50 Stories 50 Countries

RTÉ and Irish Aid Launch New Touring Exhibition, “50 Countries, 50 Stories”

Produced by KMF Productions, the RTÉ television series What in the World? has filmed in over 50 countries across the globe. To mark that milestone, as well as almost two decades on the air, RTÉ and Irish Aid have commissioned a brand-new travelling exhibition, ‘50 Countries, 50 Stories’.

MC’d by RTÉ’s Colm Ó Mongáin, guests viewed the new dedicated exhibition, which brings a wide range of stories together for the first time. Throughout 2020, Irish audiences will have the chance to see this free exhibition as it tours libraries across the country.

Says Peadar King, producer and presenter of What in the World?: “RTÉ’s global affairs series What in the World? has been bringing astonishing stories into Irish homes for almost 20 years. From stories of hope and inspiration to stories of oppression and suppression, the series has examined lives lived amongst serious and persistent poverty, and a wide range of complex social and political situations across the developing world.”

Colm O'Callaghan, Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual said: “50 countries is a remarkable record; of storytelling, of investigation and of insight. To see it all translated into this fine travelling exhibition says something compelling about the unique role of public media in educating, informing and enlightening. Exceptional stories are beautifully captured in this ambitious exhibition, ambitious not only in the breadth of stories covered, but also in the range of destinations we will cover in libraries around the country.”

Ciarán Cannon T.D, Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, said: “What in the World? gives a voice to those in the majority world, and demonstrates how our fellow humans are confronting the myriad problems they encounter on a daily basis, many of which threaten their very survival. Irish people have a long tradition of reaching out in solidarity. Our own national story, our history and our experience of development informs our development programme. This exhibition offers people all over Ireland the opportunity to learn and to consider the complex global contexts that underpin a world in need of our assistance and our understanding.”

The event also marked the launch of a new book, War, Suffering and the Struggle for Human Rights by Peadar King.

What in the World? 50 Countries 50 Stories is presented by Irish Aid, KMF Productions, and RTÉ. The exhibition opened this evening in Dublin’s Kevin Street library and will tour the following libraries nationwide:

• Kevin St., Dublin, 15-31 January

• Blanchardstown, Fingal 1-15 February

• Tallaght, Dublin, 17-28 February

• Portlaoise, Co Laois, 29 February-14 March

• Dún Laoghaire, 16-30 March

• Westside, Galway City, 2-18 April

• Killarney, Co Kerry, 20 April-1 May

• Mullingar, Co Westmeath, 5-18 May

• Louth,19 – 31 May

• Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, 8-20 June

• Kilkee, Co Clare, 4-19 July

• Mallow., Co Cork 29 July-12 August

• Kilkenny, 13-31 August

• New Ross, Co Wexford, 1-12 September

• Ashbourne, Co Meath 14-28 September

• Donegal, 30 September-13 October

• Tullamore, Co Offaly, 14-27 October