Leitrim in the spotlight as RTE series returns

Leitrim will take centre stage as RTE series Tracks and Trails returns this Thursday at 8PM on RTE One and RTE Player.

Now in its 12th season, the popular walking series returns with a new host—Doireann Ní Ghlacáin—who opens the latest chapter by exploring some of the county’s most atmospheric and lesser-known trails.

In the first episode, Ní Ghlacáin is joined by former RTÉ news anchor Bryan Dobson as they walk the Mullaghgarve Mass Rock trail and the Cloone Looped Trail, routes that blend natural beauty with deep historical resonance.

The journey through Leitrim gives the public a chance to connect with the landscape in the wild rose county as Dobson reflects on the history of the area.

Their conversations unfold against a backdrop of rolling hills, hidden glens and paths that once carried stories of hardship, worship and endurance.

After opening in Leitrim, Tracks & Trails continues with walks along the North Down Coastal Path, where Doireann Ní Ghlacáin is joined by former BBC editor Mark Devenport. In Laois and Offaly, Claire Byrne and Fiona Mitchell revisit familiar and lesser-known routes, reflecting on their ties to the Midlands.

Brooke Scullion explores her native Fermanagh, while Barry Murphy of Hermitage Green highlights the culture and scenery of Limerick. The season wraps in Wexford with James Kavanagh bringing his signature humour to the trails. Each episode blends landscape and conversation, uncovering the personal stories that shape our connection to place.

READ MORE: Energy arrears figures ‘staggering,' says Leitrim Councillor