The Ireland Podcast

Ep. 129 brings singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seán Lyons from County Clare to Fender’s studio in Galway. Seán demonstrates his exceptional musicianship, performing live and engaging in an insightful chat about his creative process, inspirations, and journey in music.Seán’s day job; Clare FM; reading the deat(h)s; John Lyons, Seán’s musical family consisting of John (late father), Ann Lynch Lyons (mother) and Aisling (sister); a performance on a ‘Wild’ Bb whistle of Liz Carroll’s ‘The Champaign Jig Goes to Columbia’ and Arty McGlynn’s ‘Spanish Harlem Dan’; a performance of ‘Factory Girl’ on a ‘Lir’ low D whistle of Liz Carroll’s; the price of whistles; Shaun ‘Mudd’ Wallace; shruti box; Niamh Parsons; a performance of Tom Waits’ ‘The Briar And The Rose’; Lillis Ó Laoire; Ennis Trad Fest; Sean and Tony McLaughlin; singing sessions; An Spailpín Fánach; sean-nós singing; Tim Lyons; a performance of ‘Ye Rambling Boys Of Pleasure; trad music scene; jazz; Frank Sinatra; a performance of ‘With These Very Hands’; songwriting; a performance of 'The West Wind' and 'The Old Bush' reels on a set of Tom White uilleann pipes acquired from Blackie O’Connell and a chanter from Cillian O'Briain, as well as other topics. Relevant Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/seanlyonsmusic_/https://seanlyons.bandcamp.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bvNLNbW0TnRDV9izUAl1d?si=_l0gfqFGSq6UgOvadOBuow

Editors Tomás Finn and Tony Varley discuss their book, Inside Rural Ireland. They explain how rural Ireland’s success is intrinsically tied to the prosperity of the entire nation, emphasising the importance of nurturing rural communities for Ireland’s future.Tomás Finn is a Lecturer in History at the University of Galway and is currently a member of the Social Sciences Research Centre at the University of Galway. He has published a book and articles on the role of intellectuals and the influence of ideas in the modernisation of Ireland. His monograph Tuairim, Intellectual Debate and Policy Formulation: Rethinking Ireland, 1954–75 was published in 2012.Tony Varley is a former Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Sociology and is now a member of the Social Sciences Research Centre at the University of Galway. He has co-edited A Living Countryside? The Politics of Sustainable Development in Rural Ireland (2009), Integration through Subordination: The Politics of Agricultural Modernisation in Industrial Europe (2013), and Land Questions in Modern Ireland (2013).In the early decades of native rule rural Ireland – and in particular the new farmer-owners who had emerged as the major winners in the recent agrarian revolution – exerted a considerable influence over the new Free State and over Irish Catholicism. Patriarchal power on the land had been strengthened by the transfer of land ownership from landlord to tenantfarmer and was given further strength by patriarchal Catholicism and patriarchal nationalism. After 1932 the strides protected import-substituting industrialisation was making never went nearly far enough to threaten agriculture’s economic primacy or the countryside’s central position in Irish society. Inspired by the traumatic experience of severe crisis conditions in the 1950s, a transformation that set southern Ireland on the path of urban industrialism commenced in earnest in the 1960s.What emerges is that the power of the state to promote rural change has at once contracted and expanded in the years since Ireland joined the EEC in 1973. Views are divided as to how urban industrialism has impacted on different rural interests. Throughout much of the period since the 1950s the power of organised farmers to represent Irish farming interests remained high as those working the land continued to dwindle in number. In recent decades the always limited power of clerical activists and intellectuals to restructure rural civil society along Catholic (or even Christian) lines has undergone further decline. Most recently the prospects for farm women increasing their relative power have arguably improved the most in certain respects, even if land ownership still remains stubbornly and overwhelmingly in male hands.Inside Rural Ireland delves deeply into the evolution of Ireland’s rural history to explore rural Ireland before and after these momentous transitions by examining the power of ruling politicians and state bodies, farmers, clerical and non-clerical civic activists, intellectuals (social commentators as well as fiction writers), returned emigrants, and farm women to promote or impede a wide range of rural changes.Relevant Linkshttps://www.ucdpress.ie/page/detail/inside-rural-ireland/?k=9781739086367Additional Linkshttps://charliebyrne.ie/https://www.hodgesfiggis.ie/

Episode 128 is a continuation of the conversation with Derry man - Director of Photographer, Mark McCauley - who talks about his experience of being in the frontlines of the Bosnian War.Conversation includes: a brief overview of the Bosnian War; the inappropriate hiring of a car; driving in search of a frontline; spending a night in a house under fire; best decisions vs. least bad options; sleep; deciding on the safest part of the house in a bombardment; driving through a minefield; Sarajevo; a description of what made this a particularly bad war; sharing footage; a German aid charity transporting kids out of Sarajevo along a no man’s land road; being at a burial during a sniper attack; processing trauma in real time and then later; to be there or not to be there; the colouring/non-colouring of news coverage; interference of news by governments and commercial ownership; fighting propaganda; what was suitable to broadcast and other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://www.markmccauley.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/markmccauley2020/https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1828579/

Episode 127 has Fender chatting with six times Grammy Winner, producer Steve Lillywhite who produced 'If I Should Fall From Grace With God' and 'Peace And Love' by The Pogues to commemorate the first anniversary of Shane MacGowan’s passing.Conversation includes: introductions; how Steve came to work with The Pogues; Frank Murray; RAK Studios; bands on the way up/down; ‘Straight To Hell' soundtrack; how ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’ was recorded; The Engine Room, The Bridge and The Vocal Booth; getting the best takes; recording ‘Fairytale Of New York’; James Fearnley’s “mistake” in the intro; a photo of Little Richard getting into a red Cadillac; good vs. not good; one of Steve’s biggest production decisions; walking through each track of ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’; ‘Hong Kong Garden’; John McKay vs. The Edge; Phish; Bowie and Bali; ‘Don’t Let Me Down And Down’ in Indonesian; The Nipple Erectors; Fiachra Trench; fade outs; the Birmingham 6, Guilford 4 and Gerry Conlon; social comment songs; lyrics; Andrew’s pocket; drummers before clicktracks; Stewart Copeland; Steve’s 3 word review of IISFFGWG; Steve’s biggest hits and other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/steve_lillywhite/https://www.discogs.com/artist/50809-Steve-Lillywhitehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_LillywhiteAdditional Linkshttp://www.pogues.com/https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5pJ3NropplwdBOK0XVwj1H?si=01f37735923e424ahttps://www.facebook.com/groups/25862095788/posts/10162117825130789/

Episode 126 has Fender in conversation with Director of Photography Mark McCauley. Mark details his meteoric rise from being a musician in Derry to witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall.Conversation includes: introductions; early years as a musician; The Undertones; moving to London; landing a job in the BBC; working at the BBC on programs e.g. The Old Grey Whistle Test, Top Of The Pops, Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads etc ; transitioning from audio to video recording; moving into the news department; Ingo Prosser; an overview of Berlin and Germany from World War II to 1989; covering the fall of the Berlin Wall; managing nerves; Robert Capa; Cartier-Bresson; W. Eugene Smith; Günter Schabowski’s press conference; Brian Hanrahan; witnessing the fall of the wall at Bornholmer Straße, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate as well as other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://www.markmccauley.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/markmccauley2020/https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1828579/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50013048

Episode 125 is a musical tribute to the esteemed musician Tom Giblin who passed on Saturday 19th October 2024. Tom was a regular fixture on the traditional Irish music circuit in Galway playing his acoustic guitar and singing songs, often along with his sister Mary. His passing has been a profound loss to his family and many, many friends.This episode has no ads and was given the blessing of Tom's family to be a celebration of his life. It consists of three main parts:Part 1: WakeThursday 24th of October at Monroe's Tavern, Galway.Part 2: FuneralFriday 25th of October at 11:00am in St. Patrick's Church, Forster Street (H91 FP84).Part 3: A Session In Tribute To Tom GiblinFriday 25th of Monroe’s Tavern Galway. Special thanks to Tony McLaughlin for allowing the use of this audio from his video which he recorded.The final closing song is a recording of Tom himself from earlier this year. Extra special thanks to all the musicians featured.Predeceased by his parents Tom and Kathleen, brothers Gerard and Eamon (Ned).Unexpectedly at University Hospital Galway with his loving family by his side. Will be sadly missed by his wife Maureen, son Ross and daughter Kathy, his sister Mary (Dawson), brothers Sean, Tony, Kevin and Michael, brother-in-law John, sisters-in-law Deirdre, Joanne, Carmel and Brenda, grandchild Matthew, aunt Dolly, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends.May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace.Relevant Linkshttps://cancerfundforchildren.comhttps://www.cancer.ieN.B. Since the making of this episode Galway also saw the sad untimely passing of other fellow musicians. Eamonn Nugent, a beloved Orthoptist and skilled bodhrán player passed away on October 30, 2024, at the age of 31, after a courageous fight with a rare brain tumour. A graduate of Glasgow Caledonian University with a First-Class Honours degree, Eamonn became a respected member of the orthoptic team at Galway University Hospital, where he was promoted to Senior Orthoptist in 2020. Eamonn's life was filled with music and joy, and he leaves behind his loving wife Sarah, his sister Ciara, and his parents Theresa and Joe.Irish singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan died on November 12, 2024, at 74 after a swimming accident at Silverstrand Beach in Barna, County Galway. Best known for writing "The Voyage," popularized by Christy Moore, Duhan started his career with the band Granny’s Intentions in Limerick before becoming a celebrated solo artist in Irish folk music. Johnny is survived by his wife, Maureen, children Ronan, Niamh, Kevin, Ailbhe and Brian, grandchildren and extended family. Thoughts and prayers go out to all these people, their family and friends as well as the lady still missing at the date of publication.

Episode 124 is the third and final episode of the 2024 series celebrating the Book of Kells that was recorded on at Trinity College, Dublin on Tues 1st October 2024. Fender is given a personal tour encompassing the Book and The Long Room, culminating in the Brian Boru Harp from Visitor Officer Andrea Iadarola.Conversation includes: introductions; Anne-Marie Diffley (Visitor Services Manager at Trinity College); starting off from the exhibition entrance; Ogham alphabet stones; the pocket gospels; the materials used to create the Book Of Kells; how the book was made; a “tour” of some of the more important pages e.g. Four Evangelists, Chi Rho page, ; the importance of animals e.g. peacock, lion, eagle, veal, salmon, mice, cat, snake etc; the interlace and spirals representing the Christian and Celtic elements; Constantine the Great; coming face to face with the Book Of Kells; the close skirmishes; the case housing the book; the current pages on display; The Long Room; how to access the books of the library; the copy of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic from 1916; sculptures and busts; the redevelopment project; Prof. Gordon Foster who invented the International Standard Book Number (ISBN); 'From Decadence to Despair' Oscar Wilde Exhibition; Jonathan Swift; Ada Lovelace; Rosalind Franklin; Lady Gregory; Gaia by Luke Jerram; Prof. William Rowan Hamilton and quaternions; Neil Armstrong; Mary Pollard; Brian Boru’s harp; Guinness vs. The Irish Government as well as other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/collections/ks65hc20t?locale=enhttps://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells-experience/116. Anne-Marie Diffley: Book Of Kells120. Caitlin Skahen & Co: Book Of Kells - Part 2

Episode 123 has the band Scustin in the studio having the craic and performing acoustic versions of their greatest hits of the future.Conversation includes: introductions; actual jobs; ‘I’ll Never Fly With RyanAir Again’; the attraction of opposites; BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute); slowing drum rolls; origins of the band; ’Charmer’; jazz vs bossa nova; chord extensions; Prince; ‘The Ick’; appropriate percussion; supporting the band; the tour; playing the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, London on 21st November; playing Grand Social in Dublin on 12th December; identical digits; ‘The Killer’ as well as other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://linktr.ee/scustinhttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/74wuE1uUwxuAo74wzO9nrm?si=3d2d576df8674a9a