*Deric Hartigan of Ireland AM (pictured centre) with Irish Wolfhounds Rian and Mide at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
TELEVISION weatherman Deric Hartigan made a welcome return to his former stomping ground of Bunratty Castle on Thursday last.
Deric conducted the morning forecasts live on Ireland AM from Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Thursday morning, a location he was more than familiar with having worked as an entertainer at the world famous Bunratty Castle medieval banquet in his youth.
A native of Inchmore in Co Limerick, Deric has worked at Virgin Media Television, formerly TV for almost two decades.
Recalling his experience of working in Bunratty, Deric said, “I think I was like seventeen or eighteen. I was here for about five or six years fado, fado, entertaining the guests for many, many years.”
“I know the place inside out so it kind of feels like a home from home here this morning,” he added. He previously stated that this stint working in Bunratty is what encouraged him to enter the world of broadcasting, “I actually wanted to be a dentist growing up but I always had a creative streak in me entertaining audiences during my college years at the infamous Bunratty Castle banquets”.
As part of his research for the broadcasts, Deric made sure to read The Clare Echo while in Bunratty.
Adrienne O’Flynn, Sales and Marketing Manager for Clare Tourism East said, “It was fantastic to welcome Deric back to Bunratty where he spent many happy years performing for guests of our Medieval Banquet. The sun was shining in Co Clare which made his job all the easier. We are very grateful to Ireland Am for profiling Clare tourism”.
