who heads up Sólás na Mara, located on Helvick Pier, looks at how this seaweed bath sanctuary, has addressed the energy challenge and transitioned from high energy to low green energy. Cian talks about the challenges for a small business, which relies mostly on fossil fuels and carbon-intensive heating systems but how in time he hopes to produce his own green energy using solar panels and thus gradually he’ll introduce a low-carbon economy.
Criostóir Ó Faoláin, the newly appointed director of Coláiste na Rinne, describes how he became involved with the Green Party and also his involvement in the recent campaign to save about 60 Cottonwood trees growing along Dungarvan’s ring road.
Séamus Ó hAoláin also known as Sham Hyland, an organic farmer from Ballyduff, remembers growing up in a different world when farms were far more sustainable, bordered by hedgerows and characterised by smaller fields. He recalls his decision to stop using chemical fertilisers in 1998 and he explains the importance of clover.
The series is produced by An Corsaiceach, the company founded and run by RoseAnn Foley and her sister Catherine Foley. All 10 interviews were recorded and edited by RoseAnn, while the original interviews were carried out by Catherine, a writer and broadcaster.
1. Program 1 – Lorcán Ó Muirí - at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 2 Jan 2024
In this first program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Lorcán Ó Muirí talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. The series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
2. Program 2 – Liam Suipéil- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 9 Jan 2024
In this second program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Liam Suipéil, talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
3. Program 3 – Séamus Mac Craith- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 16 Jan 2024
In this third program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Séamus Mac Craith, talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
4. Program 4 - Darach Breathnach- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 23 Jan 2024
In this fourth program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Darach Breathnach, talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley, and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
5. Program 5 – Máiréad Ní Choistín- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 30 Jan 2024
In this fifth program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Máiréad Ní Choistín, talks to Catherine Foley about her to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
6. Program 6 – Caitríona Breathnach- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 6 Feb 2024
In this sixth program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Caitríona Breathnach, talks to Catherine Foley about her commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
7. Program 7 – Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 13 Feb 2024
In this seventh program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Cliona Mhic Giolla Chuda, talks to Catherine Foley about her commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
8. Program 8 – Cian Ó Conchúir- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 20 Fed 2024
In this eight program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Cian Ó Conchúir, talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foleyand it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
9. Program 9 – Criostóir Ó Faoláin- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 27 Feb 2024
In this ninth program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Criostóir Ó Faoláin, talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley, and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
10. Program 10 - Sham Hyland- at 6.30 p.m. on Tues 5 March 2024
In this tenth program from the series, Cúinne Glas na nDéise, Sham Hyland, talks to Catherine Foley about his commitment to the environment. This series, produced by An Corsaiceach, was recorded and edited by RoseAnn Foley and it was made with funding from Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.
