5. TNW Lady's Island's name
It's a subtle difference, but this point of interest is known formally as Lady's Island, but by pilgrims as Our Lady's Island in devotion to the Virgin Mary and the annual pilgrimage that has existed here for well over a millennium. So far back are its roots in fact that Ptolemy refers to the place in his first century map. In a list of Irish place-names published in Iris-Leabhar na Gaeilge in ...
46s Mar 26, 2017
46s
12. TNW Examples of Yola
Audio clip from the free Norman Way GPS audio tour:  https://www.racontour.com/the-norman-way/  Renowned author and historian Nicky Furlong gives us some colourful examples of the Yola dialect. With tongue firmly in cheek, Nicky gives us a short masterclass on both an extinct dialect, but also the sharp Wexford sense of humour! Audio: Nicky Furlong, 2017 The Norman Way, Wexford, Yola
2m Mar 26, 2017
2m
18. TNW A Norman drink on a chilly night
Audio clip from the free Norman Way GPS audio tour: https://www.racontour.com/the-norman-way/ Dr. Caimin O'Brien tells us about how the Normans concocted what sounds very like a mulled wine to keep themselves warm from those prevailing south west winds in Forth and Bargy. Audio: Caimin O'Brien, 2011 The Norman Way, Wexford
53s Mar 26, 2017
53s
10,000 mysteries off the Inishowen coast
Hear possibly the finest description you'll ever savour of the night sky as read by Mary Murphy. The setting is Shroove just north of Greencastle on the Inishowen peninsula in north Donegal, Ireland. The mysterious fireball described at the end is believed to be an early eye-witness account of the Rockytown Light which we have covered in more detail, but with perhaps less eloquence here: - http...
1m Mar 24, 2017
1m
The discovery of Guinness
Cashel's legendary Denis Heffernan tells us the fascinating true story of how Guinness was discovered by accident in 1740. Denis was the barman in the legendary bar of the Cashel Palace Hotel who saw everyone from Grace Kelly to Charlie Haughey party into the night. Find out a bit more about Denis in this interview: http://12bottlebar.com/2011/03/12-rounds-with-denis-heffernan/ Audio: Denis He...
6m Jun 11, 2016
6m
Bord Bia's Trafalgar Square Street Food Market 2016
Acclaimed Irish chef John Relihan heads a delicious line-up, serving up an array of Irish-themed street food at this year’s Bord Bia food market, part of the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in London’s Trafalgar Square, on Sunday March 13th. Relihan, one of Jamie Oliver’s original ‘Fifteen’ chefs, will be cooking on ‘live fire’ to tempt the crowds with slow-cooked Irish Beef Stew and smoked I...
24s Mar 10, 2016
24s
Donegal's hallowed sites
Enjoy Donegal's Hallowed Sites: https://www.racontour.com/dhs/
1m Feb 21, 2016
1m
The cowpat golf course
Portnoo and Narin golf course is one of the most beautiful courses you'll find in Donegal, but spare a thought for the golfers of the 60's and 70's who had a few strange hazards to confront. #Donegal #Golf Audio: Bart Whelan
2m Feb 20, 2016
2m
The House of Cats
Travelling along the road in the Croaghs valley, Donegal's famous postman, Michael Gallagher, tells us about the House of Cats deep in the heart of the Bluestack Mountains. #Donegal #Cats Audio: Michael Gallagher and John Ward, 2011
1m Feb 20, 2016
1m
Countdown to Charles Macklin night
A night celebrating the great Charles Macklin takes place on Friday 20th November 2015 at 7.30, doors open 6.45pm. Full details on the events and where to get tickets can be found here: http://www.racontour.com/macklin/ #theatre #drama #westend #London #macklin
1m Nov 17, 2015
1m
Charles Macklin: a life
Charles Macklin, nee McLaughlin in English, was an Irish actor and dramatist who performed extensively at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Macklin revolutionised theatre in the 18th century by introducing a "natural style" of acting. He is also famous for killing a man in a fight over a wig at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Born in County Donegal in Ulster in the north of Ireland, brought up in ...
3m Oct 29, 2015
3m
Macklin: Method and Madness
Macklin: Method and Madness By Gary Jermyn and Michael James Ford An historical comedy about the strolling player from Donegal who survived a murder charge to become a giant of the London stage. Special London performance at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, Charles Macklin’s burial place. Friday, November 20th, 2015. Doors open 6.45pm, Performance starts at 7.30 pm Tickets: £15 Booking: ...
1m Oct 29, 2015
1m
Congratulating a friend on his award
Seumas Gildea gives a generous compliment to his friend Dr. Sean Beattie on being honoured with a degree from the National University of Ireland.
49s Jun 22, 2015
49s
Gildea on poetry
Seamus Gildea discusses local man Patrick MacGill's poetry before moving on to Seamus Heaney with refreshing candour!
39s Jun 22, 2015
39s
Recalling early MacGill festivals
Local historian Seumas Gildea recalls the early years of the famous Glenties Summer school.
1m Jun 22, 2015
1m
Fox's Lane museum
Unfortunately the museum's curator retired in 2015 so the museum no longer exists, but enjoy a sample of what they offered in this audio clip.  Rather than simply discard such a fine piece, I'm hoping it will find a new audience as I add it to the 'Best of Racontour' collection. With thanks to Pat Lynch, a true gent and a great ambassador of another age, here's the original piece: Pat and Ann...
3m Mar 04, 2015
3m
St. Aengus's Church
At the bottom of the road leading up to Grianan of Aileach is the site to the famous Liam McCormack's award-winning church, frequently cited as Ireland's favourite building. The RIAI citation from 1965 stated "It is not often that a building is found, such as this little country church, which speaks so clearly of the loving care which has been lavished on by architect, builder, client, artists,...
43s Jan 16, 2015
43s
North West Words
North West Words is a monthly get-together of poetic souls in Letterkenny's wonderful Cafe Blend. A distant admirer of the event for some time, I finally managed to catch up with it last night and everything from start to finish about the night was a treat. And bar the excellent food, it was all free. North West Words promotes the best of spoken word, art and music in the north west and if las...
2m Dec 12, 2014
2m
Half-hanged McNaughton
John MacNaghten (1722–1761) or "Half-Hung MacNaghten" was an Anglo-Irish land owner, gambler and convicted murderer. The more romantic versions of the tale portray MacNaghten's victim Mary Ann as his lover whose marriage was forbidden by her over-bearing father. MacNaghten was born into a landed Anglo-Irish family and attended Raphoe Royal school in County Donegal. In 1740, he inherited his fa...
9m Aug 19, 2014
9m
A very stable relationship
2m Aug 19, 2014
2m
Cursing circle of Kilcrew
5m Aug 19, 2014
5m
The black nun of Bunamarghy
A trip with noted historian Dr. Bob Curran to Ballycastle inevitably lead us to the local friary and its most famous resident, known as the Black Nun, where he eloquently tells us more about her activities. Julia McQuillan was the reclusive mystic known as "the Black Nun"who is supposed to have lived in Bunamarghy Friary. The Black Nun lived and died at this spot during the 1600's. Her last wis...
12m Aug 19, 2014
12m
Winter Willy PG
Of all of the stories we gathered during our Rambling House radio series, this story recorded in September 2009 as part of our border smuggling episode stands out - it still sends a shiver down my spine. Told with passion and clarity by the late #seanchai Bertie Brice of Inch Island, this is the harrowing story of a mother who felt the full brunt of the economic war in #Donegal back in the 1930...
8m Aug 19, 2014
8m
Introduction to an Irish Rambling House
This is a great overview on what an Irish Rambling House was about from Inishowenians Tony McLaughlin and J.P. Bradley. Known as a Ceilidhing House having Big Nights up in Inishowen, other parts of Ireland would have had Oíche Airnéals or Scoraíochts - whatever way you call it, they were houses in rural Ireland that became the entertainment centres of the locality for that night with stories, m...
10m Aug 19, 2014
10m
Brian McDermott's cabin
Brian McDermott a.k.a. the No Salt Chef is everywhere these days from radio on BBC Foyle to countless cookery demonstrations nationwide to his soaring bromance on RTE with Daithi O'Sé! But just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Brian knows that there's no place like home and here he is back in Moville with his old buddy, Paddy McCartney, the very day his own cookery cabin was completed back in ...
4m Aug 19, 2014
4m
We all need a hug in the morning
For the month that's been in it.
7m Aug 13, 2014
7m
It's been a long time
There are those who think that Led Zeppelin headlining Glastonbury would be the apogee of rock and roll. Sadly, with the demise of the force of nature that was John 'Bonzo' Bonham, anything else would be a tribute band. Talk of a Led Zeppelin reunion after the once off O2 2007 gig was rife, but ultimately it amounted to nothing, mainly due to the fact that lead singer Robert Plant was busy tour...
2m Aug 10, 2014
2m
Glám dícenn, the poet's curse
Glám dícenn was a poet's execration; a special curse declaimed by a poet that required him to stand much like a crane on one leg, to close one eye, and to extend one arm. No mere expression of opinion, the glám dícenn is a potent weapon of war, capable of blistering an opponent's face or of costing him his life. The victim of glám dícenn would be shunned by all levels of society. Comparable to ...
2m Aug 09, 2014
2m
1. BB Burglar Boy
The tale of the burglar boy in print will seem far from amusing, being a short piece about larceny and a death threat no less. In the mouth of a master storyteller, it transcends into a hilarious, salutary tale to bring the house down. The late Bertie Bryce from Inch Island in Inishowen told stories for nine decades and it shows. His timing, his intonation and his verbal dexterity all made him ...
2m Jul 30, 2014
2m
Silk of the Kine
"Silk of the kine and poor old woman" are both names given to Ireland "in old times". It is a device used in James Joyce's Ulysses at various stages of the book when Stephen is thinking of the old milkwoman as a mythical representative of the nation. A more comprehensive read on the subject in the novel can be found in this excellent link: - http://www.joyce-irish-gaelic.net/part2.pdf Image: ...
1m Jul 19, 2014
1m
'Sectarian, monoethnic, monocultural' PG
From the words of a Nobel Laureate for Peace...
40s Jul 19, 2014
40s
Save Ulster from sodomy! PG
A topical look back at what a portion of this island thought about gay rights - and a humorous retort at such bigotry! Appropriately enough, I can't help but see the bully Biff from 'Back to the Future' when I look at a young Paisley... #Ulster #Gayrights
18s Jul 19, 2014
18s
Sagairt Oir
37s Jul 19, 2014
37s
Rose of Mooncoin
Mary and Sean tell us about the song that has become synonymous with Kilkenny All Ireland hurling team victories every September - they even sing some of it for our delight!
1m Jul 19, 2014
1m
Ethna Carbery's Roddy McCorley
Anna Johnston was born in Ballymena, County Antrim. Her father was Robert Johnston, a timber merchant and prominent Fenian organizer. Her mother came from County Donegal. From the age of fifteen, when she had her first piece published, she contributed poems and short stories to a number of Irish periodicals, including United Ireland, Young Ireland, the Nation and the Catholic Fireside. She pa...
46s Jul 19, 2014
46s
Resign, marry, return
10s Jul 19, 2014
10s
Sagart Aroon
48s Jul 19, 2014
48s
Even the pigs are Protestants
34s Jul 19, 2014
34s
Elizabeth Shane
1m Jul 19, 2014
1m
Edward Daly
1m Jul 19, 2014
1m
Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi"
43s Jul 19, 2014
43s
Dooter
23s Jul 19, 2014
23s
Donegal overview
An overview of the county and town of Donegal. Narrator: Mary Murphy A proper introduction and how to use this guide can be found in the next audio piece called 'Donegal's Hallowed Sites'.  This audio clip with an overview of County Donegal comes from Mary Murphy whose silky voice is peppered throughout the tour. Mary tells us about the origin of the name as well as who the Conal was in Tirco...
59s Jul 19, 2014
59s
Diddy PG
16s Jul 19, 2014
16s
Devil Doubt
Speaker: Sean McMahon RIP Every Christmas, the Mummers would show up at houses with a plethora of mischievous characters in tow including Buck Sweep, Prince George, Beelzebub, Johnny Funny, Big Head, Master Man and Oliver Cromwell no less. One of them was Wee Devil Doubt who used to chant the following lines: - "Here comes I, wee Devil Doubt, The biggest wee devil ever came out Money I want an...
26s Jul 19, 2014
26s
Dem dat know
17s Jul 19, 2014
17s
Delira and excira
20s Jul 19, 2014
20s
Dean Swift's epitaph
Swift's Epitaph as rendered by W.B. Yeats:-Swift has sailed into his rest;Savage indignation thereCannot lacerate his Breast.Imitate him if you dare,World-Besotted Traveler; heServed human liberty. The original Latin version of Swift's epitaphHic depositum est CorpusIONATHAN SWIFT S.T.D.Hujus Ecclesiæ CathedralisDecani,Ubi sæva IndignatioUlteriusCor lacerare nequit,Abi ViatorEt imitare, si pot...
36s Jul 19, 2014
36s
Captain Moonlight
45s Jul 19, 2014
45s
Caoineadh
1m Jul 19, 2014
1m