The Ireland Podcast

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

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

Episode 166 player and designer of the fretless glass-guitar Ned Evett chats with Fender Jackson on Mon 19th May 2025. This conversation takes place in advance of Ned opening forJoe Satriani and Steve Vai.Conversation includes: introductions; a performance of ‘The Electric Co’ by U2; fretless vs. fretted guitar; a performance of Ned’s track ‘Strange Kind Of Freedom’; Ned’s open E tuning (E B E G# B E); Ned’s fretless resonator guitar with a titanium neck; Paul Reed Smith and PRS guitars; Rick Vito, guitarist for Fleetwood Mac; Ned’s guitar being 25llbs/11.34kg; Ned’s clamp slider which he devised with Dunlop; a performance of ‘Search and Destroy’ by The Stooges; Ned’s ‘The Ned Special’ based on Brian May’s Red Special; Rory Gallagher’s influence on Brian May; a performance of the solo on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ’Fat Bottomed Girls’; Aluminati, Ibanez and Morning Star guitars; taking frets out; Adrian Belew; playing with finger pads vs fingernails on the left hand; Public Image Limited’s ‘Metal Box’ featuring Keith Levene on a Travis Bean metal-necked guitar; Miles Davis; a performance of ‘Dublin Blues’ by Guy Clark; E minor tuning; the Nashville number system; Sting the cat leaning more into the metaphysical stuff; Mark Knopfler; The Edge; Rory Gallagher; the importance of the support act; Bela Fleck and other topics.Ned Evett Gigs in Ireland - June 2025June 3rd, Whelan’s, Dublin Ireland, 8pm, Get TicketsJune 6th, Voodoo, Belfast Northern Ireland, Doors 7pm, Show at 8pm. Get Tickets*June 7th, Róisín Dubh (Top Bar), Galway Ireland, 8pm. Free entry.*Featuring Fender Jackson on bass and (hopefully) someone from drumadore.comRelevant Linkswww.nedevett.comAdditional Linkswww.instagram.com/nedevett

Episode 165 MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue & Adoption) Co-Founder Marina Fiddler chats with Fender Jackson in Galway on Wed 14th May 2025.Conversation includes: introductions; how MADRA was founded; early life; dog wardens and rescue pounds; the amount of dogs in care; what has been learnt int he last 20 years; the demographics of people looking for dogs; the commitment involved in getting a dog; a description of the workload involved in pairing dog with new owner; matchmaking; Marina’s co-pilot Stella; Terri Hooley; scary encounters; legislation and black spots; statistics; microchipping; echo chambers; casual attitudes towards animals; cats as vermin; greyhounds as livestock; pigs; Sharon Shannon; heartwarming adoption stories; challenges facing MADRA; muzzles and a lack of education; lack of growth in the sector; liaising with other rescue organisations; the Covid effect; during at a petrol station; how to buy a puppy safely; living in a rescue bubble; the importance of doing the research; criminals moving into breeding; fostering; health and safety and insurance; how people can help; advice to people dealing with pet bereavement; plans for the future; the team and supporters; blue taggers; being global and other topics.Relevant Linkshttps://www.madra.ieAdditional Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/madradogrescuehttps://www.facebook.com/madradogrescue