Creedon’s ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ is Cannes-bound

RTÉ bosses will take Creedon’s Wild Atlantic Way with them when they travel to Cannes on the French Riviera in October to sell new programmes on the international market.

Marché Internationale de Programmes Communications (International Market of Communications Programmes), or MIPCOM, is geared towards the television industry. The annual trade show is attended by representatives of television studios and broadcasters who use the event as a marketplace to buy and sell new programmes and formats for international distribution.

The Wild Atlantic Way is the longest defined coastal drive in the world at 2,500km and broadcaster John Creedon travelled along part of it in his trusty 1960s VW camper van.

However, the Wild Atlantic Way is more than a road trip. Creedon also travelled by ferry, currach, helicopter, light aircraft, cable-car, and horseback.

During the three-part series the popular Corkman travelled from Kinsale to Donegal along the Irish coast meeting many colourful characters along the way.

Highlights included a visit to actor Jeremy Irons’ castle in West Cork, a music session with renowned singer Seamus Begley, and a hair-raising ride in the Dursey cable car that has a bottle of holy water, just in case.

Creedon also want on a helicopter ride to Fastnet Rock where he met former lighthouse attendant, Neilly O’Reilly, enjoyed Dingle’s colourful Bealtaine Festival in the heart of Kerry and found out about the Beatles’ little known holiday to the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare.

He uncovered Sligo’s hidden archaeology, experienced a stunning summer solstice sunrise in Donegal and shared a boat trip with Donegal actor Sean McGinley.

The series, which featured poetry, music, festivals and offered a window into the lives of people who live where the land meets the ocean, is likely to be a best seller in Cannes.

Creedon’s three-month trek was more than a visual feast of landscape and seascape — it was his interaction with people along the way that made it special.

“The thing that it’s all about for me is that, despite all the cynicism of modern life, I find people are courteous, mischievous and with a brilliant diversity of accents. I loved the entire experience but most of all I loved the people.”