The Ireland Podcast

Episode 54 continues with more incredible rock'n'roll stories from the road with Pierce Turner as well as him talking about his new Tarantino-esque single 'Hail Glorious Glorious Saint Patrick' out on StorySound Records. Conversation includes: Christy Moore’s track ‘The Way Pierce Turner Sings’; Christy Moore’s sense of humour; playing Carnegie Hall with Philip Glass as part of the Tibet House Ben...

Episode 53 is a joyful chat with singer songwriter Pierce Turner who has written music for Christy Moore as well as having worked with the producer of The Band, John Simon. Conversation includes: introductions; being in a duo with Larry Kirwan from Black 47 and moving to USA together; early years as ‘Turner and Kirwan from Wexford’; touring with UB40 as ‘The Major Thinkers’; Philip Glass prod...

Part 2 of the conversation with Fender Jackson, Gary Monroe takes us through the Galway Folk Festival and going on tour with Sharon Shannon and a mingle in between the horses. First Half Topics include: Galway Folk Festival; Peter O’Sullivan; getting the festival up and running; Damien from Cuppa Tea TV; Paul Murphy; programming a festival; Mec Lir; Talask; Seán Keane; Johnny Broderick; Ímar;&nbsp...

In this special episode, we celebrate the unforgettable 'Thank You, Johnny' concert held at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024. Host Fender Jackson takes listeners on a journey through this extraordinary evening, where legendary musicians gathered to honour the pioneering artist Johnny Moynihan: the man who introduced the bouzouki to Irish music! Joined by Johnny's old fr...

In this episode of The Ireland Podcast with Gary Monroe, listeners are transported to the vibrant city of Galway, where Monroe's Tavern holds court as a beloved establishment. Host Gary Monroe shares the history and charm of Monroe's Tavern, a cultural cornerstone in the heart of Galway known for its lively atmosphere and warm hospitality. The episode takes on a deeper resonance as Gary reflects o...

Episode 49 takes us to Biloxi, Mississippi in the USA for a chat with the delightful daughter of Derry: Mairéad Carlin of Celtic Woman. Despite the geographical distance between Fender and Mairéad the chat is rather homely given that Fender also comes from Derry. Conversation includes: introductions; the history of Celtic Woman; Mairéad’s personal journey into Celtic Woman; Hugo Carlin and the Tre...

Episode 48 is with Sinéad Reel who takes us from understanding the basics of Ladies Gaelic football through to more detailed analysis and ending on a surreal note! Conversation includes: Gaelic vs. Soccer; LGFA vs. GAA; the rules; finances; the facilities; different pitch sizes; drainage systems on pitches; the popularity of the LGFA game; getting (back) into the game; Gaelic 4 Mothers &...

Episode 47 is the second part of a conversation with composer Fiachra Trench who has arranged music for The Corrs, Paul Brady, Kevin Rowland, Philip Lynott, Thin Lizzy, Elvis Costello, Hans Zimmer, Michael Kamen, Finbar Furey, Altan, Paul McCartney(!), Carmel McCreagh(!!) and many, many more. Conversation includes Elvis Costello’s ‘Harpies Bizarre’; working with The Corrs and Mitchell Froom; worki...

Conversation includes: early life; music lessons; computer games; first gigs; working on ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ by Boomtown Rats with producer Phil Wainman; adding “sweetening” as an arranger; seeing and hearing as an arranger; inspiration vs. plagiarism; working on ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ and the oboe version; Fiachra’s method of arranging; working on ‘Fairytale Of New York’; the influence of Enn...

Episode 45 is a conversation largely framed around the poetry of James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Kennelly with singer and raconteur Noel O’Grady. Conversation includes: introductions; Noel’s 35 years in the army; President Michael D. Higgins; Bloomsday; John McCormack; W.B.Yeats; James Joyce’s singing voice; Eileen Joyce; "the tyranny of the metronome"; Con Houlihan who spoke “English on...

Episode 44 is with Yoga, Breath, Meditation, Pilates Teacher and Workplace Wellbeing Specialist Sinéad McKiernan. Sinéad McKiernan in conversation talking about services offered, Yoga’s popularity in Galway and the world, Mysore, India, anxiety attacks, being true to oneself, panic disorders, agoraphobia, the health benefits of yoga, which yoga style suits which people, the pressures put upon the...

Episode 43 is a wide ranging interview with the General Manager of Galway Golf Club: Niall McGahon. Discussion includes how Niall got the position, his mentor Michael Moss, peer assists, the club’s size, managing the wishes of 1400 adult members, Justin Rose, modernising a golf club with so much history, Niall's first gold club aged 4, Sammy Hempel, Alan Hunter, the mid-Atlantic accent, Ricky Elli...

Conversation with Dr. Kevin Lynch from University of Galway about the effects of nature on Galway and the west coast of Ireland and what we can do about it. Three calls to action: Stay off the sand dunes Get involved in the planning for tackling flooding Become a volunteer and turn up to events Visit Kevin's Blog dunes.ie for more info. #coast #coastalgeomorphologist #coastalgeomorphology #ge...

Episode 41 is a conversation which was published on The Galway Podcast between All Ireland football champions Roisín Reddington & Lauren O’Donnell with Fender Jackson. Conversation with our two youngest female guests where they discuss what it takes to become All Ireland champions. A truly inspirational conversation covering the early inspiration which motivated the girls getting into football...

Episode 40 is a special Mini Irish Lesson with the internet's favourite champion of the Irish language: Mollie from IrishWithMollie.com . Learn how to say "Happy Saint Patrick's Day" in Gaelic. (Gaelic is the Irish word for "Irish"!) Mollie breaks the phrase down so you can easily learn how to say: "Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!" which translates word-for-word as "Day festival Patrick happy to you....

Episode 39 is a conversation with Monsignor La Flynn, Prior of Lough Derg as Fender Jackson finds out about Saint Patrick attempting to separate the man from the myth. Conversation includes: introductions; Patrick’s origins; Patrick’s two texts; Patrick’s confession being an autobiography of sorts; the earliest full copies of the documents; Dabheog; placing Saint Patrick in historical time; the 19...

Episode 38 concludes Paul Charles series of March 2024 by focusing mainly on his writing as well as Paul's friendship with Rory Gallagher. Conversation includes: early writing career with City Week and Thursday magazine covering people like Rod Stewart; writing articles for Hotpress on people like John Prine; writing articles on the Wrecking Crew; writing crime novels; storytelling vs. writing; 'A...

Episode 37 is the penultimate episode of the Paul Charles series of March 2024. Conversation includes: the organic nature vs the strategic nature of growing acts; Elvis Costello; prolonging careers vs. catching career; Paul Casey & Friends feat. Terri Hooley perform 'In The Days Before Rock 'n' Roll’; Niall Stokes from Hot Press; Tom Waits’ Glitter & Doom Tour; Casey Waits; The Beatles’ Ma...

Episode 36 includes Paul Charles' dealings with Christy Moore, Paul Brady, Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan. Conversation includes: the performing abilities and character of Christy Moore; Declan Sinnott; early dealings with Christy; working with Paul Brady; Loudon Wainwright III; Lisdoonvarna Festival; The Boys Of The Lough; Paul Cummins and Dire Straits; Hard Station; Hugh Murphy; Don McLean; Stev...

Episode 35 is the first of three parts charting the meteoric rise of Paul Charles from a small village in Northern Ireland to being one of the biggest music agents on the planet. Conversation includes: introductions; early days in Magherafelt, County Derry/Londonderry; Vince McCusker and The Blues by Five; Dixie Kerr & The Breakaway Showband; entering show business from Magherafelt; moving to...

Episode 34 is an interview with Woman Candidate Master Úna O Boyle conducted by the most important interviewers yet to appear on The Ireland Podcast. Conversation includes: introductions; early years of chess; becoming a Women’s Candidate Master; tricks; over the board vs. online; how they learnt how to play chess; hyperactivity and chess; Sonia O’Sullivan; the basic principles of chess; the openi...

Episode 33 is a conversation with Aonghus O'Flaherty who is the son of Colie O'Flaherty and one of the key family members of a jewel in the musical crown of Galway: Tig Choili. This interview was recorded on 18th January 2024 and was initially planned to be published on The Galway Podcast, however, through reflection it was deemed too invaluable a conversation not to air on The Ireland Podcast. Co...

Episode 32 is a celebration of St David’s Day through a conversation with Fender Jackson’s Welsh friend Akira The Don. Akira is a successful musical artist who has come up with his own genre which he calls “Meaningwave” – a fusion of wave music with meaningful lyrical content and lo-fi hip-hop. Conversation includes: introductions; St David’s Day vs St Patrick’s Day; Phil Lynott; Akira’s early lif...

Warning: This episode has strong language! Episode 31 is Andy singing a song called One Midsummer’s Day. The roots of this track actually lie in Arthur McBride and Andy explains all about it. This is a bonus episode and therefore it is only seven minutes in duration. Relevant Links https://www.andyirvine.com Additional Links Arthur McBride Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Episode 30 is a chat with another living legend: Andy Irvine. Andy has played with Sweeney's Men, Planxty, Patrick Street, Mozaik, LAPD and Usher's Island. As a duo Andy has teamed up with Dónal Lunny, Paul Brady, Mick Hanly, Dick Gaughan, Rens van der Zalm, and Luke Plumb Conversation includes: Phil Coulter; Des Kelly; the Planxty deal; the dancehall gigs; the first Planxty gig; Johnny Moyni...