Joe Mahon's tranquil
wanderings through the nine counties of Ulster entertained UTV viewers for
several decades. Through townlands, villages and small towns, Joe took the road
less travelled to shine a spotlight on places unfamiliar. In so doing he opened
up a treasure trove of old stories, traditions and crafts in danger of slipping
out of memory.
With beautiful camerawork
capturing the lush landscapes of the north of Ireland, from rugged Donegal to
the majestic glens of Antrim to the verdant woodlands of south Down, and with
the series' lilting and gentle music, Lesser Spotted Ulster formed a soothing
mainstay of the UTV schedules until being replaced with the ongoing Mahon's
Way.
In
this edition he visits Owenkillew in Co Tyrone to chat with locals about the
area's history and traditions. Peter McConnell tells Joe about the areas
relationship with water and floods while stile builders Ivan and Scott Wilson
demonstrate their craft. Joe milks cows by hand and builds fences with the
Ballantine family. Peter McKenna from Gortin shares his experience of leaving
the area and returning while Tommy McKeown goes back through the history of the
local shop. Joe also tries his hand at knitting with the local knitting circle
while Joe Ward shows him how to play the bones!