Joe visits the town of Bailieborough in County Cavan. Joe
gives a brief history of the area from the time of the clans through to the
founding of the town in the Plantation era and then speaks in the town square
to local butcher, John Edward Sheanan, who tells him of the market and trading
hitory of the main street. Garnet Coleman shares with Joe his collection of his
grandfather's photographs of the town from a century beforehand.
Joe visits Castle Lake and the scant remains of what was
once Bailieborough Castle. He then visits the local iron foundry and sees Joe
Brady at work making fire grates. Johnny Corrie then recalls the process of
making cast iron baths while Martin Reilly shows him some antique items made in
iron. John Finnegan shares his memories of working in the old Earl's factory
which manufactured children's shoes. Eugene Markey shows Joe around his series
of collections, which include antique beer bottles, gramophone machines, road
signs and vintage cars.
Joe tells us how the grandfather of the famous American novelist Henry James left Bailieborough to find his fortune in the USA. He then talks to William McElwaine about his family's involvement in the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion and the battle at Rebel Hill. Mike and Sorcha Fell take Joe inside their eccentric tea room which they created inside a once derelict cottage.