Creative Souls of Clare

Martin Hayes is a renowned Irish fiddler from Feakle who is known for his distinctive and soulful style that blends traditional Irish music with innovative interpretations. An iconic figure in Irish music, Hayes has won multiple All-Ireland Fiddle Championships and is celebrated for his contributions to the genre through his work with the acclaimed group The Gloaming among his many other projects...

Jessie Lendennie is a legendary figure in the world of poetry and publishing. Originally from Arkansas in the US now living near the Cliffs of Moher, she moved to Ireland in 1981 and co-founded Salmon Poetry, which has published over 700 volumes of poetry, well as a select list of literary criticism, drama, fiction, memoir and essays. Jessie has played a pivotal role in Irish poetry for over 40 ye...

Steo Wall is a well-known songwriter and musician who lives near Miltown Malbay. Steo has released two critically acclaimed albums, performed on the RTE Tommy Tiernan show, the Late Late show and Ireland’s Favourite Folk song. He has also been shortlisted for a RTÉ Radio1 Folk Award and performed at major festivals around the country.  Steo’s music is deeply influenced by his difficult early years...

Áine Tyrrell is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist musician who grew up in Ballyvaughan and in Galway. She’s been living in Australia for over a decade now where she has toured extensively, worked closely with Indigenous artists, and developed a reputation as a fiercely grassroots and independent artist who is a powerhouse live performer. This podcast is also available to watch as a vi...

Kieron Concannon is an Ogonolloe-based multi-instrumentalist, musician,  martial artist, ethnomusicologist, sound healer, writer, composer and producer. Kieron grew up in Irish family in the English midlands. He worked in his father’s construction business before branching off to become a teacher. He later became more immersed in the world of music, including soul and Irish traditional music, and...

Olga Profutkina is a visual artist living in Shannon and working with storytelling ideas through different materials and techniques including such rare art form as doll-making. Olga is originally from Russia and has a degree in Fashion Design from Limerick School of Art and Design and also has an MA in Fine Art. For many years Olga has been involved in costume making for film and theatre, working...

Daithí Ó Drónaí is an acclaimed Ballyvaughan producer, composer and festival curator who first became well known for producing electronic music inspired by Irish culture under the artist name 'Daithí'. Alongside Paul Noonan from Bellx1, Daith is one-half of the Houseplants band and curator of the Common Threads music and art festival. Daithi is also increasingly working on scores for fil...

Áine O'Brien is a conceptual artist, actress, curator, singer, songwriter, musician, and performer based in Kilfenora. Her childhood was steeped in the tradition of storytelling, and she continues this art through her many different creative mediums. Aine is presently collaborating with a troupe of Irish musicians, dancers, singers, and actors to explore the Clare archive of collected songs,...

Dora is a force of nature. She’s a singer, songwriter, musician and dancer living in Lahinch. Dora moved to Ireland from Poland as a teenager and she shares some of her journey around this in what is a very rich conversation which includes her views on why authenticity is so important to Dora in her journey. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as an audio podc...

David is a singer-songwriter from Shannon who oozes music and musicality. He has 5 studio albums to his name and he also has a rich and fascinating background in bringing music into youth and community settings, including care homes. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video podcast on YouTube at https://youtu.be/h831HLYJAkU This podcast is also available...

Nóirin is a singer and songwriter living in Spanish Point on the west coast of Clare. Nóirin is deeply immersed in the Irish folk tradition and has two albums out in the world. She’s also a great community person and as you’ll hear now, works hard to help create spaces for people to come together to connect with each other, and with themselves. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare a...

Originally from Kildare, Miltown Malbay-based Pat is a stalwart of the music scene around Clare, especially North West Clare. He is the co-founder of Anam Music, which hosts great intimate gigs for music lovers and he also runs Pat Ryan Music Services which helps artists with a range of administrative and operational supports. Pat has also recently ventured into the world of songwriting and he has...

Ennis-based Deirdre is a writer of poetry, prose and songs. Deirdre has been published extensively and has a very strong and clear voice on social issues. She’s had a fascinating journey along the way including 2 years in a Buddhist Monastery in LA. We talk about this and so much more in this fascinating chat. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video pod...

Based near Inagh Harrison is a Co-Founder of Common Knowledge, a new non-profit organisation that is making waves. Common Knowledge focuses on sharing skills for a sustainable life. Originally from Australia, Harrison has worked all over the world and is particularly focused on how building and construction creates and nourishes not just houses, but homes, communities, lives, and relationships. He...

Originally from California, Tara is a writer living and working in north Clare, a place she truly loves. Writing has always been a great passion of Tara’s, something that helps her explore her emotional world and the world around her. In this episode, she shares with me how after considerable challenges in her youth she ended up joining the US military at the time of the Iraq war. She talks openly...

Matthew is an Australian-Irish ex-indie rocker, improviser, composer, thinker and performer. Originally from Brisbane and now living in East Clare, he’s particularly well known for his devotion to Indian classical music which he brings to a range of disciplines including Irish traditional music, free improvisation and electroacoustic music. Matthew is also a scholar with a PhD and recently took up...

Ceara Conway is an Irish Contemporary Vocalist and Visual Artist based in the Courthouse Studios in Ennistymon. She also works with the Clare Arts Office as a coordinator ( Arts and Disability and Artists in Schools ) and also as Creative Associate with the Arts Council. So plenty to discuss when it comes to art, culture and creativity in the banner county. Well worth checking out this conversatio...

Ruth Marshall in conversation with Ruairí McKiernan. Ruth is a poet, author, storyteller and crafter living in East Clare. Originally from Scotland, Ruth is passionate weaver between the worlds of arts, culture and heritage. She’s the author of Celebrating Irish Festivals about the traditional Irish seasonal festivals, Clare folk tales and Limerick folk tales and her first book of poetry is making...

Aisling Drennan on Creative Souls of Clare podcast with Ruairí McKiernan. Aisling Drennan is an award-winning abstract artist from Lisdoonvarna who has been blazing a trail in the London art world for several years. Before focusing entirely on her art, Aisling toured the world as a dancer for Riverdance. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and chec...

Miltown-Malbay singer-songwriter Shona Blake on Creative Souls of Clare podcast (audio/video). Shona's debut album is called Explore and is well worth checking out and her next album, A Woman Knows, is out very soon. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks to Creative Ireland...

Ken O'Sullivan with Ruairí McKiernan on Creative Souls of Clare podcast. Ken is a highly respected documentary film maker and author originally from Ennis and now living in Lahinch. Ken's excellent memoir is Stories from the Deep: Reflections on a Life Exploring Ireland's North Atlantic Waters. He is also the co-founder of Sea Fever Productions, which has made numerous acclaimed TV...

Mark O'Halloran is a multi-award winning writer and actor originally from Ennis, Co Clare. Mark has worked with all the major theatres in Ireland and is well known for his acclaimed films Adam and Paul, Garage, and Rialto as well as lots of other great work on stage and screen. Creative Souls of Clare is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and Clare County Council. All subscribes, shares and...

Sydney-based Miltown Malbay born poet Anne Casey on great new episode of the Creative Souls of Clare #podcast. Video versions + audio on all main podcast platforms www.pod.link/creativesouls & more coming soon. Anne is a multi award-winning poet and writer and a former journalist, magazine editor, and media communications director. She is the author of three acclaimed books of poetry published...

Enda Gallery is a songwriter, multi-intrumentalist musician and respected producer living near Kilfenora, Co Clare. He also spends a lot of his time in Berlin. Enda's acclaimed debut album is titled The Journey to Zero and it's well worth checking out, as are his collaborations and productions with numerous other artists. Find the video version of this episode on YouTube and Facebook. Lo...

Tony Griffin is a writer, speaker, co-founder of the Soar Foundation which does amazing youth empowerment work throughout Ireland, and he’s a former sports star who played hurling for his native County Clare and he is the recipient of a prestigious all-star award. I talk to Tony on the day his new book The Teenagers Book of Life is released into the world and we explore his own childhood and youth...