[ Dominic Ozanne ] 

The island of Ireland experienced dramatic economic, political and social change in the 21st Century. 

In the Republic the global recession of 2008 hit particularly hard. It also marked the centenary of the Easter 1916 uprising and, in spite of its conservative Catholic tradition, became the first country to ever vote for the legalisation of gay marriage.

Northern Ireland reaped the dividend of the Good Friday Peace Agreement that ended thirty years of violence. This led to revival of the economy, a flourishing film industry and the return of tourists.

Arriving by ferry in County Wexford in the south east of the Republic, Simon embarks on an Irish journey. It will take him up the rugged west coast, into Derry in the north and on to the most northerly point at Malin Head. In Part 2 he travels down the stunning Antrim coast and into Belfast in time to see the July Orange marches for himself. After visiting the great city of Dublin his journey ends in the mountains of County Wicklow.