A new Irish travel series showcasing the west of Ireland has begun filming in Galway this week.
The new eight-part prime time series, Kenny Wild, will challenge veteran journalist and best-selling author Dave Kenny to substitute his comfortable surroundings of Dalkey for a road trip along the windswept Wild Atlantic Way.
Kenny Wild will commence this October on Ireland’s first international television channel, IrishTV, on Sky 191, Freesat 400, Eircom’s eVision channel 191, and online at www.irishtv.ie
A best-selling author of The Little Buke of Dublin and Erindipity: The Irish Miscellany, Kenny will travel through Galway meeting some of the county’s quirkiest characters and talking to ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
“I’ve done most of my work within the bubble of Dublin and within that bubble is another one called Dalkey, so this journey is about taking me outside my comfort zone and experiencing the real Ireland that I have been writing about for so long,” said Kenny.
“I’m going to immerse myself in this in a way that no other travelogue has before. I’ll be camping along the way, trying my hand at bog snorkelling and learning to play the uillean pipes.
“Spontaneity is the key to all good adventures – and this road trip is rife with it.”
While in Galway, Kenny will hang out with the musical students from Coláiste Lurgan and perform a new Irish cover version of a popular chart song. He will also meet numerous local storytellers along the way, including Joe Boske in Clifden, Terry Joyce in Connemara, and Rev Patrick Towers, former pastor of Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church in Galway.
“This is the wilder Atlantic Way,” he said. “I’m going coasteering in Donegal, which will involve jumping off a cliff into the sea and when you consider that I don’t swim and I’m afraid of heights, it will give you some idea of how far outside my comfort zone I’m willing to get.
“I’ll also be dancing in a Riverdance-style stage show which is actually more terrifying for me than jumping off a cliff.”
Kenny Wild is part of a new season of programming on IrishTV which includes a new traditional music show from the iconic Matt Molloy’s pub in Westport and a new country music show On the Road with Lisa McHugh.
