The Ireland Podcast

Episode 119 is the second and final part of the conversation between Genetic Genealogist from Ancestry Laura House and Fender Jackson.Conversation includes: traits; ProGenealogy – Genealogical Services; advice for anyone wanting to do some family tree research by themselves; this internet time of being a sleuth; record collections; early Status Quo and Fleetwood Mac; video interviewing one’s family - Life Recordings; Laura’s day job; positive stories; ‘Stranger In My Family’; the challenges of a genetic genealogist; plans for the future as well as other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://www.ancestry.comAdditional LinksStranger In My Family on BBCRecord Your Life StoryEpisode 112. Laura House: Ancestry, Genetic Genealogist - Part 1

Episode 118 has Fender Jackson in conversation with online music sensation Gearoid McCathy just before he took to the stage in Monroe’s on 11th October 2024.Conversation include: introductions; family history; travels; Liam McCarthy; Mad For Road; family life; lisp; the turning points in Gearoid’s career; doing 23 gigs a week; being inspirational; ‘Going Out For One’; (not) monetising videos; Newfoundland, Canada; Eddie Banjo; kitchen parties; D’Arcy Broderick; Black Gold; ADHD; Sonny’s Dream; Ron Hynes; Yamaha NXT5 guitar; breaking strings; Godin Guitars; gratitude; ‘Rainy Night In Soho’ and algorithms; The Dubliners and Mumford & Sons; Fiachra Trench; Christy Hennessy; singing to Jack; ‘Follow The Sun’; David Double Bass from Laois; wealth; alcohol and confidence vs. ability; bedtime shopping; Gearoid’s upcoming tour; turning down a publishing deal; Tunecore; always working; bringing all of his friends along with him; messages and scams as well as other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://linktr.ee/gearoidmccarthymusic

Episode 117 brings Fender Jackson face to face with Paul Connolly in this second part as he talks through his career taking him from West Belfast to working alongside Piers Morgan on Uncensored which has amassed 3.37 million subscribers (October 2024)and 863 million total views (October 2024). Conversation includes: fun and frolics with King Charles and Queen Camilla in Clarence House; Icarus; renting a penthouse in Bristol; being a number on a spreadsheet; Rule Britannia and Tugs of War; leading a really good team in BBC in Belfast as an Executive Producer; living like a king in the back bedroom and George Best Airport; curfews both sides of the Irish Sea; producing 60 episodes of ‘Cash In The Attic’; becoming associate editor for ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’; what the Associate Editor does; how much does Paul talk with the presenter; Paul’s current enjoyment; cryogenics; working for someone younger than him; Piers Morgan Uncensored moving from TV to online; an overview of the TV industry today; the Baby Reindeer interview with Fiona Harvey; the secret of the success of Piers Morgan Uncensored; working with Kieron to find Fiona; advice to young people who want to go into TV today as well as other topics.Face to face recording in London at 4.08pm on Wednesday 18th September 2024.Art Collage by Arif Mahood. Design by Fender Jackson.Relevant Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/paul.connolly.3954Episode 113. Paul Connolly: TV Producer - Part 1

Episode 116 has Fender Jackson excited as he converses with the Book Of Kells Visitor Services Manager, Anne-Marie Diffley. When Fender started up The Ireland Podcast the Book Of Kells was one of the first interviews on his list; this chat does not disappoint!Conversation includes: introductions; what is the Book Of Kells; its history; who made it; the tools and techniques used to craft it; ownership; Iona; Henry Jones; Saint Columbcille; the reasons for its enduring popularity; being the jewell of Ireland; the impact of the book; preservation and conservation practices; the Old Library Redevelopment Project; decanting books; the Book Of Kells Experience; visitor numbers; suggested time for visitors; Trinity Trails; the 1916 Proclamation; the Brian Born Harp; Gaia by Luke Jerram; women in Trinity; Linda Doyle, Trinity’s first female Provost; Helen Shenton, Trinity’s first female librarian; facilities for disabled visitors; feedback from visitors; the most popular questions asked; the library building; foreign dignitaries; Queen Elizabeth II; Siobhan Armstrong; Mrs Obama; Joe Biden; Al Pacino; Bruce Springsteen; film shoots; Educating Rita and the Samual Beckett Theatre; Ek Tha Tiger as well as other topics.Face to face recording in Trinity College, Dublin at 11.38am on Tues 1st October 2024.This episode closes with Mrs. Costelloe by Turlough O'Carolan as performed by Elaine Hogan. Special thanks to Elaine for providing this beautiful piece.Relevant Linkshttps://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/collections/ks65hc20t?locale=enhttps://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells-experience/Additional Linkshttps://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells/gaia/https://www.visittrinity.ie/trinity-trails-tour/https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/events/https://elainehoganharp.com/

Episode 115 is a conversation between Fender Jackson and Liam Flynn of Conor McGregor's The Black Forge Inn. It provides a fantastic insight into the behind the scenes of one of the world's most famous bars from the the Front Of House Manager. As Conor says, Liam is doing the job he was born to do!Conversation includes: introductions; timeline of the history of the Black Forge Inn; McCann’s Bar; the Michael Nolan, the Nolan family and The Bentley; how the name came about; what a forge is; Alex Higgins; original design of the pub; watching Conor McGregor turning from a young local lad into the global megastar he is; Albert Quinn; doing posters to promote Conor’s fights; Crumlin & Drimnagh; Philip Sutcliffe and Crumlin Boxing Club; Conor’s interaction with the clientele; the redesign by Millimetre Design; why Liam sold the bar to Conor; tourists flocking to Drimnagh and the Black Forge Inn; the pictures in the bar; Conor’s loyalty to the staff; Conor the barman; Conor’s 145 Belt; Ed Raethorne the executive chef; the pressures faced by the hospitality trade and a message to policy makers; Proper 12; Conor the businessman; Forged Irish Stout; pep talks; Conor’s generosity; Table 15; The Billionaire Room; The Marble Arch in Drimnagh; The Waterside in Howth; the types of clients in The Black Forge Inn; Conor and America; VIP guests; Kevin Hart; James Arthur; Ian Wright; Katie Price; the similarities between Dana White and Conor; Victoria Maguire; the journey involved in recuperating costs; the appreciation of Conor in the area and beyond; Liam’s plans for the future; the plans for the future of The Black Forge; Liam’s message to the staff; Liam’s message to Conor; Liam’s verdict on whether or not Conor will return to the ring; how Liam would like to be remembered as well as other topics.Relevant Linkhttps://www.theblackforgeinn.com/

Episode 114 brings Jason P. Rothberg (Founder / CEO) and Gianfranco Bianchi (Founder / CCO) of Xavatar in conversation with Fender Jackson. Xavatar is an innovative product with its base currently in County Kerry.Conversation includes: introductions; past work including David Lynch Foundation; Donvan - the music and the dog; the reason why Xavatar came into existence; working with the Autism Society; the connections to Ireland; moving to Canada; who’s buying this product; Malcolm McLaren; iHeart Radio; the Alzheimer’s Society of Niagara; getting an outside evaluation from Innovation Niagara; hiring based on need; looking to bring in more clients; how the technology works; silicon valley; the other products; bed-ridden kids; ‘Ready Player One’; ‘Second Life’; working with AWS and cloud-servers; plans for the future, as well as other topics.Zoom call at 9.49am on Thursday 10th October 2024.Relevant Linkshttps://xavatar.co/

Episode 112 is a conversation between Fender Jackson and Laura House, a genetic genealogist in Ancestry. This episode brings a lot of detail to anyone interested in researching their family tree.Conversation includes: ’The Man With 1000 Kids’; the history of Ancestry; AncestryProGenealogists; the Four Courts Fire in Ireland of 1922 and advice to people who would like to trace their family tree before this incident; Laura’s background and introduction to Ancestry; early mistakes Laura made when researching her own family tree; Laura’s dissertation on the limitations of Y and Autosomal DNA to the investigation of adoptions, illegitimacies and other changes of surname; a quick overview of how DNA is split from everyone’s ancestors; Laura’s wish that people understood better the potential and limitations of DNA testing; Laura’s tips on tracing adoptee’s families; privacy; the methodologies Laura used in her dissertation; Prof. John Portmann; giving a child up for adoption; personality traits, as well as other topics.Face to face recording at 2.33pm on Monday 16th September in the office of Ancestry, London.Relevant Linkshttps://www.ancestry.com

Ep. 111 has Fender Jackson in conversation with William Foote the Centre Director of The Irish Cultural Centre in London. The ICC welcomes and invites people of all backgrounds and cultures to participate in three core activities: culture, community, and education programmes.Conversation includes: introductions; an overview of the timeline of the Irish Cultural Centre; London Irish Centre in Camden; the three core activities of The Irish Cultural Centre (Culture, Education and Community); the importance of experiencing Irish art as a diaspora; Michael McGoldrick and The McGoldrick Family; William’s personal journey which took him to being the Centre Director; Royal Scottish; Bangor Grammar School; Glasgow Uni; University of North Carolina; being a “Peace Baby”; understanding the relationship between Britain and Ireland; how William got the job; staging your own work as an artist; Ed Bennett; fees and funding; Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council; the welcome of donations; the responsibility of being more eco-friendly; the patrons; Edna O'Brien; Dara Ó Briain; Fergal Keane; Mary McAleese; Adrian Dunbar; partnerships; Smock Alley; Dublin Fringe Festival; The Mac in Belfast; The Abbey; Lyric Belfast; the cross-pollination of acts across the Irish Sea; forming programmes; the Apollo; biggest achievements; challenges; Covid; Peter Power-Hynes the Chairman of the Board; Heritage Ireland; plans for the future; Linda Ervine; peace building as well as other topics.Face to face recording in The Irish Cultural Centre, 5 Black’s Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 9DT at 10.39am on Wednesday 18th September 2024.Relevant Linkshttps://irishculturalcentre.co.ukSpotify Playlist for this episode