Emmy-winning show featuring Leitrim airs stateside

Millions of Americans will be introduced to Leitrim’s vibrant music scene as it features on the Emmy Award-winning PBS travel series 'Bare Feet' with Mickela Mallozzi that aired yesterday (May 2nd).

The premiere episode of the new season, spotlights locations along The Wild Atlantic Way — including a visit to The Glens Arts Centre in County Leitrim. There, Rossa Ó Snodaigh and fellow members of the internationally acclaimed group Kíla teach host Mickela how to play the uilleann pipes.

Filming took place last May, even as a flash flood hit the area. Despite the weather, Brendan Murray, Artistic Director at The Glens, described the experience of hosting the crew as “very nice and good fun.”

The episode marks the beginning of Bare Feet’s seventh season and is expected to reach around two million viewers across the United States. It will air on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and in parts of Canada this week, and will also be available via the PBS app and website. However, viewers in Ireland will need a VPN to access it.

The series follows producer and host Mickela Mallozzi as she travels the globe, delving into the dance and cultural traditions of the regions she visits.

The episode also includes an oyster experience in Sligo and a traditional fiddle session in Donegal, as the programme revisits the Wild Atlantic Way for a second time.

"Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi is extremely popular with audiences in the United States and in Canada, so Tourism Ireland was delighted to support this latest series, which is sure to inspire many potential US and Canadian holidaymakers to book a trip to Ireland in 2025 and beyond. As a destination, we have so much to offer visitors – from our beautiful scenery and rich music and dance traditions to our world-class visitor experiences,” said Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America.

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