The Chronicles Of Armagh
Begins on Monday 19 February on BBC One Northern Eire, 8pm (the whole collection will likely be accessible on BBC iPlayer).
Filmed over 12 months and narrated by Armagh-born actor Colin Morgan, The Chronicles Of Armagh follows a 12 months within the much less city components of an historical metropolis and its surrounding villages, the place folks’s lives are rooted in nature and the seasons that form it. Every episode seems to be at one season, beginning with spring.
Veronica Cunningham, Collection Producer and Director, Waddell Media who made the collection for BBC Northern Eire, provides: “Revealing hidden gems and unbelievable untold human tales in an space of pure magnificence is a key theme of the Chronicles collection. The unbelievable and various characters that we selected to comply with within the collection do that, and we hope their ardour for the panorama round them will as soon as once more delight native audiences. The Chronicles Of Armagh tells the tales of modern-day Armagh however with a steady nod to its wealthy backdrop of antiquity, clearly seen by way of its iconic buildings and delightful open areas.’’
The primary programme begins with Estates Officer Shane Kelly at Armagh’s Observatory amassing knowledge from the local weather recorders. A certain signal that spring has formally arrived, is when astronomer Dr Rok Nezic observes the Spring Equinox.
Shane Kelly, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
At Forthill Farm close to Tandragee, Kenny Gracey and animal coach Karen Christie begin the tough course of of coaching Cooley the uncommon breed bull for a film position.
On the outskirts of the town, the place Ian and Paula Conroy’s flower farm and forest are springing to life, we be taught the emotional inspiration behind their backyard enterprise.
At Jane and John Nicholson’s Crannagael Home, the birthplace of the Bramley apple in Orchard County, spring means a sea of pink apple blossom. Jane’s homegrown greens are in demand by native cooks.
Close by, Gosford Forest Park can also be awakening. Wildlife ranger Donald Whiteside and deer supervisor Neville Black are keeping track of stags shedding their antlers – nature’s signal that the females are near calving.
Spring sees the beginning of 20-year-old Emer Rafferty’s group backyard within the coronary heart of Ballymacnab. She’s hoping she will help maintain nature in her space for generations to return.
After a harsh winter, Andrea Cowan’s Loughgall hedgehog rescue centre is packed. Andrea dedicates hours to every hedgehog’s particular person wants, with the hope of releasing them once more after they attain their goal weight.
Making the most of the spring sunshine, Alia Bondar and her younger sons discover a quiet haven by the town’s river for a birthday picnic, having been compelled to flee from the battle again dwelling in Ukraine.
Within the second programme, specializing in summer season, viewers will see wildlife ranger Donald and deer supervisor Neville on Summer time ‘fawn’ patrol as they search the fields for brand new deer calves forward of The Armagh Agricultural Present descending on Gosford Forest Park.
Up on the hill on the Armagh Observatory Estates officer Shane data the warmest June at Armagh since data started in 1795. The warmth brings development as Emer’s group backyard in Ballymacnab village begins to bear fruit.
Throughout at Navan Fort, a staff of archaeologists begin a two week dig in quest of extra clues from an historical Kingdom.
The rivers, woodlands, and Mall burst with flowers, fauna and folks having fun with the sunshine in shared areas, and the usually peaceable Loughgall Nation Park turns into the venue for petrol-heads like Armagh native David Gibson, as he navigates his approach around the course on the annual Loughgall Automobile rally.
Crannagel Home can also be a hive of exercise, with the Nicholson’s visiting grandchildren serving to to collect within the bumper backyard crops.
On the outskirts of Gilford, pigeon fancier Cyril Beattie and his grandson Nathaniel are patiently ready for his or her pigeons to clock in again to their loft after a Summer time race.
With clearer skies up above, it’s time for Rok and colleague Matthew McMahon to hold out important upkeep to The Observatory’s historic star gazing gear.
Away from the summer season crowds, the archeologists quietly unearth hidden treasures at Navan Fort, and ranger Donald goes on a private and poignant search in Gosford Forest to find the tree that he planted along with his household within the Seventies.
On the sting of Armagh Metropolis, Paula and Ian Conroy’s flower farm is a blaze of late Summer time color.
In programme three – autumn – there’s a kaleidoscope of color and at Gosford Forest Park because the rutting season has begun. Ranger Donald retains a watchful eye as nature takes its course.
At Crannagael Home, Jane Nicholson gathers within the backyard’s autumn harvest and the orchard timber are heavy with fruit.
Again in Tandragee, Kenny Gracey’s Forthill Farm has a brand new addition to its solid record, a tortoise referred to as Ernie, who’s destined for fame on the massive display.
In South Armagh, mum of 5 Rosie Tennyson from Forkhill takes the plunge at an open water swim in Camlough lake. Rosie is coaching for a triathlon, one thing which she is set to compete in, regardless of having had her leg amputated a couple of years in the past.
On the Conroy’s flower farm on the outskirts of the town, Ian and Paula are marking a poignant anniversary for his or her son who handed away, by gathering family and friends collectively for an autumnal dried flower workshop.
Halloween celebrations happen, together with the fiery spectacle on the Celtic Competition of Samhain at Navan Fort.
Because the astronomers at The Observatory open the domes within the early morning to witness the occultation of Venus, Estates Officer Shane takes his each day climate recordings. October turns into the wettest month ever skilled within the county since data started in 1838.
Rok and Matthew, AOP
Because the rain brings unprecedented flooding to Armagh, farmer Kenny is on a rescue mission as livestock grow to be submerged in water. Conserving heat indoors within the coronary heart of Richhill, Sasha Stewart makes use of the centuries previous Japanese strategy of Shou Sugi Ban, charring wooden for sustainable wall cladding.
Because the storms settle, the skies clear permitting the astronomers at The Observatory to marvel at extra celestial wonders up above.
Within the final programme within the collection, winter has come to the Orchard County and regardless of the challenges of the chilly climate, the snow and ice carry a brand new focus to the Conroy’s backyard on the outskirts of Armagh Metropolis: their wild water pond is chilly sufficient to welcome aggressive ice swimmers.
Identical to day-after-day of the 12 months, Estates Officer Shane collects the information on the climate recording station at The Observatory, in addition to guaranteeing the resident rooks are properly fed.
At Gosford Forest Park, Ranger Donald surveys wildlife websites with the intention to mark them secure forward of lifeless tree harvesting.
Regardless of the rain, Ballymacnab villagers collect locally backyard as Emer encourages locals of all ages to take pleasure in music and pattern the spuds that have been grown from seed.
Simply exterior Gilford, it’s quiet season for racing pigeons, which permits Cyril time in his loft to pick his birds for winter breeding.
In South Armagh, the spectacular dawn over Camlough’s crooked lake attracts Rosie and her swim group in. Immersing themselves within the freezing water is one other problem that Rosie overcomes, as she adapts to life with out her leg.
Donald and deer supervisor Neville assist the deer at Gosford Forest with meals provides. Additionally guaranteeing the native wildlife are cared for is Andrea Cowan at Loughgall Hedgehog Rescue. Late Autumn new-borns means the centre has been inundated with tiny hoglets.
Christmas begins at Crannagael Home with the Nicholsons adorning their tree. Over on the Conroy’s forest it’s an annual custom for Ian and Paula to chop down their very own tree.
Because the 12 months ends, the folks of Armagh keep near dwelling and replicate, whereas the cycle of the seasons begins once more.
The Chronicles Of Armagh begins on BBC One Northern Eire, Monday 19 February at 8pm. Your entire collection may also be accessible on BBC iPlayer.
