Joe Mahon travels to Ballinascreen in south county Derry.
This ancient parish is steeped in history with ancient burial grounds and signs
of the Bronze and Iron ages. Joe talks to Kenny Bradley about the origin of the
name of the parish, the home of a Christian community that stored ancient
manuscripts and books.
Peter Hegarty takes Joe up in a hot-air balloon to see
the beautiful landscape below. Mary Regan and her daughter, Fiona Bryant, take
Joe on a walk in the area for another view and tells him tales of local
characters. Jim Diamond and Taff the collie show Joe the skills of a shepherd
and his dog. Jimmy Mullen was a champion sheepdog herder and his dogs also
herded cattle. Hugh Herron is a farmer, water diviner and tug-of-war champion.
He teaches Joe what's needed to win a competition.
At the Rural College,
Joe tells of the legend of Judge Torrens and the accompanying ghost stories.
Joe Conville is a farmer who is steeped in the old skills of the land. He shows
Joe a sewing fiddle - an ingenious tool for sewing seed. Joe visits the relatively
young Draperstown and the river Moyola where Michael McGlade works in the
salmon hatchery and he and Joe release salmon fry into the river. The landowner
Paddy Gray has some wonderful tales and a song to share. Stephen McGuigan, a
local potter, creates beautiful fairy homes for the area.