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Jillian Godsil speaks with Ken Flood and Ed Hambridge. Ken is a keen hiker who recently set up Greater Heights Guided Tours leading groups of people wanting to connect with nature again. Ed owns a farm which includes the Keadeen Mountain and together the pair are planning on creating a hill walkers/ hikers paradise in Wicklow.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Rory Vance, managing director RV International, a family run, Bray based printing company in Wicklow. They have won the distribution licence for Lock 3 Varnish, a medical solution developed for the cancer sector, and now adapted into a powerful antimicrobial varnish which destroys 99.99% of all viruses and is active for twelve months. Rory and his team have created special desk pads and their mission to get them into every school in the country.  This is Rory's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Brian O'Regan, head of artistic programming at the Whale Theatre in Greystones. He details how the closing and ongoing changing rules has made it so hard to plan for the reopening - but they are open on Sept 4 with Alison Spittle  - and it's already sold out. This is Brian's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Celia Brabazon and Brian Barry. Celia owns Belmont Demense, a sister estate to Kilruddery, which opened free hiking trails last Autumn to the public and this week free biking trails. The estate is a working farm so visitors can also see lots of animals and enjoy food in the B'aked cafe. Brian is with Fat Bike Adventures. These unusual bikes with fat tyres are easy to ride and leave no mark. There is a rental fee for the bikes but as Celia says they are great fun. This is a joint story for Celia and the fat bikes.

Jillian Godsil speaks with competition winner Siena Maple Murphy (aged 5) who won the Bee Story competition organised by Cllr Jodie Neary. Her capitvating story was about Polly the Pollinator who found big fat sunflowers in Siena's garden, filled her leg baskets to the brim and then had to fly twice at hard to get back to her hive to feed the Queen Bee.  And did you know bees can smell their hives for up to 5 miles? This is Siena's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Ken Gibson, CEO of The Mission to End Leprosy. Leprosy is not a dead disease despite being the oldest coummunicable disease in the world. Still today, every 2 minutes someone gets the terrible news that they have contracted leprosy - that's a conservative number of 250,000 of which some 50,000 are children. But Ken and https://www.tmtel.org/ have a plan to end leprosy in just 15 years. Please listen and then go and donate. This is Ken's story. 

Jillian Godsil speaks with Keith Coburn, Enterprise and Employment Officer at County Wicklow Partnership. He explained about the different supports for people wanting to start their own business - even if it's only an idea - to helping disadvantaged people find employment again. He approaches his clients in a holistic way. Contact him on kcoburn@wicklowpartnership.ie

Jillian Godsil speaks with Emma Jane Rushworth, wire sculptor. With a diverse career in fashion and home decor working all around the world, Emma Jane settled in Greystones 20 years ago and is forging a very successful career as a wire sculptor creating large wire frame sculptors of animals, birds and insects - mostly to commission. One call out - a large heron was stolen from a Cobh installation last week #bringbackourbird. Check out her beautiful site at emmajanerushworth.ie. This is Emma Jane's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Gary McLoughlin, co founder of the Glendalough Distillery. Set up in 2011, it was Ireland's first craft distillery of modern times and has spawned many copy cats which makes Gary very happy. The Glendalough Distillery was also the first to collect fresh botanicals and make seasonal gin. Whiskey, gin and poitin are all made on site and exported to more than 43 countries worldwide. This is Gary's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with the rural development officer with County Wicklow Partnership, Siobhan Mehigan, who announces the launch of Leader funding of E200,000 for Biodiversity projects. The successful projects can be any shape and size and the funds are open to individuals, groups or even private landowners. The aim is less new foot paths and more how to improve biodiversity in the garden country. New ideas or established ideas are equally welcome. The deadline for expressions of interest is September 4th with selected projects invited to submit secondary applications after that. As always CWP and Siobhan is on hand to help.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Joanna Evans, contemporary artist, who works with concrete to create her art. It began with left over concrete from producing counter tops in her new kitchen. She began experimenting with the medium and now produces wall art in a contemporary theme - everyone sees something unique in her collections. She also donates 5% of all sales to the children's homeless charity bekind.ie.  This is Joanna's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Cathal Kehoe of the Wicklow Soap Company which was set up during the COVID lockdown as a hobby for his two children, Conan and Aoibhin (7 and 5), who are joint CEOs. However, as his work is pushed to part time, he is increasingly looking to the soap business to replace his lost income. Made from goats milk, these soaps are good for the skin as well as being anti-aging. Next up, Donkey milk soap, I kid you not. This is Cathal's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Colin Tyner, a farmer near Shillelagh who decided to grow a 4 acre field of sunflowers. This is possibly the first time it has been done in the Republic and is inspired by the many sunflower fields across France. With the uncertain weather, Colin still hopes the flowers will bloom in a few weeks and he is inviting people to come picnic, take selfies, walk around the flowers and then bring some home. He asks people to donate to the Wicklow Hospice or Cancer supports in Wicklow in return. This is Colin's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Aisling Reynolds who set up Lifestones, a personalised art composition project. She makes pictures out of pebbles and frames them: they are both simple and elegant. Since stepping back from her IT business in COVID, she has rediscovered her early artisitic talents and is really enjoying this new, artistic work. Lifestones was set up on June 6th but she is nearing 100 sales already. This is a real success story of the COVID pandemic. This is Aisling's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Sue Best of Lazy Days Campers which specialize in VW campervans. Campervan holidays are making a real comeback as the result of the lockdown and a new appreciation of nature. The beauty of these classic VW campervans is that they are compact enough to drive the small back roads of hidden Ireland. Then once you hit the open road you can go anywhere - follow your whim, practice wild camping where you pitch up under the stars or book into a serviced camp. Established 12 years, Lazy Days will also now refurbish your van into a campervan. This is Sue's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Kirsten Killoran of Friends of Breastfeeding about the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby. We also talk about how while it might be natural it may not be easy which is why a buddy system can help new mums push on through. Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding which is not good. Kirsten advices pregnant women to get in touch as once the baby is born everything tends to be upsidedown. To support the charity visit https://www.paypal.me/friendsofbreastfeed. This is Kirsten's story

Jillian Godsil speaks with Ross Scanlon, tenor and opera singer, who has joined forces with his friend and fellow opera singer Linsey Dempsey, to launch Sing@Work. This project brings all the goodness of singing to the office environment with benefits ranging from releasing endorphins (often called feelgood drugs), to pain reduction to increased confidence and better sleeping patterns. COVID has forced them online but they are still teaching and bringing joy to many people forced to work from home, maybe feeling anxious or who just want a pick me up. Song anyone? This is Ross' story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Geraldine Kavanagh, forager with Wicklow Wild Foods. She runs weekend walks where she brings eager students into the countryside to learn how and what to forage before picnicing on the spoils. You don't have to forage huge amounts, little and often can help improve your diet and well being. Geraldine is also a full time forager for Glendalough Distillery - providing local botanicals for their gins. This is Geraldine's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Becci Harrison, CEO of Fishers the family run clothing and food business in Newtownmountkennedy. Dubbed a boutique department store, Becci had a huge responsiblity to the staff (some 33 in total), concessions and loyal customers. They closed early, petitioned the customers for their views and are now opening again. It takes a huge effort to make everything safe and Becci explains how they are making it work again. This is Becci's story.

Jillian Godsil speaks with Lisa Wilkinson of the ElbowroomEscape. Created four years ago this beaufiful rural retreat in the Glen of Imaal was only getting going when COVID hit. Everything closed but her guests were loyal and rebooked for later. You'll understand why when you check out the website and look at the rooms. Then did I mention the menu with organic amazing produce from local farms. For me the Ridgeway Wagyu beef is an eye opener - grass, olive and chocolate fed cattle. This is Lisa's story.