TV: Cork author delves into stories behind our fairy forts

There are thought to be around 40,000 ringforts across the island of Ireland, but how much do we know about them?

We will be given an insight by Cork folklorist Jo Kerrigan in Nationwide on RTÉ1 on Monday at 7pm.

Kerrigan, who writes The Echo’s Throwback Thursday column each week, takes us to West Cork, and explains how the legends of the ringforts inspired her to write a book on them, along with her photographer husband Richard Mills.

Dr Kelly Fitzgerald of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and folklore in UCD, also explains how local folklore helped preserve these precious remnants and the beliefs of our ancestors.

The programme illustrates how elements of Ireland’s ancient heritage remain untouched and how mythology has helped protect these portals to the past.

The Nationwide team also visit Rathcroghan in County Roscommon, where a landscape containing 60 protected monuments tells the story of our settled farming history dating back 5,500 years.

Local farmers work closely with archaeologists to protect these high-status sites in the royal capital of Connacht and make this extraordinary landscape available for the public to experience.

Meanwhile, in Nationwide on RTÉ1 on Wednesday at 7pm, Richard Downes helps celebrate 75 years of Wexford Festival Opera.

Regarded as one of the world’s leading opera events, it has transformed this harbour town into a cultural and economic hub.

Richard finds out about the origins of the festival, meets some of the stars, as well as some up and coming Irish singers, and discovers why local volunteers have been at the heart of the event since it began in 1951.

Friday’s Nationwide features two people who are passionate about their chosen careers, one in fashion and the other in entertainment.

The team meet Dublin-born singer George Murphy, whose voice and accent celebrate all things Dublin.

Plus, we see how fashion stylist Roxanne Parker, who has embraced upcycling and recycling, has moved away from fast fashion as much as possible, to source and curate elegant and sustainable outfits.