Offaly - The Giant's Grave Loop

Doireann Ní Ghlacáin journeys into the heart of Ireland’s midlands to visit County Offaly, where Fiona Mitchell, RTÉ News correspondent, takes her on the Giant’s Grave Loop; a path imbued with ancient lore and natural beauty.

Nestled within the Slieve Blooms, this loop weaves through forest trails and open mountain paths, offering wide vistas and a clear connection to the region’s ancient past.. Along the way, Fiona and Doireann uncover the stories behind the landscape, including the legend of the Giant’s Grave itself, a fascinating megalithic site shrouded in mystery. They also unearth some personal challenges Fiona has faced over the years including a cancer diagnosis. She explains how the landscape and being outside has had a very positive role in her life and that she feels a deep connection to her homeplace; a connection that has become even stronger since the loss of her parents, “Every place has a memory of them”. This moving episode closes the season on a reflective and emotional note, showing how Ireland’s trails not only connect us to the land but to ourselves and those we love.