THE NBC Today Show, with an audience of 11 million in the United States, has completed a week long series of reports on Ireland, in Kinsale, Co Cork. The series is seen as a major boost for tourism.
The show, co hosted by Bryant Gumble and Katie Couric, featured Powerscourt, Grafton Street in Dublin, and Kinsale. It looked at the Irish bloodstock industry, cuisine, beauty spots and history. Ms Orla Carey of the Irish Tourist Board in the US said yesterday while it would be difficult to put a monetary value on the exposure, the publicity is of enormous significance.
On Monday the show featured an interview with the President, Mrs Robinson, discussed the legend of St Patrick and advised Irish Americans how to trace their roots. In what may be regarded as a slip, Freud Communications of London, which handled publicity during the filming, issued a press release saying that the show would also include "a trip to Kerry to see the legendary Blarney Stone".
In Tuesday's report, the US Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, discussed her brother's presidential visit to Ireland in 1963 and present day relations between Ireland and the US. The show also featured a special report on the Book of Kells.
Yesterday, the 60 strong television crew took over the seasidetown of Kinsale for the final report which featured items on the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, and emigration. Hotels catered for 5 a.m. breakfasts to facilitate the crew. Afterwards Ms Couric said the producers considered the Irish visit an outstanding success.
"We received wonderful co operation from everyone and we think the segments will be very well received by our American audience."
Next July, NBC and Microsoft will launch a 24 hour news, talk and information service on the Internet which will include footage from the station's Irish visit. A recording will also be available from NBC on video.