About Anne Martin
Since the mid 1970s, producer/host, Anne Martin, has been bringing stories to life through the medium of television. She thrives on tracking down the unusual and her work has encompassed history, geology, heritage and a positive outlook on the world around us. Read more about Anne Martin.
Author Archives: On Top Of The World
Emerald Isle: Belfast
The history of Belfast is explored from its muddy origins as an inlet of the Irish Sea to its great shipyards and intriguing city … Continue reading
Posted in Journeys through the British Isles
Tagged Belfast, Belfast Loch, bird-watching, Botanical Gardens, Crown Bar, Crown Liquor Saloon, Europa Hotel, Genealogy, Grand Opera House, Harlan and Wolff, Irish Sea, Kelly’s, Lagan River, lagoons, Linen Hall Library, mud flats, Northern Ireland, Odyssey Centre, Queens University, Scotland, St. George’s Market, Stormont Castle, Titanic
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Emerald Isle: In the footsteps of St. Patrick
Is the gravesite in Downpatrick the final resting place of the great Saint? In search of St. Patrick takes us across the Emerald Isle … Continue reading
Posted in Journeys through the British Isles
Tagged Armagh, Castle Ward, Church of Ireland Cathedral, County Antrim, Downpatrick, England, Europe, fiddlers, Great Britain, gypsy caravan, harp, hiking, Northern Ireland, Romans, sailing, Saint Patrick, slavery, Slemish Mountain, St. Patrick’s Centre, Strangford Lough, Struell wells
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Emerald Isle: Natural Wonders
Fresh sea air, mountain breezes and a glass of mead are on tap as we experience a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle, traditional music, … Continue reading
Emerald Isle: Dublin and Kilkenny
An introduction to two capital cities: Dublin, today’s capital of the Republic of Ireland, and Kilkenny, the medieval capital of the country. We explore … Continue reading
Posted in Journeys through the British Isles
Tagged Abbey Tavern, architecture, Book of Kells, Dublin, George Bernard Shaw, Gobelin tapestries, James Joyce, Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny House, medieval, Norman Conquest, Reginald’s Tower, Republic of Ireland, River Liffey, Rubens, slavery, Trinity College, Vikings, Waterford
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Emerald Isle: Gift of the Blarney
Discovering the origins of the word “Blarney” in the Emerald Isle: who has the Gift and why kiss the stone? The scenery for which … Continue reading
Islands of Malta: Exploring the Archipelago
After Napoleon takes possession of the Maltese islands from the Knights, Nelson and his fleet move in and blockade the French garrison. Today the … Continue reading
Posted in International Features
Tagged accommodation, Air Malta, artisans, Britain, Carmelite Church, Cominho, disease, docks, Europe, fossils, France, French garrison, Fungus Rock, General Masson, Gozo, Grand Master, Islands of Malta, Knights, law, Lucca Airport, luxury liners, Maltese dogs, Maltese lace, Manoel Island, Mdina, Mediterranean, Napoleon, Nelson, Order of St. John, primary education, quarantine, religion, St. John Ambulance, tourism, Valletta
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Islands of Malta: World War Two
The Islands of Malta were once again pivotal in the domination of the Mediterranean during World Wars 1 & 2. For their incredible resistance … Continue reading
Posted in International Features
Tagged aircraft carrier, Allied, Americans, architecture, Axis, Battle of Alamein, British, Canada, Canadians, Clyde, convoys, Eisenhower, Galvaston, George Cross, Germany, Grand Harbour, Halifax, Hitler, HMS Illustrious, Islands of Malta, Italy, King George Vl, Lascaris War Rooms, Mediterranean, Montgomery, Mosta Dome, Mussolini, Rommel, Royal Navy, Sicily, submarines, Taranto, Tobruk, World War One, World War Two
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Islands of Malta: The City of Valletta
After the Great Siege, the Knights build Valletta, a new and impregnable city on the Rocky peninsula known as Mount Scebberas; a city that … Continue reading
Posted in International Features
Tagged Aragon, architecture, armoury, art, Auberges, Auverne, Bailiff, baroque, Castille, Chapels, customs, England, fortifications, France, Germany, Gobelin tapestries, Gozo, Grand Master’s Palace, Islands, Italy, Knights, Langues, Lascaris ditch, LaVallette, Malta, Mdina, Mediterranean, Mount Sceberras, Order of St. John, paintings, Provence, Sacra Infermia, sculpture, Sicily, slaves, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
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Islands of Malta: The Great Siege of 1565
The Knights of St. John settle into their new home on Malta, fortify the cities and build their pilgrim hospitals and Auberges for the … Continue reading
Posted in International Features
Tagged Arab, Auberges, Birgu, Charles V of Aragon, Christianity, Dragu, Europe, fishing village, Fort St. Angelo, Fort St. Michael, French, Grand Master, Great Siege, hospital, Knights of St. John, LaVallette, Malta, Mediterranean, Mount Sceberras, Normans, Ottoman, Romans, Spain, St. Elmo, trading outposts, Turkey
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Islands of Malta: Home for a Knight
Malta becomes a thorn in the side of Charles V of Aragon as Barbarians ransack the islands and enslave the population. The early history … Continue reading
Posted in International Features
Tagged Acre, Arabs, barbarian pirates, Chaplains, Charles V of Aragon, Cyprus, Cyzantine, D’Alessio, French, German, Goths, Grand Master’s Palace, Holy Land, hospice, hospitals, Islands, Jerusalem, Knights Hospitallers, Malta, Mediterranean, Michelangelo, Norman, North African Corsairs, Order of St. John, Pope, Rhodes, Romans, Spanish, St. John the Baptist, Suleiyman the Magnificent, Villiers de l’Adam
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