The well-known father and son duo will visit Counties Cork, Meath, and Dublin before journeying up to Northern Ireland in search of legends, landscapes, mystery and history
Martin and Roman Kemp on their new TV show(Image: Virgin Media)
Martin and Roman Kemp will soon be on Irish TV screens as they travel across Ireland together in a brand new show.
Packed with laughs, bonding and plenty of banter, the series, Martin & Roman’s Irish Road Trip, sees the Kemps travel through spectacular scenery in search of the legends, landscapes, mystery and history that have shaped the country’s shores.
Martin previously lived in Ireland during his Spandau Ballet days and fell in love with the island’s storytelling traditions. Now, he wants to share that passion with his TV presenter son. With Martin having always been told there’s Irish heritage in the family, the trip also becomes a personal exploration of history, identity and connection.
Along the way, Martin and Roman meet extraordinary people, visit stunning historic sites and hear unforgettable tales. From ancient tombs and faerie forts to breath-taking coastlines and reputedly haunted castles, they encounter people who are keeping old traditions alive through ritual, music, performance, and storytelling.
At its heart, Martin & Roman’s Irish Road Trip is a warm, funny and at times profound journey that inspires both father and son to reflect on their lives, their relationship and their shared family history.
Martin and Roman begin their adventure on Ireland’s south coast in County Cork, a place shaped by powerful tides, dramatic history and stirring myths. Kayaking on the water, they hear the legend of Cliona, Queen of the Banshees, and her ominous ocean wave. They visit Spike Island, the former prison known as “Ireland’s Alcatraz”, uncovering its haunting past, and explore one of the country’s most important stone circles. Along the way, they encounter a traditional Irish way of dealing with grief and loss that is now being revived. Their County Cork journey ends in a local pub, where Martin takes to the stage as part of a storytelling community group.
Their road trip continues in episode two on Ireland’s east coast, with the two taking in Counties Meath and Dublin. In the historic Boyne Valley, Martin and Roman visit an ancient tomb described as one of the region’s best-kept secrets – a structure older than both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids – where they encounter what some say is the earliest depiction of a human face. At the Hill of Tara, they meet an Arch Druid and experience a sound bath, which has a profound effect on both of them. High in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, they explore a spooky ruin linked to the infamous Hellfire Club, before visiting Slane Castle, where Martin is reunited with the castle’s owner from his Spandau Ballet days. There, they learn about ancient and modern musical traditions — and how resident faeries affected plans for the onsite whiskey distillery.
The final leg of the journey takes Martin and Roman to a snowy Northern Ireland. On the Causeway Coast, they brave a freezing sea dip as they empathise with the legendary Selkies, mythical creatures said to shift shape from seals to humans. They explore a vampire legend believed by some to have inspired Bram Stoker, before searching for its reputed final resting place. The pair learn how the ancient sport of hurling is rooted in mythology and give it a go in the snowy foothills of the Sperrin Mountains. At what is believed to be Northern Ireland’s most haunted hotel, they spend a restless night before finishing their adventure at the spectacular Derry Halloween Festival, Europe’s largest, as they uncover the Irish origins of Halloween.
Martin and Roman’s Irish Road Trip airs Monday, 27 April at 9 pm on Virgin Media PLAY & Virgin Media One.
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