Sunday Miscellany

"The town fills its lungs full, and sweeps shawls and scarves and suits along streets…” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On volunteering for Zaide, starring a young Lesley Garrett See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich and complex Irish history is on display in this small Protestant church See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The night the starlings gatecrashed the opera house See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On growing up with the lore of Wexford See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man bags, scarves, and “the lads”, blessed with love See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

45 years on and this soprano's 3-minute Beethoven performance is still seared into the memory See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man bags, scarves, and “the lads”, blessed with love See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The physical items inevitably subsumed by the bog - human and otherwise (pic: Marguerite Sheridan) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why the Irish Architecture Foundation wanted to build a Bog Bothy in the midlands See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A childhood in the boglands taken for granted until it becomes a source of wonder for visitors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Translation challenges for the words 'turf' and 'bog' in cultures where they don't exist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecting with our Iron Age ancestors, who created something amazing in a bog in Corlea, Longford See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What it takes, and the knowledge you need, to become a 'true' Monakeeba bog woman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Pen in hand, a monk sat, bored – This translation had him floored…’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An emotional education in a Raphoe boarding school See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a pioneering female-led family business of scriveners in 19th Century Dublin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a few wee Donegal and Derry sayings See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the delights of taking charge of an allotment in Inchicore  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A life-expanding correspondence with a beloved children’s author See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"They flock like brittle songbirds, chorusing after her to this impressively-sized Asda..." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Mr Heaney was at his desk, solid as the Sugarloaf, still cheerful after a day of lectures..." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The kindly uncle who was instrumental in the restoration of  800-year old Ballintubber Abbey See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cross-border hands of friendship and getting to grips with Irish linguistic idiosyncracies See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rejection-guilt subsequently mollified by the eternal good grace of this world class poet and gentleman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.