CountryWide

Countrywide Bloom Special (For copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this programme cannot be made available in the podcast)

Duration:00:40:54

Mentoring at Bloom

Quite a few businesses have approached a mentor for a bit of advice at Bloom.

Duration:00:14:34

Killadoon Milk's first trip to Bloom

Killadoon Milk use the milk from their cross bred jersey cows to supply a network of vending machines in the east of the country. Ella McSweeney visited Martin Donovan at Killadoon Estate near Celbridge in County Kildare in his rotary milk parlour.

Duration:00:06:02

Trade breakfast

Under the surface there is a lot of business being done at Bloom. On the Friday morning of every Bloom, before the gates open to the public, buyers from all the major retailers have breakfast with food producers looking for shelf space for their wares.

Duration:00:02:28

Inside knowledge from Tidy Town judges

From next Saturday, Tidy Town judges will start visiting the 900 or so communities who have entered the competition. They will know not the day nor the hour when an incognito judge will turn up. Dr Christy Boylan is a long standing judge and trainer of judges of the Tidy Towns, at Bloom to share some inside knowledge.

Duration:00:04:55

Judging show gardens at Bloom

Bloom opened to the public on Thursday, but the show gardeners hoping to win prizes have been here days in advance. And on Tuesday the judges saw the gardens for the first time. Then they saw them again on Wednesday, and on Thursday morning, Gold, Silver and Bronze certificates were awarded.

Duration:00:06:54

Countrywide Full Episode 24.05.25

Countrywide Full Episode 24.05.25

Duration:00:46:11

Putting the ups and downs of farming to music

Keith Brennan, who regularly shares his observations of life and nature on his family farm, has put the ups and downs of farming life to music.

Duration:00:04:42

Farm Labour

Farming would grind to a halt were it not for a skilled, mobile and flexible relief workforce. But who are these men and women? What motivates them if their reward is not going to be a share in, or ownership of the farm they are working on?

Duration:00:10:04

A French potager garden in Laois

Dunmore Country School in Durrow, County Laois has created a French 'potager' garden. Picture from https://www.dunmorecountryschool.ie/

Duration:00:07:29

Endangered cows in Mayo

We meet members of the Bó Riabhach Cattle Society, who are passionate about native Irish breeds. Picture from https://boriabhachsociety.ie/

Duration:00:07:12

Petrichor

Petrichor is the name of the unmistakable earthy, musty scent with a hint of moss, that always comes with freshly fallen rain after a long dry spell.

Duration:00:03:24

Nesting time for curlews

It is nesting time for curlews in areas like that bog in Laois and the ones devastated in Roscommon. Clodagh Helen was conducting a survey of curlew nesting sites on Monday night as one of those fires took hold.

Duration:00:04:15

Impact of dry weather on bog fires

We visit the scene of a recent fire bog fire, started by fly tippers, but exaggerated by the dry weather.

Duration:00:07:07

Countrywide Full Episode 17/05/2025

Countrywide Full Episode 17/05/2025

Duration:00:44:09

Connecting Cabra Biodiversity Festival

Connecting Cabra Biodiversity Festival starts at 1pm today, to mark National Biodiversity Week.

Duration:00:07:18

Should we plant trees on bogs?

Experts gathered this week in Ennistymon, Co Clare for the Hometree Changing Landscapes conference, exploring new ideas about nature conservation, including Junior Minister Healy-Rae’s proposal to plant trees on bogs.

Duration:00:05:45

What is the quintessential scent of Ireland?

Ireland has an official scent, nominated by the government, for inclusion in a project to create a global archive of smells. A quarter century ago, the government decided that our official smell would be 'Burning Turf'. But we are now looking to update our signature scent. Cast your vote on https://worldsensorium.com/

Duration:00:09:58

A visit to Coppenagh House Farm

Countrywide visited a 60-acre beef farm in Tullow Co Carlow, which is also a one-stop-shop for everything from Wagyu beef boxes to yoga, and their own country fashion clothing brand. Visit https://coppenaghfarm.ie/ for more information.

Duration:00:09:19

Balmoral Show