The Ireland Podcast

Episode 172 Galway Tour Guide, Artist, Writer and Joycean scholar Jim Ward chats with Fender Jackson in Galway on 7th June 2025. They discuss James Joyce and his particular connection with Galway.Conversation includes: (re)introductions; Joyce’s background; Joyce and Galway; ‘Dubliners’ and ‘The Dead’; ‘Ulysses’; ‘Finnegan’s Wake’; Aedín Moloney and her solo performance of ‘YES! Reflections Of Molly Bloom’; President Michael D. Higgins unveiling a plaque to Michael ‘Sonny’ Bodkin in Rahoon Cemetery, Galway in 2024; a recital of Joyce’s poem ‘She Weeps Over Rahoon’; the Nora Barnacle Museum; Joyce’s travels in Europe; ‘Bicycle Duty’; Ernest Hemingway; Paul Léon Furniture; Josh Newman, Darina Gallagher and James Joyce Centre; Buffalo University; Joyce’s death; Harriet Shaw Weaver; President Eamon de Valera and Dr. Vogt the eye surgeon; ‘The Eyes Have it’; 2025 Ireland; Giambattista Vico the Italian Philosopher; Joyce the contrarian and mimic; the first Bloomsday; corner boys; Declan Varney from Galway Advertiser; advice to new readers to Joyce; reading groups; Samuel Beckett; Flann O’Brien/Myles na gCopaleen; Jim’s novel ‘No Ordinary Bread’ and other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://jamesjoyce.ie/https://www.galwaytourism.ie/nora-barnacle-house/https://charliebyrne.ie/product/joyce-county-galway-and-james-joyce/Additional Linkshttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/98ca552a/72-james-joyce-centre-a-tour-with-dr-josh-q-newmanhttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/55a1bd63/74-bloomsday-2024-part-1-drumcondra-interviewshttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/9d08fc8b/77-bloomsday-2024-part-2-drumcondra-performanceshttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/2c7ef2ee/70-aedin-moloney-molly-bloom-james-joyce-and-paddy-moloneyhttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/8c22d3be/71-prof-brian-arkins-james-joyce-and-aedin-moloneyhttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/49105ca8/45-noel-ogrady-singer-and-raconteurJim’s Linkshttps://galwaytrails.ie/https://charliebyrne.ie/product/no-ordinary-bread/https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/JimWardPlay

Episode 169 archeologist Dr. Kieran O’Conor chats with Fender Jackson in Galway on Thursday 22nd May 2025. This is part four - the final part.Conversation includes: who was Turlough O’Carolan; how he became blind; how he came to study the harp; the compositions of Denis O’Conor 1, Denis O’Conor 1, Charles O’Conor and Mrs. O’Conor; the harp having the “old madness in it” when O’Carolan was around the O’Conors; O’Carolan the teacher; O’Carolan the hellraising rock god; viewing the protestant element of the island as a positive thing; the Brian Boru harp; a performance of ‘Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór’ (‘Sheebeg, Sheemore’) and ‘An Gaoth Aneas’ (‘The South Wind’), as well as other topics.‘Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór’ - Arranged and performed by Fender Jackson All instruments and vocals by Fender Jackson: acoustic and electric guitars, fretless bass, drums, tambourine, shakers, organ, and vocals.Relevant Linkshttps://universityofgalway.academia.edu/KieranOConorhttps://pay.universityofgalway.ie/people/kierandoconor.html

Episode 170 archeologist Dr. Kieran O’Conor chats with Fender Jackson in Galway on Thursday 22nd May 2025. Part three of a four-part conversation.Conversation includes: working for the Archaeological Survey of Ireland in the 1990s; the difference in the East and West of Ireland; farm payments; favourite monuments; advice to people who think they have something interesting on their land; Historic Environment Viewer; advice on where to study Archeology; University of Galway; Galway’s medieval preservation; buildings which have been well preserved in Galway including King’s Head, Lynch’s Castle, Blake’s Tower, Tigh Neachtain; different window types in Galway; Heritage Ireland; Galway Civic Trust; tradition and modernity; Oxford and Cambridge; hitch-hiking as well as other topics.Favourite MonumentsLough Meelagh Crannog, Co. RoscommonRoscommon Abbey, Co. Roscommon Sligo Friary, Co. SligoKnockadoo-Brosna, Co. SligoTulsk, Co. RoscommonThe Moated Site at Cloonfree, Co. RoscommonRelevant Linkshttps://universityofgalway.academia.edu/KieranOConorhttps://pay.universityofgalway.ie/people/kierandoconor.htmlAdditional Linkshttps://www.archaeology.ie/https://www.archaeology.ie/advice-and-support/locate-a-monument-or-wreck/historic-environment-viewer/https://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/7bacdea5/168-dr-kieran-oconor-the-oconoroconnor-namehttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/b98c7cb2/169-dr-kieran-oconor-castles-and-ringforts

Episode 169 is Part 2 of a conversation between archeologist Dr. Kieran O’Conor and Fender Jackson in Galway on Thursday 22nd May 2025.Conversation includes: (re)introductions; early life; being into history from a young age; working with Montgomery Castle with Jeremy Knight; hitchhiking to the Syrian border; doing his PhD in Wales; lecturing in University of Galway in Archeology; why archeology has been well preserved in the west of Ireland; ring forts; native Irish Gaelic settlements; Michelle Comer; how many of the 50,000 ring forts of Ireland would have looked; castle definition; castle classifications including motte and ringwork (earth and timber) castles, masonary and polygonal enclosure and hall-house castles, tower house castles, fortified house and strong house; Terry Barry; Roscommon Castle; the renaissance; Kieran’s favourite castles; Niall Brady; Tom McNeill; Desmond Castle (Kinsale) and other topics.Favourite CastlesRoscommon Castle, ConnaughtBallintober Castle, Connaught Dunamase Castle, LeinsterRindoon Castle, ConnaughtClonmacnoise Castle, ConnaughtCarrickfergus Castle, UlsterTomdeely Castle, MunsterRelevant Linkshttps://universityofgalway.academia.edu/KieranOConorhttps://pay.universityofgalway.ie/people/kierandoconor.htmlAdditional Linkshttps://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/7bacdea5/168-dr-kieran-oconor-the-oconoroconnor-name

Archeologist Kieran O’Connor chats with Fender Jackson in Galway on Thursday 22nd May 2025. This first part of the conversation is mostly centred around the name O’Conor/O’Connor.Conversation includes: introductions; Kieran being a collateral descendant of the last high king of Ireland; 18th Century penal laws; O’Conor Don; Irish genealogy; Charles O’Conor and The Catholic Association; the various O’Conors; Roderic O’Conor the artist; the origins of the Ó Conchubhair (O’Conor) name, Kieran’s father hunting with Basset Hounds and other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://universityofgalway.academia.edu/KieranOConorhttps://pay.universityofgalway.ie/people/kierandoconor.htmlAdditional Linksen.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Conor_dynastywww.youtube.com/watch?v=O4VxyDJHJOQ

Episode 167 Galway Tour Guide, Artist and Writer Jim Ward chats with Fender Jackson on Wed 14th May 2025.Conversation includes: introductions; Galway Trails; early life; an overview of Galway in Jim’s lifetime; Dick Byrne, Tom Kenny and The Old Galway Diary podcast; Ciaran & Gerry Smith; Galway Bay Hotel; studying Engineering in UCG; ATU; Jim’s play ‘Just Guff’; starting off as a tour guide and Brian Nolan; Jim’s different tours including Irish language tours; Galway’s attraction as a tourist destination; Galway’s history of Trading with Spain and Portugal; Galway and music/culture; Galway International Arts Festival; Michael D. Higgins; Walter Macken; JFK’s visit to Galway; Galway Cathedral; Galway and Irish language; St. Nicholas Collegiate Church; the walled city; the nonacentennial anniversary; the Tribes of Galway; Battle of Knockdoe; Battle of Aughrim; Galway as a city of superlatives; Jim’s favourite place in Galway; Bertie The Heron; Galway traffic; Jim’s writings and artwork; Jim’s books ‘No Ordinary Bread’ and ‘Rednecks of Suburbia’; Jim’s memoire; Ireland’s neutrality; Jim’s views on Irish reunification; Wolfe Tone the protestant and other topics.Relevant Linkswww.galwaytrails.ieAdditional Linkscharliebyrne.ie/product/no-ordinary-bread/https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/JimWardPlaywww.instagram.com/jimwardbard/www.facebook.com/jim.ward.salthill