Bláthnaid and Nationwide visit to the Royal Canal

RTE's Nationwide will be visiting the Royal Canal all this week, taking in Enfield and Lomgwood.

Presenters Anne Cassin and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh are taking a journey along all 146 kilometers of the Royal Canal, stretching from Spencer Dock in Dublin all the way to Clondra, Co. Longford.

Beginning at opposite ends, Anne Cassin started her journey in Dublin, heading west, and it was all aboard in Clondra for Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, going east towards Mullingar, where the two presenters will meet.

All along the way, Anne and Bláthnaid will meet the communities for whom the canal is of great importance.

Anne takes a barge trip from Dublin through the unique landscape of the Deep Sinking, to Leixlip, and rambles on to Maynooth, where the Royal Canal greenway begins.

From there she visits an art gallery in Kilcock, she runs with Na Fianna running club in Enfield and meets some canoeists at Ribbontail.

While all that is going on, Rath Chairn native Bláthnaid goes to Strokestown House and learns about the National Famine Way, she visits the Tidy Towns winning village of Abbeyshrule, joins a rambling group in Ballinacarrigy and meets Clare Crinnigan, who was born in a lock house on the canal.

Nationwide will be screened tomorrow evening (Wednesday), and Friday at 7PM on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.