JOURNALIST Édaein O’Connell and radio & TV presenter Jamie Ó Flannúra have created a new audio series which sees the duo traverse the county to bring listeners the voices and stories of ten young individuals who have chosen to remain in the county and make it their home.

The series, titled ‘The Magic of Ríocht’, offers a bilingual exploration into why these young people are staying in Ireland amidst a backdrop of increasing emigration through the medium of Irish and English.

According to the Central Statistics Office Population and Migration Estimates released in August of last year, approximately 27,600 Irish people left the country in the year leading up to April 2022.

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The Magic of An Ríocht delves into the hearts and minds of these young residents of Kerry, exploring their motivations, passions, and aspirations.

Through ten 15-minute episodes, Édaein and Jamie bring to life the experiences of young people from Listowel, Killarney, Dingle, and beyond.

Each episode highlights the ways in which these young people are contributing to their localities, maintaining their cultural roots, and envisioning a future that is intertwined with the prosperity and vibrancy of their beloved county.

Jamie Ó Flannúra said: “It was fantastic to meet and hear the amazing stories of so many young people who have made Kerry their forever home. I loved listening and seeing first-hand how they have immersed themselves into the county through the community events they are involved with. For me it has been brilliant to also see how they are also involved in promoting the Irish language and culture too within their locality too.”

“There’s a lot of negative press about being a young person and deciding to stay in Ireland right now,” co-host Édaein O’ Connell says.

“A week doesn’t go by without someone I know booking a one-way flight to Australia or Canada. It can feel like that narrative is the same for everyone in their twenties and early thirties, but this series shows that’s not entirely true. Kerry is a vibrant and bustling county that is not only keeping its natives here but is also now the adopted home of many. It’s been a joy to witness just how much love there is for communities here.”

This project was funded by Coimisiun na Meáin and the 10 episodes were originally aired on Radio Kerry throughout April and May.

They will now be released as a 10-part audio series through June and July on Spotify, allowing an even wider audience to engage with these inspiring stories.

You can tune in to The Magic of An Ríocht now on Spotify to be inspired by the youthful voices of Kerry and to discover what keeps their feet firmly planted on home soil.

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