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.
Visiting Keady in Co Armagh, Joe talks about the area’s history of water mills and speaks to Peter McKenna at a restored corn mill about his memories of working with flax in the 1950s. He also discusses the history of the Tassagh railway viaduct and its cost in human terms with t he lives lost during its construction. Within sight of the viaduct he then indulges in the local pastime of road bowling.
Niall Nugent takes Joe for a spin on his horse and trap and Joe meets another couple of horses – named Andy and Simon – who are working horses on a farm owned by Benny Mone who still works his land in the traditional way. Finally, Joe meets up with Frank O’Toole, the sixth generation of his family to have been landlord at the Bull Track Inn, where he is shown a bewildering selection of old tools. One of which, its original purpose is completely unknown.