How to be Irish

Support this podcast / buy me a coffee! In this episode, I chat with Regina Sexton, Ireland’s leading food and culinary historian, all about the history of Irish food. We chat about: Irish heritage dishes and the reason why we don’t seem to have as many as other nations why our cuisine is perceived as bland what we used to eat both pre- and post-famine how the famine may have affected our eating h...

In this episode, Úna Harty interviews Gemma McSherry, a journalist, author and content creator from the North of Ireland. They discuss Gemma's upbringing in a divided society, her experiences with fundamentalist religion, and the cultural phenomenon of 'coffee shop Christians.' Gemma shares insights from her forthcoming book, which reflects on growing up in a conservative small town in...

In this episode, Úna speaks with Leon Diop, about his experiences of growing up in Tallaght as a mixed race. We cover race, ethnicity, family dynamics and class in this emotional conversation where Leon shares the difficulties he faced during his childhood and teenage years, and how he turned his life around, all while grappling with his mixed race identity. We discuss: Racism in Ireland His relat...

In this lighter episode of How to be Irish Úna welcomes freelance journalist Kate Demolder to explore iconic moments in Irish pop culture from the 1980s to today, and how they shape Irishness and what it means to be Irish. From the bold actions of Virgin Megastore in the '80s to the unforgettable Sinead O'Connor moment on SNL, and the rise of Irish talent in the 2020s, Úna and Kate delve i...

Independents, referendums, the single transferable vote - a few of the idiosyncrasies of the Irish political system that we sometimes take for granted. This week I chat to Professor in the Department of the Government and Politics in UCC, Dr Theresa Reidy, about the unique aspects of the Irish political landscape. Theresa is an expert in how Irish people cast their votes in elections and referendu...

In this episode, we explore the rich history of the Lecale Peninsula with guest Duane Fitzsimons, who delves into the Norman invasion of Ireland, the significance of Dublin as a separate kingdom, and the historical importance of Downpatrick, County Down. The conversation also touches on cultural connections between Ireland and Portugal, the political landscape of Ireland during the Norman period,...

In this episode of How to Be Irish, Cónal Creedon, an award-winning novelist and filmmaker, shares his deep connection to Cork and how it has shaped his creative journey. He discusses the influence of his upbringing in a bustling family shop, the importance of storytelling, and his transition from documentary filmmaking to writing. Cónal reflects on Cork's cultural evolution, the significance...

"We walk past remnants of our past every day without noticing." Our ancestors left echoes of themselves all around us, if we only know where to look and how to interpret the signs. These remnants lie all over Ireland, telling us of the lives they once touched and understanding their story roots our knowledge in the foundations of our society and the customs that have shaped the Irish peo...

Have you ever heard of Clothilde Graves? What about Sister Concepta? Roesia de Verdun? Or how about Lady Ranelagh? These are just some of the Irish women that journalist and bestselling author Clodagh Finn has written about. In this episode of 'How to Be Irish,' Clodagh shares the stories of significant Irish women throughout Irish history, from the early medieval period to the last centur...

In the last four years, a quiet revival has been taking place: the revival of Irish stonelifting. Andy Downes is one of those who has helped to bring back this lost Irish tradition. In this first episode of Season 2 of How to be Irish, I speak with Andy of Irish Historic Stonelifting, who explains how he and others have rediscovered 47 stones in the last four years. Through analysis of the Dúchas...

In this episode of How to be Irish , I sit down with Amano Miura —a multidisciplinary artist, songwriter, and sean-nós singer from Killarney, Co. Kerry. Born in Kyūshū, Japan, and raised in Ireland, Amano explores the thresholds where cultures divide or dissolve, weaving Irish and Japanese folk traditions with contemporary sounds across folk, pop, sean-nós, and spoken word. We dive into: Her journ...

This week, I’m chatting with Sian Conway, an award-winning Dublin-based food writer, TikTok creator, and freelance content queen. Sian brings her unique perspective on Irish culture, modern food trends, and life as a neurodivergent creator to this conversation. We chat about: Navigating Irish identity and building an authentic online presence. The role of TikTok in self-expression, learning, and d...

In this special end-of-year episode, I’m joined by RTÉ reporter and broadcaster Sheila Naughton as we reflect on Ireland’s most impactful news stories of 2024. From moments of pride like Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win to pivotal societal shifts such as the Stardust inquest and Ireland’s legal actions against the UK’s Legacy Act, this episode dives deep into the events that shaped Irish culture and soc...

Why is Ireland’s biodiversity in such a dire state? Are we projecting an incorrect image of our green nation? What would happen if we re-introduced bears or wolves? Why should we stop hiking and start exploring? In this episode of How to be Irish , I sit down with Soil Boy to explore Ireland’s deep but often fraught connection to nature. From the biodiversity crisis to the cultural significance of...

Belonging is a fundamental human need—but how does this concept play out in the context of Irish society? In this episode, I’m joined by social psychologist, social entrepreneur, and founder of ⁠ Gorm Media⁠ , Mamobo Ogoro , to explore the nuances of identity, cultural belonging, and diversity in modern Ireland. Mamobo shares insights from her research and work in intercultural consultancy, unpack...

What is important to our young people as we head to the polls for the General Election? Jenny Maguire is the President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union, a union which represents nearly 20,000 students.  This episode discusses the power of political movements, transgender healthcare, how the Irish language is high on the list of priorities for students, and leveraging your Irishness for co...

What does an interaction with an Irish fairy look and feel like? How do we connect with Ireland’s Neolithic and sacred sites? Were our ancestors supernatural beings? We’re ten episodes in and this one will definitely get you thinking! Bobbo the Bard is a musician, poet, and author who travels around Ireland, connecting with ancient sacred sites. Through these experiences, he has had multiple inter...

Why did the Irish language start to decline? Why should we be interested in learning Gaeilge? How can you go about bringing more Irish into your everyday life? Saoirse Garet is a voice facilitator and accent coach who has recently researched the Irish language and vocal identity. In this episode, Saoirse and I discuss how the loss of Irish has affected Irish vocal identity in our connection to our...

Are the Irish repressed emotionally? How has our history impacted our soma? How are the young people in Ireland working to heal themselves for their future ancestors today? Caoimhe Gibney, aka The Mindful Physio and founder of the ANAM Collective, facilitates and runs healing retreats. Through her work with Irish people, she has discovered that we all hold a deep sadness within ourselves. In this...

Why did Ireland undergo so much societal change in the 1990s and 2000s? What was it like to be a young woman or a member of the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland in the late 20th century? What are the issues we should be focusing on next in Irish society? Ailbhe Smyth is an LGBTIQA and feminist activist, campaigner. She was co-director of the Together for Yes campaign to repeal the 8th amendment in 2018...

Who are the people of Ireland? How did they spend their days hundreds and thousands of years ago? How were they perceived and what beliefs did they have? Emilie O’Driscoll is a content creator who focuses on the topic of the ancient Irish people and their mythology. Join us in the How to be Irish studio this week where we discuss: What Ireland looked like before colonisation. Where Halloween gets...

TW for this episode: Suicide, Mental Illness Daragh Fleming is a multi-award-winning poet and author who uses his art to explore and heal mental health and mental illness. Daragh shares his deeply personal journey, starting with the devastating loss of his best friend to suicide at age 17, and continuing through his own struggles with depression in his early 20s. He opens up about how writing beca...

Hannah Nash is the host of ⁠⁠Greener Fields⁠⁠ , a podcast about the realities of life in your 20s and 30s, a time often associated with emigration for Irish people. Having recorded nearly 90 episodes (and counting), Hannah reflects on what she has learned from speaking to so many young Irish people and their choice to emigrate, come home or stay in Ireland, a choice that is often the least likely!...

Rob O’Donnell is an exciting new voice on the Irish political scene. He’s a Green Party candidate for Limerick County. In this episode, we chat about climate change and our supposed grá for the land (road frontage etc.!), about local politics and the shift we’re noticing in how people perceive rural Ireland and the Irish language since the pandemic. Rob also spent time volunteering in the West Ban...

John McDonagh is quite the character. He’s an Irish-American born in New York, went to school and lived in Donegal for periods of his life and had been driving a yellow taxi for the past 40 years. His colourful background in the arts and political activism has left him with a treasure trove of stories about the FBI, Guinness and the Troubles. John has kindly joined me for my first-ever chat for ‘H...