Lore of the land

Culture expert sees past in new light after cancer shock while filming show

- BY SEAN MURPHY

FOLKLORIST and TV presenter Manchan Magan is renowned for his love of the land and language of Ireland.

In his new show, Listen To The Land Speak, he looks at how our ancient wisdom shapes us as people and defines how we see the world.

It is an exploration of how our ancestors related to the landscape around them.

It became a personal journey for Manchan, 55, who discovered he had prostate cancer while filming the two-part series, which starts on RTE tonight.

It made him see ancient sites and beliefs in a whole new light.

Speaking to this paper, Manchan said: "I found out during filming that I had prostate cancer.

"It can be easily dealt with, but as time went on, it was discovered that it was more complex and had spread.

"While I was going to sites around Ireland, and seeing the erosion of culture, I realised my body itself was on this journey of erosion.

"I should be here for a long time, even with the illness. It made me think of mortality and how our ancestors left these sites behind and communicated with the future.

THERAPY

"I did a year of hormone therapy and I did radiation therapy and, in theory, that's it and I can move on with my life. I'll probably keep an eye on it."

Manchan's early TV work was championed by broadcasters such as Gerry Ryan and Ryan Tubridy.