An Irishman Abroad

As Editor of The Journal and one time presenter of Virgin Media's Ireland AM, Sinéad O'Carroll knows a lot about being busy. She found time to join Jarlath for a conversation about where news and media are headed as well her own life and career. Sinéad speaks about the gruelling schedules that she has endured for her career ( thejournal.ie  and its impact in today's consumption of news media. To p...

Damien Molony, star of Brassic, Game Face, Suspects, Crashing and Ripper Street joins Jarlath for a rare conversation about his life, career and a few of the more ridiculous moments that have gotten him to where he is today. There’s plenty I’d laugh out loud moments as Damien explains how he learned of Patrick Stewart’s obsession with Huddersfield Town (42:00), his show stopping performance as Kun...

How to you go from failing the Leaving Certificate to running company valued north of 1 billion dollars? This week, Jarlath is joined by Workhuman's co-founder and CEO Eric Mosely to find out how he took a gift cards idea and turned it into something that could change business forever.  Eric speaks candidly for the first time about his struggles in school (5:00), how he tasted poverty he experienc...

Irishman Abroad is moving. This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter for Irishman Abroad podcast. Jarlath explains how you can join up and help write it and a special offer he is running for anyone who wants to join Irishman Abroad Premium in the next two weeks.   Today’s conversation with Siobhán McSweeney doesn’t just cover her starring role in Derry Girls, together she and Jarlath talk...

In this very special episode of an Irishman Abroad, we bring you the story of World Vision and their campaign to end violence against children across the world.   Jarlath is joined by World Vision Ireland's Programmes Director Maurice Sadlier and two of its Ambassadors food-writer and former model Roz Purcell and one of the stars of Game Of Thrones, actor Liam Cunningham.    Maurice explains the e...

Colm Meaney is a national treasure. This week Jarlath sits down with him for a one of a kind conversation about his early life, work and struggles. For the first time, we hear his experience of being Irish in the UK during the Troubles (31:00), getting his big break in the 1980s in America (38:00) and why juggling Star Trek with features such as The Van, The Snapper and The Commitments worked for...

This week, star of BBC Three's much anticipated drama series Normal People, Paul Mescal joined Jarlath for a truly remarkable chat about his life and journey to this very exciting point in his career.   Paul gives a fascinating account of this addictive and petrifying experience of discovering the school stage at the tender age of 16 (13:00), how he quit football for acting (23:00) and the power a...

Barry Keoghan returns to the podcast to discuss a movie he made in Ireland that never got its full theatrical release. Calm With Horse is a beautiful piece of story telling from first-time director Nick Rowland that transports us to a west of Ireland town run by a family known as the Divers. Barry’s character, Dympna, controls Arm a former boxer roped in to enforcing the dominance of the gang in t...

Since the inception of An Irishman Abroad, Mary Robinson has been one of the most requested guests for the series. This week, the former President of Ireland and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights joined Jarlath for a truly memorable conversation about her life and career.   With a beautiful honesty, Mary opens up about how nothing seemed out of the realms of possibility for her while growing...

Jarlath sat down with former Taoiseach Enda Kenny for a one of a kind conversation in front of a UCD Alumni event at London's Savoy Hotel. With his retirement just around the corner, Enda speaks freely about his time at the helm. Jarlath asks what a person needs to succeed in a game as difficult as politics (8:00). Sitting a stone’s throw from the British Houses of Parliament they discuss why Brit...

This week, we are delighted to bring you one of the most hilarious and insightful episodes of the series to date. Ireland and Munster Rugby legends Donncha O'Callaghan and Peter Stringer joined Jarlath on stage for a special interview in front of a sold out Sugar Club at the Dublin Podcast Festival. Donncha and Peter open up about the post-tournament analysis that was devastatingly brutal (28:00)...

Imelda May is, without a doubt, one of the most requested guests in the series to date. This week, Jarlath and Imelda finally had the chance to sit down and chat face to face.   In fascinating detail, Imelda discusses the addictive nature of losing oneself on stage (9:00), her time working every job that she could find when she first moved over to London (14:00) and her clever marketing plan to gr...

This week, one of Hollywood's biggest names, John C. Reilly, joined Jarlath in front of a live audience at the Irish Ambassador's Residence in the Phoenix Park. The conversations flows from his incredible life and career to his new movie Ralph Breaks the Internet. Jarlath is also joined by Disney creators Phil Johnston, Rich Moore and Clarke Spencer to discuss this sprawling project.   John explai...

With an astounding 25 million books sold, there is no sign of Cecelia Ahern slowing down. This week Cecelia made her return to An Irishman Abroad during what is a very exciting moment in her career.   Cecelia speaks frankly about the shocking meeting that inspired 'Roar', her new collection of short stories (8:00), the incredible TV deal that is in the works with the backing of Nicole Kidman (32:0...

Gary Lightbody has seen all of his dreams come true as the frontman of Snow Patrol and yet, the last 7 year's have been the most difficult of his life. In this incredibly raw and powerful interview, Gary opens up about facing his demons on the new Snow Patrol album (37:00), the incredible toll that constant touring takes (13:00) and the risky surgery that he turned down which could have cost him h...

In what was one of the most enjoyable live episodes of the series to date, Laura Whitmore and Roisin Conaty joined Jarlath live in front of a sold out Soho Theatre to discuss sexism, consent and their hopes for gender equality in the future. With refreshing honesty, Laura and Roisin speak about the routine abuse of women (11:00), how men are judged differently to women for the exact same behaviour...

This week Marian Keyes joined Jarlath to tell her fascinating story of struggle, survival, laughter and resilience. Before she sold over 35 million books worldwide, Marian battled to come to terms with her alcoholism. She speaks to Jarlath about the change it sparked within her and the part a uniquely Irish fear played within it ( jigsawonline.ie . In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of...

Having recently embarked on his own podcasting journey, this week, the Rubberbandits artist, activist and all-round legend Blindboy Boatclub joined Jarlath to discuss his theory of podcasting (3:00), why he became disillusioned with the success of Horse Outside (6:00) and how The Rubberbandits deliberately set out to lose fans (8:00).   Jarlath talks about his fond memories of The Bandits' earlies...

This week The Coronas frontman, Danny O’Reilly, joined Jarlath on stage at the Galway Arts Festival to discuss how things have changed for him since Danny’s first appearance on the podcast three years ago. Danny spoke openly about walking away from Island Records to start their own label (4:00) and how he now keeps his private life away from the media spotlight having learned from past experiences...

Paul McGrath is, without a doubt, one of Ireland’s greatest sporting legends. This week he joined Jarlath to talk about is journey from Dublin to Manchester United. No stone is left unturned as Paul opens up about the demons he has faced throughout his entire life.    Paul also explains how being the ‘black sheep’ at Manchester United saw him start out as an outsider but eventually find a kindred...

In perhaps her most open and honest interview to date, actress/writer/designer Amy Huberman speaks to Jarlath about her unusual up-bringing (8:00) and how constant rejection has paved the way for her success (13:00). Having acted in The Clinic for seven series, listener’s will be surprised to hear the fascinating story of how she was working in coffee shops in London during that period (51:00). Am...

Sharon Horgan is a BAFTA award-winning writer, actress and producer who’s outstanding work includes shows such as ‘Pulling’, ‘Catastrophe’ and the upcoming HBO series ’Divorce’ starring Sarah Jessica Parker. This week Sharon joined Jarlath three years after her first Irishman Abroad appearance to discuss the whirlwind journey that she has been on since they first met.    Sharon describes her worki...

In the most anticipated episode of the series Brian O'Driscoll joins Jarlath for an open and brutally honest discussion about success, failure, personal strength, fame, self-doubt and of course Conor McGregor. Brian explains to Jarlath how rugby turned him into the man he is, why even a world champion isn't immune to a slump in confidence, how he overcame the toughest period of his career while al...

This week Ireland's fastest rising musician and Grammy-nominated artist Andrew Hozier Byrne met Jarlath for an insightful chat about his journey which many people will be surprised to hear began with him being spotted by Louis Walsh at a school talent show. Hozier opens up about his admiration for his parents, the music he has never shared, that difficult Gay Byrne interview, his struggles at Trin...

This week multi award-winning writer/comic/actor Aisling Bea joins Jarlath to discuss her meteoric rise to the top of the comedy industry. Today she is known for her stand out performances on Live At The Apollo, QI, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Dead Boss, Trollied and The Delivery Man but in this candid conversation she tells Jar about the many failures that she believes paved the way. It's a hilarious and h...