To celebrate 100 years of O'Connell Street, Nationwide is looking back at the area's storied history of protest, pageantry and parade. Ahead of Wednesday's episode we caught up with co-host Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh.
"I'm keeping myself fit, I won't lie," Bláthnaid tells me, stealing a few minutes between an intimidating schedule of meetings and phone calls.
Wearing a bright blue jumper to complement her signature red locks, the gaeilgeoir is one of the most recognisable faces of the national broadcaster, a career that has spanned television and radio since she began in 1990.
"I'm 53 and I'm working out three mornings a week, but my body is doing it's own thing as well," she explains. "There's a lot of hormones happening, but I'm on a mission hence a lot of water and not eating between meals."
Despite her insistence that "something perimenopausal" is starting to take place, the mother of four shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, it seems as if she's hit her stride thanks to her role in the magazine show.
"The presenter role isn't quite what it used to be, I'm quite honest about that," she admits, "but this suited everything."
Road-tripping around the country on a near constant basis, the Meath woman says its a privilege to share the stories of such a wide variety of people and communities from across the country: "These programmes are everything that is Irish."
Speaking on the upcoming episodes, celebrating 100 years of Dublin's O'Connell Street, Ní Chofaigh explains that there is an incredible history and culture to be celebrated within this small slice of the city.
"To me, O'Connell Street belongs to everyone in Ireland, but it is the inner-city people's street. It is of the Dubliners of the inner city; it is their street maybe more than it's our street."
As well as unearthing stories from the past, the series will delve into the political protests and festive parades that the area continues to play host to.
"We celebrate, we commemorate, and we protest on this one street," she muses. "Everyone's history with that street is brilliant. Angela Ryan produced and directed all three of these episodes and they are fantastic. It probably is, in my five years of Nationwide, it's the best I've seen.
"The theme is right: it's real, it's Irish," she continues. "It's everything and everything we are as a people."
"And the poshness! Wait until you see the archive! They're all wearing beautiful gowns, and cocktail dresses, and gloves. O'Connell Street was like the Vegas strip - back in the good old days, the classic days."
Throughout the programme, Bláthnaid meets with a number of key characters including An Post archivist Stephen Ferguson, broadcaster Catriona Crowe, and the hardworking Dublin City Council Waste Management Crew who keep O'Connell St looking its best.
Wrapping up our conversation, the presenter made sure to give special mention to Robyn, a member of the waste management crew who brought pure glamour to the job.
"There was this girl, she was so good, and she was the only girl working with them," she explains. "They adored her. Long shiny hair, the nails - she was gorgeous."
"She's changing bin bags with the beautiful nails and I thought, 'fair play'," she smiles. "I love that celebration of femininity in a masculine space. I love it because we are natural peacocks, and be it a ring or an earring, there's always something.... you know, people ask, 'who is it for', but it's not for anyone. It's for ourselves and for us to show who we are."
Praising the efficiency and communication of the entire crew, she likened them to a tactical unit: "You know when you see movies and there's a SWAT team? That's what I'm going to call them: The Cleaning SWAT team of Dublin City Council. They are another level."
With that, the earphones, phone, notes, and water bottle are collected and Ní Chofaigh is back on the move.
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