America’s number one morning television programme, NBC’s TODAY show, was broadcast live from Kenmare, Co Kerry today.
The show, which has been broadcasting since 1952, attracts a large American audience with more than three million viewers tuning in every day.
Its content reaches millions more viewers across its social media channels.
For this morning’s programme, NBC produced the full four-hour live programme from Kenmare Bay with all seven hosts having travelled to Kerry for the event.
The presenter line-up included familiar faces including Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Jenna Bush Hager.
One of the popular hosts on the show, veteran broadcaster Al Roker said: “We wanted to come and travel across the whole island and share what this country has to offer from food to crafts, culture and fun.”
He jokingly thanked Met Éireann’s Gerry Murphy for the autumnal sunshine that has been welcomed by the Irish hosts and visitors.
Tourism Ireland’s Director of Markets & Partnerships, Siobhán McManamy, said that the show’s trip to Ireland is “the culmination of years of planning”.
The programme’s trip to Ireland is sponsored by Tourism Ireland and Ms McManamy said that bringing the show here has been in the works “for a long time”.
“The US is a very competitive market and with over three million TV viewers, and more than 20 million clocking up on its socials, if we can reach a percentage of that audience, having four hours of a live broadcast from Kenmare is really valuable for us.”
One of the anchors on the show is Jenna Bush Hager.
“I was in Dublin back some years ago, so it’s been great to see the rest of this country,” she said.
The logistics behind the scene are “incredible” according to general manager of Sheen Falls Lodge Brian Loughnane.
“The set up is extraordinary for one show. The show is four-hours long and they have constructed a stage out the back of the hotel with Kenmare Bay as the backdrop and it looked gorgeous on TV,” he said.
He explained that there are 100 crew members working on the broadcast with “20 palettes of gear, two generator trucks and metres of cables all here at the hotel to bring this show to air”.
The broadcast featured Irish guests during the show, including journalist Samantha Barry who is the Irish host for the day for the show.
“I am focusing on highlighting modern Irish brands, putting a spotlight on Irish craft, food and beauty,” she said.
Actors Domhnall Gleeson and Sharon Horgan were guests on the show too along with entertainment provided by the Riverdance troupe.
Students from Coláiste Íde appeared on the show, to teach the hosts some Gaeilge.
“It was so exciting and we got out of school for this which is great too,” says Nancy, who taught the hosts some every day phrases.
Irish food was a key part of the show’s coverage also with Mark Moriarty and Gemma Stafford demonstrating.
“We are delighted the sun shone for us and hopefully lots of viewers will be encouraged to come visit Ireland now on the back of this,” Ms Barry said.