The Ireland Podcast

Lord Patten chats with Fender Jackson in his London home on Wednesday 18th June 2025.Lord Patten has held several prominent roles, including Governor of Hong Kong, European Commissioner for External Relations, Chairman of the BBC Trust, and Chancellor of the University of Oxford, but he tells Fender that overseeing the reform of the N. Ireland police service remains his proudest political achievement.Conversation includes: introductions; previous roles; early life; synopsis of Patten’s life; identity politics; Boyle, Roscommon; Phil Richardson Band; Heavitree Brewery; Mo Mowlam offering the policing reform job; importance of character; Dr. Paisley impersonations; recent unrest in Ballymena, Antrim; Trump and Putin; Peter Mandelson; the near impossible task of Police Reform in N. Ireland post Good Friday Agreement (GFA); legislating the Patten Report; Unionist objections; Gerry Adams; the IRA list; being a N. Ireland Junior Minister for Margaret Thatcher; London bomb attacks; Airey Neave; Jim Pryor; police bodyguards; Peter Smith QC; public meetings; Rosemary Nelson; Israel and Palestine; Maurice Hayes; early prisoner releases as part of GFA; kneecappings; Norman Tebbit; Brighton bomb; Tony Blair, John Major and Bertie Ahern; regrets of not keeping a diary during his time as being European Commissioner; why he is so proud of the report; other countries using the report; “Minister of Treachery”; social media; strong leadership; MAGA; “soft power”; Adlai Stevenson; Brexit and the Conservative Party; ‘things have to change in order to remain the same’; Abraham Lincoln; being an octogenarian; the Troubles as a war; how Britain cack-handedly handled Ireland in the past; heroes; kindness; Bobby MacDonnagh and more.Relevant Linkshttps://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/patten99.pdf

Episode 176 Musician Daoirí Farrell chats with Fender Jackson in Galway when he was performing as part of the Galway Folk Festival on 7th June 2025.Conversation includes: a performance of 'Foggy Dew'; introductions; Derry Tangney and the Tangney family from County Kerry; early life; Dessie Farrell; Caitriona O'Connor; favourite music acts; John Mooney; entry into music; first music lessons; being an electrician; Joe Foley and O'Donoghue’s; Brian Hickey’; studying Ceoltóir in Ballyfermot in 2008; Paul McGrattan, Pat Daly, Niamh Parsons and Brian Ó hUiginn; arranging ‘The Creggan White Hare’; Fender’s friend Declan Doherty aka ShakyHorse; rawness and honesty; arranging songs; Andy Irvine; Seamus Molloy and his son in the Hill of The O’Neill in Dungannon, Tyrone; Mark Knopfler; Donal Lunny and Liam Óg O Flynn; Liam Weldon; the parallels of being a musician and an electrician; Andy Tobin’s Bouzouki; a performance of 'The Creggan White Hare' and other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://daoiri.com/Ep. 176 PlaylistAdditional Linkshttps://galwayfolkfestival.com/https://tobininstruments.co.uk/

Ep. 175 is almost a Bloomsday 2025 Part Two episode as Fender Jackson recorded a jovial jigsaw of Joycean jabber from outside Davy Byrne's Bar, 21 Duke St, Dublin, D02 K380 on Bloomsday, Monday 16th June, 2025 just after recording a special marriage of two of Ireland’s cultural icons: James Joyce and Croke Park for Episode 174.Sincere thanks to all contributors: you are Bloomsday!Frank Corcoran, Lecturer in TU DublinA Professor in Trinity CollegeJames Anthony Kelly, PoetSon of poet, Máire Áine Nic Gearailt‘If My Heart Was A Sweet Song’ by James A. Kelly‘Cnoc an Fhómhair (Hill Of The Slaughter)’ by James A. Kelly‘I Believe In Free Love’ by James A. Kelly‘Plain Mortals’ by James A. KellyQuentin Candil, Tour Guide from SpainJonathan Rylander, Writer and Professor from Minnesota, USARachel O’Connell, DEI and Joyce readerMattress Mick, Mattress SellerSusan Boland, NutritionistJames Joyce, Deceased WriterJohn O’Reilly, Retired Defence ForcesMatt Cahill, Retired Civil ServantJohn O’Carroll, Retired Teacher‘Love's Old Sweet Song (Just A Song At Twilight)’ performed by John O’Reilly, Matt Cahill and John O’CarrollDeclan Roche, Dublin Tour GuideJames McMahon, online journalist and member of Parnassus Arts GroupKatherine Lynch, Comedian, Grandneice of Patrick Kavanagh and cousin of Ché GuevaraTammy Tiernan and Mary Crumlish, EditorRelevant Linksdavybyrnes.comjamesjoyce.iewww.joyceproject.comwww.rte.ie/culture/2025/0527/1…ames-joyce-podcast/Additional Linkswww.kennys.ie/shop/The-Poems-of-…lly-James-A-Kelly-www.facebook.com/groups/5865960386/www.instagram.com/katherinelynchofficial/https://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/9cf82454/174-bloomsday-special-croke-park-skyline-tour

Episode 174 is a marriage of two of Ireland’s cultural icons: James Joyce and Croke Park. Recorded on Bloomsday 2025, Fender speaks with Croke Park’s Gerry McGarry and Joycean tour guides Jerome Corby and Sinéad Murphy - from the rooftop of Ireland’s most famous stadium. Bloomsday, celebrated on June 16th each year, marks the events of Joyce’s novel Ulysses, all of which unfold over the course of a single day in 1904. Special thanks to all the other contributors and to all at Croke Park for making this episode happen.Episode features:Jerome Corby singing ‘Oh! Oh! Antonio!’Jerome Corby interview‘The Citizen’ excerpt from ‘Ulysses’ read by Sinead Murphy and Jerome CorbySinead Murphy singing ‘Invisibility’Gerry McGarry interview‘Yes!’ excerpt from ‘Ulysses’ read by Sinead MurphySinead Murphy singing ‘Just A Song At Twilight’Sinead Murphy interviewMichelle Hughes interviewDeirdre Corby interviewJerome Corby interviewRelevant Linkshttps://crokepark.ie/https://crokepark.ie/skylineAdditional Linkshttp://m.joyceproject.com/https://jamesjoyce.ie/

Episode 173 Chelsea Hoy and Mark Howard from Trinity Irish Dance Company chat with Fender Jackson from Chicago, USA on Monday 9th June 2025.Conversation includes: introductions; formation of Trinity Irish Dance Company; Trinity breaking all of the world championship records for Irish Dance beginning the World Irish Dance Championships in 1987; appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; Riverdance; appearing in New York City’s Joyce Theater, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre and Tokyo’s Orchard Hall; appearing in Jacob’s Pillow for the first time; being a repertoire company; Brenoshea; ‘The Sash’; Stephanie Martinez; composer Kevin Sharkey from Derry; The Undertones; Paul Marshall; ‘Brokeback Mountain’; Eva Birthistle; empowering women; building bridges to the future; Michelle Dorrance; the creative process of choreography; balancing the spectacle with high art; feeling blessed to have lived an art-driven life, and other topics.TIDC's six performances from 10 - 13th July 2025 will mark the first time Jacob’s Pillow, a National Historic Landmark and recipient of the National Medal of Arts, has presented a full program of Irish dance on the Ted Shawn Theatre stage. You can find out more information and buy tickets in the links below.Relevant Linkshttps://trinityirishdancecompany.com/https://www.jacobspillow.org/events/trinity-irish-dance-company/Additional Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/trinityirishdancecompany/https://www.facebook.com/trinityirishdancecompany/

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