Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Sin Scéal Eile

Laura’s house seems very unassuming from the front, it’s one of a row of houses in a little estate in Ballintoy. When you’re on the doorstep and turn around, you can really see its value. It has one of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen, all the way to Rathlin and Fair Head gleaming in the sunshine. 

Laura is fun. Just straight up fun, positive, cheery and great to chat to. She’s a paramedic and explains that she comes face to face with mortality far more than most professions. To combat the negative impact of this, she hits the gym, feeds her hens, and perches at the top of her garden to take in the outstanding view. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, go to SinScealEile.com for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee (I’m “ruthlessimagery” on both accounts, or click the link on our website)

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex answered the door of her family home in rural Antrim in full cosplay, and it made my day. She’s a confident, chatty young woman, but she wasn’t always so outgoing. Since she found her tribe of cosplayers and gamers, she has totally come out of her shell. 

You’ll find her at conventions, in full cosplay attire, either on stage lip syncing, having some professional photos taken, or chatting with like minded friends. It seems like a beautiful way to spend the day and a very heartwarming hobby. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joyful, colourful, wonderful. Virtue is a Galway shop-keeper (but I really feel we should call her a shop-maker, as she makes a lot of things she sells). In her gorgeous shop on Dominick Street, she has a vibrant mix of Ghanian patterns, symbols and fabrics, paired with traditional Irish tweed and little dots of Gaeilge all around. 

Her ethos in the store is all about legacy and heritage. Making long lasting, high quality pieces, that not only tell a story, but can be handed down to the next generation. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Galway has a certain type of rain that feels wetter than anywhere else in Ireland. The streaks of thick rain flow sideways across the huge windows of Barry’s painting studio, which is nestled in the Connemara landscape. Everywhere I look, inside and out, there’s warm colours of rust, green and stone grey, both in his paintings, his outfit and outside the windows, all unmistakably Connemara. 

We talk through Barry’s process as an artist. He tends to wear two hats in life, one as a successful touring trad musician, the other as an equally successful painter, both roles influencing each other. Elements of nature seeping deep into every aspect of his work. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This project is an archive of 2026 and designed, not to serve me (the photographer) but you, the reader, the everyday people of Ireland. When Julie wrote to me and asked if she could use the project to remember her son, Zach, and record his name in print, I of course said yes. 

Zach was just 14 when he died in a road traffic accident. Julie tells me that he was a very chilled, compassionate and quiet boy. He was on the cusp of his true teenage years and just about to grow taller than his Dad (no mean feat at 6 foot 1).

We talk about grief and there's no amount of imagination that will ever let me comprehend the pain of losing a child. What I do understand though is that Julie is an incredibly strong person, who is braving each day and making sure her family are as happy as they possibly can be, and that Zach lives on through all of them.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Pat in his home in rural Galway and instantly I’m taken with his sense of style, not just in how he dresses but how he has decorated his home. It’s obvious it’s a home that appreciates art and music. He tells me what it was like being a teenager, leaving Dundalk and moving to Dublin at a time when he was too young to even get into bars. 

He’s lived a full life, 69 years of travelling, volunteering, playing music (even the odd bit of smoking weed) but he feels he’s kept young by his second wife (20 years his junior) and his beautiful kids. He now fills his days dishing out hot lunches to the kids in his daughter's primary school. 

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You can have a little listen to our full chat, just search for Sin Scéal Eile wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify etc) or at our website, SinScealEile.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aoife is lovely, calm, happy, and polite. All the things I could never be if I had been through what she has been through. She has suffered for over a decade with chronic Lyme disease, something she believes picked up while gardening in Galway. 

It seems such an innocuous start to an experience that has been both devastating and life-changing for her. The chronic form of Lyme disease that experts in Germany finally diagnosed her with isn’t formally recognised in Ireland and many other states. This means that patients in these countries have to battle to get the care they need, whilst also battling the debilitating fatigue that is a classic symptom of their condition. 

Her story makes me upset, angry and utterly concerned for the rest of the public who are, like I was, completely unaware of the damage that an untreated tick bite can do. With life on the move (and with a dog) we’ve been encouraged to learn more about safety measures we can take from here on in. Here’s a brief explainer from the HSE if you’d like to learn more.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who knew, that tucked away down a very unassuming wee road, in rural Galway, there would be a house, and behind the house, a cheese factory! 

Larry retired from the hustle and bustle in Dublin’s inner city, and migrated West with his wife Anne. Fascinated with the process of cheese making, Larry chipped in with a pal on some goats. He then got more goats, and more goats, until he had 64 of them, all being milked out the back of the house. 

His business boomed, winning food awards left right and centre. He has since transitioned to cow’s milk, which he collects from a woman down the road. He’ll don his white lab coat and play around with new flavours to keep himself entertained, his new truffle variety is apparently quite amazing. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee.

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m not just meeting strangers for this project, although the majority of 365 people I interview will be new to me. This week I sat down with my cousin, Paul, as he was keen to share his story with the world. 

Paul is 7 years older than me so we didn’t hang out a lot when we were younger. I always thought that he was cool, his bedroom was in the attic, he had dreadlocks and played guitar. I always knew he was adopted (and so did he). It was something that was never really mentioned, never made a big deal about, but not shrouded in secrecy either. Paul wants to chat today to normalise talking about adoption. 

“It's about demystifying the whole thing. I think what we're suffering from still is the idea that adoption needs to be a secret. I only know myself and one other person who've publicly announced that they're adopted.” 

Paul considers himself very fortunate that when he decided to trace his biological mother, the process was relatively easy, as she too was looking for him, but it’s not something he entered into lightly. 

“There are so many different stakeholders who are going to be impacted by this process.

You’re keen, the birth mother is keen. But I've got siblings, I’ve got children, and all of those people need to be considered.”

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gospel music is something that has totally passed me by, except for the odd Sister Act marathon in my childhood. Seeing a gospel choir in full swing is amazing craic. Watching the choir's director, Keara, make it come to life with her sharp movements and blinding smile is truly fascinating. She lets her personality shine through via her faith, her gospel choir and her fashion style too.

She’s been directing her choir in Galway City since she was 28, but has been singing in churches her whole life. She speaks passionately about her faith, residing somewhere deep in Catholicism but with the added energetic bounce of Pentecostalism. 

You can have a little listen to our full chat, just search for Sin Scéal Eile wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify etc) or at our website, SinScealEile.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seamus is a breath of fresh air. He's over 6 foot, ripped, owns a kick boxing gym but absolutely radiates a beautiful energy full of positive masculinity.

From his travels around the world as a “mindful rambler”, taking tantric classes with Dutch gigilos and teaching self defence classes in his local community, he has a very unique and enviable perspective on life.

After meeting him (and doing some nifty breathing exercises) I feel centered and very confident that there's amazing men out there like Séamus, who look out for new generations and improve every world they inhabit.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meeting Paul is so inspiring. Here’s a 48 year old man who recently started a brand new hobby which has utterly changed his life. 

Diagnosed with ADHD late in life, he began what he describes as a period of mourning, followed by investigation, education and eventually aerial silks. Now you’ll find him swinging from the rafters with a brand new lease of life. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a misty, grey day down in Galway. I met Eamonn at the Blackrock diving board, a place that so many people find comfort and solace in. 

Eamonn, who has bounced between Galway and Dublin his whole life, swims here every day, even throughout the winter. He’s just come out of the water when I met him, even though it’s absolutely baltic. 

Eamonn is an advocate for mental health and has been an ambassador for many charities. He speaks at events, and festivals and he presents talks in workplaces. Eamonn has the unique perspective of being able to speak from lived experience. 

Eamonn’s life seems to centre around volunteering for various charities. He keeps himself busy by helping others in any way that he can. He’ll be the first to raise his hand for a fundraiser, no matter what the event is. He’ll try his hand at anything if he thinks it’ll make an impact or help even just one person. 

You can have a little listen to our full chat, just search for Sin Scéal Eile wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify etc) or at our website, SinScealEile.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s safe to say I’ve never met a man in a kilt at a jumping church before. It was 3 degrees outside when we stood amongst the graves in the jumping church (named so after the walls “jumped” three feet to exclude a tortured soul from its burial grounds) and my feet were freezing to the ground. I'm not sure how Eddie coped with his bare knees. 

Eddie is a self described “field person”. He’s spent 30 years in fields across the world, running the bars at festivals (including my beloved Glastonbury). We chatted about the buzz of festivals, how they’re such an inherent part of our culture , one that’s unfortunately at risk of being swept up into the corporate world. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We drove through what at times felt like a film set and found ourselves on a beautiful (albeit muddy) patch of land just outside Baltinglass. The rain gave us some grace as we pulled into a long driveway, making sure to close the fence and not let the horses out. 

We met Paul with his partner of 17 years Martina, their dog, cats and 4 horses in their cosy home (you’d never know it was a refurbished ruin).

We have a very chilled conversation which concludes with a lovely thought, that sometimes success isn’t career goals, promotions and money. Success can be logging off at 5pm and heading out to care for the animals, with your partner by your side (and a birthday cake for Andromeda, the much loved, 37 year old horse).

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To say that Angela Dorgan is well known in the Irish music industry would be the understatement of the year. Many would say she IS the Irish music industry. She’s the driving force behind Ireland Music Week, which gives so many young Irish bands their start. She uses her abundance of passion, her smarts, her charm and her incredible knowledge and compassion to ensure that baby bands get all the resources, funding, support and confidence they need to make it out of Ireland. 

Angela has also been instrumental in Ireland welcoming the Basic Income for the Arts scheme. She fought so hard for Irish artists to be recognised and respected by the Irish government. She lobbied, argued, and fought for us all, all the while fighting her own battle with cancer. Legend. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I got emotional talking to Geoff, not for sad reasons, but because it’s rare that I encounter someone who is so selfless, humble, proud of others, and so unbelievably grateful to his own Mother. 

Geoff is two things, a poet and a principal and for the first time today he’s letting those two sides of himself come out in one interview.

Geoff and his team of teachers, SNAs and support staff have created a space that I could only have dreamed of when I was a child. The walls are colourful, and bouncing off them in huge letters are positive messages of encouragement. 

“We believe in positive affirmation. That's our only rule in the school, kind hands, kind feet and kind words.”

Geoff didn’t ever see himself as a Principal, but he did always want to teach. His art loving, well-read Mother instilled in him the value of a good education his whole life. 

“She'd say to me, they can take everything, son, but they can't take your education.” It’s a line that is echoed in a poem Geoff recites to me at the end of our chat today. 

“My siblings and I went to a gaelscoil, when my mates all went to schools in the area. I saw the effects of a good education, something that my mates didn't have. They drifted towards drugs, dealing, using heroin, that type of stuff.”

What I see in Geoff is the effects of a strong matriarch, raising her children to have courage, pride and compassion. And in turn, what Geoff is doing in this school is giving so many little boys and girls a chance in life they may not otherwise have. 

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a touring musician for most of his adult life, Alex Ryan has a unique perspective on the music industry. We sat in Walsh’s pub for the afternoon and reminisced about life on the road touring with Hozier and all that it offered us, the friends we made, relationships we formed and the craic that was had. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too. Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve never met anyone who has worked in Antarctica before so it was such a joy to sit and chat with Ruth about her adventures there. Ruth is bubbly, hilarious and full of life.

It’s no surprise that she sold her house (almost on a whim), packed everything into her van and went to work in the kitchens of McMurdo station. 

By all accounts, it sounded cold, very strange, but also romantic and fun in parts too. 

We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too. Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve lost many a night (and day) sitting in the iconic Cobblestone pub, listening to tunes and sharing stories with friends. 

I was so intrigued to chat with Tomás who grew up in the pub (and his Father, who himself has a few tales to tell) about their love of folklore and archiving. 

Together they instill an amazing ethos in the pub, one of mutual respect and camaraderie between the pub owners, the musicians who play in it, and the punters who frequent it. It’s one of the reasons the pub is so loved within the community and why people rallied round to save it from developers.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might think it’s weird or morbid to talk about death, it’s definitely discouraged in a lot of circles, but talking about death is something both Liza and I agree should be done more often. She’s even gone as far as hosting Death Cafés.

Liza found her way into the life of a death doula and undertaker after her husband passed. With no one to truly eulogise him the way he would have wanted, Liza stepped up. Little did she know at the time that she’d be stepping into the role more permanently, taking her life in a brand new direction, and in turn helping so many more families give a fitting goodbye to their loved ones. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sam wrote to me to be included in the project, the first thing that struck me was the eloquence of their writing. They were passionate, proud and really understood my mission with this project. It was no surprise to hear that Sam is a writer and director for film and TV, a world which they have been extremely inamoured with from a young age. 

What Sam loves the most about their job is that it provides an opportunity to give representation to the trans and queer communities they cherish so much. A way of ensuring that their lives are seen as “liveable lives”. Lives that can be happy, fulfilled and normal.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m buzzing from my morning of cuddles with the two of the most giggliest babies ever. Today I got to meet Sharon, a single mum of six beautiful, smart, confident children (who are an absolute credit to her). If you asked AI to imagine an “Irish Mammy”, you’d probably get a photo of a dowdy, middle aged woman in an apron, surrounded by peeled spuds or something equally as old fashioned and offensive.

The person who I sit with today is anything but that. She’s vibrant, young, glamorous. She has all the traits of a great Mam, she’s kind, supportive and fun. She puts her children, their education and their happiness first (something she learned from her own parents). She’s covered in tattoos, loves to pole dance, and works as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on the ambulances and tells me the gorgeous story of how her twins came into this world.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I arrived to Ballycastle and we checked into our incredible accommodation (shout out to Yarn Ballycastle) there was some sourdough bread and wee pistachio cakes left for us. Let me tell you this, those cakes were the best thing I’ve ever tasted and I instantly needed to meet the woman behind them. 

Ursa Minor bakery is just a stones throw from the Yarn and inside you’ll find the bakery in the basement and a café and a very cute shop upstairs selling the finest foodie products our island has to offer.

I met Ciara in the Ursa Minor bakery school where she told me how the cafe came to be. It's a beautiful story filled with romance, community vibes and soulful food.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Mo Arekat in the Fumbally Cafe where he works as a chef and instantly I realise that he is a bit of a local celebrity. Everyone has a big hello and hugs for him as we wander through the busy cafe on his day off. 

He is well loved in his new community and that feeling is truly reciprocated. Mo is bursting to tell me his story, but not the one you may think of when you meet a Palestinian/Jordanian asylum seeker, he wants to tell me about his amazing new Irish family. The people who rescued him from sleeping on the streets and the extended community who have surrounded and supported him since.

Mo landed in Ireland on a cold February day, he registered as an asylum seeker and was handed a tent. He had been sleeping on the streets for two weeks when he met some outreach volunteers. These people saw him for what he was, a young man of just 22, in need of help. He was terrified, with no money and no where to go.

The volunteers offered to house Mo for a few days while he recovered from a cold. “They welcomed me into their home. Not as a refugee, not as a case number. As a family. We shared dinners and they’d ask how my day was. Those small, ordinary moments did something powerful. They made me feel safe.” Mo got along so well with the family and their kids they invited him to stay for as long as he needed and until he got himself truly settled. 

The young man who sits before me today is eloquent and witty. He has the same cheeky charm of many Irish men I’ve met before, so I’m surprised to hear he didn’t speak any english only two years prior when he arrived. 

Hearing that Mo was rescued by absolute angels on the streets of Ireland and welcomed wholeheartedly by the Fumbally community gives me an enormous amount of pride. It also leaves me very saddened to know that there must be so many more people like him, clutching a tent, who simply want to be safe, to contribute and to belong. 

As I tuck into Mo’s incredible carrot and tomato soup today, I overhear the table next to us raving about the food “the chefs here are amazing” and I agree.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don’t think you’ll ever find a more passionate person than Keith when he’s talking about wrestling. In a great big barn in the middle of nowhere you’ll find The School of Irish Wrestling.

It may look like a cattle shed outside, but inside you’ll find two massive wrestling rings and huge posters of all the famous Irish wrestlers who’ve gone on to the WWE (the ultimate dream job according to Keith.) 

I learned so much about wrestling, the touring, the performance element and yes, apparently it really does hurt! 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claire is young, strong and extremely knowledgeable about endometriosis, a condition that has plagued her since she was 11 years old. She has had to fight with insurance companies, advocate for herself to be taken seriously by pharmacists and doctors, and persuade so many consultants to refer her so that she could get the treatment that she needed.

She sits here today telling me her story so that others may benefit from all this research she has done. Claire found the answers to her crippling pain in a clinic in Romania, but hopes that in the future, other women will be able to get the care they need at home. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee is the kind of guy that just by looking at him, you know he will have a good yarn to spin. We met for a pint one very rainy afternoon in Howth, the clanging of the masts on the boats rocking in the bay and the rain pelting off the window added the perfect soundtrack to our chat.

Lee has come prepared. He tells me an adventurous tale from his past, one of Caribbean seas, cheap Colombian contraband and storm warnings that would have Teresa Mannion reaching for her rain coat.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angie is modest and humble. I can tell she’s uncomfortable talking about the incredible work she has done for Helping Irish Hosts, the organisation she helped start in March 2022, just after the invasion in Ukraine. 

Angie is much more relaxed when she’s talking about all of the other amazing people who work alongside her, making sure that the everyday people who signed up to host Ukrainian refugees are supported. HIH was started in a time of crisis and from pure necessity. Angie and her sister seem to have sprung into action as soon as it was clear that Ireland was going to welcome an immense amount of refugees. They immediately began to rally their neighbours and friends, they cleared space in their homes, started whatsapp groups and spreadsheets. They continued to work tirelessly for the years that followed, ensuring that both those hosting and being hosted, felt supported, recognised and respected. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first thing I notice about Michael and Anne’s apartment in Dublin City Centre is the colour. The walls are an incredible shade of orange, there’s portraits of David Bowie and Bob Marley on the wall and a huge colourful teapot collection on the shelves. 

It’s a fun, vibrant space, which seems perfect for the couple who live here. 

Michael invited me over to talk about his situation as a full time carer. He’s been minding Anne, full time, since she had brain surgery in 2017. 

Michael is a positive man, chipper and chatty. He tells us about his life, Anne’s health struggles and how they used to live, in a very matter of fact way. He’s not looking for pity, he’s content, and of late, Anne has been happy too, as long as they’re together. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Kia ora” is Māori for “welcome”, an unusual phrase to hear in the sunny South East of Ireland but perfectly fitting for this particular farm.I remember visiting the Kia Ora Mini Farm on a school tour when I was about 5 or 6 and having my little Dubliner mind blown, so to re-visit a good 30+ years on was such a treat.

It’s a family run business in the truest sense and today I’m chatting with 23 year old Steacy who has lived next door, fed the chickens, mucked out the pigs and cuddled the rabbits her whole life. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morgan is cool, but not in a pretentious way, in a charming and intellectual way, the way that most good songwriters and musicians can be if they keep themselves grounded. He plays drums, which is arguably one of the most physical roles in a band and Morgan has cerebral palsy.

I shamefully know very little (or even nothing) about cerebral palsy, which doesn’t surprise Morgan. It’s apparently rare to see people with the condition being portrayed in the media.

He explains the extent of his cerebral palsy and its physical restrictions to me in such a succinct and concise manner that it dawns on me that he’s been explaining this his whole life. He’s generous with my questions, and has a very calm way of telling me about all that he faces. 

“So on this side, I can tap my foot as quickly as I like. But if I try and do that over here on my other foot, there's a lot less data from me to it, and it's not picking it up as well. It's essentially a signal error. That's how it feels to me, like bad wifi.”

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The awful stormy weather of late broke long enough for me to photograph Caitriona down on the wooden bridge in Clontarf, which was quite fitting as we’d been chatting about the arrival of Spring. Caitriona emailed me through Irish with a smattering of béarla to tell me about her love of “Naomh Bríd agus mná na hÉireann”. 

We chat a bit about Bríd as well as her sister in sainthood, St Gobnait (the patron saint of bees) but mainly we chat about Irish country life, our language, religion and traditions. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily.

You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Daria on a quiet afternoon in her local pub in Drogheda, she was easy to recognise thankfully. She came dressed in sequins, feathers and legs that went on for days. 

Apparently there’s a bit of a burlesque scene burgeoning in Drogheda. Daria has been producing wildly entertaining evenings for the past few years, attracting folk from as far as Belfast and locals alike, with each show selling out.  

She explains the origins of burlesque to me, how it compares to modern day performing, while also patiently answering all my endless questions (and then letting me try on the headdress). 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily.

You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s unusual to hear of big families these days, so when Cheyanne contacted me and told me she was one of 15, I jumped at the chance to chat to her. Her story is incredibly positive, growing up in a small house filled with love and bunk beds. She’s very proud of all that she has achieved in life, including her place at Uni, but credits her Mother above all else for her success. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Ciara wrote to me about being in this project, she didn’t say much at all. She just said that her story is one about “heartache and uncertainty at a time of life where others seem to have everything together”. This was enough for me to know I needed to listen to her story. 

We sit outside on Drury street, it’s lashing rain and we’ve just begged the bar to turn on the patio heaters above us as we sip a warm cider. One of the many things that Ciara and I agree upon during our chats is that heartbreak isn’t respected or acknowledged enough in today’s society. The grief you experience when a relationship breaks down can be as painful as a death, but yet there’s no mass gathering of well wishers to help you get you through it. 

Listening to Ciara speak today and I know that she’s speaking for entire generations of women who have been through relationship wars as well (myself included).

Come back tomorrow for another photograph/podcast/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I approach my 40th birthday, I find my mind beginning to focus on my health and mobility a lot more. When I see an email from Dr. John McGuire in my inbox, a 77 year old yoga teacher, wishing to share his story, I jumped at the chance to chat to him.

John found yoga in the 90s from a recommendation by his doctor, advising him to seek methods of core strengthening. What he ended up gaining was so much more. 

When he retired from the business world, he entered the teaching world and his goal is to remain a yoga teacher until he’s 100. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/photo/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kim is one of many Americans who have applied to be in this project, but what made her stand out to me was that she mentioned having absolutely no ancestral roots that tie her to Ireland. 

She chose to come to Ireland in a very level headed, logistical way. She followed her work here, but she stayed because she loved it. She found a home, a community, a street full of neighbours who are gas craic and a gorgeous dog from Cork named Darby.

We chat about America and all that’s happening over there right now, how frightening it must be for those that live there. How the differences in politics might alienate people, even those in the same family. 

Come back tomorrow for another photograph/podcast/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Emma in her hometown of Dunboyne, in a cute cafe that she has recently started to frequent a lot more often. Emma has had some epic life changes of late. She’s done what a lot of people her age are doing and boomeranged back home to her parents house. 

But not only has she moved back home, she’s also left a marriage and sold the home she worked so hard to afford. On top of that upheaval, she has decided to completely change her career too, turning her love for gardening into a new and fruitful future career in horticulture. 

Emma is sharing her story today during these precarious and exciting months, so that when she manages to get back on track, she can see just how far she's come. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/photo/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met MJ O’Brien in her home in the middle of Dublin City Centre, her back garden is the canal dock, which makes for a wonderful vista. 

She’s funny, charming and flirting with my sound engineer/partner who is recording our podcast today. 

MJ leads with “I got into some trouble” with a little smirk on her face, the kind that tells me there was a man involved. She starts telling me about her nursing college in the UK and how it was located near a U.S. Army base. How they would send bus loads of soldiers over for dances. MJ would wait all night for “ladies choice”, describing herself as a bit of a plain Jane who was constantly looked over. It was at one of these dances where she’d meet Al and fall madly in love with him. 

“I was 17 and I thought he was the second coming. He was lovely and of course, he was a different shade”. 

As I look around MJ’s apartment, the family photos come into focus, and the smiling faces of all different skin tones start to make perfect sense. 

MJ has worked hard her whole life, living all across America for the last 43 years, from New Jersey to New Mexico, bringing up her two sons.

She has come back to Ireland to get to know her siblings and friends again, now as an adult. Sitting with me here today she reminisces about the life she’s lead and the choices that she’s made. 

It hasn’t been an easy journey, she has faced all kinds of hardships, losses and injustices, but MJ feels it’s important to forgive those who’ve done you wrong or even inadvertently hurt you. However, it’s most important to forgive yourself, something she has only learned to do later in life. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Niamh in her home on the banks of the canal. It's secluded, remote, peaceful. Her Mum answers the door and welcomes us into the kitchen, country style (through the back door). The house smells divine thanks to the plant-based cookies Niamh has been baking so considerately. 

Niamh is back living in her parents home, like so many other 29 year olds. She’s done quite a bit of travelling, during which she met her husband, who also lives with them. 

Niamh would prefer to live in Dublin city, in the thick of it all. Where she can easily access public transport and have everything at her fingertips. However, if you think about how hard the housing crisis is for people right now, it’s even worse for disabled people. 

Niamh has a condition called Friedreich's ataxia. It’s quite rare, with only about 200 people in Ireland with it (including Niamh’s younger brother). It’s a neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system, including impaired coordination, muscle weakness, speech problems, and heart issues.

Niamh is an accomplished journalist. It’s a career she knew she wanted from a young age, she set her sights on it and worked incredibly hard and went on to write for the Guardian and Al Jazeera. She takes pride in giving disabled people a voice in the media. 

Sadly, Niamh knows that she has a battle ahead of her. In 2023, the USA approved the first ever treatment for Niamh’s condition. It’s a treatment that could stop the progression of her disorder and give her a better quality of life for longer. However, the Irish government still has not decided to fund the treatment. 

As Niamh’s condition worsens, she knows her speech will be affected soon, as will her ability to write. We’ve been chatting for about 30 minutes at her kitchen table and already I can sense it’s tiring her. It seems wholly cruel and unfair, that the people who we should be protecting and caring for most in society, are those who will be expected to lobby and campaign for the medical treatment that would improve their lives so much.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sun was splitting the rocks down in Vico Baths when we met screenwriter and director, Nessa. She picked the location and I’m so glad she did. I’m not used to being this far south of the Liffey, I don’t know the area and I was a little bit nervous that she’d chosen somewhere so open to the elements to chat on a January day. 

I feel like I was meant to meet this kindred soul and we were blessed with sunny skies to prove it. She’s a woman in the arts, fighting for her vision to be recognised. She’s a mother, a wife and a friend who misses her friends. It transpires that Nessa and I both emigrated to London around the same time, she however stuck it out for 18 years longer than I did, building both her career and her family. 

We sit on the sunny rocks, listening to the waves, taking stock of our lives as Irish women and wondering what’s coming next over the horizon.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we edge our way into this year and I hear stories from many different people across all demographics, there’s one topic that comes up time and time again, the housing crisis. So many people are living in fear. They fear that their landlord will decide to sell up, or that their rent will increase beyond their means. They fear that they won’t be able to find any suitable accommodation and that they’ll have to impose on friends, sleep on couches or move back in with parents. 

For Michelle, her fear became a reality. She tells me her story of finding herself in emergency accommodation, with her children in tow and at the mercy of the state. Her story ends on a positive note after many months of tenacious searching and relentless positive thinking. 

As we sit and chat in her lovely, cosy apartment, Michelle’s story has a happy ending but I can’t not think of the thousands more people struggling with homelessness.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mai has a really interesting job as a theatre maker and translator, working on incredible productions like Waiting for Godot in Japan, but it’s not this that fascinates me today on our walk. 

Mai has a truly gentle and beautifully curious character. She introduces me to the birds in the gardens that she has named. They’re her friends and confidants, visiting almost daily, a ritual that began in the pandemic. Mai moved to Ireland from Japan 6 years ago (after falling in love with an Irish man, a story we’ll probably hear quite a few times in this project).

As we walk around spotting birds, Mai explains to me some of the cultural differences between her home in Japan and how we do things here.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca is a new Mum to Dara (and a dog Mum to Lola). We meet her in the afternoon in her suburban home and it’s just like every family home with a 1 year old. The floor is covered in toys within 4 seconds of Dara waking from her nap.

Rebecca makes me laugh, she’s witty, warm, and just casually hilarious. She describes motherhood to me with such honesty and humour, not denying how hard it is, but also being able to laugh at all the silliness it brings (I’ll let her tell the snail story). 

She seems like a grafter, a hustler of sorts, who has made herself a good career as an actor on TV (you can see her in Fair City) but she trudged her way to this dream career, moonlighting along the way as a barber, a fitness instructor, nail technician, she has tried her hand at it all. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered about owning a campervan? Lorcan has had 4 in his lifetime, and like myself, absolutely adores the lifestyle. It was great to meet a fellow campervan obsessive and really get to the nitty gritty of why we’re ‘mad for road’. 

Unlike me, Lorcan likes a compact and stealthy van, something neat that he can fit into his driveway. What we totally agree on though is the utter relief you get when you park up somewhere new, open the door to an epic view, and crack a cold drink and watch the sunset. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee. 

xR

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric and I did a podcast swap. He invited me onto his hilarious Joe.ie podcast “You Must Be Joking” which I was terrified about (I’m not funny) and in turn, I invited him into this project. I’ve left a certain amount of room in the 365 spaces to include interesting folk I meet along the way. 

I’ve known Eric for a good few years but as acquaintances mainly, I don’t think I’ve ever just sat down and chatted to him. Our paths have crossed at festivals where I'd be sent to photograph his comedy shows and he was one of the first to appear in my last big project during Covid, Twilight Together (as he lives within my 2km).

We talk about risk taking, leaving behind cushy jobs with unreal perks, for a life of comedy and all the worry and laughs that brings with it. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a freezing cold January morning when I knock on Gill’s door in South Dublin. I can already see flashes of neon through the front room window and I get an inkling this is going to be an interesting shoot. 

Gill wrote to me, asking if I could photograph her for this project “I'm a big smiler so I'd like people to remember me for being happy, rather than for being the girl who died of cancer.”

Gill begins to tell me her story. “I'm just a normal Joe soap, but I suppose I have a fairly unique story in that I have terminal cancer.”

Faced with an uncertain timeline and a new perspective on life, Gill takes support and inspiration from her circle of friends. They rally around her through hospital stays, home visits, summer barbecues and also help Gill achieve some life goals. They whizz around Mondello racecourse on bicycles for 24 hours, abseil down buildings dressed as superheroes and see the sunrise over the Sahara in a hot air balloon.

“I'm very vocal on my socials about sun safety and all that because I was a sun worshipper, that’s why I got melanoma. Normally I'd use my platform for that, but today, what I would say to people is just enjoy life. Enjoy life for yourself, not for others. Do what you want to do. Live in your own little bubble of niceness and happiness.”

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don‘t even know how to start trying to describe the charmer that is Brian Bell. I met this distinguished and accomplished gent in his new digs in Raheny and completely lost myself in his stories. 

Condensing his fascinating life into one tiny podcast would be impossible. From meeting the love of his life, Imelda (through Divine intervention no less) to breaking the Irish 3-mile running record while barefoot in 1954. 

His story weaves across decades almost melodically, I’m certain that Brian has always been an incredible storyteller, keeping listeners on the hook with a flirty wink along the way. 

His cosy bedroom in the nursing home has been lovingly decorated by his children with pictures of Imelda, including a sketch that was done of her as a teenager when they first moved to London back in the 50s. 

I could listen to Brian forever, but it’s dinner time, and I don’t want to keep him from what he describes as “the best meals of his life”. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met the wonderfully chatty Lucy Hayes on a sunny morning in Dublin’s city centre. We sat outside Difontaines pizza and chatted for what felt like two minutes but was actually an hour.

Lucy is currently in a position that a lot of people would covet, one that could bring change to our beautiful city, change that I suspect we all want. She tells me that Dublin City Council (where she’s the Cycling and Walking Officer for the city) has big plans for how we’ll get around.

We talk about cycle lanes, footpaths and my total disdain for street clutter and bollards. She shares my hope that Dublin could be a little more European, with some cute piazzas where lounging and loitering is encouraged.

Follow and/or subscribe for another photo/podcast/story tomorrow.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.