BBC Radio 3’s cherished Breakfast programme is embarking on another journey this September, with Petroc Trelawny at the helm, presenting a week of captivating live broadcasts. These broadcasts will take the audience on a picturesque voyage from one lough to another across the enchanting landscapes of Northern Ireland.
In the past, Radio 3 Breakfast’s road trips have entailed traversing the breadth of the Scottish Highlands, tracing the course of the Rivers Ure and Ouse to Yorkshire’s Humber estuary, and following the path of the River Severn as it winds from Wales into England and back. The programme has even broadcasted live from woodlands in Co. Down, Hampshire, and Snowdonia. This year, Petroc Trelawny’s exploration delves into the charm of five Northern Irish loughs and their adjacent regions. The programme will bring listeners the thrill of live broadcasts from Carlingford Lough, Strangford Lough, Lough Neagh, Lough Erne, and Lough Foyle, guiding them on a journey from the Irish Sea to the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.
During this captivating voyage, audiences will be treated to tales of the construction of the RMS Titanic, the intriguing life cycle of eels that frequently return to Lough Neagh, and the literary associations linked to the town of Enniskillen by Lough Erne, among various other narratives.
The journey will be vividly enriched by live performances from local musicians, and insights from poets, naturalists, and historians. These contributions will breathe life into the expedition, with a particular emphasis on the innate beauty and distinctive landscapes of the loughs.
Petroc Trelawny, BBC Radio 3 Breakfast presenter, says: “Our Breakfast road trips have taken us to some of the most beautiful parts of these Islands and I am thrilled we will now reach Northern Ireland. I have had so many happy times visiting Ulster over the years and am thrilled to be able to share the magical vistas, natural history, rich stories and glorious music of the place with a wider audience.”
Celebrating a week of live programmes from Northern Ireland, BBC Radio 3’s drive time programme, In Tune will broadcast from the Great Hall at Ulster University in Derry on Friday 22 September. Presenting a programme with audience in attendance, Sean Rafferty will introduce performances by some of Northern Ireland’s finest musicians, including pianist Ruth McGinley and soprano Mary McCabe amongst others. Every afternoon, meanwhile, Radio 3 will showcase a range of performances by the Ulster Orchestra, with chamber music from the NI Opera Festival of Voice 2023 at Glenarm featuring on Lunchtime Concert.
Sam Jackson, BBC Radio 3 Controller, says: “Our week of live broadcasts from Northern Ireland demonstrates the unique ability of public service radio to celebrate the character and history of this very special part of the UK. We hope listeners in Ulster and across the whole country will join us as we discover more about the loughs, the culture and the music of the area.”
All the programmes as part of BBC Radio 3 Breakfast from Northern Ireland, as well as In Tune from Ulster University and the Afternoon Concert and Lunchtime Concert series, will be available to listen to on BBC Sounds.
BBC Radio 3 Breakfast – live in Northern Ireland airs on Monday 18 – Friday 22 September, 6.30am to 9am.
