The Ireland Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 98 brings Fender Jackson face to face with Martin Sharkey who is the Finance Director of Belleek Pottery and the Belleek Pottery Group.

Conversation includes: Belleek village; the origin story of Belleek; bringing the skills over from England; the link to the famine; David McBirney; first products; transition from earthen ware to parian ware; the checkered history; George G. Moore; Roger Troughton; Powerscreen; Galway Crystal, Aynsley China and Donegal Parian China; George and Angela Moore Charitable Trust; the types of employees; the challenges of Belleek being so remote; current stores; Debenhams; Theresa May; Brexit; the security involved with high profile guests; the most westerly part of the UK; King/Prince Charles; Aonghus O’Flaherty in Tig Choili’s, Galway; the non sectarian appeal of Belleek; being a border town; attracting tourists; being on The Wild Atlantic Way; Patricia McCauley; 11% of Americans being of Irish descent; Tiger Woods; JP McManus; Rory McElroy; Lough Erne Golf Course; Ronald Reagan; Bill Clinton; Mary McAleese; Yeats; Galway; Killarney; Titanic; the different bus routes; ideal amount of time for your duration; personalising your own piece; (not) selling seconds; 7-8% of loss rate; 4 different quality checks; timing your piece by the stamps; having a smashing time; items and fashion; new designs; luminaries; (not) automating the production processes; the fine line of making profit; the Covid effect; the costs of the current shops; parking in town; the shrinking middle market; the complication of big ticket items; (not) fixing broken items; the reduced carbon footprint; the renovation; the big warehouse and other topics.

Face to face recording in Belleek Pottery, Belleek, County Fermanagh at approximately 2.04pm on Thursday 22nd August 2024.

Relevant Links

www.belleek.com

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Episode 97 is the final episode of a three part series consisting of a conversation between Terry Woods and Fender Jackson. 

Conversation includes: why The Pogues split up the first time, why they reformed and why they split the final time; Anthony Addis graduating from accountant to manager; watching the mosh pit; along of Shane; Andrew Rankin; Mulligans Pub of Poolbeg Street; Paul Scully; Skid Row; ‘Big Ian’ Turner the lighting guy; Mark Addis; Alan Buddy Goulding; Joss; the spell of The Pogues; Joe Strummer; Spider Stacey; Shane’s funeral; a summary analysis of Terry’s career; hay barns and handball alleys; Des Kelly from The Capitol Showband; Shane’s genius; Terry’s first gig with The Pogues; Lemmy; ‘Eat The Rich’; ‘Straight To Hell’; ‘In The Name Of The Father’; living in County Cavan; global audiences; middle Americas audiences; Shane MacGowan; Terry’s favourite Pogues’ song; censorship; re-writing history; Ronan Keating; making videos; zen; Terry’s advice to his younger self; ‘At Swim-Two-Birds’ by Myles na gCopaleen and other topics.

Relevant Links

93. Terry Woods: Sweeney's Men, Steeleye Span & More - Part 1

95. Terry Woods: The Pogues - Part 2

www.theirelandpodcast.com

https://www.instagram.com/thepoguesofficial/

Additional Links

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Here-Comes-Everybody-Audiobook/B00XYKQ4XA

https://www.dunboynecastlehotel.com/

Face to face recording in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel, County Meath at 2.50pm on Thursday 8th August 2024.

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of others. This commentary is intended as fair criticism of a creative work, which is protected under free speech and fair use principles. The statements are not intended to harm or defame any individual or entity.

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Episode 88 is the second of a two-part conversation with six-time Grammy winner Kevin Conneff of The Chieftains and The Dublin Trio.

Conversation picks up with the same performance of ‘Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha’ from Part 1 but continues with the conversation which follows immediately after. 

Topics include: Gael Linn recordings including those of Seosamh Ó hÉanaí; Seán 'ac Dhonncha; Nioclás Tóibín; An Cheathrú Rua; Mary Bergin; Aedín Moloney; Frank Zappa; Tom Jones; Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson; Tuvan Throat Singers; Freddie King; Gail Zappa and ‘The Green Fields Of America’; regional styles being diluted; The Cobblestone pub in Dublin and Na Piobairi Uilleann; John & James Kelly and Ceoltóirí Chualann; West Clare Fiddle playing; Tara Breen; the 50th Anniversary Tour; the first tour of the USA; Linda Ronstadt; Cady Coleman; all the artists The Chieftains worked with; Paddy Moloney and his style of working; Elvis Costello; Jo Lustig; having an occupational title as “a musician”; Larry Mullen Jr; Johnny Ringo McDonagh; ‘Down The Old Plank Road’; David Gormley in Glasgow; the 60th Tour; Covid; Paddy’s passing; Gay McKeon; Seán Óg Potts' pub The Piper's Corner; Mary Corcoran; Seán Potts; Paddy’s harmonising; what Kevin misses the most about Paddy; Jeff White; The Crane Bar, Galway; Tim Edey; The Dublin Two; Joe McKenna; Tony Byrne; Paul McGratten; Matt Molloy; Notre Dame University; Traditional Music Archives; Liam O’Connor; Edwina Guckian; Seán Keane; the Pilatzkes; Triona Marshall; Alyth McCormack; Cara Butler; playing for Biden in Mayo; Seán Corcoran; Darkness Into Light; what Kevin misses most about Seán Keane; Don Henley; being asked by Willie Clancy or Séamus Ennis to sing a song in Milltown Malbay; Friel’s Kitchen; Tommy Munnelly; how Kevin would like to be remembered; Seán Keane; O'Donoghue’s, Dublin; John Kelly & Joe Ryan with Eddie Clarke; John Egan as well as others.

Interviewer: Fender Jackson

Recorded Saturday 20th July 2024 before Kevin’s performance in The Crane, Galway.

Relevant Links

The Dublin Trio

https://www.thechieftains.com

The Chieftains In China

Additional Links

Playlist of this episode

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Episode 87 is a heartwarming story of Prof. John Portmann as he became one of the first people to gain an Irish passport through DNA evidence.

Conversation includes: introductions; John’s journey; ancestry.com; early years; Kathryn Pidgeon; adoption attorneys; Jennifer Harris, Ontario Canada, University of Waterloo; Ormond Quay Paternity Services; David Martin; Conor O’Brien, Dublin; advice to other people on a similar journey; advice to adopted children and their parents; megasites; Nolans; Fitzgeralds; Galway; being the life and soul and other topics.

Relevant links

https://www.ancestry.com

https://uva.theopenscholar.com/john-portmann

Additional Links

http://www.adoptaz.com

https://uwaterloo.ca/english/people-profiles/jennifer-harris

https://www.oqps.ie

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Episode 86 is a conversation between Fender Jackson and a voice of reason which kept him company for years when he was in China, the writer Malachi O’Doherty.

Conversation includes: introductions; early career; (re)visiting India; Libya; each generation settles for its own normality; Fender listening habits in China; Fender and Malachi’s comparative experiences in Asia; experiencing The Emergency in India; how living so far from Ireland and being isolated can alter one’s perspective on identity; David Porter, advisor to Archbishop Justin Welby; ECONI; the notion of the Catholic minority being lorded over by Protestant majority in Northern Ireland no longer being a threat; being employed to have an opinion; Talkback; Cityweek; Hearts & Minds; Ian Knox; Jamie Bryson; Stephen Nolan; Frank Mitchell; the symbiotic relationship of clickbait media; Tucker Carlson; what would a New Ireland look like and how could we all arrive there without provoking another civil war; a socialist Ireland; Seamus Mallon; Brexit; being a “three strander”; Henry McDonald; European Union; The Moon; the continued divided society and how that is enshrined within the Good Friday Agreement (GFA); the anomaly of looking for an United Ireland without trying to unite Catholics and Protestants; a Unionist Donbas; Mo Mowlem Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during GFA; integrated education; the Peace Walls in Belfast; 12th July Celebrations; Anthony Buckley; mixed marriages; wall murals; Malachi’s mystical experience; yoga, meditation and enlightenment; Margaret Elizabeth Noble (Sister Nivedita) from Dungannon, Co. Tyrone; Swami Vivekananda and other topics.

Relevant Links

http://www.malachiwithaneye.co.uk

Additional Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emergency_(India)

Frank Mitchell on U105

BBC Talkback

BBC The Nolan Show

John Devlin on The Ireland Podcast

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Episode 85 is the first of a two-part conversation with six-time Grammy winner Kevin Conneff of The Chieftains and The Dublin Trio.

Conversation includes: ‘Pride Of Pimlico’; introductions; The Liberties of Dublin; early musical influences; school early career; Packie Manus Byrne; Ciarán Mac Mathúna; ‘Salt’; John Denver; Slattery’s on Capel Street; the Tradition Club; Louis Stewart; meeting the Chieftains; recording ‘Bonaparte's Retreat’; Ceoltóirí Chualann; Seán Ó Riada; Finbar Boyle; Phoenix Park 29th September 1979; Derek Bell; reaching across the divide; Bernadette Greevy; the strength of the Irish American connection; Titanic; The Chieftains In China; Catherine Chan the acupuncturist; the documentary in China by Alan Wright; meeting Derek the first time; Derek’s musical genius; Derek’s sister Deirdre; ‘Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha’ and other topics.

Relevant Links

The Dublin Trio

https://www.thechieftains.com

The Chieftains In China

Additional Links

Playlist of this episode

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Episode 84 brings you a conversation between Fender Jackson and Fun Lovin’ Criminals as the guys play Monroe’s as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.

Conversation includes: (re)introductions; Limelight nightclub in New York; Entourage Pro; Dermot Doran; Frankie and Naim joining the band; drum teaching; difference in audiences in Ireland and New York; Dominic De Luca from Brooklyn Projects; EMI; Gang Starr; Digable Planets; D'Angelo; Prince and First Avenue; the Fentanyl crisis; Purple Riddler; Frankie getting a call from Prince’s lawyer and David Kokakis the Head of Universal back catalogue at 2am; Dread Zeppelin; Easy Star All-Stars; those early gigs in the Limelight; Kraftwerk; Tramps venue in New York; Tim Latham; writing lyrics; ChatGPT; David Bowie; Bono; Michael Jackson; the different skills of different musicians; Chris Martin Coldplay; writing for clubs vs. stadiums; FLC as a mixed bag of snakes; folk bands; Green Day; Rolling Stones; where the suits came from; Michael Schnapp the A&R guy at EMI Records; getting Gucci suits; Ali G; Gas Coombes; Supergrass; Eamonn Dorans; DiFontaine's Pizzeria, Dublin; Monroe’s Live Music Venue, Galway International Arts Festival and other topics. 

Relevant Links

https://www.funlovincriminals.co/

Additional Links

https://www.giaf.ie

https://monroes.ie/collections/live

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2d1EKtXghlXTarI4bCJHEe?si=2d383c0f4a7c47bc

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Episode 83 is a forensic insight into the mysterious world of shooting movies from one of the world’s most accomplished and desired cinematographers, Armagh’s Seamus McGarvey.

Conversation includes: introductions; early years in Armagh; meeting and working with Oliver Stone; Enda Hughes and his brother Michael Colgan and their bijou cinema in Keady; their movies ‘The Eliminator’ and ‘Flying Saucer Rock’n’ Roll’ with Ardal O’Hanlon; Panavision; meeting Steven Spielberg on the set of ‘The Soloist’; Stuart Neville; ‘Butterfly Kiss’ with Michael Winterbottom; ‘The Slab Boys’ with John Byrne and Tilda Swinton; ‘The Winter Guest’ with Alan Rickman; Eduardo Serra; digital vs. film; ‘The Avengers’ by Joss Whedon; working with Derek Jarman; the comparison of making movies and a mad fecking ceilidh dance; Seamus’s close friendship with Sam Shepard; ‘The War Zone’ with Tim Roth; meeting Stephen Frears and working on ‘High Fidelity’ with John Cusack and Jack Black; luck is the residue of good decisions; the joy of working with an improvising Jack Black; D. V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink tethering the script as Jack Black improvised his way along the movie; Tenacious D; ‘The Hours’ with Stephen Daldry and Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris, John C. Reilly; what he learnt from Meryl Streep; ‘The Actors’ by Conor McPherson with Dylan Moran, Michael Caine, Michael McElhatton, Aisling O'Sullivan and editor Emer Reynolds; Seamus’ favourite Irish cinematographers such as Suzie Lavelle, Piers McGrail, Robbie Ryan, Brendan Galvin, P.J. Dillon, Owen McPolin - the list goes on and on; ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ with Jeff Bridges; accident in art being central; ‘The Night of the Hunter’ by Charles Laughton starring Robert Mitchum shot by Stanley Cortez; Gilbert McCarragher and other topics.

Relevant Links

Part 1 of this conversation

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568974/

Additional Links

The Mirror | FULL MOVIE | Directed by Andrey Tarkovsky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrMINC5xjMs

Flying Saucer Rock N Roll Michael & Enda Hughes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv2vau9l3lY

Irish Cult Movie Classics: The Eliminator

https://www.rte.ie/culture/2023/1223/1415434-irish-cult-movie-classics-the-eliminator/

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Episode 82 is a conversation with An Feannadóir (Fender Jackson), his father Seán Ó hEaráin and Lillis Ó Laoire around a book written by the late Aodh Ó Canainn about Priest Heron which tracks the language shift from Gaelic to English in the south of County Derry just after the famine in the 19th Century.

Conversation includes: introductions; a background to the book; Páidí Láidir Mac Cullach; Jane McCrory; Aodh Ó Canainn; Terence ‘Terry’ Heron; Saggart (Priest) Heron; Cardinal Paul Cullen and the Romanisation of the Irish church including the introduction of ‘Father’; Kitty clerkin and Éilis Ní Chléirighean; Katie Kelly’s in Portstewart; Anne Marie Kennedy; Charlie Conville; Biddy Donnelly, matchmaking and near misses; poitín; the conditions for a language shift; the famine; John Heron in America; Nóra Ní Chathain; Peter McNamee; Seán Mac Diarmuida and Miss McGuigan; Bridie Browne; Dr Wilhelm Doegen (1877-1967) Director of the Lautabteilung, Preussische Staatsbibliothek (the Sound Department at the Prussian State Library), Berlin; Gaelic in Ulster in 1930s; the Royal Irish Academy; John Carolan; Sarah Tracey; Francie Frank; Art Hughes; Fr. Mathew Pledge and the Pioneers; Seán’s aunt Brigid and how photographs in Draperstown came into existence; Patrick J. Heron; John O'Donovan from the Ordnance Survey visiting the area before the famine; Seán’s journey to gaelic; Francie Convery; Rosguill; Oideas Gael; Gleann Cholm Cille; Tomás Ó Canainn; Diarmuid Ó Devlin; the Aodh and Tomás’ nephew Neil Martin; Burns’ shop in Draperstown; the supernatural powers of the priest; Saggart Heron’s potatoes; the songs in the book; Tory Island; King Patsy Dan Rodgers;’ Prince Paul and other topics.

Relevant Links

https://www.doegen.ie

http://www.oideas-gael.com/en/

https://www.ria.ie

Additional Links

https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000015943

https://neilmartinmusic.com/

https://cic.ie/shop/leabhair/on-a-rock-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean/

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/people/languages-literatures-and-cultures/lillisolaoire/

https://www.itma.ie/ga/people/lillis-o-laoire/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7cusdCsHSY

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1130595573939102&rdid=aIIQuuzyKMnWAyov

https://cic.ie/shop/leabhair/neamhfhicsean/dha-leagan-deag-leargas-nua-ar-an-sean-nos/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSBLL5UzZWE

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Episode 81 is another failed conversation between Dr. Patrick Collins and Fender Jackson as they get sidetracked on AI and UrbanLab instead of talking about Pat’s book from Orpen Press. 

Conversation includes: (re)introductions; recap on Episode 28; augmented reality glasses by Magic Leap; AR vs. VR; Ironman; Minority Report; Google Glass; Captain America: Civil War; AI safety nets; Sam Altman and ChatGPT; the challenges the arts industry are facing with AI; Suno; Lumalabs; Sora; Moore’s Law; legislating for AI; artificially generated content on social media; the erosion of truth; Jeremy Bentham and his panopticon prison; the famine and the famine relief scheme; Central Statistics Office; the advantages of the work being undertaken by UrbanLab; Science Foundation Ireland; Prof Ulf Strohmayer; Oisin Slevin; Lua Flannery; shared experiences; good planning; ‘The Man With 1000 Kids’; the Netherlands; the 1996 IRA Manchester bombing; Ireland coming second to Viktor Orbán’s state finances; Ireland spending 8% of its budget at the local level; the proposed bypass of Galway; Pat’s work in Moycullen; the proposed greenway from Galway to Clifden; Heather Humphries; a lack of interconnectedness and being underfunded; J. P. McManus; peer assists; a new Ireland and the opportunities that could arise for the cities of the whole island as well as other topics. 

Relevant Links

www.urbanlabgalway.com

www.orpenpress.com

www.orpenpress.com/book-author/patrick-collins/

Additional Links

www.thejournal.ie/readme/local-authorities-6421796-Jul2024/

www.suno.com 

lumalabs.ai/dream-machine 

openai.com/index/sora

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLBW8L198GQ 

www.sfi.ie

www.galwaytourism.ie/connemara-greenway/#google_vignette

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