athenamediaieWhat are the crafts and skills that say something about our culture, our heritage and our sense of being Irish? What stories do the people who practiced these skills have to tell, and how have these skills and traditions been passed on to new generations of Irish people?
Made in Ireland is a 13 part radio series, presented by Ella McSweeney, which tells the stories of what we used to make in this country, and how such traditions and skills are continuing today. It's the story of Ireland's manufacturing past, present and future. The series will be broadcast live on the "Today with Pat Kenny Show" on RTE Radio 1, and on RTE Digital.
Episode 1 will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio during the Today with Pat Kenny show on Monday 3rd October and runs for 13 weeks.
Episode 1 - Microwaved Wood
When you burn wood in the absence of oxygen, what’s left is a powerful substance that can burn at 2,700 degrees Celsius. Not only that, but Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci would have been lost without it; it makes soils more productive; and it can be used in tablet form to aid digestion. Charcoal wasn’t produced in traditional earth kilns in Ireland until the early 20th century. The practice dates back over 1,000 years and today, charcoal production is having a comeback. Liam O’Sullivan from Durrow, Co. Laois shows Ella how he makes charcoal for fuel and for drawing, while Niall Kenny takes her to a site where one of Ireland’s most impressive charcoal pits was excavated in Westmeath.
play0:00 / 16:24Throw a few pieces of wood into the fire and you’ve got yourself a nice bit of heat. But do the same thing & restrict the airflow, and yo...