'It's a new awakening in Ireland': Manchán Magan on his new TV series 

For his new RTÉ series, Listen To The Land Speak, Manchán Magan explores the connections between the physical landscape, our language and culture, and Irish identity. He also reflects on his own cancer battle 

Listen To The Land Speak, presented by Manchán Magan, begins on Thursday night on RTÉ One.  Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

There’s a moment towards the start of Manchán Magan’s inspiring two-part documentary, Listen to the Land Speak, in which – great etymologist that he is – he addresses his name, Manchán, which means ‘little monk’. By his own admission, he reeks of the priesthood.

“Just take one look at me,” he says, “I was obviously a priest in every single incarnation until this one. I will always find a little cell, the smallest hole that I can be in to write or to live in. Manchán was originally a pagan name, Mongán. He was the son of Manannán mac Lir. It had been a pagan deity, which was taken over during Christianity.”