The programme, which starts today on ICRfm, was officially launched last Wednesday by the former Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Michael Philips.

At a reception at the ICRfm studios in Carndonagh, he wished the station and series presenter Jimmy Mc Bride, the best of luck with the new project.

The series consists of fourteen 30 minute programmes examining the cultural ties between the traditions of the Maritime Provinces in Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island) and Irish traditions. Music, song, dance and literature are examined and compared, looking at how influences from both sides affected the tradition in the past and as it is today.

The idea for the series was first mooted when a delegation from Inishowen Rural Development and members from Inishowen Community Radio travelled to the Mirimichi area of New Brunswick in the Maritime provinces some time ago on a cultural exchange and a reciprocal visit by a delegation from there to Inishowen the following year. It was recognised that considerable research had been done on Irish/Newfoundland connections but cultural links between Ireland and the Maritime provinces had received little attention. It was to redress this imbalance in some way that this project was undertaken.

It was presumed that a strong bond would still exist as many thousands from Ireland emigrated and settled in that area before and after the great hungers of the mid nineteenth century. It was evident from early research that the North-West of Ireland sent many on the immigrant ships from Derry and Sligo to ports like Halifax and St. John’s. Therefore, it was felt that a strong Irish connection would still exist.

Jimmy McBride, Chairperson and Presenter on Inishowen Community Radio and Founder Director and Organiser of The Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle undertook to research the project. Willing help was sought from and offered by experts in the field: – Hazel Mc Intyre, author; Dr. Liz Doherty, academic and musician; P.V. O’Donnell, musician and former Canadian resident; Denis Noel, Director of Sound and Moving Images and Alan Dorion, Archivist, both from the University of Fredricton, New Brunswick; Renie Fitzgerald, Dance teacher from Cape Breton. Staff and volunteers at ICRfm gave of their time and expertise in the preparation of the material to be broadcast.

An application for financial assistance was made to An Chomhairle Ealaíona (The Arts Council of Ireland) and a grant towards the project was made by them through the Deis Funding Scheme.