Martin and Roman’s Irish Road Trip

Episode 1: County Cork

Martin and Roman start at shimmering Glandore Bay, West Cork. They paddle with Jim Kennedy of Atlantic Sea Kayaking on the tranquil waters, while folklore expert Conor Ó Buachalla regales them with the local myth of Clíodhna, Queen of the Banshees. A wailing spirit and harbinger of death, banshees in Ireland offer blood-curdling tales, if you dare.

Perhaps time spent in Conor’s company sounds more easy-going? His Gormú Eco-Adventures include dawn walks and e-bike trips around rugged West Cork.

Next, the Kemps swap watersports on the Wild Atlantic Way for the Irish tradition of keening with Dr Marian Caulfield. What’s keening? It’s an old form of vocal lament for the dead closely tied to traditional Irish music. As homegrown artists like CMAT reclaim the Irish language in popular music, it’s fitting that former pop star Martin takes part in a keening workshop.

Wailing over, our duo catch a boat from Cobh Harbour – Titanic’s last port of call before its ill-fated maiden voyage across the Atlantic – to explore Spike Island, Ireland’s Alcatraz. Steeped in over 1,000 years of turbulent history, this unique attraction has been an early-Christian monastery, a prison during the Great Famine, and a British army fort over the years.

The legends keep coming in County Cork as the guys learn the story of the Bean Feasa, the wise woman or healer of Irish folklore. Medical herbalist Rosari Kingston explains the importance of this figure who straddles our world and the otherworld. The tale of The Bean Feasa of the Eyeries – one of the postcard-perfect towns and villages of the Wild Atlantic Way – highlights this region’s deep roots in ancient customs.

Then it’s a date with the druids at Drombeg Stone Circle, which is known locally as “the druid’s altar”. Dr Jenny Butler outlines the history of this mysterious ancient Celtic sect, and the strange rituals they performed at age-old sites like this one.

From the oldest megalithic monument in Ireland to the dolmen with the LARGEST capstone in Europe, don’t miss these 10 ancient standing stone sites in Ireland.

Martin and Roman need to relax after an action-packed episode in Cork, so they head to The White Horse gastropub to visit the Cork Yarnspinners. They hear about Ireland’s vibrant storytelling traditions in suitably engrossing words from this oral storytelling community. Martin has more than a few stories to share from his days in Spandau Ballet. You could say it’s TV “Gold”.

Episode 2: County Meath & County Dublin

The second episode sees the Kemps head north from Cork through the emerald-green countryside of Ireland’s Ancient East until they reach the Boyne Valley. In this historic region of County Meath, they reveal the secrets of Fourknocks Passage Tomb with historian Anthony Murphy.

Make sure to visit the nearby Brú na Bóinne, which is home to epic prehistoric sites such as Newgrange that predate both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza!

Trading deep-in-the-earth tombs for a majestic hilltop, Martin and Roman soak up the surrounds of one of ancient Ireland’s most sacred spots. The Hill of Tara in the centre of the island is where High Kings of old were crowned, and the energy from the land here is palpable.

As a comedown from this mystical high, our hosts enjoy a sound bath session with Carmel Diviney, a Reiki Grand Master, Celtic Shaman and Master Sound Therapist. The duo are in good hands, so!

Close by is the Man O’War Bar and Restaurant in County Dublin. Just 15 minutes from Dublin Airport, this traditional thatched cottage pub, first established in 1595, is the perfect spot for the guys to meet a group of mummers.

Dating back to medieval times, mummers were troupes of men and women dressed in fantastical costumes who sang, danced and performed theatrics during public festivities. Always up for a laugh, the Kemps join in with a performance! While widespread in Europe, the tradition of mumming is closely associated with Christmas in Ireland.

Cosy pubs be damned, Ireland’s lore can chill you to the bone, too. Atop Montpellier Hill in the brooding Dublin Mountains, writer and historian Donal Fallon sheds light on a darker side of Dublin – the Hellfire Club. The ruined stone lodge of a secret society dating back to the mid 1700s holds tales of black magic, Satanists and ritual sacrifices during black masses.

Too spine-tingling? Try these other walks outside Dublin city instead. The Howth cliffs and Killiney Hill are calling.

The lads need some music and merriment after that frightful tale, so it’s off to mighty Slane Castle, where champion uilleann piper Aoife Fadian details the history of Ireland’s national bagpipes, before they join in with a tune.

Then castle owner Alex Conyngham talks about Slane’s musical legacy as one of Ireland’s biggest concert venues. U2, Madonna, Oasis – they’ve all headlined here. And with a dram of Irish whiskey from Slane Distillery, Martin and Roman toast the end of episode 2.

Episode 3: Northern Ireland

The last leg of Martin and Roman’s journey takes them into Northern Ireland, and for a drive along the sublime Causeway Coastal Route. This road trip on the island’s north coast boasts showstopping sights including the world-famous Giant’s Causeway and the clifftop Dunluce Castle, alongside vast beaches, craggy coves and seafood gems.

They make the most of the coast with an exhilarating sea swim at the sand dune-fringed Benone Strand, alongside Lorcan McBride and Helen Henderson from Far and Wild, whose activity tours range from waterfall swimming to snorkelling. Then it’s into the HotBox Sauna for a perfect mix of hot and cold therapy!

Don’t miss the striking Mussenden Temple on the cliffside nearby.

Next, the Kemps head to the snug confines of Friels Bar & Restaurant for a chat with folklore expert Dr Bob Curran about the legend of Abhartach, a local vampire said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. As the blockbuster movie Sinners shows, Irish folk tales are always popping up in new and exciting ways in the culture. Rocky Road to Dublin singalong, anyone?

The guys continue through the scenic Sperrin Mountains, taking in the raw beauty of an area known for its pristine dark skies. Behold the grandeur of the galaxy at the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory.

Our hosts uncover the myth of ancient Irish warrior Cú Chulainn and his links to the modern sport of hurling, one of Ireland’s native Gaelic Games. Catching a game is an authentic sporting experience to savour. Known as one of the fastest field games in the world, hurling is not for the squeamish. Luckily, Martin and Roman have local Slaughtneil GAA players Brendan and Rory to teach them a skill or two.

No show about the island of Ireland’s rich storytelling chops is complete without a good ghost story, so the lads stay the night at 17th-century Ballygally Castle Hotel, where they hear the hair-raising tale of Lady Isabella Shaw, who fell to her death from the tower room and is said to haunt the halls to this day.

Less chilling castle hotel stays are available around the island.

Martin attends Derry Halloween inside the 400-year-old city walls of Derry~Londonderry. Event stalwarts Brian Doherty and Jim Collins detail how it has become Europe’s BIGGEST Halloween festival. There’s no better way to revel in the island’s ancient culture and heritage, with costumed spirits and Celtic creatures parading through the streets as fireworks light up the night sky.

As for Roman, he uncovers Halloween’s origin story in Ireland with Drea Dickson. Dating back some 2,000 years, the pagan harvest festival of Samhain gave rise to traditions such as lighting bonfires and wearing scary costumes, which have endured to this day, evolving into spooky season as we know it.

Love a good scare? Delve into more of Ireland’s haunted hotspots.

As a fitting finale to the series, the Kemps enjoy a traditional Irish music session in a pub with another father-son duo – musicians Seamie and Stephen O’Dowd. This musical family draws on mythical stories, timeless landscapes and local characters in their songwriting, much like Martin and Roman’s Irish Road Trip itself.

Plan your Irish road trip

Martin and Roman’s journey will go down in lore. Want to follow their route? Whiskey sippings, Atlantic dippings and wanderlust-worthy monuments await. You might even find yourself becoming a yarnspinner and folklore expert along the way!

Plot your own odyssey around Ireland with our curated carousel below, based on the show’s best bits.

Martin and Roman’s Irish Road Trip will air weekly on Channel 4 from 11th August and is also available on demand.