The Galway Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 46 brings you an in depth conversation with the tourism officer of Galway City Council, Mr Ruairí Lehmann. Ruairi discusses the challenges and joys of his job, how popular Galway is as a tourist destination, how Galway County and Galway City work in tandem with each other, the importance of the tourists and students to the economy to Galway and the west of Ireland, development plans for the future, the different festivals - big and small, the tourism season of Galway, how Galway is a MedTech capital globally, balancing Galway's heritage with its developing future, public consultations, the challenges of opening a new business in Galway, what the council are doing with sustainability and green energy, short term lets and new legislation, the night time economy as well as other topics.

Relevant Links

https://www.galwaycity.ie

Photo by Professor Chaosheng Zhang

https://www.instagram.com/chaoshengzhang

Additional Links

https://atasteofgalway.com

https://www.wildlands.ie

https://gleg.ie

https://www.giaf.ie

https://tonnta.eu

https://www.instagram.com/ar_imeall

https://www.localenterprise.ie

Episode 45 is a very in-depth conversation with Katharine Mac Mághnuis from the Athenry Music School where she discusses her background, the birth of Athenry Music School, the philosophy of Suzuki Education, the lessons available, her suggestions for how much practise a child should do, the school regulations, awards and partnerships, upcoming events as well as other topics. Photo by Brad Anderson.

Relevant Links

https://athenrymusicschool.com

Episode 36. 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 body by overstimulation of the brain, karma, Hinduism, intentions vs. gratitudes, Catholicism, Buddhism, Sam Harris, tuning out stress, getting ill, body image, what a typical class looks like, sleeping in class, online vs. real. vs. pre-recorded lessons, corporate work, good leadership, data driven aims to improving wellness within the workplace through improving productivity, staff retention and other topics.

Relevant Links

www.moveandbreathe.ie

www.livewellworkwell.ie

Episode 35. A celebration of one of the gems of Galway City, arguably the biggest gem: Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church. Walking us through the discussion is Ireland's first Heritage Officer, Jim O'hUiginn (Higgins) from Galway City Council. 

In Episode 2 Jim cited this church as one of his favourite buildings in Galway and here he discusses why as well as the urgent reparation work which is currently being undertaken. Jim also mentions how dating takes place, his involvement with the data collection from various graveyards in Galway, his favourite stone angel, the Claddagh ring and other topics.

Relevant Links

https://stnicholas.ie

Images on Instagram 1

Images on Instagram 2

Images on Instagram 3

https://historicgraves.com

Episode 34. Collette discusses how she got interested in sailing, her travels to Antartica, her scary experiences at sea and dealing with those crises moments, the epiphany moment when she realised that she could sail in Galway, the history of the club and its connection with Nicky Dolan, the amount of members and how amazing they are, the courses available, the different roles within the club, the iconography of the hookers, the “replunging” of Loveen, the location of the club, the support from local businesses, Galway Bay Seafoods, Galway Bay Tours, Galway City Museum, Scoil Bhride (especially Class 5), Galway Sea Scouts, The Port Of Galway, McHugh Property Holdings, her message to members and non members as well as other topics.

Relevant Links

https://www.galwayhookersailingclub.ie

https://www.galwaybaytours.com

https://www.thedocksidedeligalway.com

https://www.scoilbhrideshantalla.ie

https://galwayseascouts.com

https://theportofgalway.ie

Honorable Mentions

McHugh Property Holdings

Episode 33. A wide ranging interview with the Tournament Director of Galway Bridge Club: Gay Keaveney. 

Gay discusses his achievements in competitive bridge, his role as tournament director, the challenges and achievements, how bridge is misrepresented as an older people's sport, how and why people of all ages could and should get involved in bridge, the history of the bridge centre and the ingenious way in which they acquired the building, Michael O'Kane, the late Paddy Walsh and his son David who runs Lapteck in Galway city centre, the social aspect of bridge, the two halves of the game (bidding and playing), being called upon for advice by other tournament directors, Fergal O'Boyle, why you should play a simple game and other topics.

Relevant Links

https://www.bridgewebs.com/galway/

Episode 32. 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 Elliott, the different stages of being a great golfer, the demands put upon elite golfers, Joe Lyons, Ronan Mullarney, Liam Nolan, how golf can be a lonely sport at the elite level, why does Ireland punch above its weight in some sports, the difference in Derry and Galway vernacular, encouraging kids in golf, Derry Seniors’ new management, how we learn as children, how we parent, the care the club has shown Niall, being a networker and unbeknownst to it, the passing of our parents, Billy Connell, Bernadette, the challenges, the achievements as well as other topics.

Relevant Links

http://www.galwaygolf.com

Second half of a conversation with Sharon Shannon covering all manners of things, most of which centre around Galway including performing for ‘The Hostage’ by Brendan Behan in the Druid Theatre in Galway and beyond, Alec Finn, Frankie Gavin, Seán Smyth, The Quays, Brendan Regan, Kevin Hough, composing, Steve Earle, Gerry Hanley, life in Doolin, life in Cork, Páraic Mac Donnchadha, Andrew McNamara, The Tulla Céilí Band, sessions in Tigh Neachtain's,  the difference in sessions in Doolin and Galway, Arcady, The Waterboys, her daily routine at home, her manager John Dunford, The Purty Loft, Dún Laoghaire, Mike Scott, BP Fallon, her favourite cities in the world (apart from Galway), the excesses on the road, the success of Galway Girl, Director James Clenaghan and her work with him, Top Dog Gaffo video, O’Connors pub in Doolin, driving through Salthill as a kid, favourite place in Galway, Bruce Du Ve, Tom Giblin, her sister Mary and her brother Garry, her tribute to Gerard ‘Gerry’ Mulholland (Jarír al-Majar) as well as other topics.

Sharon is an ambassador for Madra: an organisation which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned dogs. You can find out more information here:

www.madra.ie.

Sharon is also the National Ambassador for Rosabel’s Rooms, a Galway-born child loss project that is reaching out to bereaved parents and families all over Ireland.

https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports-services/bereavement-loss-hub/rosabels-rooms/

The other half of this conversation is available on The Ireland Podcast.

Top Dog Gaffo video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3UE55kshmk

The second half of a conversation with Donegal's James Gallagher who has been living in Galway for quite a few years. James talks us through what it is like to make a living as a musician, straddling the world of busking as well as playing in one of Ireland's most popular tribute bands: The Dubliners Experience. See if you can spot the difference in James' singing voice and that of Luke Kelly!

For more information please visit their website:  www.thedublinersexperience.com

A conversation with Donegal's James Gallagher who has been living in Galway for quite a few years. James talks us through what it is like to make a living as a musician, straddling the world of busking as well as playing in one of Ireland's most popular tribute bands: The Dubliners Experience. See if you can spot the difference in James' singing voice and that of Luke Kelly!

For more information please visit their website:  www.thedublinersexperience.com

This is the first half of a two part conversation. Part two will be published next week.