Over half a million tuned in for 'A Grand Experience'

A total of 565,000 viewers tuned in to the Offaly County Council commissioned film 'A Grand Experience', which aired on RTÉ 1 last Tuesday, October 16. An average total of 210,000 viewers tuned in for the full hour of the programme, while the remainder of the figure caught some but not all of it. It's reported that the popular programme achieved an average share of 17 per cent of television audiences, and its viewing figures were just shy of Prime Time viewing figures. 'A Grand Experience' depicts the compelling journey of artists Eugene O'Brien, Wayne Brennan and Veronica Nicholson on the 68M barge from Shannonharbour to Edenderry. The beautifully shot film was scored and edited by Mixed Bag Media in Daingean. It's set to be screened again on RTÉ at a later date, while anyone who missed it can also catch it online on RTÉ Player until November 6. Offaly arts officer Sinead O'Reilly said this week she's delighted with viewing figures and added that she has been inundated with emails and phone calls from people who watched it and loved it. "We are going to look at making DVD copies of it over the coming weeks as we have had lots of requests," she added. "Our intention was to convey the Grand Canal in Offaly as a place of inspiration and beauty through the arts, though the media of film, music, imaginations, and we are very proud of those who made this film with us." Meanwhile Sarah Ryder of RTÉ said RTÉ Arts was delighted to partner with Offaly County Council and Mixed Bag Media to bring 'A Grand Experience' to a national audience. "This was an exceptional project and an exceptional piece of film-making which celebrates Ireland's hidden gems and inspires us to appreciate the beauty that is all around us in our own localities," she said. "It was a pleasure to bring such a sublime hour of television to a national audience."