Jewellery Artist, Emma Thorpe: Portstewart and the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
Originally an archaeologist, Emma Thorpe, now makes stunning silver jewellery that is very much inspired by her surroundings of Portstewart and the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland. Emma's environment has a real sort of sense of wildness about it, but not a terrifying wildness. It’s a wildness that when you come, you just feel free. Emma’s bonds with the land that embraces her link to childhood and her career in archaeology. Her silver jewellery collections are inspired by The Causeway Coast.
Author, Jan Carson: Part 1: From Ballymena to Belfast and Portland, Oregon
Winner of the EU Prize for Literature in 2019, Ballymena born author, Jan Carson, delves into her own imagination as well as a number of places that have had an important impact on her creativity. Be transported by Jan's gentle voice as she considers the formative effects of her hometown Ballymena, how it contrasted with the Belfast of her university days and learn how she desperately needed to leave an environment that these days she loves. Follow her to Portland, Oregon, where she ended up living by accident. A place for Jan that was "the maddest culture shock and it was wonderful." In fact, she didn't want to leave at all but this couldn't be avoided. Leaving behind a cultural hub that she loved, not long afterwards Jan could be spotted writing her first book, the Portland inspired novel, Malcolm Orange Disappears. in the coffee shop at Tesco's in Ballymena. Jan's journey also takes you to St. Andrews in Scotland and Karmøy in Norway. This episode of Creative Places & Faces is sponsored by the Property Insurance Centre. The transcription with images is available at Travel Inspires - to enjoy some visuals of the podcast just head over to: Jan Carson: Belfast, Portland and more
Renaissance Man, Simon Cocking, From London to Asia, Central America to Ireland
Today's guest is a bit of a Renaissance man whose early working life involved travel writing, focusing on the Deep South and Central America. Since then, he's been involved in music, sports, tech and the environment. Simon Cocking is the editor of Irish Tech News, as well as being a very sought after keynote speaker and ICO advisor. Hailing from London originally, Simon went on summer long house swaps to San Francisco, Minneapolis, San Diego & Mexico. It wasn't long before he had a dream job for many people - writing for the Let's Go Travel guide books. He covered Deep South, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and so on. In 1992 he spent a year in Central America visiting all the countries. In this interview, Simon said of Central America, "I think time in Central America is really good to help us to contextualise things that are playing out. And I think we only become richer for doing that."Simon's colourful life has included summers busking and fire juggling in Spain, playing with Samba bands in Dublin and at festivals all over Ireland. In Madrid, he taught English as a foreign language. This is only a taster of what Simon talks about in this interview. He wonderfully connects the influences of the many places that have played special roles in his life. He also joins the dots between the many activities he has been involved with.Listen in to discover many more places and experiences. As Simon says about special time spent in Honduras: “Every time you work with others the final outcome is the result of a coalition of inputs, energies, and ideas on the way things should be done. The mosaics were a great way to make an exchange, a link between my sponsoring organisation, City Artsquad, who kindly allowed me the time to go to Honduras, the local community groups who now have their first-ever mosaics on Utila, and me, the artist who learnt and saw so many things from the local people – including that my name in Utilan meant, yes man, no problem, chill
Author, Malachi O'Doherty: Part 3, Back to Belfast
The third and final part of our interview with Malachi O’Doherty brings us back to Belfast as Malachi becomes well-known and respected for his work. Another fascinating conversation with a man who loves to spin a yarn. We end up discussing destiny, karma & baloney! Along with writing and photography and Malachi’s book, Terry Brankin Has A Gun. This episode is sponsored by Property Insurance Centre. See the transcription with images over at Travel Inspires at Back to Belfast with Malachi O'Doherty.
Author, Seán Mackel, From Belfast to Australia to Northwest Ireland (Part 1)
Today's guest is Seán Mackel, who writes fiction and poetry as well as being a visual communicator. He won the Kanturk Flash Fiction Prize in 2019, for his first flash fiction, The Silent Mouth. Seán has been lecturing and working in graphic design for decades in Australia, Germany and Ireland. Here is one of many classic quotes from this part of Seán's interview: "So I remember that sort of aspect of Belfast, it’s the intimacy of it, the small houses, the tiny spaces, but it was great craic. I mean, Belfast people, I find very creative wisecrackers, you know? Specific to Belfast in particular." And another wonderful one about Donegal: "Donegal would have been perceived as like nirvana because of- it’s Gaelic there. And also, it was- in those days, when you cross the border, you know, it was almost like a sense of relief, you know, you’re in the promised land. Even if it was- you know what it’s like, didn’t you? You know it was- like, oh my God, we’re in Donegal." This multi-talented man has so many interesting perspectives to share. Don't miss out on the places or the face! Podcast website: https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/ Credits: Host: Jackie De Burca Sound engineer: Newton Samadder Music: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther Abrami Voice over: Mike Payne Sponsor Series 1: Property Insurance Centre
UNESCO Poet, Maureen Boyle, From Sion Mills to Dublin, Belfast and Strabane
Today's guest won a UNESCO medal for a book of poems in 1979 at the tender age of eighteen. She went on to study at Trinity College Dublin and for a significant period of time after leaving, she didn't continue writing. However, when she went back to writing poetry later – in my humble opinion, its eloquence and excellence show that her life experience married with innate talent and love for her lineage and place make it incredibly special. Maureen is a delightful guest who rounds off the first season perfectly. We talk about a range of fascinating topics including the role of water as a creative force, the influence of place in her poetry, the deep connection with ancestral lineage and so much more.
Poet, Gaynor Kane, From Belfast To Dublin, Galway and the Ards Peninsula
This episode's guest is poet, Gaynor Kane, who hails from East Belfast. Although Gaynor never imagined herself as a poet, her most recent collection, "Venus in pink marble’ is a "captivating collection full of personal and social history, with authentic snapshots of people and places, skillfully rendered." Gaynor started a degree with the Open University when she turned 40 and by the age of 46, she had completed her degree with a creative writing module. Her journey takes us from East Belfast, to Dublin where she spent the night in a Garda Station, and to Galway and the Ards Peninsula. Podcast website: https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/ Credits: Host: Jackie De Burca Sound engineer: Newton Samadder Music: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther Abrami Voice over: Mike Payne Sponsor Series 1: Property Insurance Centre
Author, Jan Carson: Part 2 East Belfast, The Republic of Ireland & Community
Jan Carson has made East Belfast her base for a number of years now. Discover how these terraced streets play muse to this award-winning author. Listen to Jan as she describes how this place is bursting with material for her as an author. Learn how being in the middle of this closely-knit community triggers her creativity. Jan also talks about her first serious writer's block and how she managed to resolve it. In fact, she did so in a way that resulted in a book. We also discuss the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on Jan: a person who only spent around one-third of the year in her own home in 2019. Discover Jan's connection with the communities that she has become involved in the south - the Republic of Ireland. This episode of Creative Places & Faces is sponsored by the Property Insurance Centre. The transcription with images is available at Travel Inspires - Exploring East Belfast with Jan Carson.
Author, Malachi O'Doherty: From Muff to Ballycastle and Belfast
Author, journalist and broadcaster, Malachi O'Doherty was born in the village of Muff, Co. Donegal in March 1951. One of twins, it was suspected that he and his brother may not survive. Soon after the family moved to Ballycastle while his father worked hard in a Belfast bar to feed an ever-increasing brood of children. Packed full of interesting childhood anecdotes, this episode touches on Malachi's relationship with his Dad and also discusses the similarities between being a freelance journalist and a barman!
Author, Malachi O'Doherty: Part 2, From Donegal to Belfast and India
The second part of the interview with author, journalist and broadcaster, Malachi O'Doherty, takes us from Belfast to India via England, Geneva and a few other places. Follow Malachi's fascinating time in India, discover some of the places that contributed to his development as a writer and see him back to his native city of Belfast. Some of the topics covered include Hinduism vs Catholicism and a pretty deep and philosophical look at relationships. This episode is sponsored by Property Insurance Centre. See the transcription with images over at Travel Inspires - From Donegal to Belfast and India with Malachi O'Doherty
Author, Maeve O'Lynn, From Belfast and Around Ireland
Today's guest was described as a “force of nature” by the journalist who nominated her to be a guest. This force of nature is the award-winning author and poet from Belfast, Maeve O'Lynn. Amongst her many achievements, Maeve has won the TU Short Story Competition at Red Line Book Festival, Dublin., in 2019. She was also longlisted for the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing in 2019. Maeve O’Lynn has published short fiction and poetry in Banshee, The Stinging Fly, Fallow Media, The Honest Ulsterman, Abridged, and The Tangerine. Podcast website: https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/ Credits: Host: Jackie De Burca Sound engineer: Newton Samadder Music: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther Abrami Voice over: Mike Payne Sponsor Series 1: Property Insurance Centre
Artist, Helen Sharkey: Strangford Lough and Belfast
For much of her week. visual artist, Helen Sharkey, lives and works on one of 70 small islands dotted along the coast of stunning Strangford Lough. She is based beside a monastic site called Nendrum, which is 5th century, and about four metres from the water up a slight hill on the hill of Nendrum. When there is a full moon, it creates these amazing, polarised shadows which are one of the many aspects of the environment there that Helen uses in her work. From Thursday to Saturday, Helen is deep in running her gallery at St. George's Market in Belfast, and this place brings out a different aspect of Helen's energy. Helen uses art to create her own world, It is a world that fascinates her and makes her feel safe She likens Belfast of the 1970s to be its own form of lockdown. Discover more about how the magical environment of Strangford Lough influences Helen's creative output. This episode is sponsored by Property Insurance Centre. The transcription with images can be seen at Travel Inspires - Strangford Lough and Belfast with artist Helen Sharkey
Author, Henry McDonald, From Belfast to Berlin, Nerja and Hove
Senior reporter for one of the world's top newspapers, The Guardian, and author of ten books, Henry McDonald talks to Jackie De Burca about his formative years in Belfast, the role of both East and West Berlin in his novels and life, plus how Nerja in Spain and Hove in England affect him creatively. Born on 6th July 1965, he grew up in Belfast during The Troubles where he had a few lucky escapes. In Belfast, The interview highlights some fascinating connections between Henry’s 2019 gritty Belfast-based novel, Two Souls, and his own creative life and journey. Asked how he may have been creatively influenced had he been born in Nerja rather than Belfast, McDonald said, “I think if I had been born there I would be writing about ancient myths, hidden Roman treasure or Moorish ghosts.”
Glass Artist, Andrea Spencer: Ballintoy and the Causeway Coast Northern Ireland
Andrea Spencer is a Glass Artist who makes beautiful works of art from glass. Originally from England, Andrea has been based in a Games of Thrones location in Northern Ireland, Ballintoy, where she both lives and works. She finds much of her inspiration from nature and delights in investigating natural forms that are then transformed into symbolic objects or abstracted to create images. As Andrea considers her environment in Northern Ireland, she says, "It is very inspiring and I've always been very drawn to spending time in the natural world, especially as an immersive experience, being completely surrounded by nature or being in the water or standing on a precipice or steeped in the changing light, we get an incredible quality of light here that I think is due to the nature of being so close to the coast." Andrea also answers questions about the therapeutic value of spending time with horses, what may have triggered her fascination with the natural world, her love of birds both dead and alive.. and much more. The transcript along with images of the area, Andrea and her work can be found over at Ballintoy and The Causeway Coast with Andrea Spencer. This episode is sponsored by Property Insurance Centre.
Author, Susanne Stich From Nuremberg To Northwest Ireland (Part 1)
Imagine being born and living as a sensitive child in Nuremberg in the 1980s who thoroughly absorbed the second-hand trauma of World War II. Add into the mix the fact that your Father is entirely deaf as a result of an air raid. So you learn to communicate with him by writing notes; a formative experience that Susanne Stich is sure contributed to her becoming a writer in her adult years. Susanne's youth and creativity were deeply affected by her immediate city environment but also by frequent trips to the German forests and the Alps. Yet her coming of age experiences found her in my home town of Dublin, Ireland. She writes beautifully in English and her insightful mind and creative output are intricately connected to parts of Ireland, especially the Northwest, where she has lived since 2000. Susanne's interview is punctuated by thoughtful commentary about the impact of history, family, environment, water and creativity. In this first part of our conversation, Susanne talks about her childhood in Nuremberg, how she came to write, and her time spent in Dublin and Galway, and more. Podcast website: https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/ Credits: Host: Jackie De Burca Sound engineer: Newton Samadder Music: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther Abrami Voice over: Mike Payne Sponsor Series 1: Property Insurance Centre
