The Galway Podcast

11/04/2024

After much deliberation we have decided to place The Galway Podcast on hiatus until further notice and concentrate all of our resources on The Ireland Podcast. We thank you for your support and understanding.

Please feel free to subscribe to The Ireland Podcast which can be found at TheIrelandPodcast.com or on your favourite podcast player.

Sláinte,

The Salthill Media Team ☘

20/02/2024

Oranmore's Tommy Keane.

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/9ed3bab4/29-tommy-keane-uilleann-pipe-player

Conversation with Tommy includes: introductions; the list of great players Tommy has played with including Jacqueline McCarthy, Pádraic Keane, Siobhán Keane and Maisie-Kate Keane; getting the recording gig for Rum, So**my & The Lash; Phil Chevron; Elvis Costello; arrangements; Old Grey Whistle Test performance; vari-speeding; the three parts of the uilleann pipes; the chanter; the range of uilleann pipes vs bagpipes; overblowing; octave notes; three drones; three regulators; Dirty Old Town; breaking down the solo; the use of colour and vibrato; Paddy Moloney’s vibrato; Liam O’Flynn’s vibrato; who Tommy likes to listen to; different levels of familiarisation of Irish music; having pipes in different keys; Na Píobairí Uilleann; renewed popularity of the uilleann pipes; The Old Main Drag; ending of the Dirty Old Town solo; Blues; Henry Benagh’s fiddle part; Poguetry In Motion EP; Body Of An American; Planxty Noel Hill; playing live gigs with The Pogues; A Pair Of Brown Eyes; the overblow; tunes which are not pipe-friendly; recording environment for Rum, So**my & The Lash; Elvis Costello witnessing the uilleann pipes; Davy Spillane; Tommy Carney; starting out on the uilleann pipes; Colm Broderick & Liam O’Flynn’s pipes; Pádraic Keane; Páraic Mac Donnchadha, and other topics.

Performances
Dirty Old Town in D: 32:47
Dirty Old Town in C: 33:30
Old Main Drag: 46:09
Body Of An American: 52:31
Planxty Noel Hill: 54:04
A Pair Of Brown Eyes: 57:38
A Man You Don't Meet Every Day: 1:11:38

NB Tommy had a lingering cough from a recent cold for this recording. The coughs have all been reduced in the edit for your listening pleasure.

www.salthillmedia.com

-Kate Keane

15/02/2024

Anyone know John Lydon? Please share.

'Allo! 'Allo! 'Allo! John Lydon! We want to interview you. Please get in touch if you would like to impart some of your fine wisdom on The Ireland Podcast. May the road rise with you! Go raibh maith agat. TiP (Please share!)

01/02/2024

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/93d00872/21-deirdre-brennan-looking-for-brigid-feat-irish-with-mollie

Episode 21 is the third in a series celebrating the 1500th anniversary of St. Brigid. Firstly we have Mollie (from ‘IrishWithMollie’) teaching us how to say Happy Saint Brigid’s Day in Gaelic followed by a conversation with photographer Deirdre Brennan. Deirdre photographed 60 women named Brigid around the island of Ireland and these images will be projected at Barnardo Square in Dublin from 1st to 5th February.

00:00:23 Irish With Mollie
00:07:31 Greetings with Deirdre Brennan
00:07:41 Looking For Brigid introduction
00:08:51 The call out and help from Keith Nolan
00:12:13 Discussing the project
00:20:13 My Bloody Sunday (project)
00:21:57 The Irish State Is 100 Years Old (project)
00:24:30 Bloody Sunday
Some of the Brigids
00:26:26 Bridget McDermott
00:27:40 Bridget Brownlow
00:28:32 Bridget Harper
00:30:05 Breege Corr
00:31:30 Bridget Connors
00:33:27 Brigid McDonnell
00:34:59 Travelling around Ireland
00:35:48 Funding
00:38:41 Bridie Gribben
00:39:27 Bríd Logue
00:41:20 Brigid Kavita,
00:43:10 Brigid Raven Smith,
00:44:25 Brigid Leahy
00:46:38 Bridie
00:47:38 Bridgeen Bustinza
00:48:48 Bonnie Brigid Cartin
00:49:23 Brigid
00:49:55 Bríd
00:50:36 Brigitte Bardot
00:52:07 Brigid the baby
00:53:21 Brigid Whinnery
00:55:01 Briege Morrison
00:55:56 Brigid Smyth
00:57:58 Mo Mowlem
01:00:30 How has Deirdre’s view of Brigid changed?
01:01:36 The three deaths
01:03:21 Talking Derry Girls Podcast
01:04:01 Plans for the future
01:05:38 James Joyce

Relevant Links
https://deirdrebrennan.com
https://www.irishwithmollie.com
https://dublin.ie/whats-on/listings/shine-on-brigit-at-barnardo-square

31/01/2024

https://www.salthillmedia.com/thegalwaypodcast/episode/a4c958e6/46-ruairi-lehmann-galway-city-council-tourism-officer
(Linktree in bio)

Episode 46 brings you an in depth conversation with the tourism officer of Galway City Council, Mr Ruairí Lehmann. Ruairi discusses the challenges and joys of his job, how popular Galway is as a tourist destination, how Galway County and Galway City work in tandem with each other, the importance of the tourists and students to the economy to Galway and the west of Ireland, development plans for the future, the different festivals - big and small, the tourism season of Galway, how Galway is a MedTech capital globally, balancing Galway's heritage with its developing future, public consultations, the challenges of opening a new business in Galway, what the council are doing with sustainability and green energy, short term lets and new legislation, the night time economy as well as other topics.

Relevant Links
https://www.galwaycity.ie

Photo by Professor Chaosheng Zhang
https://www.instagram.com/chaoshengzhang

Additional Links
https://atasteofgalway.com
https://www.wildlands.ie
https://gleg.ie
https://www.giaf.ie
https://tonnta.eu
https://www.instagram.com/ar_imeall
https://www.localenterprise.ie

24/01/2024

https://www.salthillmedia.com/thegalwaypodcast/episode/b1c2418b/45-katharine-mac-maghnuis-athenry-music-school

Episode 45 is a very in-depth conversation with Katharine Mac Mághnuis from the Athenry Music School where she discusses her background, the birth of Athenry Music School, the philosophy of Suzuki Education, the lessons available, her suggestions for how much practise a child should do, the school regulations, awards and partnerships, upcoming events as well as other topics. Photo by Brad Anderson.

Relevant Links:
https://athenrymusicschool.com

23/01/2024

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/cd5079e2/18-patrick-maguire-freelance-animator

Episode 18 features freelance animator Patrick Maguire who is the artist behind various hilarious (semi?) viral videos online. Patrick also plays banjo, creates music and is an installation artist, as well as other things. On the internet he is mostly RareWitch but he is also Petal Reaction.

Patrick talks us through his inspiration and his work processes. Making the ordinary extraordinary Patrick drills into the mundane and adds humour to it making side-splitting art.

We have inserted in some of the audio from Patrick's animated videos. We have also bleeped out the swearing so you can still listen to it in front of anyone who may be offended. Patrick also treats us to live performances of three of his compositions. All in all this is an episode which had us creased up laughing. We trust that you will enjoy too. Special thanks to Patrick for letting us us the audio for his various artworks and to Dr. Ed Bennett the composer for alerting us to Patrick's artworks.

02/01/2024

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/51e64abd/15-nicole-schwabacher-inyos-ring
(Linktree in bio)

Episode 15. The first episode of 2024 brings you Nicole Schwabacher, a teacher turned author at the start of her literary career where she discusses her first novel: Inyo's Ring. It's a Galway special! As it is described on her website:

"A young sailor’s quest for survival turns into an epic battle for love, freedom, and justice in this gripping reimagined legend of the Tudor Era.

The coast of Ireland, 1588: Aboard a lone galleon, part of what once was the mighty Armada, Inyo Fernández has barely survived weeks of starvation and harrowing sea battles, when his ship is far off course, heading straight into a catastrophic storm.

In Ireland, the O’Malley chieftain’s granddaughter, Finley, has only recently discovered how badly her world is broken. And now, she and the entire clan are about to be plunged into a desperate struggle against foreign domination.

​So much is already at stake, and hiding someone hunted by the English will endanger everyone’s lives even more. Finley, however, is inexplicably drawn to the stranger and can’t shake the feeling that she knows him. But how?
Amid uncertain days, a spark ignites between Finley and Inyo, a growing flame that outshines the darkness around them. Yet both know that inevitable heartbreak looms because Inyo simply has to flee.

When Finley’s kin are ambushed and captured, facing the gallows, Inyo and Finley unexpectedly find themselves catapulted into untold dangers across the sea."

There's a challenge in this episode to turn this book into a screenplay and then who knows what may become of it?

31/12/2023

2023: a great year for champions!

28/12/2023

https://www.salthillmedia.com/thegalwaypodcast/episode/aabe508d/41-christmas-special-karen-cassidy-and-sean-hernon
(Linktree in bio)

Episode 41. An end of the year special brings you a conversation straight from the Christmas party of the Galway Bay Cycling Club between two people who have broken the record for cycling from Mizen to Malin.

Sean Hernon who knocked 15mins off the male record in 2021 with a time of around 17h 20m interviews this year's female record holder Karen Cassidy.

Sean actually held back on asking Karen any questions in advance of this conversation so what you have here is a genuine deep dive into the prep work Karen underwent, the challenges she faced, what kept her motivated and why she would ever dream of doing anything like this again.

Sean was interviewed separately along with other members of Galway Bay Cycling Club and you should be able to hear that conversation in the next episode. In the meantime enjoy this very insightful conversation.

Special thanks to Karen, Sean and all at GBCC for this episode.

Relevant Links
https://galwaybaycycling.com

26/12/2023

An insightful conversation recorded when Phil was in Galway during his most recent tour.

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/b02fc195/14-christmas-special-phil-coulter-living-legend

Episode 14. The word "legend" has been bandied about so much it has almost lost its meaning. However it is with great consideration and without any doubt that we can announce the guest of this Christmas Special of The Ireland Podcast as Derry, Ireland and indeed Europe's own living legend, Mr. Phil Coulter.

Not only has Phil been the first Eurovision composer to have penned two winning songs for two different countries but he also has composed some of the most memorable songs that Ireland has heard in the last century including The Town I Loved So Well, Scorn Not His Simplicity, Steal Away and Ireland's Call to name but a few. Elvis Presley has even recorded one of this man's songs!

As producer he has brought us some of the best recordings from the likes of Planxty, The Dubliners, The Fureys, Sinead O'Connor and Van Morrison.

He's sold literally millions of records worldwide and has amassed awards resulting in a list that anyone can care to remember.

We deep dive into some Phil's background, his production techniques, his methods for composing as well well as some tales from some of the other amazing artists he has worked with. We are truly honoured to have recorded this Christmas Special with Phil Coulter.

20/12/2023

Just your usual blend of Performance Art and indigenous Irish food. 🤣🎭🥦

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/34823d6e/13-dr-jp-mcmahon-michelin-starred-chef-playwright-and-more

Episode 13. Dr JP McMahon discusses his early life, his education, Marina Carr, Tom Murphy Brian Friel, the three Lady Gregory plays, Brendan Kennelly poet, Samuel Beckett, Dadaism, Hugo Ball, bringing art into the restaurant, choosing music to match the restaurant, using photography in the restaurant, Food On The Edge, staging a performance with food, Hugo Ball, his Cava and Aniar restaurants, the seriousness of Michelin starred restaurants, how Michelin stars are awarded, how Aniar is a process, Irish brown flour, the black Irish bee, farmers market vs supermarkets, the state of farming in Ireland today and the challenges it faces, a message to the policy makers when it comes to farming as well as other topics. WARNING: This podcast discusses some adult themes.

Relevant Links
https://www.aniarrestaurant.ie
https://www.cavarestaurant.ie
https://jpmcmahonpbrosz.bandcamp.com/album/the-beckett-project

Photo by Sean Lydon

19/12/2023

https://www.salthillmedia.com/thegalwaypodcast/episode/af2941bc/40-niamh-ryan-community-connection-and-safe-spaces

Episode 40. Discussion with Niamh Ryan who is a s*x, love & relationship coach. a mentor as well as other things. Niamh empowers women to come home to their womb space. She has had a very personal health journey which she shares on this episode.

Along with being a mentor Niamh even runs Sunrise Social Galway which is a coffee/swim/hiking group. She has a studio in Liosban and discusses that too. Niamh also discusses her experience in the corporate and legal world as well as other topics. WARNING: This episode discusses some adult themes.

Relevant Links
Website: www.spiralwithniamh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiral_niamh
https://www.instagram.com/wildroseholistics
Wild Rose Holistics: Wild Rose Holistic Galway — Spiral with Niamh
www.spiralwithniamh.com/wildroseholistic
https://www.instagram.com/sunrisesocialgalway/

Tune Into Niamh's Podcast: The Unbound WOMBON Delve deeper into Niamh's wisdom on her podcast, exploring the realms of love, s*xuality, and relationships. A platform for candid conversations and transformative insights.
https://open.spotify.com/show/6FYJqgLa8ZkUKeMFvxMptr?si=riAUpSHxTB6TSyQkceq0NQ

Virtual Assistant Lauren Kavanagh

https://www.instagram.com/laurenkavanagh.co

13/12/2023

https://www.salthillmedia.com/thegalwaypodcast/episode/a18aca74/39-hardiman-and-beyond-john-cunningham-and-amelia-walker

This weeks guests are John Cunningham and Amelia Walker. They are here to talk about a new book released this year which is called Hardiman and Beyond. Hardiman and Beyond was edited by John along with Ciaran McDonough and it is the follow up to a famous publication released in 1820 called ‘History of the Town and County of the Town of Galway’. So Hardiman and Beyond is basically a recap of Galway since then. And excellent it is too.

We walk through the history of how the book came into existence, all the different contributors as well as delving into the content and way in which the book is divided. We go through each of the contributors and what they did. Those people are Síobhra Aiken, Marie Boran, Sarah-Anne Buckley, Richard Butler, Brian Casey, Mary Clancy, Mary Cunningham, Anna Falkenau, Elaine Feeney, Dara Folan, Adrian Frazier, Gerard (Gerry) Hanberry, Jonathan Hannon, James Hardiman, Anne Hodge, Michael Kavanagh, Úna Kavanagh, Tom Kenny, Mícheál Mac Craith, Gerard Madden, Charlie McBride, Maria McGarrity, John Mulhern, Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, Jimmy O’Brien Moran, Lillis Ó Laoire, Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, James Pethica, Lionel Pilkington, Henrike Rau, Alison Titley, Tony Tracy, Chaosheng Zhang. Also mentioned are the Festival Galway contributors of Kernan Andrews, Páraic Breathnach, Sarah Clancy, Martin Conneely, Maura Cronin, Dave Donovan, Lelia Doolan, Kerry Guinan, James Harrold, Ollie Jennings, Fred Johnston, Lali Morris, Judy Murphy, Lorna Siggins.

Artwork by John Mulhern.

06/12/2023

Clíona Standun talks about how, with her sister Laragh, they run Standún in the heart of Connemara. Included in the conversation is how their grandparents met, the first shop, a long cycle, the Connemara bus, selling sweaters and bicycles etc., 700 knitters around the country, sending sweaters to Nordstrom, assembling the different parts of the sweaters, being the first company to export the Aran sweater, dealing with mail orders, when they first started selling online, working as a teenager in the shop, November and December being the busiest months, the shop being a great environment to grow up in, getting a buzz out of working there, getting off the grid, the rising costs of small businesses, rates, a message to policy makers, how it’s increasingly difficult to run a business in Ireland, championing the indigenous arts, the appeal of Irish made products, the cost of labour and the availability of people, the costs of running a business in Ireland, how customers want to support Irish businesses and Irish manufacturing vs the right price point, how Standún does their best to support Irish made products, the heartbreaking sight of villages with boarded up shops, the supermarket factor, the challenges of being a business in Spiddal, how tourists love Connemara, the foresighted skills of Donal Standún, how he built it into a strong business as a tourist destination, the education provided by being on the shop floor, the best place to buy an Aran sweater according to the Wall Street Journal, customer service being in the Standún DNA, and how Donal prioritised that, the percentage of sales being online, the future of retail, how the business has grown every year since 2015, how Galway city is quite competitive, how Standún is a destination store, the future plans, Merino wool, early wetsuits, lanolin, hand knitting vs machine knitting, the 1950s and 1960s, their aunt Dearbhaill Standún, caring for Aran sweaters, woolite, employing about 22 staff, being full-on busy right up until 5pm Christmas Eve, as well as other topics.

05/12/2023

A great craic chat.

https://www.salthillmedia.com/theirelandpodcast/episode/821dbf01/11-kevin-burke-irish-master-fiddler

Kevin takes us deep into his early years when he trained as a fiddle player as well as a violin player. He discusses moving to American in 1980, Alan’s Irish Fiddler Book, Sligo Fiddle Player Paddy Killoran, Kevin’s way of playing, Eugene Hamill, BB King, adapting the way one talks in certain scenarios, the music being on display vs. the musician, the semantics of music, Jackie Daly the great accordion player, playing with cajun influences, playing with open strings, Brendan Behan’s “The Hostage”, playing in awkward keys, how certain keys sound "violiny" and others sound "fiddley", playing with Andy Irvine and Paul Brady, Yehudi Menuhin, Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E minor, Gilles Apap, Motown, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, Pete Townsend, The Who, John Brennan the guitar player, Poco, Jethro Tull’s Serenade To A Cuckoo’, ‘Blue Room Blues’, working the blues into Irish tunes, Miles Davis, Nile Rodgers, playing two notes effectively, genetic vs. environment, advice to parents with children who are beginning to play music, his videos “Music From An Irish Cottage”, Sharon Shannon & Sean Smyth, Seamie O’Dowd & Rick Epping, John Carty & Rosaleen Stenson Ward, Leonard Barry (pipes) & Mick McAuley, Josephine Marsh & Mick Kinsella, Nuala Kennedy & A.J. Roach, prioritising personalities over instrumentation whern curating such events and other topics.