Our Man In Stockholm

Andrew McGarry first left Longford for Dublin, and then Ireland for Australia as his mother's career in journalism took them to the other side of the world, and despite her protestations he followed her into the trade, He has spent three decades working in Australian media, starting at the lowest level and working himself up to the heights of sport and a live Eurovision blog that is one of the...

This week physiotherapist Jessica Stokes Diehn joins me to talk about how her practice is now focused solely on the wellbeing of women, particularly those who are or have been pregnant. Jessica talks about how she met her Irish husband in the wonderful environs of Wirströms Pub in Gamla Stan, getting her degree in Luleå and going on to realise that women were very much under-served when it comes t...

What happens when an Irish person dies abroad? How can they be brought home, and what can families do if they can't foot the bill? The answer is the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, set up by Colin Bell and his family to remember their son Kevin, who was killed in a hit and run accident in America. The trust has helped to repatriate almost 1600 Irish people who have passed away abroad, and they...

This week we're joined by Eoin O'Connor to pay tribute to Aslan singer Christy Dignam, who passed away this week, with a special episode remembering their epic gig at Stockholm's Liffey pub. There's also a review of the visit of Gävle GAA to Stockholm on Saturday, and how the capital's camógs are set for a starring role in an upcoming show on TG4!

London-based Barry Glendenning is one of Ireland's best-known sports journalists and his live blogs and podcasting for the website of the Guardian newspaper have made him a household name among soccer and sports fans around the world. We talked about his need to get out of UCD, stand-up comedy and becoming a hugely successful journalist despite not having a plan at all.

Like many Irish people, Dubliner Emma Patterson only came here for a brief stay, but ended up here (almost!) permanently! She came into the studio to talk about her work with public health and nutrition, the Swedish-Irish Society, kayaking and the value of community organisations.

This week we visit Ivan Keane of Keane Brewing on Lidingö to talk about running a microbrewery in Sweden, how the wrong label can stop your beer ever getting produced, and what the future might hold for how alcohol is sold in what has previously been one of the most tightly-controlled markets in the world. Make sure to follow Keane Brewing on social media and consider booking a trip there for your...

For decades the heroics of Irish explorer Tom Crean flew beneath the radar, but in recent years tales of his exploits in the South Pole have come to the fore thanks to fans and writers like Tim Foley. Tim's dad came from the same part of Kerry as Crean, and a youthful curiosity about him turned into a campaign to have him remembered and a book describing Crean's incredible adventures. http...

Shannon Lynn was a successful pro soccer player playing in the Swedish top flight and representing Scotland at the World Cup, but deep down, she never thought she was good enough. The sudden, traumatic death of the woman she described as "the love of my life" exacerbated her mental health issues, leading her down a dark path of self-medication with alcohol that almost ruined her. But it...

Aoife Gallagher's new book "Web of Lies" dives deep into the subject of how easy it is to go down the rabbit hole of compelling online conspiracy theories that can lead to us becoming radicalised, particularly into far-right politics. Aoife talks about the kinds of conspiracy theories that are out there, the different ecosystems and echo chambers that exist, and how Covid changed the...

Anna Sivenius Rattigan has a new book out in Swedish called "Odödlig Jord" and this week she joined me on the podcast to talk about how falling in love with a Meathman and Ireland in general has shaped her telling of this fantastic tale! You can contact Anna on Instagram for a signed copy here: https://www.instagram.com/anna_sivenius_rattigan_author Or you can order the book directly fro...

Brian Shelley is one of the finest defenders ever to grace the League oF Ireland, but after two of the clubs he played for fell into financial difficulties and couldn't honour his contracts, he upped sticks and moved to Australia. A jump to New Zealand followed and the Dubliner and his family are now thriving on the other side of the world - and he's still in the game that brought him ther...

Claire O'Halloran's new Iníoní gastro bar on Timmermansgatan is already winning rave reviews for its brilliant food and intimate atmosphere, so I dropped by to find out about Ireland's latest culinary success in the Swedish capital! For details on how to book, follow their Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/inionirestaurant/

While travelling the world to train and learn about various different kinds of wrestling, Irishman Ruadhán McFadden discovered that Ireland had it's very own style, and he is determined to bring it back. In fact, Irish Collar & Elbow wrestling was once one of the most popular forms of the sport, and his book on the subject has re-awoken a grappling culture that had almost disappeared, and...

Dubliner Gavin Boland joins the podcast this week to talk about moving to Sweden and his job as global innovation manager for one of Sweden's most iconic brands - Absolut Vodka. There's also a reminder about Gary Lavelle's Three Peaks For Gearóid's Smile GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/amazing-gearoids-three-peak-challenge-sweden) and a request for support for Graham "Reg...

Once again Irish artists are making a splash at the Supermarket Art Fair, which this year is taking place at Stadsgårdsterminalen in Slussen. I took the chance to drop by and talk to the Irish contingent featuring Niamh Brown of Ormston House who has brought over Belfast-based painter Jennifer Trouton, and Alannah Robins, whose Interface outfit has brought over Galway-based Noel Arrigan and Ian Wi...

This week's podcast goes behind the scenes at Landvetter Airport as Irish wheelchair user Adrian Keogh had to crawl down the steps when assistance didn't arrive in time, and the wonderful Gary Lavelle talks construction, integration and why he's hiking up three peaks in Åre at the end of May för the Gearóid's Smile charity - you can donate here and provide respite for sick children...

This week Zack Elbouzedi and I paid a visit to Dan Hickey's new IMPA golf centre out in Arlandastad, and Michelle Cotter joined me to talk about her plans for camogie in the capital!

Paul Ward was just 17 when his family moved across the Atlantic to Wisconsin, and decades later he is aiming to bring as many people back to Ireland with him as he organises a tour to the Emerald Isle. Paul never lost the love of his native land and in October he hopes to proudly show it to a group of guests who will join him on a journey with a difference - through the Ireland Paul knows and love...

The last few years have been a remarkable success for Enterprise Ireland, and this week I'm joined by Darragh O'Carroll to talk about his work opening doors to big deals for Irish companies in the Nordic region, and how he made a life for himself here. I'm also joined by Edy Fung to talk about "Technopoesis", a performance that will feature Irish artists using sound, light, s...

This week's podcast takes us to Brussels, where Meathman Seán Ryan is leveraging the power of social media to bring Gaelic games to a global audience. His "A Day In The Life Of A European Gaelic Footballer" video has been viewed over 200,000 times, and Seán believes that the likes of TikTok, Instagram and YouTube will be key to growing the games around the world. You can watch the vi...

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds from a wonderful day of Gaelic football at Limhamnsfältet in Malmö where the first tournament of the year took place on Saturday.

Back after the Easter break, and there's plenty of community news, especially from a musical and sporting perspective. There's also a long chat with the magnificent Billy Chaney, a barber-turned-artist from Dublin who is now living his best life in Stockholm, creating as he goes. The first Gaelic football tournament of the year takes place in Malmö on April 22, and there's an open sess...

As the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is celebrated with a visit from American president Joe Biden, we go behind the pomp and ceremony with Derry-born journalist Aoife Grace Moore to talk about what has really happened in the last two decades - is this peace, or just an absence of violence? How have things changed for those living there? And are we any closer to becoming "a nat...

This week we meet two of the new board members for the Irish Chamber of Commerce In Sweden (one of whom you know already!), and the hugely talented Grace O'Malley drops by the studio to talk about her involvement in amateur drama group Spuds & Sill and their upcoming production of Brian Friel's "Dancing At Lughnasa" in Stockholm.