Kilcullen Diary

Reviving memories from my late teens, with a visit to the Kennedy Homestead and John F Kennedy Memorial Park & Arboretum in County Wexford, Ireland. Produced by Brian Byrne. This podcast is also available as a Youtube video with visuals - https://youtu.be/CFL0G4xYnSE

If you take the tour of the Teeling Distillery in Dublin's Liberties, you might be very lucky and have the family's patriarch, John Teeling, kick off the visit. Because when it comes to making whiskey in Ireland, there's probably no one who knows more about it. A Summer Cast podcast episode, produced by Brian Byrne.

Have you got a Mystery Trail in your town or village? If you have, it means that Pat and Karen Gillick have been there, setting up a murder mystery or a mission impossible as a way for you or anyone else to explore your place. A Summer Cast podcast episode, produced by Brian Byrne.

Skunk Cabbage doesn't sound like something you'd like to have on your dinner plate ... and indeed it certainly isn't. But it is an invasive plant species that has the potential to damage river systems. A pilot project on the Liffey by Kilcullen resident and ecologist Dr Jan Baars is working out a plan to deal with it. A Summer Cast podcast episode, produced by Brian Byrne.

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Monday the 31st of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Richard Lovell Edgeworth, an inventor and educator before his time. Our Feature of the Day is a conversation with Fiona Billie Lawlor about her first novel, The Callow Land. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national online news outlets. Produced...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Friday the 28th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is the writer and producer James Plunkett, whose most famous work is the novel Strumpet City. Our Feature of the Day returns to the Marian Shrine at Knock and a final extract from my conversations with the late Monsignor James Horan. We also nod to the stories of the day...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Thursday the 27th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Robert Ripley, who invented the Believe it or Not cartoon series. Our Feature of the Day is on the Battle of Old Kilcullen, which was in progress during this week in 1798. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national online news outlets. Produced...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Wednesday the 26th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Martin Luther, the German priest who started the Reformation that gave the world Protestantism. Our Feature of the Day continues the proposed Dunnstown Energy Storage project, this time with the view from the developer's side. We also nod to the stories of the day...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Tuesday the 25th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Helen Blackburn, the Kerry-born woman who became a leader of women's rights in England in the latter 19th century. Our Feature of the Day is about concerns in Dunnstown over plans to locate a giant battery electricity storage system in the area. We also nod to the st...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Monday the 24th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Lys Assia, who sang the winning song in the first Eurovision Song Contest. Our Feature of the Day is some more recollections from a conversation with the late Tommy Byrne, on hors-drawn hearses and making ice-slides on the bridge. We also nod to the stories of the day...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Friday the 21st of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and a lifelong social justice campaigner. Our Feature of the Day is on concerns about the health of the River Liffey, with Simon Dann of the Kilcullen Trout and Salmon Anglers Association. We also nod to the stories of the da...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Thursday the 20th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Our Feature of the Day is on concerns about new speed limits proposed for the Kilcullen area, with contributions from Cllrs Tracey O'Dwyer and Chris Pender. We also nod to the stories of the da...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Wednesday the 19th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Anne Boleyn, who lost her head and changed religion in England. Our Feature of the Day is on the joys of growing your own food, as told by Sabina Reddy. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national online news outlets. Produced by Brian Byrne.

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Tuesday the 18th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Pope John Paul II, the first pope to visit Ireland. Our Feature of the Day is the late Simon Doyle of Kilcullen, in conversation with Nuala Collins in 1996. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national online news outlets. Produced by Brian Byrne.

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Monday the 17th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Maureen O'Sullivan, a Boyle-born actor famous for her Tarzan movies. Our Feature of the Day is a talk with Mario Corrigan, co-author of 'A Timeline of the War of Independence in County Kildare, 1919-1922'. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and nationa...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day on Friday the 14th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Richard Cantillon, an Irish-born banker who made a killing in the 18th century on a speculative investment 'bubble', and later disappeared. Our Feature of the Day is again with the late Canon James Horan, this time his thoughts on the apparent apparitions and miracles...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Thursday the 13th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Arthur Sullivan, Victorian composer and collaborator in producing the most enduring comic operas. Our Feature of the Day is the late Canon James Horan reflecting on the building of the Basilica at Knock. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and nation...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Wednesday the 12th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing as a trained profession. Our Feature of the Day is on the Cross & Passion TY year musical presentation, Little Shop of Horrors. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national online news outlets. Produc...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Tuesday the 11th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Sean Lemass, described often as the father of modern Ireland. Our Feature of the Day is on Halverstown Cricket Club, celebrating 136 years in 2021. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national news outlets. Produced by Brian Byrne.

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Monday the 10th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Bert Weedon, who helped make the guitar the rock and roll weapon of choice. Our Feature of the Day is on summer eye care, with optometrist Nichola Kennedy. We also nod to the stories of the day in our local and national news outlets. Produced by Brian Byrne.

A playback of short excerpts from The Daily Cast during the past week. We hear recollections of traffic and transport in Kilcullen in the 20s and 30s, the ethos of the small rural school in Brannockstown, and how the annual Mac and Norman Rally is supported from far and wide. Produced by Brian Byrne.

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Friday the 7th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Rachel Carson, American marine biologist, author, and environmentalist. Our Feature of the Day is another extract from my 1984 conversation with my late uncle Tommy Byrne, about cars, bicycles and trains and Kilcullen in his younger days. We also briefly nod to the st...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Thursday the 6th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Robert O'Hara Burke, an Irish explorer who didn't do so well. Our Feature of the Day is about the hopes for a resumption of the Mac & Norman Rally in August, after last year's pandemic cancellation. As usual we also briefly nod to the stories of the day in our local...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Wednesday the 5th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Kate O'Brien, writer and feminist. Our Feature of the Day is about Brannoxtown Community National School's first three years, recalled by Principal Sarah Fitzpatrick. As usual we also briefly nod to the stories of the day in our local and national news outlets. Pro...

The Daily Cast on Kilcullen Diary, a podcast to start Kilcullen's day, on Tuesday the 4th of May 2021. Today's Person of Interest is Charles Williams, the Irish-born early war correspondent. Our Feature of the Day is on traffic and transport in Kilcullen in the 1930s, as remembered by the late Tommy Byrne. As usual we also briefly nod to the stories of the day in our local and national news outlet...