2 in 3 adult's over 50 old have High Blood Pressure HALF DONT KNOW IT Get Checked before damage is done . RTÉ sports broadcaster Michael Lyster almost died when he had a massive heart attack but was saved by the quick actions of his wife Anne and journalist friend Vincent Hogan. Michael had a pacemaker fitted within days and was back presenting The Sunday Game within weeks. We asked our team of presenters who would like to conduct the interview with the Irish Heart Foundation and Michael was first with his hand up ! Michael caught up with Dr Angie Brown Irish Heart Foundation Medical Director and consultant cardiologist to share her knowledge ... Every hour someone in Ireland suffers from a stroke. Every day, hundreds of Irish people are diagnosed with heart disease. The lives of these people are often cut tragically short. Many are left disabled. Almost 9,000 people die each year, making heart disease and stroke one of the nation’s biggest killers. It shouldn’t be this way and this fact forms our reason for being. We are the nation’s heart and stroke charity. Since 1966, we’ve been here, working to save lives and heal hearts. The mission is to eliminate preventable death and disability from heart disease and stroke and to support and care for those living with these life-changing conditions. If you would like to support the Irish Heart foundation .. The Irish Heart Foundation 17-19 Rathmines Road Lower Dublin 6 D06 C780 Tel: 003531 668 5001 www.irishheart.ie

Introduced by John Low Narrated by John Kavanagh Read by Jim Norton • Denys Hawthorne Nicholas Boulton • Marcella Riordan William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865. His father was a lawyer and a well-known portrait painter. Yeats was educated in London and in Dublin, but spent his summers in the west of Ireland in the family’s summer house in County Sligo. The young Yeats was active in societies that attempted an Irish literary revival. His early poetry was influenced by John Keats, William Wordsworth, William Blake and many more. His earliest volume of verse was published in 1889. Together with Lady Gregory he founded the Irish Theatre, which was to become the Abbey Theatre, and served as its chief playwright until the movement was joined by John Sing. His plays usually treat Irish legends; they also reflect his fascination with mysticism and spiritualism. After 1910, Yeats’s dramatic art took a sharp turn toward a highly poetical, static, and esoteric style. Although a convinced patriot, Yeats deplored the hatred and the bigotry of the Nationalist movement, and his poetry is full of moving protests against it. He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1922. His poetry, especially the volumes The Wild Swans at Coole (1919), Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921), The Tower (1928), The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1933), and Last Poems and Plays (1940), made him one of the outstanding and most influential twentieth-century poets writing in English. His recurrent themes are the contrast of art and life, masks, cyclical theories of life (the symbol of the winding stairs), and the ideal of beauty and ceremony contrasting with the hubbub of modern life.

Bill Tyson Your Money Your Choice series is Sponsored by SPRY finance.

Alan Lewis - A former International Irish cricketer and former International rugby union referee. He played 121 times for the Irish cricket team between 1984 and 1997 including eight first-class matches against Scotland and 23 List A matches. He captained Ireland Cricket team 35 times and is one of only six players to have played more than 100 times for Ireland, behind only Peter Gillespie and Kyle McCallan. In 1995, Lewis won the man of the match award in a Benson & Hedges Cup match against Kent, this added to his 1991 Man of the match award in the NatWest Trophy against Middlesex. This made Alan the only Irish player to win man of the match awards in both competitions. He also played a match for the MCC against Scotland in 1995. Alan played eight further times for Ireland that year, including a match against Australia, before his final match against the Earl of Arundel's XI on 20 August. He played twice more for the MCC against Scotland, in 1998 and 2002. Alan also played rugby union but his career was cut short by injury so he took up refereeing. In no time Alan reached the highest level of refereeing and was selected for the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. Alan gives his views to Gary Cooke on where we have come with refereeing at the highest level and have, we gone too far ! and a lot more !

Know Your Rights, Know Your Options: Victim Support at Court (VSAC) by Senior Times

TravelPod with Travel Department Active: India by Senior Times

Your Money, Your Choicw, with Bill Tyson Ep2 by Senior Times

Classical Collection October 2024 by Senior Times

TravelPod Italy Aug 24 by Senior Times

Crown & Shamrock by Lorna Hogg. Part Two by Senior Times

Spry Finance is part of the Irish-owned Seniors Money International group with over fifteen years of experience with providing Lifetime Loans to customers across the globe, including Ireland, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

60 Question Quiz September 8, 2024 by Senior Times

Jane Eyre Part Four of Four by Senior Times

Lorna Hogg's Crown+Shamrock Part One by Senior Times

60 Question Quiz August 23rd 202 by Senior Times

Jane Eyre: Part Three of Four by Senior Times

60 Question Quiz August 2, 2024 by Senior Times

Jane Eyre Part 2 by Senior Times

James Stephen McCarthy ( Jimmy ) was an Irish rugby union player who played for Dolphin, Munster, the Irish national team, and also the British and Irish Lions. Jimmy was on Irelands Grand Slam winning team in the 1948 Five Nations Championship. And in 1950 Jimmy was selected by the British Lions to travel to New Zealand. Jimmy's Son James McCarthy has a law graduate from UCD, and is a qualified solicitor . James has worked in corporate finance for 20 years before being appointed to his current role as CEO of the Nissan Ireland Group in 2012. James McCarthy met up with Gary Cooke to discuss his fathers incredible rugby career and shares some of diary quotes from the Lions tour to New Zealand in 1950.

Audiobook: Jane Eyre Part One by Senior Times

More melodies from The Masters.... Includes works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Handel, Strauss, Elgar and more Introduced by John Low. Produced by Conor O'Hagan

60 Question Quiz March 7 2024 by Senior Times

Audiobook Earnest by Senior Times

Gary Cooke talks to Mary Rose Callaghan about her memoir The Deep End by Senior Times

Cricket Hall of Famer Susan Bray terrified batters at home and abroad during her decade at the top. She came into the dominant Clontarf team in her mid-teens and quickly assumed the mantle of the great Stella Owens. She won the Harrison Cup ten times as the leading bowler in Leinster, and in 33 inter-pros, she took 61 wickets at an amazing average of 8.37. Susan was first capped by Ireland as an 18-year-old winning 40 caps - taking 52 wkts at an average of 16.33. Her best return was 7-21 against Netherlands in a 3-day game in 1987, in which she also took 5-35. She also took 5-27 v Denmark in 1990 - all three are still in the best ten performances for Ireland. Her ODI economy rate of 2.15 is still the eighth best of all time, standing beside the best of Australia, England and New Zealand.

Phyl Herbert is a short-story writer and essayist; she has been deeply involved in Dublin theatre life for many years and is a pioneer in the use of drama in education. When Phyl gave her newly born daughter up for adoption, she was convinced in her young mind that she was free to start her life all over again. But despite all the successes that came, she did not bargain for the toll that her deep secret would exact throughout her adulthood. After twenty-six years, her daughter made contact and they were reunited. It was a time of joy and rediscovery—but eventually not without its difficutlies...

Camilla Griehsel, born in Sweden, has over thirty years professional experience from pop recording artist to avant-garde opera, from traditional jazz to South American folk. She is dedicated to bringing people together and connecting hearts through the power and universality of song. Backed by world-class musicians, Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbo, South African Bassist Concord Nkabinde, Irish Percussionist Éamonn Cagney and Johnny Taylor of the Johnny Taylor Trio. Camilla will be performing at CorkOpera House on 12th May. Here she chats to Mairead Robinson about her incredible career which spans over three decades and includes performances around the world and in several languages.

60 Question Quiz, April 11, 2024 by Senior Times

The iNUA Collection is a select group of 4 & 5 Star hotels, in handpicked locations across the island of Ireland, each uniquely inspired by its team of passionate people, rich culture, and stunning surrounding landscapes. Cathy O'Connor talks to Berni Chambers, Sales Manager with Radisson Blu Sligo, part of the iNUA Collection.

Includes works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Rossini, Strauss and many more!

Mairead Robinson talks to Michelle Browne, mediator and author of Scars of Divorce: How to avoid them and achieve an amicable divorce in Ireland.

The Patient Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential service. PAS provides information and support to people who want to make a formal complaint through the relevant complaints policy about the care they have experienced in a Public Acute Hospital or Nursing Home. The PAS also supports people in the aftermath of a Patient Safety Incident. The Patient Advocacy Service is wholly funded by the Department of Health and therefore fully independent of the HSE and all other service providers.

In conversation with Gary Cooke, Irish rugby legend Tony Ward gives his verdict on the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Tournament.

John Low introduces the first Acts from Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and John Millington Synge's The Playboy of the Western World

Travel Department March 2024 by Senior Times

Even though the club in the pub had lots to discuss, they wondered why the pub clock was stopped at 8:45.

Third Age is a national voluntary organisation celebrating the third age in life when people may no longer be in paid employment, but can remain healthy, fulfilled and continue to contribute to society. The longer people are encouraged to remain in this life stage, the better for older people themselves, their families, communities and society as a whole.

60 Question Quiz Feb 29 2024 by Senior Times

Cathy Kelly about her latest novel 'Sisterhood'

From goalkeeper to full forward, the whole team left; said goodbye outside their school; all left on the same day.

Gary Cooke talks to Johnny Moloney, former Ireland international who toured South Africa in 1974 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for St. Mary's College R.F.C.

MABS is the Irish money advice service. We have been supporting people with money advice, budgeting, and problem debt for 30 years. Our service is free of charge. We’re here for you if you’re struggling with debt and need help. You can get impartial advice from MABS to help you manage your money and take control of debt. We offer support online, over the phone and face to face.

Travel Department's new 2024 brochure is a gateway to a collection of awe-inspiring destinations that promise unforgettable memories.

The Noble Cello Music for the instrument by the masters, including works from Haydn, Schumann, Beethoven, Dvorak, Sant-Saen, Bruch and Stamitz Introduced by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Mairead Robinson chats to Rhona Kelly who grew up in Killiney, Co. Dublin and went to St Joseph of Cluny school from the age of 3, until she did her leaving cert in 1970. Some years after she left school, she began to think about all the girls who had been in her class, and wondered what they were all doing now. She embarked on a two year search to track everybody down, and began to organize school reunions which have been incredibly popular and she is now an inspiration to many who would like to trace their childhood and teenage friends and see where life has brought them since.

More musical delights ! Includes works by Mozart, Mendelssohn. Handel, Ravel, Strauss, Rossini and Elgar

Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Paul Harrington Part Two by Senior Times

Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Paul Harrington Part One by Senior Times

Gary Cooke meets John Moriarty, CEO of SPRY Finance by Senior Times

Youghal native Linda Donoghue loved the blue flag beach in her East Cork hometown, and during lockdown she began to swim with friends. While socially-distancing, she discovered a real connection with those who shared her love of the sea and has built up a group of over 200 members. A recently published book, titled Saltwater Souls, has been a remarkable success and the sense of community and friendship that has resulted from this group has been phenomenal. [email protected]

The legend Tony Christie continues to entertain audiences around the world with incredible showmanship, an unmistakable powerful voice that has captivated generation after generation and a set list that packs a punch. From trademark mega hit and one of the biggest selling singles of the past two decades – ‘Is This The Way To Amarillo!,– to other classics including: ‘Avenues & Alleyways’, ‘Walk Like A Panther’, , ‘Las Vegas’, ‘I Did What I Did For Maria’, ‘Don’t Go Down To Reno’, and many more through to some show stopping covers from the late greats that helped shape Tony Christie’s career. Tony Christie is proud to announce his first new album in over 12 years - ‘We Still Shine’. To be released in January 2024, this album is from the heart and sees Tony go back to his love of country music, something he has been planning to do with long-time producer and close friend Graeme Pleeth for many years. ‘We Still Shine’ is his first new album since the critically acclaimed ‘Now’s The Time’ TONY CHRISTIE - The Legend Lives On Tour at CORK OPERA HOUSE on Thursday, 25th January 2024, THE HELIX, DUBLIN on Friday, 26th January 2024 and ULSTER HALL, BELFAST on Saturday, 27th January 2024.

Born in Sligo into a family of travelling entertainers, Sandy Kelly has become one of the top musical performers in Ireland. In the second of two episodes, Cathy O'Connor meets Sandy to chat about her remarkable life and career.

Born in Sligo into a family of travelling entertainers, Sandy Kelly has become one of the top musical performers in Ireland. In the first of two episodes, Cathy O'Connor meets Sandy to chat about her remarkable life and career.

Favourite Christmas Carols and Music A selection of popular festive carols and much-loved music

Liz Downes is a community activist who lives in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. She admits to originally being afraid of technology, however has now become a High Digital champion and is passionate about how this has enriched her life at 74 years of age. She is an advocate for the national age-friendly Ireland program, active throughout towns and cities in Ireland to prepare for the rapid aging of our population. Having become a digital champion,she is dedicated to bridging the digital gap between generations.

Audiobook: Dubliners by James Joyce by Senior Times

Trevor Ringland, MBE made 31 competitive appearances for Ireland, scoring nine tries. The majority of his appearances came in the Five Nations, with the remainder coming in the 1987 Rugby World Cup.  He also represented Ulster and Ballymena. In 1983 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions. Since retirement, he has coached at Ballymena and been a committee member of the Irish Rugby Football Ringland is also active with Peace Players International, an organisation devoted to promote inter-religious unity in Belfast through sport. Ringland and David Cullen won the 2007 ESPY Arthur Ashe for Courage Award. Ringland was awarded an MBE for services to the community in Northern Ireland in the New Year Honours 2009.

Dromahair , north Leitrim, late 1950’s. It seemed busy, but it is changing. Going over there- to Birmingham- is a possibility for many. Look around first. Then…...

A household name since her early teens, she has just published her new memoir ‘Caution to the Wind’; an account of her early years becoming one of Ireland’s new young voices, her wonderful but deeply controversial marriage to Tom Savage, a priest in the Ireland of the 70s, and on through their later successes and her own extraordinary career.

More delicious delights from the masters Includes works by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Strauss and more Introduced by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Conor Faughnan chats to Clubs to Hire founder and CEO Tony Judge. He tells us about how the business has grown since it was founded in 2010. It provides a simple solution for golfers on holiday and means you don’t have to take your own clubs with you on your travels. ClubstoHire.com provides golf clubs from all of the top manufacturers, brought to you at your destination. A super service and a successful business now recovering strongly after Covid.

60 Question Quiz Oct 5 2023 by Senior Times

Conor talks to former rugby international Shane Byrne. They chat about his playing days and how he is very much enjoying his current life especially where there’s a bit of craic. They also talk about modern rugby and Ireland’s performance at the rugby world cup.

Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Paul Harrington Part One by Senior Times

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan: Larry Donnelly. Conor meets Larry Donnelly, Irish American author, commentator and law lecturer at NUI Galway. He takes us through a deep look at the state of the parties in the US as the primary season gets in to full swing, and what he makes of the battleground going in to what looks like Biden v Trump the rematch.

Leitrim to Birmingham Ep12 - No Costa Coffee In Digbeth. By Tony Downey by Senior Times

More gems from the masters! An enjoyable mix of melodies for relaxing listening Includes works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Bach, Weber, and more. Introduced by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Phyllis Foley led a very busy and active life before retiring, and while she ran her own businesses, she was always involved in voluntary work. When it came to her own retirement, it was no surprise that she chose to form an active retirement group that would benefit the whole community as well as finding the right niche for herself moving forward. Her experiences and expertise have helped to build YARA into one of the most vibrant and successful groups in the country. Together with Frank Down, they now have over 260 members in the group which has survived the Covid lockdown and continues to grow from strength to strength.

Our range of Garden Tours takes in visits to some of the most well-known and iconic gardens in the world, as well as private gardens that can be inaccessible when travelling independently. You don’t have to be a horticulturist or an expert gardener, people join our Garden Tours for all sorts of reasons; some to gain gardening tips and ideas, while others just enjoy admiring the gardens. https://www.traveldepartment.com/garden-holidays

Ciaran Fitzgerald captained Ireland to the Triple Crown in 1982 and 1985, and the Five Nations Championship in 1983. He also captained the Lions on their 1983 tour.

Know Your Rights with Conor Faughnan: Colm Markey MEP. Conor meets the MEP for Midlands North West who has been very vocal about engagement with and support for older people and their families, especially since the pandemic. They chat about that and about his work in Europe.

60 Question Quiz Sept 1 2023 by Senior Times

Leitrim to Birmingham Episode 11: Eight Hand Reel Recall by Senior Times

Michelle Lawlor is a woman who has bypassed two stereotypical presumptions to achieve great success in the business of wine. Not only is she female, but also since she was in her 20s, she has travelled throughout the world holding very prestigious positions in International companies. She has been a wine educator in Ireland, a sommelier in the UK, a wine trader in Hong Kong and a cellar-hand in Italy and New Zealand. Five year ago she set up the popular Nude Wine Company, based in Co. Kildare.

Piano works from the great masters Including music from Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Mendelssohn Schubert, Schuman, Faure, Granados, Field and more Introduced by John low Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Conor sits down with Minister Donohoe to discuss what brought a northside lad who used to sell nappies by the truck-load to the huge job that he has now at the heart of Irish public life. And of course, what he is proposing to do with the money…

Cathy Kelly is a Irish former journalist and writer of women's fiction. In 2001, her novel Someone Like You won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is popular around the world: a number one bestseller in Australia and New Zealand, and published in many different languages. Cathy is involved with many charities and has been an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland since 2005.

Join us for a very special podcast as Travel Departments expert guide Getie takes us on a tour of Cape Town, the Garden Route & Winelands. Listen in and find out why you need to tick this magnificent country off your bucket list. https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/cape-town-the-garden-route-safari https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/cape-town-the-garden-route-winelands-solo-traveller

Overture! Overtures, preludes, intermezzi and introductory music from the great masters. Including works by Mozart, Beethoven, Handel. Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Verdi, Berlioz, Elgar and more You’re going to love this music!

Tommie spent many years as one of our best known and best loved broadcasters. From the West of Ireland he became RTE’s Europe correspondent for 12 years, before spending a long time as Northern Editor. He’s had a great view of history and has been our witness to it. He spent a long time successfully battling cancer but it has never held him back; now’s he’s enjoying life to the full.

Select Hotels by Senior Times

The Executive Chef at the four star Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, John Drummond has carved out an illustrious career in catering, winning medals at international competitions with the Irish Panel of Chefs. He has been at The Gleneagle Hotel for the last twenty-six years, and has vast experience of serving up superb menus to large numbers of guests. Big weddings are very challenging for a top chef and his team, and John shares his secrets of how to get it right with minimum stress.

Professor Brian Caulfield of TCD is a very active academic specialising in Transport and the carbon and climate impacts coming out of it. He’s published multiple papers on the topics, he provided advice to the Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change and is also on the steering group reviewing the Greater Dublin Transport Strategy. He and Conor have met on the radio a few times but this is a chance for a longer chat.

He commutes long distance. He plays flute on the Birmingham trad scene. He retrains as a flute maker and moves to Sligo.

Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Paul Harrington Part Two by Senior Times

Join us for a very special podcast Travel Departments expert guide Dodi takes us on a tour of the highlights of Egypt. This virtual tour will take you through the main highlights of this unique holiday that combines the exotic beauty of Cairo and the vibrant resort of Hurghada with an unforgettable 7-night cruise. https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/egypt-nile-river-cruise-including-cairo-hurghada

A celebration of Gallic music Includes works by Debussy, Bizet, Berlioz,  Saint Saen, Gounod  and Chabrier

William Butler Yeats is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. He was born in Dublin. His father was a lawyer and a well-known portrait painter. Yeats was educated in London and in Dublin, but he spent his summers in the west of Ireland in the family’s summer house at Connaught. The young Yeats was very much part of the fin de siècle in London; at the same time he was active in societies that attempted an Irish literary revival. His first volume of verse appeared in 1887, but in his earlier period his dramatic production outweighed his poetry both in bulk and in import. Together with Lady Gregory he founded the Irish Theatre, which was to become the Abbey Theatre, and served as its chief playwright until the movement was joined by John Synge. His plays usually treat Irish legends; they also reflect his fascination with mysticism and spiritualism. The Countess Cathleen (1892), The Land of Heart’s Desire (1894), Cathleen ni Houlihan (1902), The King’s Threshold (1904), and Deirdre (1907) are among the best known. After 1910, Yeats’s dramatic art took a sharp turn toward a highly poetical, static, and esoteric style. His later plays were written for small audiences; they experiment with masks, dance, and music, and were profoundly influenced by the Japanese Noh plays. Although a convinced patriot, Yeats deplored the hatred and the bigotry of the Nationalist movement, and his poetry is full of moving protests against it. He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1922. Yeats is one of the few writers whose greatest works were written after the award of the Nobel Prize. Whereas he received the Prize chiefly for his dramatic works, his significance today rests on his lyric achievement. His poetry, especially the volumes The Wild Swans at Coole (1919), Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921), The Tower (1928), The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1933), and Last Poems and Plays (1940), made him one of the outstanding and most influential twentieth-century poets writing in English. His recurrent themes are the contrast of art and life, masks, cyclical theories of life (the symbol of the winding stairs), and the ideal of beauty and ceremony contrasting with the hubbub of modern life. Dr Selina Guinness is a lecturer in English (Irish Literature) in the Department of Humanities and Arts Management at IADT. Her memoir about farming on the fringes of the city, The Crocodile by the Door, was published in 2012 by Penguin Ireland. It was shortlisted for the UK Costa Book Awards (Biography) and nominated for Best Newcomer at the Irish Book Awards. (Source: The Nobel Foundation)

Michael Lyster + John O Mahony Mixdown by Senior Times

How do you work side by side in your award winning restaurant with your husband of thirty years and stay sane, happy and successful? Sallyanne Clarke is proof that it can be done, indeed their partnership is inspiring and uplifting. She tells their story from Michelin Restaurant L'Ecrivain in Dublin to The Club at Goffs in Kildare, and shares their recipe for success.

Conor talks to Neil Briscoe, Irish Times motoring journalist car nut and all round expert, about why cars have got so big, and why car makers are insisting on selling us SUVs. This has cropped up for Conor on the Pat Kenny programme and elsewhere recently so here he takes a more detailed look at an unwelcome trend.

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Ep 42: Professor Rose Anne Kenny of the TILDA study, Ireland’s world class Longitudinal Study on Aging. She tells Conor how it works, what its teaching us about life and health as we live longer and hopefully happier.

The Coopers is a pub, in a street in Burton on Trent, a brewing town. Tuesday night is folk night. Chris , the architect-now musician -plays Irish, Scandinavian and English tunes. The story traces his journey.

Serena Lawless Tallon has over 20+years working in sales leadership on a local and international level in the Technology and media sector. She has worked with companies such as Google, RealNetworks, Ericsson S3 and Logical CMG Together with her husband Niall, she founded www.respectingseniors.com and www.alittleandoften.com to assist those with the many practical needs of nursing and hospital care.

Gary Cooke chats with Cathy O'Connor about her recent trip to Slovenia with TD Active Holidays saying why everyone needs to experience a walking holiday. Situated in the heart of Eastern Europe against the backdrop of the Julian Alps, Slovenia is a country that offers unlimited opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. To find out more visit https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/slovenia-walking-holiday For all TD active Holidays Visit www.tdactiveholidays.com

60 Question Quiz :June 7 2023 by Senior Times

Back in the 1960s and 70s, thousands of students from African countries were studying at Irish universities. Some had children outside marriage, who were then placed in one of Ireland's notorious mother and baby homes. Today these children, now adults, are searching for their families. Oona Colin talks to Mairead Robinson about her experience.

Pt8: Salt and Pepper

Ruth Scott has been a successful DJ on national radio for years having begun as an early colleague of Conor’s in AA Roadwatch. She’s still on air but she is now also a humanist celebrant for weddings and funerals. She chats about her path in life, her humanism, and her happy marriage to Rob Morgan, son of the legendary Dermot Morgan.

Dr. Caitriona Jackman obtained a BSc in Applied Physics from the University of Limerick in 2003 and a PhD in Planetary Physics from the University of Leicester in 2006. She has held research positions at Imperial College London, and two consecutive fellowships (Leverhulme Trust and Royal Astronomical Society) at University College London. She moved to the University of Southampton in 2013, where she has held a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Ernest Rutherford Fellowship to study planetary and stellar magnetospheres. She is a Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s National Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. At the heart of her research is Space Plasma Physics in our solar system and beyond. She is an expert in planetary magnetospheres, the magnetic bubbles which surround magnetised planets. She has worked with data from missions including NASA’s Cassini at Saturn, ESA’s Cluster mission in orbit around Earth, NASA’s Juno at Jupiter, and with data from the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Her research interests include understanding how the aurora works, and how machine learning and complexity science can be used to study huge volumes of data from space.

Prof . Derek Hand Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences DCU discusses the life of James Joyce with Gary Cooke.

Leitrim to Birmingham by Tony Downey. Episode 7: Neighbours' Childer by Senior Times

More gems from history’s greatest composers! Includes works by Beethoven, Mozart,  Haydn, Wagner, Schubert, Bach , Strauss and Dvorak Presented by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

What was it like growing up Irish in middle class south London in the 1960s? Gary talks to avowed dual national Conor O'Hagan.

Meet Alex; one of Travel Departments guides. Alex guides tours to Andalucia, Salamanca and Madrid for Travel Department. He talks about the experience customers get on guided holidays as well as all the superb places you get to visit. Check out the range of holidays he guides below. Highlights of Andalucia https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/highlights-of-andalucia Salamanca short break https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/salamanca-short-break Madrid City break https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/madrid-city-break

Conor has a long chat with Paul Reid. Recently CEO of the HSE and now Chairing the Citizen’s Assembly on Drug Use but that is just the latter part of an extraordinary career. From growing up in Finglas and leaving school at 16, to trade union activism in Eircom and then a senior management role. He’s been round the world working for Trocaire, lead operational reform in the civil service after the Financial Crisis, ran Fingal Co. Council for 5 years, then lead the HSE through Covid. Busy guy, but we managed to get a quiet hour for a long chat.

60 Question Quiz May 12 2023. by Senior Times

James Joyce Part One by Senior Times

Mairead Robinson + Derry Clarke May 2023 by Senior Times

In the first of a series of interviews with Britons living in Ireland, Gary meets John Low, who grew up in London's East End and is now a Dubliner.

60 Question Quiz: May 1 2023 by Senior Times

The Definitive Rat Pack are coming to Dublin! by Senior Times

Conor meets Brian MacNeice, who is both Chair of Cricket Ireland and an international rugby official, serving as TMO in the recent Six Nations. We cover the growth of Cricket in Ireland from grass roots to Test status, and on the rugby side how he got started as a referee and how the TMO process actually works in the modern game.

Driving Life Conor Faughnan. Episode 38, where Conor meets Senator Michael McDowell. Hello, I’m Conor Faughnan and this is Driving Life. They talk about the life & death of the PDs, Northern Ireland and why he now thinks the St Andrew’s agreement was a mistake, and Sinn Fein’s democratic credentials. Along the way we hear his thoughts on the Irish Left, the Planning System and his reflections on 30-plus years in public life.

Leitrim to Birmingham by Tony Downey. Episode 6: Patsy and Rosie Play the Spotted Dog by Senior Times

60 Question Quiz April 2023 by Senior Times

Driving Life Conor Faughnan. Episode 37, where Conor meets Eanna Ni Lamhna. She’s a biologist, environmental consultant, radio & TV presenter, author and educator – and that’s just for starters. They chat about her life & background, what we can all do about the great climate challenges, and how we can enjoy nature every day.

Violin magic - violin masterpieces from the world’s greatest composers. Includes works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mozart, Elgar, Vivaldi, Haydn and Bruch. Presented by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Spry Finance is Irish-owned and managed and is the only provider of lifetime loans – loans specifically for home-owning over-60s – in Ireland. Since 2021 Spry has enabled over 1,000 Irish customers to release value from their homes for purposes including home improvements, cash funds for emergencies, repaying a mortgage, or providing a living inheritance. Spry Finance is an Irish owned, customer-focused company, providing older people with options for living a greater life in later life. Spry CEO John Moriarty talks to Conor Faughnan about lifetime loans – who they’re for, what they are and how they’re arranged.

Meet Sean Crean; a tour guide for Travel Department and TD active Holidays. He talks about what its like being a guide and shares some interesting stories. River cruise holidays: https://www.traveldepartment.com/river-cruise-holidays Walking holidays: https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/walking-holidays

In this series we’re going to meet and chat to state agencies, experts and specialists to explain what your rights are, what services and entitlements exists and where you can go for help. Today I am meeting with Gwen Harris, who is North Dublin Regional Manager for MABS, the Money Advice & Budgeting Service. I thought I knew a little bit about it but there is a lot more. MABS provides clear advice and guidance for people who have hit financial difficulties or problems with debt. It is non-judgemental, practical and according to the many people who have used the service it is invaluable. The Abhaile service is specifically to help when people have mortgage arrears. Gwen will talk me through the detail of that one in a separate podcast because there is a lot in it. For today, she explains how the general MABS service works and why so many people find it so helpful.

Gary Cooke meets cricket international and rugby correspondent Peter O'Reilly: Part Two by Senior Times

Gary Cooke talks to Gina Hingerty a former employee of Travel Department on the diversity of Italy. Check out all of the tours mentioned here: www.traveldepartment.com/italy

Gary Cooke visits Peter O Reilly in his Dublin home to look back on his International Cricketing Career and his time in the professional game. Peter was educated in the city at Belvedere College and at aged 18, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Ireland against Scotland at Edinburgh in 1982. Peter spent 1983 and 1984 in England playing for Warwickshire Second XI, but was unable to force his way into the first eleven. He made a second first-class appearance for Ireland in 1984 against Scotland at Glasgow. A fast bowler, O'Reilly took 5 wickets across his two first-class matches, at an average of 16.20, with best figures of 3/43. After two seasons in England, Peter returned to Ireland to study art and history at University College Dublin. After graduating, he taught history at St. Andrew's College, Dublin. Peter briefly returned to the Irish side in 1990, playing minor matches against the touring New Zealanders, as well as touring Zimbabwe. Following the death of The Irish Times cricket correspondent Sean Pender, Peter left his teaching job to fill the vacant cricket correspondent job at the newspaper. Peter became their rugby correspondent in 1995, a position he also held at various times with the Sunday Tribune and the Irish Independent. He is the current Irish rugby correspondent for The Sunday Times. Peter has written books on Irish rugby, including the acclaimed Ireland and the Triple Crown, The Full Bag of Chips, released in 2004. His daughter, Lucy O'Reilly, was selected to play for the Irish women's cricket team in her early teens.

Gary Cooke talks to Gina Hingerty a former employee of Travel Department on the diversity of Italy. Check out all of the tours mentioned here: www.traveldepartment.com/italy

Driving Life Conor Faughnan. Episode 36, where Conor meets Charlie McGettigan. He’ll always be remembered for winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Paul Harrington in 1994, but there is lots more to him than that. He is full of life and the fun that he has with his family, and the joy of choosing to only the things that he enjoys. These days that includes gigging with Marty Morrissey in his Marty Parties, playing music and enjoying the world from his home in Drumshanbo.

This is Part 2 of an interview for which Jim Lockhart sat down with our very own Michael Lyster. Jim was a founder-member of Horslips, along with Barry Devlin, Eamon Carr and Charles O'Connor. The band was named from a spoonerism on The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which became "The Four Poxmen of The Horslypse”. Regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts. Now Horslips, in association with Senior Times have 33 CDs to give away to one lucky person More Than You Can Chew - a Limited edition box set. Fifty years after their debut on vinyl, Horslips take one more curtain call as they emerge with the release More Than You Can Chew – the ultimate collection of their recorded work, spanning more than 500 audio tracks on a staggering 33 CDs and 2 DVDs of filmed performances. In all, that’s over 20 hours of previously unreleased band-related content. • 33 CDs with 506 audio tracks – 252 of which (16 hours) are previously unreleased • 2 DVDs with 60 video tracks and 2 documentaries – 43 of which (4.5 hours) are previously unreleased • 2 books – On The Record (a lavish new recording history of Horslips) and Lyricography • 5 signed vintage 8 x 10 photos • A collection of fan club facsimiles from the ’70s and a National Stadium, Dublin 1972 poster To be in with a chance of winning the wonderful set of 33 CDs … Visit the Senior Times website and follow the instructions of how to enter. To order your box set now visit : https://www.celticnote.com/merch/horslipsboxset?rq=Horslips

Today I am meeting with Gwen Harris, who is North Dublin Regional Manager for MABS, the Money Advice & Budgeting Service. I thought I knew a little bit about it but there is a lot more. MABS provides clear advice and guidance for people who have hit financial difficulties or problems with debt. It is non-judgmental, practical and according to the many people who have used the service it is invaluable.

Tony retired and very slowly began to learn to play the flute.

Conor meets broadcaster Phil Cawley for a chat about his love of biking. These days he is the new host of the Breakfast Show on South East Radio and he’s on Ireland’s Classic Hits every Sunday but he still loves his bikes. If you have ever been tempted by thoughts of doing Route 66 on a Harley Davidson or just riding out in a group for a Sunday cruise, he’s done it all.

Samuel Beckett who was he ... Gary Cooke visits DCU to meet Associate Professor in the School of English at DCU Michael Hinds to discuss ... Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish novelist, dramatist, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. His literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal and tragicomic experiences of life, often coupled with black comedy and nonsense. Beckett was a literary legend of the 20th century. Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1906, he was educated at Trinity College. During the 1930s and 1940s he wrote his first novels and short stories. During World War II, Samuel Beckett’s Irish citizenship allowed him to remain in Paris as a citizen of a neutral country. He fought in the resistance movement until 1942 when members of his group were arrested by the Gestapo. He and his wife fled to the unoccupied zone until the end of the war. After the war, Samuel Beckett was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery during his time in the French resistance. He settled in Paris and began his most prolific period as a writer. In five years, he wrote Eleutheria, Waiting for Godot, Endgame, the novels Malloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable, and Mercier et Camier, two books of short stories, and a book of criticism. Samuel Beckett continued to write throughout the 1970s and 80s mostly in a small house outside Paris. There he could give total dedication to his art evading publicity. In 1969, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, though he declined accepting it personally to avoid making a speech at the ceremonies. However, he should not be considered a recluse. He often times met with other artists, scholars and admirers to talk about his work. By the late 1980s, Samuel Beckett was in failing health and had moved to a small nursing home. Suzanne, his wife, had died in July 1989. His life was confined to a small room where he would receive visitors and write. He died on December 22, 1989

Jim Lockhart was a founder-member of Horslips, along with Barry Devlin, Eamon Carr and Charles O'Connor. Jim, sat down with our very own Michael Lyster The band was named from a spoonerism on The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which became "The Four Poxmen of The Horslypse”. Regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts. Now Horslips in association with Senior Times have 33 CDs to give away to one lucky person … This To celebrate the release of More Than You Can Chew collection from a Limited edition box set. Fifty years after their debut on vinyl, Horslips take one more curtain call as they emerge with the release More Than You Can Chew – the ultimate collection of their recorded work, spanning more than 500 audio tracks on a staggering 33 CDs and 2 DVDs of filmed performances. In all, that’s over 20 hours of previously unreleased band-related content. • 33 CDs with 506 audio tracks – 252 of which (16 hours) are previously unreleased • 2 DVDs with 60 video tracks and 2 documentaries – 43 of which (4.5 hours) are previously unreleased • 2 books – On The Record (a lavish new recording history of Horslips) and Lyricography • 5 signed vintage 8 x 10 photos • A collection of fan club facsimiles from the ’70s and a National Stadium, Dublin 1972 poster To be in with a chance of winning the wonderful set of 33 CDs … visit the Senior Times website and follow the instructions of how to enter. To order your box set now visit : https://www.celticnote.com/merch/horslipsboxset?rq=Horslips

Gary Cooke chats with Cathy O Connor about her recent trip to Morocco with TD Active Holidays saying it was so much more than a holiday, it was an experience! In fact, she says it was a series of jaw dropping experiences that she will cherish forever. We're not talking about the usual lovely but forgettable holiday vistas, seen in the usual resort type places, with the usual familiar sounds and scents . No, this was different. An action packed week in a joyously diverse culture, where we were privileged to experience the out-of-the-ordinary on a daily basis. TD active Holidays is an adventure holidays tour company based in Dublin, Ireland. Their Holidays range from walking, yoga and photography to Explore range of exciting small group adventure tours. The aim is to provide customers with exceptional, authentic experiences so that they are not just ticking off a destination from their list, but getting off the beaten track, taking part in amazing activities, embracing the local culture, and people at the destinations they visit and really getting to the heart of the destination. They do this in the company of like-minded travellers and build long lasting friendships and memories along the way. Every holiday is accompanied by a passionate local guide, helping to bring each group together, and welcoming our customers individually as a local, excited to share their love for their region. They like to include authentic accommodation on all our tours. Their holidays generally stay in locally owned boutique hotels, 3 star hotels, home stays or guesthouses to try benefit the local community. They occasionally offer 4 star hotels but never a chain hotel or a 5 star luxury hotel. To find out more visit https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/explore-morocco For all TD active Holidays Visit https://www.tdactiveholidays.com

Welcome to a new podcast series TRAVEL POD produced by Senior Times in association with Travel Department. In this episode, Senior Times meets Hilda Smith, a well known Blogger - Over the Hilda Hilda give us her recommendations to some of the Short Break destinations she has enjoyed in Portugal and Italy. Porto Discover Portugal’s 2nd largest city on this 3-night guided holiday to Porto. Stay just outside the city centre for easy access to all of Porto’s must-see highlights. Hear the history of Porto from an expert, local guide on a half day guided city tour. Savour the flavours of the city with a wine tasting in a local Port cellar. Enjoy leisure time to discover Porto on your own, with tips from our local guide. Prices from €529pp and departures in May, Sept, Oct & Nov https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/porto-city-break Lisbon Discover Lisbon’s ornate architecture, delicious food & rich heritage on this 3-night Portugal holiday. Stay in a centrally located hotel for easy access to all of the city’s must-see highlights. Learn about Lisbon’s fascinating history from an expert, local guide on a half day city tour. Enjoy plenty of free time to explore the city on your own, with tips from our local guide. Prices from €419pp and departures in March, May, Sept, Oct and Nov https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/lisbon-city-break Salamanca Explore the charming university town of Salamanca on this 5-night holiday to Spain. Discover the capital of Spain on a half day guided city tour of Madrid. Learn the history of Salamanca on a guided half day walking tour of the city. Walk in the footsteps of Saint Teresa on a visit to the towns of Avila & Alba de Tormes. Enjoy a full day trip to the city of Valladolid, known for its Spanish Gothic architecture. https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/salamanca-short-break With prices from €899pp and departures in May and Oct Lake Garda, Venice & Verona Discover Lake Garda and its crystal blue waters on this 5-night holiday. Take a day trip to the medieval city of Bolzano, known as the gateway to the Dolomites. Explore ancient canals & beautiful architecture on a guided day trip to Venice. Visit the real-life setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet on an excursion to Verona. Enjoy plenty of free time to swim, shop or explore the charming towns around Lake Garda. https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/lake-garda-venice-verona-short-break Travel Department is Irish Owned and Operated with over 25 years’ experience perfecting tours to 100s of destinations worldwide, their guided holidays typically include flights, accommodation, transfers and excursions. They carefully plan your trip, so you experience the best holiday highlights accompanied by a friendly local guide. With Travel Department you see more! Visit https://www.traveldepartment.com

Senior Times Classical Collection More musical gems for you to enjoy! Including works by Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Schuman, Vivaldi, Faure, Smetana and more. Introduced by John Low Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Conor meets Professor Donal O’Shea, Ireland’s leading medical specialist in obesity and gender services. Two very big but very different modern issues. He’s very frank about on the need for better understanding of obesity and on the harm done by zealous ‘activists’ on gender. He’s also the brother of rugby international player and coach Conor O’Shea, though that hasn’t proved enough to get him to support England.

Gary Cooke talks to Dublin-born guitar legend Gerry Leonard: Pt2 by Senior Times

Gary Cooke talks to Brian Kerr: Part 3 by Senior Times

Collectables 3 - Stamps by Senior Times

Conor meets Frank McDonald, Journalist and former environment editor of the Irish Times. He’s an influential author and commentator on Irish architecture and Irish urban planning, especially on the development of Dublin. He has just left Temple Bar for a splendid new home in Blackrock and has lots to say on the city’s good and its bad (spoiler – he’s not a car fan!).

Welcome to the third episode from a new podcast series TRAVEL POD produced by Senior Times in association with Travel Department. Senior Times meets Hilda Smith a well known Blogger - Over the Hilda Hilda give us her recommendations to some of the far off destinations we should all experience. In this episode we feature South Africa USA , India & Vietnam Hilda says , when you’ve spent 34 years teaching English to young people between 12 and 18, reared two daughters, and run a household (just to name a few things), there hasn’t been too much time – or even incentive – to record life and what it throws at you. Now that I’ve retired (early, six years ago), I still have the energy and motivation to keep the brain cells working with my ‘Over The Hilda’ blog in my carefree post-work life. Just mastering a computer keyboard and uploading material to this site has been challenging, but I’m getting there! A wife, mother, friend and confidante, sports enthusiast, lover of fashion, food, wine, theatre, travel and reading, and definitely someone who enjoys life. Like many, life has had its share of ups and downs. Surgery for a slipped disc put paid to my Hockey-playing days over 30 years ago, a gap that was filled by Tennis to a pretty competitive standard until recently when persistent back pain sadly put paid to that activity. Golf, though, has been my saviour, so I am learning how to play this most frustrating game while I have to admit to being totally addicted to Bridge (another activity to keep the mind active, don’t you know!) Travel Department is Irish Owned and Operated with over 25 years’ experience perfecting tours to 100s of destinations worldwide, their guided holidays typically include flights, accommodation, transfers and excursions. They carefully plan your trip, so you experience the best holiday highlights accompanied by a friendly local guide. With Travel Department you see more! 1) South Africa- https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/cape-town-the-garden-route-safari 2 ) East Coast USA by Rail incl. Boston, New York, Philadelphia & Washington DC https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/east-coast-usa-by-rail-incl-boston-new-york-philadelphia-washington-dc 3) India- https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/india-splendours-of-delhi-the-taj-mahal-rajasthan 4) 4) Vietnam https://www.traveldepartment.com/holiday/highlights-of-vietnam Visit : https://www.traveldepartment.com

Leitrim to Birmingham by Tony Downey. Episode 4: Godparents by Senior Times

Gary Cooke meets up with Billy Mc Grath to discuss his most interesting career. Billy is taking his one man show to Galway & Limerick that will look back on his career. He sees it as the 3rd Act. He tells Gary ... In the last 4 decades, I have been a son, a brother, a husband, a father, separated, a single dad with one son, a father again, a single dad with two sons, an orphan, a divorced man, a husband again and a father again, again, and again. But amongst the personal change, pain, and transformation, there are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke. I couldn’t have survived mine without comedy. Because without laughing your life may well become a tragedy. The show's broad theme is the 3rd Act. What do we want to be when we grow up? We are all living 20/30 years longer. I'm not going to play soccer for Ireland or climb The Andes but I can write & perform. With a lot of laughs along the way. https://www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/music/9983695/u2-bono-producer-secret-plot-hire/ Billy will be preforming Live on Fri Feb 17th Galway and Limerick Sat Feb 18th Visit for further details https://tht.ie/3934/billy-magra-gusto www.sideline.ie

More gems from the masters! Includes works by Elgar, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Wagner, Liszt and more. Introduced by John Low Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Welcome to episode 2 from a new podcast series TRAVEL POD produced by Senior Times in association with Travel Department. Cathy O Connor takes time out to chat with Conor Faughnan about some of the wonderful TD active Holidays on offer in 2023. Cathy O Connor is one of Ireland's most respected fashion stylists and through her regular television appearances, is renowned for her expertise and practical advice. She hosts style workshops for the corporate and retail sectors, offers a personal shopping service and is a business mentor for the retail industry. Her passion for all things stylish has garnered her a devoted following. Twitter @cathyocstylist Instagram – cathyocstylist TD active Holidays is a collection of adventure holidays full of amazing activities. Irish Owned and Operated, our holidays range from walking, yoga and photography to our Explore range of exciting small group tours. We take all the stress out of planning your adventure, taking care of everything from flights, transfers and accommodation to providing expertly guided excursions. Every holiday is accompanied by a passionate local guide and designed to offer authentic, unique experiences. www.tdactiveholidays.com In this first series of podcasts all aspects of the Travel Department portfolio will be featured, including, river cruises, historical sites, benefits of a guided group holiday, bucket list destinations-to-city breaks and much more. Visit www.traveldepartment.com https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/croatia-walking-holiday https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/sierra-nevada-walking-holiday https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/slovenia-walking-holiday With TD Active Hoildays - Most of our groups are made up of a collection of individuals (couples, friends and single travellers) who don’t know each other before travelling. • customers ages vary broadly depending on the holiday type, with customers generally being aged 35 years – 64 years old. • Group sizes often smaller than a traditional group holiday allowing you to get to know everybody, between 15-40 people. They include authentic accommodation with all tours and holidays generally stay in locally owned boutique hotels, 3 star hotels, home stays or guesthouses to try benefit the local community. They occasionally offer 4 star hotels but never a chain hotel or a 5 star luxury hotel.

John Low and Mike Kelly continue the Senior Times Podcast 'Collectables'. In Episode Two, Mike talks John through the history of Irish banknotes and some of the rarities that could be hiding near you.

The second part of a 3 part series of podcasts featuring Patrick Kavanaghs life Patrick Kavanagh (21 October 1904 – 30 November 1967) was an Irish poet and novelist. His best-known works include the novel Tarry Flynn, and the poems "On Raglan Road" and "The Great Hunger". Patrick is also known for his accounts of Irish life through reference to the everyday and commonplace. Gary Cooke discusses Patrick Kavanaghs Life in a 3 part podcast series alongside Dr Michael Hinds who is an Associate Professor in the School of English at Dublin City University. Michael is the founder of the Irish Centre for Poetry Studies at the Mater Dei Institute, where he was Senior Lecturer and Head of English. He also started the journal POST: A Review of Poetry Studies while there. From 1996-9, he was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Tokyo, and retains an interest in the culture of Japan, as well as its representation elsewhere. Michaels main interest is in American literature, however, and has published widely on it, with a particular emphasis on American poetry and its intersection with popular culture. In 2006, he edited Rebound: The American Poetry Book (Rodopi) with Stephen Matterson. He has been a regular contributor to the Dublin Review of Books since 2010. He is currently working on an exploration of poetry's anguished relationship to money, unimaginatively entitled Moneypoetry.

Mairead Robinson talks to Eleanor O'Kelly Lynch, author of the remarkable novel The Girl with Special Knees. Can we live a second life - a happier life - in another dimension? A chance remark about a parallel universe sparks original debut novel by Cork author What if your distressed child could also access a second, wonderful life? That’s what Cork mother and author Eleanor O’Kelly-Lynch explores in her soon-to-be-launched women’s fiction novel, ‘The Girl with Special Knees’. The book was launched Cork, in November and has already been described as ‘a sad, beautiful novel’ and ‘a triumph of a book’ by acclaimed Cork author, Billy O’Callaghan. Eleanor’s daughter was born with a rare congenital condition. One night a few years back, as Lauren lay on the sofa self-injuring, Eleanor voiced her despair to her sister. Later after her daughter had gone to bed, her sister offered, by way of comfort, ‘How do we know? Maybe she’s also living another, happier life, a second life, in another dimension.’ The thought lifted Eleanor, and that was when the idea for ‘The Child with Special Knees’ was born. The author of the novel, Eleanor O’Kelly-Lynch, said, ‘I think a lot of people will resonate with the themes in the book. When I started out, I thought the novel would be about escaping pain, grief and loss, but actually, it’s about courage and how we find it within ourselves – if we look long and hard enough. It’s a lesson we are all are learning every day: Don’t give up. Keep dreaming. Have courage. Be kind to yourself. Keep on keeping on. You’ll make it.’ The book is about a family in trouble; a sister who feels invisible; a mother in distress; a father in denial, and a child who just wants out. One day, an African doll arrives in the post, and something magical happens. The novel is about family relationships, hope, courage, and renewal. More than anything else, it’s about the power of dreams to heal the human heart. The Girl with Special Knees is now available nationwide ...

The third story in "Leitrim to Birmingham", a podcast by Tony Downey.

Welcome to the first episode from a new podcast series TRAVEL POD produced by Senior Times in association with Travel Department. In this episode Mairead Robinson chats with well known broadcaster and Travel Writer Michelle Walsh Jackson about River cruise. This first series of podcasts will discuss all aspects of Travel Departments portfolio and will focus on everything from river cruises to historical sites, to the benefits of a guided group holiday, and a bucket list of destinations-to-city breaks and much more. Michelle is a weekly contributor on The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. She features bi-weekly on Travel Tuesdays on Virgin Media One’s Elaine, presented and produced by Elaine Crowley. Michelle loves to write about travel, and has written a number best selling novels , all set in wonderful locations that will make you feel as if you are travelling with the characters that she writes about. Her debut novel ‘Two Days in Biarritz’ was published by Poolbeg Press and made number two in the Irish charts in 2008. Travel Department is a leading provider of guided group holidays and synonymous with offering holidays specifically designed for that age group to a myriad of destinations in Europe and beyond. Episode 1 - Michelle Jackson tells us about our River Cruise Holidays- Classical Danube River cruise (Passu – Budapest), Egypt – Nile River cruise including Cairo & Hurghada, Rhine & Cologne River cruise (Amsterdam – Basel), Seine River cruise including Paris & Rouen, Danube Rhapsody river cruise (Passu – Passu) Conor O Hagen catches up with Yvonne Boyle, Commercial Director of Travel Department. ‘’ To discuss the many costs and benefits to traveling with Travel Department To find out more about any of Travel Departments group or Active Holidays visit https://www.traveldepartment.com/

Senior Times 60 Question Quiz January 2023 by Senior Times

Episode 30: Conor meets Tony Scott, co-founder and driving force behind the Young Scientist Exhibition. The brainchild of himself and his great friend Fr Tom Burke as far back as 1965 and now known as the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, the event is back in person in the RDS this year. Tony continues to lead and inspire the next generation. They talk about the event and how the Young Scientist winners are chosen, and he fondly remembers Fr Tom as he reflects on the long-running success.

John Low and Mike Kelly kick off a new Senior Times Podcast 'Collectables'. In Episode One, Mike talks John through the history of Irish coinage and some of the rarities that could be hiding in a jar near you.

Once Gary Cooke's guitar teacher, Gerry Leonard is an Irish lead guitarist and solo artist, known for his harmonic and ambient guitar style and for his work with David Bowie. He has lived and worked in Dublin, Copenhagen, and Manhattan.

Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Brian Kerr Pt2 of 3 by Senior Times

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 30. Conor meets the new CEO of Leinster rugby Shane Nolan. They talk about his time in Google and what brought him to Leinster, his chats with Leo Cullen and everything from replacing Stuart Lancaster to the stadium project to growing the women’s game.

Sixty Question Sports Quiz EXTRA by Senior Times

The First of a new series of podcasts featuring the lives of some some of Irelands most celebrated poets . We begin the series with Patrick Kavanagh .... Patrick Kavanagh (21 October 1904 – 30 November 1967) was an Irish poet and novelist. His best-known works include the novel Tarry Flynn, and the poems "On Raglan Road" and "The Great Hunger". Patrick is also known for his accounts of Irish life through reference to the everyday and commonplace. Gary Cooke discusses Patrick Kavanaghs Life in a 3 part podcast series alongside Professor in English Michael Hinds of Dublin City University. Patrick Kavanagh was born in rural Inniskeen, County Monaghan, in 1904, the fourth of ten children of James Kavanagh and Bridget Quinn. His grandfather was a schoolteacher called "Kevany", which a local priest changed to "Kavanagh" at his baptism. The grandfather had to leave the area following a scandal and never taught in a national school again, but married and raised a family in Tullamore. Patrick Kavanagh's father, James, was a cobbler and farmer. Kavanagh's brother Peter became a university professor and writer, two of their sisters were teachers, three became nurses, and one became a nun. Claddagh records have allowed us to share some of the wonderful recordings taken from the Album Almost Everything.

Gary Cooke Christmas Books by Senior Times

Gary meets former Ireland Manager Brian Kerr in the first of two episodes.

Conor meets UUP leader Doug Beattie in his office in Portadown. A long chat on his army career, his life in Ulster politics and his attempts towards a more progressive approach to Unionism. Along the way we get his views on the DUP, the Northern Ireland Protocol, LGBTQ+ community, relations with the EU, what it means to be Irish and our shared future.

The Senior Times Sixty Question Sports Christmas Quiz by Senior Times

Favourite Christmas Carols and Music, introduced by John Low.

Conor meets a childhood sporting hero in Tony Ward. A great talent in soccer and rugby, he became a superstar in his playing days as out half for Ireland, the Lions and of course Munster when they beat the All-Blacks in 1978. He now writes about rugby for the Irish Independent and still does commentary for the BBC. We chat about his early days, his friendship with Ollie Campbell and a fair bit about where Irish rugby is now.

Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Eamonn Coghlan by Senior Times

The Football Talking Tour - Ray Houghton by Senior Times

Conor meets Green Party MEP for Dublin Ciaran Cuffe; a familiar sparring partner over the years on TV and radio interviews. They chat about Europe and his work in Brussels, his take on things back home and what his future plans might be.

Steven Smyrl is a professional genealogist who has been at the heart of Irish genealogy for over 30 years. He and Paul go back a long way. They reminisce about how Steven got involved in family history in Ireland and his early days in the profession. They also touch on his work on the unsuccessful campaign to have the 1926 Census released early. But coincidentally funding for the digitisation of that census was announced on the day this podcast went live. Steven is somewhat taken aback by a compliment paid by Paul, but Paul ploughs on despite Steven's proper show of humility. Protestant dissenting congregations are one of several areas of genealogy and history in which he has particular expertise. His book, Dictionary of Dublin Dissent (Dublin, 2009), is a major contribution to research in that area. His primary work is in probate research. He tells Paul about the television series Dead Money in which he and his genealogist brother, Kit Smyrl, were the stars of the show, tracing some interesting inheritance cases. Steven is well known for his voluntary work in the field, especially with the Irish Genealogical Research Society and his professional organisation, Accredited Genealogists Ireland. However, few will know that he was instrumental in having the 1939 National Register for England and Wales released. Posterity will thank him for his involvement in having extra information added to death records in the Republic and in Northern Ireland from the 2000s forward. Steven Smyrl is involved in genealogy on all fronts and this chat could have gone on for hours. Series Producer: Conor O'Hagan Audio Supervisor: John Hughes Link to Accredited Genealogists Ireland: https://accreditedgenealogists.ie/ AGI Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AccreditedGenealogistsIreland Link to the Irish Genealogical Research Society: https://www.irishancestors.ie/ IGRS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IrishGenealogicalResearchSociety

Another crown of musical gems! Featuring works by Elgar, Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, Rossini, Schubert, Bach and more. Presented by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

The Irish Newspaper Archives is not just a resource for family historians. It has a much wider audience of academic, social and local historians. It’s an independent Irish business, unconnected to any of the international corporations that control so much online genealogical data. In fact, the Irish Newspaper Archives is a family-run business, so it has its own element of family history. Andrew and Jonathan Martin are part of the team behind the business that was founded by their late father, Alan Martin, in the 1960s. Today, their mother Annette is another of the four family members currently involved in it. Andrew and Jonathan tell Paul how their father began what is now the Irish Newspaper Archives by providing microfilming facilities for newspaper publishers and libraries throughout the country, under the name National Micro Publishing. In the twenty-first century, digitisation allowed for bringing the newspapers online. The Martin family’s passion for their business comes through in the chat. It’s a dynamic enterprise, with current newspapers updated weekly and back issues constantly being added. Series Producer: Conor O'Hagan Audio Supervisor: Conor Cullen Link to the Irish Newspaper Archives: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ Link to Irish Newspaper Archives on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/INArchive

Mairead talks to Professors John Nolan and Riona Mulcahy, authors of a landmark Irish study revealing a diet supplement can slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Michael is back with another 60 Question Quiz

Susan Hood is the librarian and archivist at the Representative Church Body Library, situated in Churchtown in Dublin. The RCBL is the repository for the Church of Ireland (Anglican church) within the Republic of Ireland. It holds parish registers and vestry minute books for many (but not all) locations throughout the country, either in original form or on microfilm. As Susan mentions to Paul, the C of I's records often include information relating to other denominations. Susan has been familiar with genealogy and with family historians since her student days, when she gained experience doing summer work at the Genealogical Office. This led to her publication Royal Roots - Republican Inheritance (The Woodfield Press, Dublin, 2002), a history of the institution from the 1850s forward. Prior to 1943 it had been the Office of Arms. Paul broaches the thorny question of post-Covid opening hours and Susan rises admirably to the challenge. They discuss how the RCBL publication of parish registers and older vestry minutes in book form, begun under Susan's predecessor Raymond Refaussé, evolved into online publication of registers on the Church Records database on the Irishgenealogy.ie website and the RCBL's own Archive of the Month. Susan also tells us what's in the pipeline in relation to digitisation. Series Producer: Conor O'Hagan Audio Supervisor: Conor Cullen Link to the Representative Church Body Library: https://www.ireland.anglican.org/about/rcb-library Link to RCBL Image of the Month: https://www.ireland.anglican.org/about/rcb- library/archive-of-the-month

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 27: former Labour Leader and Tanaiste Joan Burton chats about her life as an adopted child in Dublin, early professional life as a female accountant, her time spent in Africa and then her move into politics and eventually the top of government.

Pat Egan has been promoting concert events since the 1970s; his company has promoted some of the world’s greatest stars. His company, Pat Egan Management, currently runs over 200 shows a year, including the Olympia Pantomime, the most popular and successful panto in Irish Theatre History.

Michael is back with another 60 Question Quiz

The name Dolan is synonymous with Westmeath football. Former Leinster Championship winner and All Star Dessie Dolan is now Westmeath Manager. Michael Lyster talks to Dessie and his father Dessie Senior, himself a former Westmeath and Leinster star.

Dr Declan Lyons is a consultant psychiatrist at St Patrick's Mental Health Services and a clinical associate professor in psychiatry at Trinity College, Dublin. His previous publications include:- The Evergreen Guide: Helping People to Survive and Thrive in Later Years (2014) and The Time of Your Later Life: Reflections on Ageing with Attitude. In Mindcrafting: How to Mentor Your Ageing Mind, Dr Lyons dispels the negative stereotypes around ageing and explores the professional services available to help older people realise the abundant gifts of later life.

Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae joins Conor for a chat. He has plenty to say about life in the Dail and about the performance of the current coalition, not all of it bad. He is friendly and charming but he doesn’t mince his words especially when it comes to rural Ireland, farming and the climate conversation.

Mairead Robinson talks to Gregg Hannon - District Officer at the Fire Prevention section of Dublin Fire Brigade - about Fire Prevention Week. Gregg is originally from Co Cork and has served 27 years in Dublin Fire Brigade , and 26 of those in Operations section working across Dublin most notably in Tara St (HQ), Rathfarnham Finglas, Swords & Phibsboro His Current position is District Officer Fire Prevention Qualified at B Eng (Fire) Hes a Paramedic Instructor Breathing Apparatuses & Fire Behaviour instructor Road Traffic Collisions Instructor a Pump Instructor and a Abrasive Wheels Instructor Theme for the this year’s fire safety week:- Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Have you a plan if yours goes off! You could have less than two minutes to get out safely, once your smoke alarms sound. Smoke alarms need to be in every bedroom, outside of the sleeping areas, and on each level of your home. Knowing two ways out of every room is an important piece of your home fire escape plan. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your family is to rehearse what to do in the event of an emergency, such as a house fire. Have an outside meeting place, that is a safe distance from your home, where everyone should meet. For valuable fire safety information, and activities for the family, visit https://www.nfpa.org/FPW. To enter the Comp Gregg mentions in his interview - Simply visit www.firesafety4kids.ie Help vulnerable neighbor's stay fire safe. Visit https://firesafetyweek.ie/leaflets/ & see Fire Safety for Older People Leaflet. It’s getting wintry out, have you swept your chimney this year? Visit https://firesafetyweek.ie/leaflets/ see Fire Safety for Chimneys and Stoves Leaflet. To Check your smoke alarm view this Video https://firesafetyweek.ie/firesafetytips/detection/ Plan at least 2 ways to get out in case one is blocked by fire. Visit : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=035khDyzT90 When in Doubt just get out Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2rpdjhXsEI For further information on fire safety visit https://firesafetyweek.ie/

Think Ahead is a practical tool and customisable guide for advance care planning and end of life. It helps you document your healthcare choices and personal wishes, with resources to help you start to think and talk about your preferences for end of life. Valerie Smith explains the initiative to Mairead Robinson ... Think Ahead-- what is it? Think Ahead Ahead Planning Packs are easy to read, comprehensive guides for anybody who wants to start putting their affairs in order for end of life. In Think Ahead, people can make their care wishes known, appoint somebody to act as their healthcare advocate, keep track of important documents, and much, much more. Over 100,000 have already received a version of Think Ahead, which was first printed over 10 years ago. ‘We all know stories of families who fell out because of the stress of making decisions for a parent at their end of their life, or how difficult it can be to know how a person’s life should be commemorated,’ says IHF Public Engagement Lead Valerie Smith. ‘Think Ahead helps families avoid conflict, because we’ve already stated what we want and don’t want, and its in writing.’ What’s new in the 2022 edition? Now expanded, each Think Ahead Planning Pack includes two booklets, a leaflet, and a folder for storage. The first booklet, My Personal Wishes and Care, asks those completing the forms how they would like to be cared for, in the face of illness or injury. People can record where they would prefer to be—such as at home or in hospice; what is important to them—such as having visitors, spiritual or religious beliefs, and favourite music; and how to care for them—such as favourite foods or pain management. This booklet also records important legal and financial information for easy reference, and—for the courageous or creative—information on what type of funeral, burial, and after-death care you would prefer. Secondly, the booklet My Advance Healthcare Directive guides users in how to refuse or request treatment for a later date, if some illness or injury means that a person cannot make or express their choices. Here, someone can also appoint a trusted friend or relative to make their healthcare decisions on their behalf in such an event. “Most people think that their ‘next-of-kin’ will make these decisions for them, but the truth is that ‘next-of-kin’ has no legal standing,” explains Valerie. “You must name a person to carry out your choices if you want someone to advocate for you.” Lastly, using the Medical Summary Form included in the planning packs, people can summarise what has been stated in the other booklets and ask their GP, Specialist or healthcare team to make a copy for their medical file. This ensures that if the time comes, everybody who needs to know is already aware about your previously recorded choices. Want to learn more? This autumn, Irish Hospice Foundation is taking Think Ahead on a roadshow around the country where people will be taught how to use the forms and start conversations with their family and friends. Information on these roadshows will be updated on the Think Ahead Hub, thinkahead.ie. Valerie knows that talking about death and dying can be hard, “but talking about it can make dying and death less stressful, less fear-filled, and a better experience for everyone.” Planning Packs are €5 plus shipping, or by free download, available from IHF. • Online at www.thinkahead.ie • Ring IHF at (01) 679 3188 • Email IHF at [email protected]

The Second Story in "Leitrim to Birmingham", by Tony Downey.

Brendan Shine has achieved 40 chart singles in Ireland and 5 Irish number one singles, and is best known for his songs about everyday Irish life, such as "Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down" and "Spuds” Senior Times Presenter Michael Lyster caught up with Brendan in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone to discuss his career. Brendan told us he originally started off as a barman. He set up a pub in Baylough in Athlone, across from St. Comans Park, calling it 'Shine's Bar' and it was run by his wife. Shines has recently sold the pub but the name 'Shine's Bar' remains.

A monster offering from the masters!bNearly three hours of great music from the world’s greatest composers. Presented by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

This week's guest is Tom McGrath, author of Unspoken, published in April 2022 (Gill Books, Dublin). It's the poignant and interesting story of Tom's family history. While his parents lived quite a conventional life in Waterford City, their shared existence did not conform to what was expected by Irish society in the 1950s. Tom became an orphan in his teens and he knew practically nothing about his parents' background until much later in life. Here Tom gives Paul glimpses into the story. It's full of emotion, from deep sadness to joy. It is an extraordinary tale with drama and tension. His father's story is one of bravery and danger, which he never spoke about. Tom tells Paul how the book came about. He didn't set out to write it - it just evolved from a project for his grandchildren. The book includes an account of his quest for information. The whole experience led to his own pilgrimage to Poland, where his father had been a prisoner of war during World War II, as well as a journey with his son Eric over the Pyrenees, following his father's footsteps as he escaped. Tom's quest and his emotional journey are inspirational. Anyone thinking of a family history project would benefit from hearing this chat. Series Producer: Conor O'Hagan Audio Supervisor: John Hughes

Conor talks to Peter McElroy, founder of FairDealSolutions.ie about the ins and outs of the Irish Fair Deal Scheme. Peter had over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry before deciding to set up and run Fair Deal Solutions, an organisation guiding people through the scheme. Fair Deal Solutions, advise and manage the process of applying for funding under the HSE Fair Deal nursing home scheme for you. As applying for funding under the scheme can be both complicated and time-consuming, we are your dedicated 'hand-holding' service.​ Their personal, solutions based service will help you to understand what is involved and explain the complex details of the scheme. This would allow you and your family to devote more time to finding the best nursing home care for your loved one. ​From experience, this can be a sensitive and traumatic time for families. With our trusted expertise and knowledge of the Fair Deal scheme, the process will be much simpler for you. Fair Deal Solutions is an independent, impartial and unique service. To learn more Visit : www.FairDealSolutions.ie

Antiques expert and television personality Eric Knowles is a firm favourite of Irish audiences and appears regularly at Senior Times Live events. Ahead of Senior Times Live in Cork on November 25-26 at the City Hall, where he will be giving valuations and answering questions on antiques and collectibles on Saturday, Eric talks to Conor O'Hagan on one of his favourite subjects - Art Deco.

Michael is back with another 60 Question Quiz

Dr Karen Ward is a practising counselling psychotherapist. In The Secrets of Ageless Ageing, Karen Ward takes her reader by the hand on a voyage of self-discovery and a celebration of middle age and beyond. The Secrets of Ageless Ageing is full of tips on how best to manage our physicality, time, mental health and relationships as we age, how to ease our adjustment to retirement and a slower pace of life, and, most importantly, how to embrace with enthusiasm the many opportunities that the latter stages of our lives offer.

Conor sits down for a chat with Bobby McDonagh, Irish diplomat and former ambassador to London, Rome & Brussels. Now retired from the service his regular Irish Times columns and media appearances give a fascinating insight. He was Ireland’s ambassador to the UK during the Queen’s Irish visit and represented Ireland in many capacities in the EU.

A Story about Dromahair on a Fair day in the 1950s. The First Story in "Leitrim to Birmingham", a podcast by Tony Downey.

Former Irish cricketer Stella Owens joins Gary on this episode of The Gary Cooke Podcast to discuss everything from getting started in her career to coaching the next generation.

Michael is back with another 60 Question Quiz

Showband Legends: Michael Lyster meets the Swarbriggs by Senior Times

Conor O'Hagan talks to Peter Marsden, Managing Director of DORO - Doro are a technology company providing products and services totally tailored specifically to the needs of Seniors. If you are looking for a phone with clearer sound and larger text, one that’s protected if it falls, can alert if you do – and give you and your loved ones peace of mind? You have No worries. Doro have got you covered. We know how much of our lives today takes place on mobile phones and the internet where we communicate with each other and interact with the outside world. That’s why Doro Phones have developed an easy-to-use services and products that make it simpler for seniors to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as be active members of society – despite the challenges that can come with age. Doro also provide services and products that make it possible to live independently for a longer time, even for seniors with more needs. For example, smart cloud solutions that read sensors and sound automatic alarms if something happens, or alarm center's that answer calls made via the assistance button on the phone. Everyone should have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life, without compromises. Doro want to make ageing an independent, secure and rich part of life. To Doro, age is just a number. visit www.doro.com

Michael Lyster talks to organisers and stars of Deja Vu Ireland west 2022

Two hours of great music from the world’s best-loved composers including Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Bizet, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Berlioz, Rachmaninov, and many more. Presented by John Low

CareChoice – changing the narrative on what it means to be in a Nursing Home in Ireland. Recently Conor O’Hagan joined the team at The Ardmore care home in North Dublin, to talk about what it’s really like to live in a nursing home environment. Conor interviewed Collette a local resident of Glasnevin and CareChoice’s Chief Marketing Officer Melanie O’Connor and was surprised to find a different story from the usual ones told about life in a nursing home environment. As you will hear throughout this episode of the Senior Times Podcast, for Colette, spending time at the Ardmore was a real blessing and not only was she able to recover fully from her back surgery, but she found a new connection to community. Among the residents at the care home Colette found new friends and plenty of great people living their lives independently, yet, safely under the respectful guidance of the home’s care staff. It’s important for all of us to remember that every person, regardless of where they live, is a human being with history, with stories, with friends and families and in particular for those who live long enough to require nursing home care, with a life full of wisdom learned and insights gained. The Ardmore are most certainly doing something right, and Nichola Steen, the home’s director of nursing summarized it as follows: “What makes the Ardmore so special is the people who work here and the residents who reside here. It epitomizes a sense of belonging, a sense of community, a sense of purpose and a sense of safety and it’s these attributes that make the Ardmore what it is.” The Ardmore is one of 14 nursing homes in the CareChoice group spread across Leinster and Munster on the east of Ireland. For more information: phone (01) 880 0900 or email: [email protected] www.carechoice.ie

Conor sits down for a chat with international aid and development worker Deirdre Murray. Deirdre works for Plan International Ireland, which is the Irish part of a big global charity that specialises in supporting education and the rights of girls. Conor is Chair of the Irish board and travelled with Deirdre to the West African country of Guinea-Bissau to visit the work first hand.

Christine O'Kelly on the Age Friendly University and a Taste of DCU by Senior Times

Gary Cooke talks to Martina McNulty of Specsavers by Senior Times

Football legend Niall Quinn joins Gary and Aodhán to chat about former president of Football Association of Ireland Oscar Traynor and what he had done for football in Ireland.

Richard Gibbons was born in October 1969, a native of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo.  He studied philosophy and theology in Rome and was ordained in 1999. In 2003 he was appointed curate to Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock and has ministered in Knock until his appointment as Parish Priest. For further information on Knock House Hotel simply Visit www.knockhousehotel.ie or call 094 938 8088.

Gary is joined by Irish icon of rock music, Dublin musician Brush Shiels

Gary and Aodhán are joined by Irish footballer Kevin Moran on this episode of The Football Talking Tour Podcast.

Leo has worked for RTE and for BBC and has covered science and space exploration since he was a schoolboy. He has worked continually on projects in the area of public understanding of science. As you’d expect from someone who has met every man that walked on the moon, he’s fascinating. But there’s a lot more to him than that.

John McNicholl is a country singer from Foreglen in Derry, Something Old, Something New was released in 2004 and earned him the "Best Newcomer" award at the Irish World Awards.[1] He also represented Ireland at the CMA Global Showcase in Nashville. Since then, he has gone on to record a number of albums each earning him a following in both Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Ronan Collins started his show business career as a member of a showband playing drums. His radio show on RTÉ Radio 1 has been running for many years. He began his national radio career on RTÉ Radio 2, having worked on pirate radio. He presented the celebrity game show Play the Game from 1984 to 1995. He also used to present the Lotto draw and most recently A Little Bit Showband (2008–2009). Ronan has commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest for RTÉ One television. He has also been a compere at the heats of the Castlebar Song Contest.

STCC Spirit Of Schubert Part 2 by Senior Times

A familiar voice on the airwaves as the group’s main spokesman, he tells Conor about what brought him to activism and what he sees as the issues for atheists. He also talks of his work in partnership with Christian evangelical and Amadi Muslim representatives and his unlikely friendship with David Quinn.

Gary Brown introduces his play The Buttonmen. After a previous sell out run, The Buttonmen returns to the Viking Theatre, Dublin on August 15-24.  Centered around the lives of two brothers who work as dockers in the early 1970s, it features new songs which Brown has co-written with the well-known singer and songwriter Damien Dempsey.

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan. Episode 20: Victoria Mullen is a Finance professional who likes her cars and likes her golf. She’s a proud parent to great kids, and she is also a trans woman. She’s fascinating as she tells Conor about her journey through a very different Ireland to where she is today, and her take on where we are as a society when it comes to trans people.

Ronan Collins started his show business career as a member of a showband playing drums. His radio show on RTÉ Radio 1 has been running for many years. He began his national radio career on RTÉ Radio 2, having worked on pirate radio. He presented the celebrity game show Play the Game from 1984 to 1995. He also used to present the Lotto draw and most recently A Little Bit Showband (2008–2009). Ronan has commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest for RTÉ One television. He has also been a compere at the heats of the Castlebar Song Contest.

Noel Smith and Ian Comaskey discuss Surgery Now and how this company is taking the pain out of the HSE waiting lists. Surgery Now helps patients utilize the Cross Border Directive scheme, which allows patients in Ireland to travel to Spain for their treatment and the HSE will provide a refund for their treatment abroad. There is no need to be on a waiting list to use this scheme. You just need a referral letter from your GP. People who are waiting for hip replacement, knee replacements, hernia, hysterectomy, cataract, back surgery, or anything else the HSE provide treatment for. Conor O'Hagan talks to Directors Noel Smith and Ian Comiskey.

Conor meets historian and commentator Diarmaid Ferriter

The latest Senior Times Classical Collection! Two hours of great music from the Masters, including works by Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Greig, Vivaldi, Bizet, Tchaikovksy and many more. Chill and enjoy! Introduced by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

Gary Cooke+Jonathan Beavis by Senior Times

Part 2 Shaun O Dowd chats about his life in show business with Michael Lyster ... The Showbands were a particularly Irish phenomenon that evolved from the strict-tempo dance-bands of the early 1950s. Until that point Irish music was dominated either by traditional music or the big-band orchestras and balladeers. When Irish teenagers started to hear the new rock n’ roll from the US and the UK, reflecting the changing tastes, the Irish Showband was born. They played upbeat rhythm and blues and pop music with one aim – to get people dancing. A second wave of showbands arrived in the late sixties and early seventies playing a rock, blues and soul style these bands were more popular in Dublin and other urban areas, while in the rural areas bands more influenced by country and western were very popular.

From about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840, the Grand Tour was a standard itinerary of travel, enlightenment and much more for Britain's wealthy youth. Lorna Hogg explains...

Three is Ireland’s largest mobile telecommunications provider with 40.6% market share and 3.3 million customers (as of March 2022). The network is built for data; with 99% 4G coverage, and carry over half of all mobile data on our network, that’s more than all other operators combined. Three’s 5G network is available to customers in every county. Three has over 1300 employees throughout Ireland, with our head office in Dublin, our award-winning contact centre in Limerick where our 450-strong team manages 1.4 million calls every year, and 60 retail stores nationwide. Three has to date invested close to €2 billion in building our business in Ireland. This includes a €820 million investment in upgrading and expanding our network and in Three’s digital transformation, which will deliver a cutting-edge experience for both our customers and our employees. Three continues to invest over €100 million into our business to ensure we continue to deliver the best network, experience and service for our customers. Three strive to provide our customers with a better-connected life through meaningful products, best in class service and a connected network experience. Fergal, is the Partner Channel Manager and has almost 20 years’ experience in the Telecommunications Industry, working with SME, Corporate and the wider Consumer communities. Fergal currently runs the Partner and Franchise channel within Three. Conor chats to Fergal about Mobile Technology, Three’s Home Broadband and their brand new Connected Living lifestyle Stores. For more information Visit https://www.three.ie/

The Shelbourne Hotel's Garry Hughes has some mouth-watering ideas for summer lunches, dinners, barbeques and picnics - just add sun!

Shaun O Dowd chats about his life in show business with Michael Lyster ... The Showbands were a particularly Irish phenomenon that evolved from the strict-tempo dance-bands of the early 1950s. Until that point Irish music was dominated either by traditional music or the big-band orchestras and balladeers. When Irish teenagers started to hear the new rock n’ roll from the US and the UK, reflecting the changing tastes, the Irish Showband was born. They played upbeat rhythm and blues and pop music with one aim – to get people dancing. A second wave of showbands arrived in the late sixties and early seventies playing a rock, blues and soul style these bands were more popular in Dublin and other urban areas, while in the rural areas bands more influenced by country and western were very popular.

From about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840, the Grand Tour was a standard itinerary of travel, enlightenment and much more for Britain's wealthy youth. Lorna Hogg explains...

From about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840, the Grand Tour was a standard itinerary of travel, enlightenment and much more for Britain's wealthy youth. Lorna Hogg explains...

Over 90 minutes of great music from the masters, including works by Rossini, Beethoven, Mozart, Debussy, Dvorak, Weber and Strauss. Presented by John Low. Produced by Conor O’Hagan

The Vodafone Foundation announced the launch of in-person digital skills training classes for over 65s across Digital Hubs and Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) in 26 counties. Vodafone have an investment of over €2 million euro in the Hi Digital 360° digital literacy upskilling platform, with more than 26,273 sessions already completed by older people online. At the launch a number of older people Gary Cooke was brought through the Hi Digital platform to showcase how these classes are being rolled out throughout Ireland Gary took the opportunity to see how the classes are run and spoke to the participants on their experiences, he also spoke to Liz Roche, Head of Vodafone Foundation and Maureen Kavanagh CEO of Active Retirement Ireland all about Hi Digital . About Hi Digital: Vodafone Ireland Foundation recently announced a new strategic partnerships with charities ALONE and Active Retirement Ireland to deliver a five-year dedicated, nationwide digital skills training programme called ‘Hi Digital’ for people over the age of 65. This is a first of its kind in Ireland, and the programme has been created to support older people who lack digital skills, through online and in person training. Topics include: everything from understanding Smartphone features and essential online skills that help enhance daily life; Keeping in touch through WhatsApp and social media, planning trips; researching interests and hobbies; online shopping, entertainment and banking, as well as educating on online safety.

Gary and Aodhán are joined by Professor Paul Rouse from UCD.

Gary Cooke meets John Burke - former tennis international & CEO of ECI Natural Health ... If you are confused or wondering what supplements are right for you and will give you the best benefits? In a highly saturated market it is a challenge to pick the right supplement for you! CALL ECI on 01 205 1050 for FREE advice and guidance on what supplements will suit you best! Or visit their website at https://ecihealth.ie/

Gary Cooke and Aodhan are joined by former Ireland football player and manager, Eoin Hand. Eoin was born 30 March 1946 Hand played schoolboy football with Stella Maris. As a 17-year-old he was signed by Swindon Town but the move did not work out and he returned quickly to Ireland. He started his League of Ireland career with short spells for Dundalk F.C. and Shelbourne F.C. but it was with Drumcondra F.C. that he found most success. After a series of outstanding displays, he was signed by Portsmouth F.C. for a transfer fee of £8,000 in October 1968. Hand impressed enough at Portsmouth to earn a call up to the Republic of Ireland national football team and went on to earn 19 caps for his country. He stayed with Portsmouth until being released at the end of the 1975–76 season. After a brief spell in South Africa, Hand was persuaded back into football by Shamrock Rovers making his debut on 9 October 1977 at Glenmalure Park. However, after only nine games he returned to Portsmouth F.C. He left again in 1979, after playing a total of 277 times in the league for them.

Conor O'Hagan talks to Ian Higgins, CEO of HomePlus You could join those already making the most of their retirement years using the equity locked in your home. You may qualify if... You are aged over 55 You have a property worth more than €120,000 Your main residence is in the Republic of Ireland

Gary is joined by broadcasting legend Marty Whelan to discuss his long standing career. A few ago Specsavers Turned up the Volume on Hearing Health with Marty Whelan Specsavers were delighted to have teamed up with radio and television personality Marty Whelan to encourage the local community to take care of their hearing and address any concerns or changes they notice. In the second year of Specsavers’ Healthy Hearing campaign, Marty joined the audiology experts at Specsavers to turn up the volume on hearing health, and raise awareness of the PRSI hearing aid benefits available. Marty said : ‘Working in radio and television, I’ve come to understand how important hearing is in both my career and my personal life. I love listening to music and talking to people, having that connection is really important to me. As I get older, naturally hearing loss can become more prevalent so it’s important to stay on top of it and to incorporate a hearing test into my overall health check at least once a year. ‘We need to normalise the conversation around hearing loss, intervention is key and it is so important to seek expert advice and care. Following changes to the PRSI scheme last year, those eligible for the benefit can now avail of a pair of hearing aids up to the value of €1,000 or put their PRSI contribution towards the cost of a more expensive pair of hearing aids at Specsavers. Even with a Medical Card, many will also have PRSI entitlements which would make them eligible for a free pair of hearing aids. Marking the change in benefits, the popular opticians and audiologists pledged to test and screen a quarter of a million people over a two-year period and so far, is halfway to reaching the target. Getting a hearing aid is all about finding what’s right for you, understanding your hearing needs, your lifestyle and your budget. Specsavers offer a wide range of hearing aids, including its own Specsavers Advance range. Advance hearing aids feature some of the latest technology, at Specsavers prices. Features can include background noise reduction, mobile audio streaming from a device such as a phone, wireless connectivity, app connectivity, and rechargeability. At Specsavers, customers are always guaranteed expert eye care and hearing services, exceptional choice and outstanding value for money. For more information or to make an appointment with one of the team, visit https://www.specsavers.ie/hearing

Gerry Farrell joins Gary and Aodhán back in the studio for another episode of The Football Talking Tour Podcast

Your host and quizmaster Michael takes you through 60 questions, 6 rounds, 1 quiz in this episode of 60 question quiz.

Paul Gorry chats with people who are involved in various ways in Irish genealogy. The guest for the last episode of the series is Maeve Rogan. In this Episode: Maeve Rogan holds the voluntary position of Publicity Officer of the North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS). She spreads the word about the society on social media and generally promotes its activities. She chats to Paul about the NIFHS, its branches throughout Northern Ireland, its library in Newtownabbey, just outside of Belfast, and her role as Publicity Officer. The NIFHS has been prominent at Back to Our Past (BTOP) in both Dublin and Belfast. Its branches now have lectures by Zoom and attract overseas viewers - even an Antipodean ‘night owl from Perth’. The NIFHS has DNA and memorial card projects as well as transcription opportunities for members. Maeve tells Paul about her own journey to genealogy and about some of the unusual methods she has used to find information. They even discuss the (soon to be famous) Irish Greataunt vs. Grandaunt controversy. They have lots to talk about. Link to the North of Ireland Family History Society: https://www.nifhs.org/ NIFHS on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NIFHS/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nifhs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NIFHS/

Michael Lyster joins hurling-legend Eddie Keher at his Kilkenny home to chat about his career and life. Edward Peter "Eddie" Keher is a retired Irish hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Kilkenny senior team. Born in Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Keher first played competitive hurling whilst at school in St. Kieran's College. Born in Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Keher was the second child born to Stephen and Noreen Keher (née Browne). His father, a member of the Garda Síochána, was a native of Donamon and had played Gaelic football for Roscommon, before later lining out with Kilkenny. Eddie learned the art of hurling at the local national school in Inistioge. Regular evening matches were played between Inistioge's "up streets" and "down streets", or between children from the village and the surrounding countryside. In 1952 the eleven-year-old played for the school when they won the under-14 Roinn B championship. He added a second medal to his collection in 1955, when he was also named player of the match. After completing his Leaving Certificate at St. Kieran's College, Keher later went to Ross's College in Dublin where he studied to be a bank official. He subsequently worked in the Allied Irish Bank branches in St. Stephen's Green and Capel Street in Dublin. Eddie later transferred to the bank's branch in Kilkenny before becoming manager of the AIB branch in Callan, County Kilkenny. Eddie was a founder-member of the No Name Club along with Fr. Tom Murphy, Bobby Kerr and Éamonn Doyle. The organisation was established in 1978 and is devoted to providing alternative venues to public houses for young people and which now has about 30 branches across the country. Keher remains an active member of the No Name Club.

Declan Power takes Conor through a deep look at what Ireland’s defence capability actually is, what it needs to be and what sort of threats we are now facing, from hybrid & cyber attacks to Russian jets poking at us as a Western weak spot. It’s a huge subject, and they had a long chat.

Join Lorna Hogg for the next couple of weeks as she explores the travels, experiences and developments of The Grand Tour

Julian Walton is a renowned genealogist. He was recognised for his very significant contribution to Irish genealogy in 2021 with the Wallace Clare Award from the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS). He has a good lively chat with Paul about many topics. He talks about Father Wallace Clare and the IGRS; how he got involved in family history as a small child; working on the Marquis of Waterford’s estate papers; editing the Irish Genealogist; his involvement in the IGRS tombstone sub-committee; Brian Cantwell’s transcription of gravestones, mainly in Wicklow and Wexford; forming the IGRS Ireland Branch; researching in the early modern period (for which he is well known); the changes in genealogy over five decades, good and bad; working in the field in Waterford since 1990; and his 19 years of presenting local history items on WLR FM – the local radio station in Waterford. This is just skimming over what he and Paul covered. They could have talked for hours. Link to the Irish Genealogical Research Society: https://www.irishancestors.ie/ Link to Waterford Local Radio FM (WLR FM): https://www.wlrfm.com/

Gary is joined by RTE radio and television broadcasting legend Michael Lyster to discuss his incredible career and that life defining moment.

Conor meets consumer journalist, finance expert and broadcaster Sinead Ryan live at the Senior Times show in the RDS. Sinead is one of those journalists there to keep businesses honest, and she is one of the good ones. She took the time to give Conor the idiot’s guide to investing, inheritance, the fair deal scheme and a few other bits besides.

Paul Gorry chats with people involved in various ways in Irish genealogy. This week’s guest is Brendan Scott. Brendan found his way to genealogy by a circuitous route. He is Manager of the subscription website Roots Ireland on behalf of the Irish Family History Foundation. His background is in academic and local history but he started at third level doing geography. Along the way Brendan has had various posts in the history area and he worked with Cavan Genealogy before getting his ‘main day job’ with Roots Ireland. In addition he is historian-in-residence for Cavan, he works on occasional projects with the Ulster Historical Foundation and he lectures at Maynooth. He also finds time to edit the journal Breifne. He talks to Paul about the gulf between academic and local history. In relation to Roots Ireland they discuss improvements in the search facility, the depth of local knowledge and the situation with the Fermanagh, Clare and Wexford databases. As for corrections on the website, Brendan handles them personally and he has been known to deal with them on Christmas Day! Roots Ireland: https://www.rootsireland.ie/

Nicola Morris is a busy woman. She is President of Accredited Genealogists Ireland, she writes a Q&A column in Irish Roots Magazine, she lectures on family history and she runs her own genealogy firm. Nicola is familiar to television viewers, from the various versions of Who Do You Think You Are? as well as The Great House Revival. She’s also an engaging conversationalist. She tells Paul about how she got involved in genealogy almost by accident and found that she loved it. She gives an insight into her various responsibilities within the profession, shares her views on things genealogical, talks about researching for WDYTYA? and reminisces about meeting Jeremy Irons and Judi Dench. More about Nicola Morris https://accreditedgenealogists.ie/nicola-morris-m-a-g-i/ Accredited Genealogists Ireland: https://accreditedgenealogists.ie/ Irish Roots Magazine: https://accreditedgenealogists.ie/

In Episode 16, I meet environmental campaigner and journalist John Gibbons. John & I have sparred a few times on the radio over the years but I very much enjoyed the chance for a longer and more constructive chat. I dropped out to him in his Dun Laoghaire home and we spoke about the scale of the climate challenge facing us, what Ireland can do and whether we are making progress. Along the way we learn a bit more about him, not least the fact that he knows his cars and enjoys driving.

Oscar Salas is chief winemaker for the 120 and Reserva brands from Santa Rita, one of Chile’s premium and most innovative wine producers. By sourcing grapes throughout Chile’s most prized viticultural regions, Oscar crafts wines that express the terroir of the Andes. Oscar’s passion for winemaking stems from his love of nature and terroir, which he seeks to capture in every bottle of Santa Rita wine he makes.

From his memories of Veronica Guerin’s murder to the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Gardai and the Kinahan Gang, he chats about his life and what he is up to now.

Conor meets Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority. Thye talk about on his new role and what he plans to do, and Conor gets the chance to kick the tyres of the new Road Safety Strategy which aims to cut road deaths in half in the next eight years.

Your host and quizmaster Michael takes you through 60 questions, 6 rounds, 1 quiz in this week's episode of 60 question quiz.

Gary and Aodhan sit down with international football legend Ronny Whelan

Journalists and friends Jill Kerby and Marianne Heron share their approach to life beyond work - and advocate 'Rewirement' not 'Retirement'.

Conor meets with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland. She tells us how you get to be Lord Mayor and what you actually do while in office, and we talk too about her own background, her thoughts on the housing crisis, and what is being done at street level to improve the city.

Former Irish rugby legend and schoolboy soccer international Tony Ward discusses his career and the conflicts between the sporting loves of his life.

Journalists and friends Jill Kerby and Marianne Heron share their approach to life beyond work - and advocate 'Rewirement' not 'Retirement'.

Karl Chetcuti is the Estate Manager at Meridiana winery in Malta, whose mission is to produce world class wines of Maltese character. Over the past number of years Karl has grown that ideal to such heights that his wines are now stocked in Michelin Starred Restaurants in Paris. The winery is a 19-hectare site, reclaimed from an air field used during the Second World War, and lies scenically below the ancient walled-city of Mdina. The Estate was planted 1994 and 1995 with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. One thousand Moscato vines were planted in 2021. A picturesque, purpose built winery was completed in 1996, constructed from the characteristic, local chalk-coloured limestone. Visitors to Malta are delighted to do a winery tour at Meridiana and sample some of their ten labels in such a scenic setting. The wines have received rave reviews from world renowned wine writers, are widely available in Malta and are very reasonably priced. www.meridiana.com.mt

Driving Life Ep1 Pt1 George Hook by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep2 Pt1 Bobby Kerr by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep2 Pt2 Gary Fremantle by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep3 Pt 1 Nuala Carey by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep3 Pt2 Shane Ross by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep4 Pt2 Claus Kraemer by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep5 Pt1 Teresa Mannion. by Senior Times

Driving Life Ep5 Pt2 Mark Prentice by Senior Times

Conor talks Electric Cars with Geraldine Herbert, Irish Independent motoring journalist and a regular media commentator. If you are buying a car they have quite suddenly become a serious option. There are now lots of them on the market in all vehicle segments, so what do you need to know about the lifestyle change? The technology is definitely coming, but if you are about to go electric there are a fair few things you should know.

Over two hours of great music from the world’s best-loved composers, including Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Weber, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Bach, Rossini, and many more.

Cormac Moore, author of 'The Irish Soccer Split' outlines the reasons behind the traumatic partition of Irish football in 1921

Journalists and friends Jill Kerby and Marianne Heron share their approach to life beyond work - and advocate 'Rewirement' not 'Retirement'.

Journalists and friends Jill Kerby and Marianne Herron share their approach to life beyond work - and advocate 'Rewirement' not 'Retirement'

Bar-tailed godwits, brainy birds, blue tits; with winter giving way to spring, Conor O'Hagan and Niall Hatch talk birds.

Conor meets Richard Guiney, the CEO of Dublin Town, an organisation established by businesses in Dublin City Centre to promote and develop the district. Dublin Town has 2,500 members including the country’s top department stores and internationally acclaimed restaurants and hotels. Conor gets his view on how Dublin City Centre is going to recover from a brutal two years, and what we might have learnt about the future of the city.

Football historian Gerry Farrell joins Gary and Aodhán to discuss the fascinating careers of two players who grew up beside Croke Park - Tom Farquharson and Alex Stevenson.

Irish hurler Martin Storey was born in 1964 and is regarded as one of the greatest Wexford centre-forwards of all-time. With an All-Ireland medal, two Leinster medals and three All-Star medals under his belt he retired in 2001, when he began involved in team management and coaching.

The Football History Walking Tour has been taking fans of football and history around the Northside and Southside of Dublin City since August 2020. The tour picks through the various tales and controversies of Irish soccer from the 1916 Rising to Jack's Army. Soccer's journey from the hated 'Garrison Game' in the early years of the State to the heights of Italia '90 is told with passion, humour and the right amount of misery from two ardent football fans. In this Podcast Gary Cooke of Apres Match and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD expand on some of the themes explored in their tours. Join the lads as they discuss the beautiful game and why it has an ugly history in Ireland. Gary and Aodhán are joined by Tim Carey, the author of 'Croke Park: A History' to discuss the origins of the famous stadium and some of the myths that surround it.

Born and raised in Scotland, hotel management graduate Lynne Coyle has worked in the Food and Drinks industry for over thirty years. Wine Director at O'Briens Wine in Dublin, Lynne's experience spans retail, the on-trade, wine marketing and wine buying in both the UK & Ireland with Seagram & Diageo. Lynne judges at international wine competitions, is a WSET Certified Educator & makes her own wines in Spain.

Conor meets Munster & Ireland rugby star Frankie Sheahan. A professional rugby player for 14 years until retiring in 2009, He’s now the founder and CEO of the business & self-improvement organisation Pendulum Summit. He has also found time for 5 kids, some schools coaching and a lot more besides. Frankie talks about his rugby years in Munster, learning to drive in Cork and his delight that we are finally back to having events in person.

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan. Episode 9: Conor meets Tim O'Brien by Senior Times

Sherril Soliman is the founder of Wines With Stories, and she is passionate about wine. Her philosophy behind wineswithstories.com  is that authentic, artisan wines with provenance always have stories, whereas commercial wines, produced on an industrial scale never do. She believes that it's a great filter when selecting wine from a restaurant menu or at a wine store and encourages people to ask what the story is behind the wine. If there isn't one, then don't risk buying a commercial wine, that's generally propped up with high levels of Sulphites and other chemicals to cover bad wine making. She feels that the UK and Ireland are awash with commercial wines, due to the high rates of excise duty in both markets putting pressure on pricing. Based in Belfast, her website offers an extensive range of particularly good wines from small producers which can be delivered anywhere in the thirty two counties. Her journey to becoming a wine importer began when she returned from Venice – where she met and married her husband – and was shocked at the quality and high prices of wines available in her home town having enjoyed excellent wines from local producers in Italy. She decided to begin importing wines that had no market outside of Italy. And so the story began.

Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including more than 600 secular vocal works, seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and a large body of piano and chamber music.

Driving Life Ep1 Pt2 Stephen Tonge by Senior Times

Julie Dupouy qualified as a Sommelier in South West France in 2003, Julie briefly gained some work experience in a highly accomplished, beautiful and very classical restaurant to start her career. In 2004, she moved to Ireland to improve her English and to expand her International wine knowledge. Since then, she has been lucky to work with some of Ireland’s best chefs and also on some wonderfully interesting projects.

“Pride and Passion: Vistas of South America” ARTISTS: Degani Piano Trio, featuring Rachel Quinn (piano), Alan Smale (violin), Annette Cleary (cello) with special guest artist Donna Anita Nikolaisen (narrator) Programme for ‘Pride and Passion: South American Vistas’... 42 mins ‘The Rose’- by Gabriela Mistral Summer from the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for Piano Trio by Astor Piazzolla ‘Pinewoods’ by Gabriela Mistral Autumn from the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for Piano Trio by Astor Piazzolla ‘The Wind’ by Gabriela Mistral Winter from the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for Piano Trio by Astor Piazzolla ‘Fire’ by Gabriel Mistral Spring from the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for Piano Trio by Astor Piazzolla ‘Song of those who seek to forget’ by Gabriela Mistral ‘Danza de la Moza Donoso’ for Piano Solo by Alberto Ginestera ‘The Ones not Dancing’ by Gabriela Mistral Danza del Viejo Boyero’ for Piano Solo by Alberto Ginestera ‘Odeon- Tango Brasilero’ for Piano Solo by Ernesto Nasareth ‘Nightfall’ by Gabriela Mistral Oblivion for Piano Trio by Astor Piazzolla

Classical Music Part 2 of 3

Brian O'Donovan was the RTÉ News and Current Affairs Washington correspondent from January 2018 until recently. He has reported on major international news stories including the aftermath of the 2016 Nice truck attack, the plight of Syrians in refugee camps near the Jordan-Syrian border, the verdict of the Molly Martens Corbett trial in North Carolina, and on the Catalan independence protests in Spain. In December 2017, it was announced that he would succeed Caitríona Perry as the Washington correspondent for RTÉ News. As Washington correspondent, Brian covered two presidential impeachments, the Black Lives Matter protest movement, the COVID-19 crisis, the 2020 US presidential election and the storming of the US Capitol Building.[3] On 8 December 2021, it was announced that he would succeed Ingrid Miley as RTÉ's new Work and Technology correspondent. In this podcast interview - Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 8: Conor chats with Brian O’Donovan, just back from his time in the US. He surely was a witness to history. From meeting locals at gun shows deep in Trump territory, to Black Lives Matter protests, Covid and the chaotic election aftermath; Brian was there. We hear a bit about what life was like for him in America, including what the locals are like on the roads, and we hear about what he’s up to next. He’ll be RTE’s Work & Technology correspondent. You can also check out previous episodes where you’ll find chats with people like Shane Ross, Teresa Mannion, Ivan Yates, George Hook and others, names you’ll know and some that you won’t have met yet . If you would like to email Conor with any questions [email protected]

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 7. Conor meets Henry McKean, Newstalk’s roving reporter. They chat about Henry’s experience moving to Ireland from Scotland as a teenager, his driving adventures and misadventures as he covers the country talking to local people. Along the way we learn that he once played rugby with Brian O’Driscoll and he is not 46th in line to the British throne.

Classical Music

In this new series of podcasts ... Presented by Gary Cooke and Gary Brown with Special Guest Gerry Lennon on Guitar. Take a leisurely car journey from Dublin's Lucan Bridge with the two Gary's(Cooke and Brown ) as they discuss the 24 bridges crossing the River Liffey in Dublin . And you learn a thing or two. The oldest Liffey Bridge dating back to 1753 From the Ha’penny Bridge which is one of the most famous bridges in the city and so-called because you once had to pay half a penny to cross it, the iconic is Dublin’s oldest pedestrian bridge. To the Samuel Beckett Bridge - The contemporary, visually-striking bridge was designed by Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, who was inspired by both the flip of a coin and the idea of an Irish harp rotating through the air. Named after the famous Dublin modernist writer Beckett, it was opened to the public in 2009. The Rosie Hackett Bridge - The newest addition to Dublin’s bridges was opened in 2014, and will join the red and green LUAS lines in 2017. Interestingly, it’s the only bridge in Dublin named after a woman. Born in 1892, trade union activist Rosie was also part of a small rebel group that occupied St. Stephen’s Green during the Easter Rising of 1916. And O’Connell Bridge Dating back to 1794, O’Connell Bridge runs through the centre of the city, and still retains some of its old-school charm. Fact fans – it’s the only traffic bridge in Europe wider than it is long. and The Millennium Bridge which opened on December 20 1999, providing pedestrians a quick and handy route from cultural haven Temple Bar to the Italian Quarter, where you’ll find a host of funky restaurants as well as some charming boutique stores. Mellows Bridge Constructed between 1764 and 1766, and is the longest-surviving structure of all the river Liffey bridges and – at almost 250 years old – is known as the ‘old man of the river’.

Derry Clarke is one of Irelands most recognized celebrity chefs ... Derry has also been a reality television judge, alongside names like Bibi Baskin and Sammy Leslie on RTÉ One reality television series Fáilte Towers, and he has appeared on other programmes such as The Restaurant, The Afternoon Show and The Panel (in 2008. Derry's professional career began at the age of sixteen years. He started his career in 1972, with Peter Barry, known for The Man Friday. He came back to Dublin in 1977 and worked in Le Coq Hardi in Dublin for four years, under John Howard. He also worked for eight years in Le Bon Appetit in Dublin. Derry Clarke has received international recognition, having been inducted into Food & Wine Magazine's "Hall of Fame" and been granted a five-star review by The New York Times. The newspaper described his restaurant as "superb" and "a good spot to linger" whilst in Dublin.

In this Podcast Conor talks to former government Minister Ivan Yates. They chat about his remarkable life so far; Ivan has been a cabinet Minister, self-made multi-millionaire and then bankrupt before reinvention and a new career as a star of Irish media. Ivan is very open about the events in his life and remains his irrepressible self, including starting a new venture in media training. His original, forthright style of entertaining punditry and analysis on the full range of current affairs and sport has made him a much sought-after motivational public speaker at corporate and formal events . The retired broadcaster has launched his own ‘Media Masterclass’, teaching the “tricks of the trade” gained over his past four decades working in media. In 2021 , Ivan walked away from his popular radio and TV presenting gigs to focus on his new venture. Ivan believes “The media sector is transforming because the revenues from advertising are going to digital, and secondly, media consumption habits through papers is changing. People are accessing their ubiquitous news in a different way. “This is a very challenging time for media, and to some extent it has to reinvent itself. He said in his interview with the Irish independent , that the media nowadays is “transforming”, with social media and digital playing a large part. To find out more Google : Media Masterclass - where you can advance your communication skills to navigate the media landscape with exclusive knowledge from Ivan's lifetime spent on both sides of the camera.

Conor catches up with an old friend Geoff Power; playwright & documentary film-maker, about things like teaching creative writing in Portlaoise prison and making his new documentary – Hollow Cities – due out on RTE later this year. Creativity has always been at the heart of what Geoff does . He has worked as a print journalist, a sports reporter and a presenter, and for the past decade or so as a documentary producer. For well over a decade Geoff has been working part-time as the creative writing teacher at the Midlands Prison. Every Monday he would drive from Dublin to Portlaoise and, inside those walls, no two days are the same. Working with the students there had helped him steer his documentary work with Midas Productions, as well as to inspire the writing of a play for Gúna Nua. With the support of the Probation Service, the Arts Council and Dublin City Council.

Our Travel Expert: Eoghan Corry digs deep to find out about some of the worlds best golf holiday destinations in an interview with one of Irelands most respected Golf tour operators Sean Skehan with 47 Years experience in the industry ... Sean has some fantastic trips planned for 2022 including a new destination in Agadir and a trip back to an old favourite, Corfu! Of course we are also excited already for our Autumn Entertainment Extravaganza in Cadiz! Sean tells us about a trip he has planned for the Dominican Republic in 2022 and says its a once in a life time trip with a chance to play . THE #1 GOLF COURSE IN THE CARIBBEAN AND #27 BEST COURSE IN THE WORLD. Pete Dye’s signature golf course, Teeth of the Dog has a reputation that’s well deserved. Meticulously hand carved from the rugged rock and coral of the Dominican coastline, the hard-fought and challenging creation of Teeth of the Dog is an apt description for what playing a round can be like. The course is brimming with stunning natural landscapes, historical undertones, and the chance to play your best game yet. Ranked first in the Caribbean, this golf course in paradise should be on every golfer’s bucket list. Don’t settle for less when you have the opportunity to play on the best. Make no mistake, if you dare challenge the Dog it will bite back. But your efforts will be rewarded with 18 jaw-droppingly-beautiful holes—including seven right along the ocean—and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve played one of the best golf courses in the world. How many of your friends can say the same?” To book a golf trip with Sean Visit https://www.theflyinggolfer.com/

In this podcast Conor Faughnan Chats with Teresa Mannion RTÉ News and Current Affairs reporter & Mark Prentice of The Copeland Distillery. Part 1 . Conor meets Teresa Mannion, one of Irelands favorite journalists and broadcasters who has worked as a as a news reporter since 2000 and is currently the RTÉ News and Current Affairs reporter based in the West of Ireland since 2007. Teresa chats to Conor about Cars and how she shot to fame in December 2015 with her live reporting from Galway during Storm Desmond which went on to go viral online. Teresa tells us how she went on to become an ambassador for the RSA to encourage the public in ad campaigns not to make unnecessary journeys in bad weather. Teresa subsequent rise in fame led to her becoming a contestant on the first Irish series of Dancing with the Stars. She tells us about the experience the tango and much more In Part 2 Conor Chats with Mark Prentice who set a Distillery called The Copeland Distillery. They chat about Brexit and how Copeland Distillery had sought Crowd funding from the local communities and how they have turned a college project setup in a kitchen into a million pound enterprise in less than 5 years … The Copeland Distillery story started in the summer of 2016, when they successfully raised £30,000 from crowdfunding. Their journey could not have started without the support of over 390 Founders who pledged between £50 and £500, taking a chance on the new ginfusions products based solely on our brand values and story. The belief from the public in what they were planning to create was instrumental in getting their products to market and for that they are eternally grateful. The Copeland Distillery, situated on Ireland’s East Coast, is a craft producer of a range of Irish Gin, Rum, Single Malt and Pot Still Whiskey. For full details go to https://copelanddistillery.com/

George Hamilton is a voice so familiar to millions ... He has been a fixture in the commentary box since the late 1970s, George enthralled and captivated his RTÉ audience for decades. Particularly through the many highs of the Charlton years, from Stuttgart in '88 to Italia '90 and the USA in '94, he has engagingly articulated the joy and despair felt by the fans who listen with anticipation for his sporting gems. George went on to carve out an entirely separate career with a hugely popular and now long running show on Lyric FM , The Hamilton Scores. David O'Leary is entrusted with the responsibility of taking the penalty that could send Ireland to the quarter finals of the World Cup. This kick can decide it all. The nation holds its breath ...It's there!" While the nation held its breath, George Hamilton delivered a line that will forever be etched in Irish sporting lore! The Nation Holds Its Breath is a new Book written by George as a lyrical journey through the key moments of his life and career. Gary Cooke meets George Hamilton ... visit www.seniortimes.ie

Quiz Master Mike Asks 60 general knowledge Questions ... There are 6 Rounds With 10 Questions each round There are No prizes for getting all the questions right ! Its just a simple brain teaser. Do Like & share this podcast with your friends ...

In this new series of podcasts ... Presented by Gary Cooke and Gary Brown with Special Guest Gerry Lennon on Guitar. Take a leisurely car journey from Dublin's Lucan Bridge with the two Gary's(Cooke and Brown ) as they discuss the 24 bridges crossing the River Liffey in Dublin . And you learn a thing or two. The oldest Liffey Bridge dating back to 1753 From the Ha’penny Bridge which is one of the most famous bridges in the city and so-called because you once had to pay half a penny to cross it, the iconic is Dublin’s oldest pedestrian bridge. To the Samuel Beckett Bridge - The contemporary, visually-striking bridge was designed by Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, who was inspired by both the flip of a coin and the idea of an Irish harp rotating through the air. Named after the famous Dublin modernist writer Beckett, it was opened to the public in 2009. The Rosie Hackett Bridge - The newest addition to Dublin’s bridges was opened in 2014, and will join the red and green LUAS lines in 2017. Interestingly, it’s the only bridge in Dublin named after a woman. Born in 1892, trade union activist Rosie was also part of a small rebel group that occupied St. Stephen’s Green during the Easter Rising of 1916. And O’Connell Bridge Dating back to 1794, O’Connell Bridge runs through the centre of the city, and still retains some of its old-school charm. Fact fans – it’s the only traffic bridge in Europe wider than it is long. and The Millennium Bridge which opened on December 20 1999, providing pedestrians a quick and handy route from cultural haven Temple Bar to the Italian Quarter, where you’ll find a host of funky restaurants as well as some charming boutique stores. Mellows Bridge Constructed between 1764 and 1766, and is the longest-surviving structure of all the river Liffey bridges and – at almost 250 years old – is known as the ‘old man of the river’.

Garry Hughes, is the Executive Chef at Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel The Shelbourne is a luxury 5-star hotel in Dublin city centre overlooking St. Stephen's Green, Europe's grandest garden square. Ideally situated close to the cultural and historic buildings, The Shelbourne offers a great location from where one can visit the majestic St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College Dublin. This 5-star Dublin hotel offers spacious accommodation, with luxurious Egyptian cotton bedding, flat-screen TV, laptop-size safe and marble bathroom, ideal for relaxation. One could Enjoy a cocktail or Ireland's own Guinness at our renowned Horseshoe Bar. Or Celebrate life at our Oyster Bar or a prime-cut steak at The Saddle Room Restaurant. For nearly 200 years, The Shelbourne Hotel has been the centre of Dublin city's social and cultural life and the favorite destination of visitors from around the world. The Hotel is only steps away from Dublin's main arts, entertainment, and shopping areas and many important historical sites. The Hotel played host to one of Irelands most historic meetings: the drafting of Ireland's first Constitution. Under the chairmanship of Michael Collins, the committee met in room 112, to write the Constitution of the Irish Free State. This room is now The Constitution Suite, and contains the original table and chairs. To learn more visit https://www.theshelbourne.com/

Conor meets Dermot Bannon, who dropped in for a cup of coffee and what turned out to be a long chat. From growing up in Kinsealy and holidays in Wexford, and the long running success that is RTE’s Room to Improve, Dermot is great company and has great passion, especially for his latest project; Ava Housing, a charity that keeps people in their own homes by converting the upstairs into fresh accommodation. In Part 2 (at 49 mins) we meet Claus Kreamer, is a German photographic artist now living in Co. Clare but previously he worked with the FIA, the world governing body for Motorsport. He has fascinating stories on working with Michael Schumacher and traveling in the Formula 1 circuit, as well as why he feels safer facing Covid in Ireland than in his native Germany.

Dr Gary Stack talks to Senior Times Presenter Conor O'Hagan about MSD's Winter campaign Called #knowPneumo Pneumo, or Pneumococcal disease, is a major cause of illness and death in Ireland, particularly among the very young, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system Pneumo is caused by a common bacterium, Streptoccocus pneumoniae, which can attack different parts of the body. Dr Gary Stack answers all our tough questions

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Ep3: Nuala Carey & Shane Ross. Conor chat’s with RTE’s Nuala Carey. From her driving test to her dream car, we spoke about her life driving with memories of her late father, and we spoke about working in RTE and where we will see her next. In part 2 (from 20 mins) we meet former transport Minister Shane Ross, now happily driving an electric car. From getting fired by Dermot Desmond to working as business editor in the Sunday Independent and a candid view of his time in cabinet with political enemies, and we hear about his next project: a biography of Mary Lou MacDonald.

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan - Episode 2. In his new series, Conor Faughnan fmeets some well-known voices and friends from over the years to talk about driving and about life. Note : The sound quality of this podcast is not up to the usual high standard as it was recorded in a coffee shop ... In this episode - Conor meets entrepreneur and businessman Bobby Kerr to chat about his life and the cars he has owned. From Kilkenny to North Sea oil rigs, from Canada to Dun Laoghaire, Bobby’s shares tales of his life in business and on the road. In part 2 we meet An Taisce CEO Gary Freemantle about his journey from one-time AA director to leading the environmental organisation, and his thoughts on where the environmental movement goes from here... www.seniortimes.ie

Lorna Hogg traces Ireland's traditions in ghosts, the bean sí and other undead - and the origins of modern horror fiction.

The Senior Times 60 general knowledge Question Quiz 6 rounds of 10 questions each round.. www.seniortimes.ie

In a new series, Conor Faughnan meets some well-known voices and friends from over the years to talk about driving and about life. In episode one Conor met George Hook, now 80, in great form on his adventures and chapters in his life. From early years in Cork through his first car, to truck driving in 60s England and run-ins with traffic cops in Texas, and more than a little about life along the way. Then in part 2 (40 mins) we meet teacher, author & history buff Stephen Tonge for a chat about Ireland, Europe and the sweep of history into the 21st Century.

Mairead Robinson chats with a leading Sommelier Tomasz Szczepanski A Sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. The role of the sommelier in fine dining today is much more specialized and informed than that of a "wine waiter" Wine is Thomas passion in life. Learning all aspects of wine from growing, making, serving, paring and drinking wine has been an utmost pleasure for him over the last decade . Wine is a personal choice and the world of wine can seem a bit daunting. If you don’t have that “favorite ” or special one yet, why not check out some of our upcoming Corkscrew wine tastings , you may make wonderful memories and discover a new passion. To find out more Visit: The Corkscrew website https://www.thecorkscrew.ie or email [email protected]

Lorna Hogg Haunted Ireland Ep2 by Senior Times

In this episode - Conor O'Hagan talks to Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland about the evolution of birds from the dinosaurs - how it happened, where it led and where it might go next. Who is Niall Hatch ? Niall heads up BirdWatch Ireland's membership recruitment, fundraising, education & communications work and edits our membership publications. A keen birdwatcher since early childhood, he is a frequent contributor to radio and television programmes and works closely with our BirdLife International Partners. Niall is a qualified solicitor and is a graduate of University College Dublin and Cornell University, New York. For details on Birdwatch Ireland https://birdwatchireland.ie

George Hunter chats with Jazz legend and radio host Paddy Cole. From his first performance in his native Castleblayney at 12, to meeting Elvis, and good friends with the singing cowboy Roy Rogers, to appearing on stages all over the world, including a sell-out concert at the London Palladium, Paddy Cole, the King of the Swingers, relates his personal and professional life in this warm and engaging chat with his long-time friends and fellow entertainer George Hunter. Paddy talks affectionally of his early days with the Maurice Lynch band, to joining the Capital Showband and the Big 8, before playing for years in Las Vegas. He pay tribute to Helen his wife of more than 50 years who, as he say, has kept him on the straight and narrow. He reminds us that grumpy Vincent Brown remarked when he learned he was marrying Helen: ‘How have you stolen best looking girl in Limerick’!. Paddy is still as active as ever playing gigs whenever he can and has a hugely successful radio programme on Sunshine Radio every Sunday. Next year he’s organsing a national tour of many of the theatres where he and other showband legends appeared in the glory days. Golf is his main passion after music and he’s been a member of Lahinch and the Castle in Dublin for years as well as regularly featuring in the legendary Sean Skehan golf and entertainment tours. So reminisce and reflect on the life and times of one of Ireland’s best loved entertainers in this podcast brought to you by sponsors Doro Phones, Expressway and Senior Times.

In this podcast Mairead chats with an Irish Organic Wine Importer Seamus Goulding who in 2011 set up this Wine importing company with brother Fergal. Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown in accordance with principles of organic farming, which typically excludes the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. The wines Seamus tells us he imports are exclusively organic or biodynamic wines. He says “Our aim is to forge links with artisan producers of high quality wines who are as passionate about organic as we are. In selecting our wines we visit each vineyard in advance to build up the personal business relationship with our future partners. “We currently import wines from France, Germany, Spain and Italy, and are constantly working to expand our range of wines.
The business model we have initially adopted has been to deal directly with the consumer, offering quality organic wines at a reasonable price. “ www.seniortimes.ie

A Fireside Chat with Harry Bradshaw Irish professional golfer as he recounts his career in his own words. With an entertaining tribute from Peter Alliss and narrated by Niall Tóibín Dermot Gilleece received a Lifetime Achievement and Service to Golf by the PGA. In a career that spanned numerous Majors and Ryder Cups, Dermot has been greenside to record some of the most remarkable moments in golfing history. From the glory years of O'Connor, Carr and Harry Bradshaw to the more recent Irish successes of Harrington, McIlroy and Lowry, he has seen it all and retains an encyclopedic knowledge of names, dates, facts and figures, Harry Bradshaw lost the 1949 The Open Championship following a playoff against Bobby Locke at Royal St George's, after an extraordinary incident in the second round when his drive at the 5th hole came to rest against broken glass from a beer bottle on the fairway...

A fireside Chat with Harry Bradshaw one of Irelands greatest golfers as he recounts his career in his own words. With an entertaining tribute from Peter Alliss and narrated by Niall Tóibín Dermot Gilleece received a Lifetime Achievement and Service to Golf by the PGA in a career that spanned numerous Majors and Ryder Cups, Dermot has been greenside to record some of the most remarkable moments in golfing history. From the glory years of O'Connor, Carr and Harry Bradshaw to the more recent Irish successes of Harrington, McIlroy and Lowry, he has seen it all and retains an encyclopedic knowledge of names, dates, facts and figures, Harry Bradshaw lost the 1949 The Open Championship following a playoff against Bobby Locke at Royal St George's, after an extraordinary incident in the second round when his drive at the 5th hole came to rest against broken glass from a beer bottle on the fairway...

A Fireside Chat with Harry Bradshaw Irish professional golfer as he recounts his career in his own words. With an entertaining tribute from Peter Alliss and narrated by Niall Tóibín Dermot Gilleece received a Lifetime Achievement and Service to Golf by the PGA. In a career that spanned numerous Majors and Ryder Cups, Dermot has been greenside to record some of the most remarkable moments in golfing history. From the glory years of O'Connor, Carr and Harry Bradshaw to the more recent Irish successes of Harrington, McIlroy and Lowry, he has seen it all and retains an encyclopedic knowledge of names, dates, facts and figures, Harry Bradshaw lost the 1949 The Open Championship following a playoff against Bobby Locke at Royal St George's, after an extraordinary incident in the second round when his drive at the 5th hole came to rest against broken glass from a beer bottle on the fairway...

Irish rugby has produced many charismatic figures over its history. None more than Willie Anderson. Most sports biographies are written too soon after the final whistle. The rush to cash in on hard-won, short-lived fame means that many such books lack perspective, focusing instead with wearying repetitiveness on the pressures of being a professional sportsperson: the drudgery of training, the constant injuries, the elation and relief of victory, the gnawing self-doubt in defeat. Anderson describes how alcohol was a factor in his life from his teenage years, taking control of him by the time his coaching career was in full flow. When rugby went professional his coaching talents were sought by London Irish, Leinster and Scotland – but the head coach role in Ulster, the job he wanted most, never came his way. Anderson’s book is different. Written more than 30 years after he won his last cap for Ireland, Crossing The Line is raw, uncompromising, sometimes brutal and always passionate; a perfect distillation of Anderson the player and Anderson the man. By today’s standards Anderson’s international career was only moderately successful. Twenty-seven caps was a decent haul in the amateur era, and he was part of the 1985 Triple Crown winning team, but as a player he is best remembered for the challenge to the All Blacks’ haka in 1989 in Lansdowne Road, when he led the team in a Walls-of-Limerick style incursion into the heart of opposition territory during the ritual. Asked if he was scared, New Zealand captain Wayne Shelford said Anderson came so close he was afraid the Irish captain was going to kiss him. Willis book was ghost written by Brendan Fanning

Irish rugby has produced many charismatic figures over its history. None more than Willie Anderson. Most sports biographies are written too soon after the final whistle. The rush to cash in on hard-won, short-lived fame means that many such books lack perspective, focusing instead with wearying repetitiveness on the pressures of being a professional sportsperson: the drudgery of training, the constant injuries, the elation and relief of victory, the gnawing self-doubt in defeat. Anderson’s book is different. Written more than 30 years after he won his last cap for Ireland, Crossing The Line is raw, uncompromising, sometimes brutal and always passionate; a perfect distillation of Anderson the player and Anderson the man. In this podcast interview willie describes how alcohol was a factor in his life from his teenage years, taking control of him by the time his coaching career was in full flow. When rugby went professional his coaching talents were sought by London Irish, Leinster and Scotland – but the head coach role in Ulster, the job he wanted most, never came his way. By today’s standards Anderson’s international career was only moderately successful. Twenty-seven caps was a decent haul in the amateur era, and he was part of the 1985 Triple Crown winning team, but as a player he is best remembered for the challenge to the All Blacks’ haka in 1989 in Lansdowne Road, when he led the team in a Walls-of-Limerick style incursion into the heart of opposition territory during the ritual. Asked if he was scared, New Zealand captain Wayne Shelford said Anderson came so close he was afraid the Irish captain was going to kiss him. Written by Brendan Fanning

A fireside Chat with Harry Bradshaw Irish professional golfer as he recounts his career in his own words. With an entertaining tribute from Peter Alliss and narrated by Niall Tóibín Dermot Gilleece received a Lifetime Achievement and Service to Golf by the PGA. In a career that spanned numerous Majors and Ryder Cups, Dermot has been greenside to record some of the most remarkable moments in golfing history. From the glory years of O'Connor, Carr and Harry Bradshaw to the more recent Irish successes of Harrington, McIlroy and Lowry, he has seen it all and retains an encyclopedic knowledge of names, dates, facts and figures, Harry Bradshaw lost the 1949 The Open Championship following a playoff against Bobby Locke at Royal St George's, after an extraordinary incident in the second round when his drive at the 5th hole came to rest against broken glass from a beer bottle on the fairway...

Mairead Robinson talks to Tom Finn, CEO of Silver Stream Healthcare Group. "All the nursing homes within the Silver Stream group have their own identity and personality, with the ethos firmly on the care of the residents, their health, happiness and wellbeing. While we start from the premise that nobody wants to live in a nursing home, we have come to realise that for many of us this can be not only a relief but also a very welcome phase in our lives. In recent times there has been more emphasis on keeping people in their own homes for as long as possible, and certainly none of us would argue with that. We all want to stay in our homes surrounded by family, neighbor's and the familiar area while enjoying a good degree of independence. but there does come a time in many people’s lives when due to physical or mental issues, this option is no longer possible and nursing home care is required. This can bring great relief not just to the person themselves, but also to their families when the safety and well-being of their relative is assured. For the many of us who will spend time in a nursing home, it is very encouraging to learn of the developments in the sector where there is no longer a fear of being locked away from our previous lives, maybe heavily medicated and perhaps also all but forgotten about. That is very much an outdated view, and certainly not one that is borne out after my discussion recently with the CEO of Silver Stream Healthcare Group." Tom Finn . [email protected]

Mairead talks to Sean McGoldrick, Bar Manager at Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel and one of Ireland's top Mixologists. “A mixologist is an individual with a passion for combining elixirs and creating extraordinary cocktails, whereas a bartender is an individual with a passion for making great drinks and creating well-balanced experiences. To be successful, you really need both types of pros behind the bar.” The term 'mixologist' refers to a professional well versed in the culinary art of making cocktails and mixed alcoholic drinks. A mixologist is also a bartender but with added knowledge concerning the history of the ingredients they use, plus an ability to understand flavor profiles to develop a palate-pleasing drink. The Shelbourne Hotel is where Sean our Guest Mixologist shows off his skills . This 5 Star hotel in the center of Dublin City is a national treasure built in 1824, it has been magnificently restored while keeping its historic charm. its a luxury overlooking St. Stephen's Green, Europe's grandest garden square. Ideally situated close to Dublin's cultural and historic buildings, The Shelbourne offers a great location from where you can visit the majestic St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College https://www.theshelbourne.com/

Celebrity Wine The drinks industry has been using celebrity endorsements for a long time Mairead Robinson investigates A very drinkable New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc named after Sarah Jessica Parker and selling in the same shops for €17.70 Cork native Graham Norton's Own Sparkling Frizzante Rosé, which sells for €12, and is the fifth addition to the Graham Norton's range of still and sparkling wines. This Italian wine is about as bubbly as Norton himself, and is made with the Glera grape used to make Prosecco. The word is that Hollywood actors prefer to make drinks rather than endorse them. George Clooney and two friends put $600,000 each in a tequila called Casamigos in 2013 and sold it for $1bn four years later. George would have to star in a few films to make that sort of return.

Lorna Hogg's Haunted Ireland by Senior Times

The third of three parts! Who Was Wolfgang Mozart? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a musician capable of playing multiple instruments who started playing in public at the age of 6. Over the years, Mozart aligned himself with a variety of European venues and patrons, composing hundreds of works that included sonatas, symphonies, masses, chamber music, concertos and operas, marked by vivid emotion and sophisticated textures In this Podcast series John Low looks back on the life and times of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart... The boy’s early talent for music was remarkable. At three he was picking out chords on the harpsichord, at four playing short pieces, at five composing. At 13, Mozart had acquired considerable fluency in the musical language of his time, and he was especially adept at imitating the musical equivalent of local dialects.

Mairead Robinson meets Jenna Bruwer Kruger, a fifth-generation member of the family whose Springfield Estate winery in South Africa's Western Cape produces a wide range of distinctive and intriguingly-named wines.

Hugh Patrick MacNeill, commonly known as Hugo MacNeill, is a former rugby union player who played for Ireland, Leinster, the French Barbarians and the British and Irish Lions during the 1980s. During the late 1970s he also played association football for University College Dublin and Dublin University.

John Cameron Robbie former Ireland international rugby union player who played scrum half for Ireland and for the British and Irish Lions . John is a well known radio presenter in South Africa on Talk radio and has taken on the role of rugby commentator, on S A television. John Robbie went to The High School, Dublin, where he was a member of the Leinster Schools Cup winning side in 1973. He then attended Trinity College and Christ's College, Cambridge, and was captain of the rugby teams at both universities. He received his first cap for Ireland against Australia in Lansdowne Road on 17 January 1976, and went on to receive 9 caps for Ireland. He toured South Africa in 1980 with the British and Irish Lions playing in one test match, and at the time played club rugby for Greystones RFC. Robbie moved to South Africa in 1981. Robbie was later picked twice for the South African rugby team but never received a cap, at the time he was playing for Transvaal. www.seniortimes.ie

Born Irene McCoubrey, former musician and radio presenter Maxi performed with two girl groups and the Irish supergroup The Concerned in the 1970s –80s, also representing Ireland at the 1973 and 1981 Eurovision Song Contests. Maxi went on to become one of RTE Radio One's most loved presenters when she took over the early morning slot - she retired from the broadcaster in 2015 after 30 years. Her Good pal Louis Walsh Manager former X Factor Judge told Maxi she sounded "younger than ever" on her retirement special. "The thing about Maxi is, as long as I've known her, she's positive, she's happy, she's always got funny stories and she's always just on a high and I love that about her", the music manager added.

Mick Quinn is a former rugby union footballer who played international rugby as a fly-half for Ireland . He played schools rugby for Newbridge College and captained them to victory in the 1970 Schools Cup Final over Blackrock College RFC. He then moved on to play senior rugby for Lansdowne Football Club before earning a call up to the Ireland national team. In 1976 he was a member of the Ireland squad that went on tour of New Zealand and Fiji.

Bill Kelly is the MD of Kelly's Resort Hotel in County Wexford. He regularly hosts wine tastings at the hotel, visits vineyards in France with his staff every year, and has been importing wines for thirty-five years. The wine cellars and lists at both his hotel and Bistro are renowned. He began an on-line wine business during the pandemic in 2020 and is able to offer exceptional value on boutique wines, while he also has a family connection through his wife Isabell Avril with Chateauneuf-du-Pape.He has six daughters who all share the family's love of wine.

The conclusion of Charlie Bird's incredible account of the 1979 attempt to blackmail to extort five million pounds from the Irish government Extortionists used personal ads in £5m ransom demand over foot-and-mouth disease A typed letter that arrived into the offices of the Department of Agriculture on Kildare Street in Dublin, addressed to the minister, was clear and to the point: “To get straight to the point, this is a demand for £5 million. “The reason for you paying us £5 million is very simple. If you do this, we shall not introduce to this country one of the most deadly and costliest diseases that could afflict any country, in particular an agricultural country, namely foot and mouth disease.” The letter was the opening salvo in an extortion demand that was taken extremely seriously at the time, and which has never been publicly disclosed before. Over the seven months following the letter’s receipt, communication between the State and the criminals proceeded by way of letters, a telephone call, and notices in the social and personal columns of Saturday editions of The Irish Times. “Let us state from the start that we are totally determined to go through with our threats to spread this disease,” the letter said. “You and your entire department are totally helpless to stop us.” There were five people involved, the letter said. They were from different backgrounds and each “reasonably financially secure”. They had invested time and money, including the payment of “inducements” abroad, to get to the position they were now in. After outlining aspects of how they proposed to proceed, the writer asked that another ad be placed in The Irish Times, this one on Saturday, December 8th. “If you agree to pay the money, you will simply state ‘Tom Smith has read your proposals and will agree to your conditions.’” Pic is Willie McGee, retired head of the fraud squad, and Charlie Bird, retired former RTÉ journalist, with The Irish Times newspapers from December 1979 through to February 1980 which contain ads used by the State to communicate with a foot and mouth disease ransom demand at the time. See link below - article appeared in the Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/extortionists-used-personal-ads-in-5m-ransom-demand-over-foot-and-mouth-disease-1.4584576

The second of three parts! Who Was Wolfgang Mozart? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a musician capable of playing multiple instruments who started playing in public at the age of 6. Over the years, Mozart aligned himself with a variety of European venues and patrons, composing hundreds of works that included sonatas, symphonies, masses, chamber music, concertos and operas, marked by vivid emotion and sophisticated textures In this Podcast series John Low looks back on the life and times of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart... The boy’s early talent for music was remarkable. At three he was picking out chords on the harpsichord, at four playing short pieces, at five composing. At 13, Mozart had acquired considerable fluency in the musical language of his time, and he was especially adept at imitating the musical equivalent of local dialects.

In the second of three episodes, Charlie Bird continues the sensational story of an attempt to extort five million pounds from the Irish government in 1979 by threatening to unleash an epidemic of Foot & Mouth Disease. “Let us state from the start that we are totally determined to go through with our threats to spread this disease,” the letter said. “You and your entire department are totally helpless to stop us.” There were five people involved, the letter said. They were from different backgrounds and each “reasonably financially secure”. They had invested time and money, including the payment of “inducements” abroad, to get to the position they were now in. After outlining aspects of how they proposed to proceed, the writer asked that another ad be placed in The Irish Times, this one on Saturday, December 8th. “If you agree to pay the money, you will simply state ‘Tom Smith has read your proposals and will agree to your conditions.’” The typed letter that arrived into the offices of the Department of Agriculture on Kildare Street in Dublin, addressed to the minister, was clear and to the point: “To get straight to the point, this is a demand for £5 million. “The reason for you paying us £5 million is very simple. If you do this, we shall not introduce to this country one of the most deadly and costliest diseases that could afflict any country, in particular an agricultural country, namely foot and mouth disease.” The letter was the opening salvo in an extortion demand that was taken extremely seriously at the time, and which has never been publicly disclosed before. Over the seven months following the letter’s receipt, communication between the State and the criminals proceeded by way of letters, a telephone call, and notices in the social and personal columns of Saturday editions of The Irish Times. See link below - article appeared in the Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/extortionists-used-personal-ads-in-5m-ransom-demand-over-foot-and-mouth-disease-1.4584576

In the first of three episodes, Charlie Bird tells the sensational story of an attempt to extort five million pounds from the Irish government in 1979 by threatening to unleash an epidemic of Foot & Mouth Disease. Extortionists used personal ads in £5m ransom demand over foot-and-mouth disease The typed letter that arrived into the offices of the Department of Agriculture on Kildare Street in Dublin, addressed to the minister, was clear and to the point: “To get straight to the point, this is a demand for £5 million. “The reason for you paying us £5 million is very simple. If you do this, we shall not introduce to this country one of the most deadly and costliest diseases that could afflict any country, in particular an agricultural country, namely foot and mouth disease.” The letter was the opening salvo in an extortion demand that was taken extremely seriously at the time, and which has never been publicly disclosed before. Over the seven months following the letter’s receipt, communication between the State and the criminals proceeded by way of letters, a telephone call, and notices in the social and personal columns of Saturday editions of The Irish Times. See link below - article appeared in the Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/extortionists-used-personal-ads-in-5m-ransom-demand-over-foot-and-mouth-disease-1.4584576

Mick Galwey won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with the Kerry Gaelic football team in 1986, as a 19-year-old, before turning to rugby union. Mick Galwey is the only winner of an "All-Ireland" in both rugby union and Gaelic football. Making international Rugby debut in 1991 against France and became the team's captain ten years later. In the 1993 Five Nations Championship match against England, Galwey rounded off a fine display in the 17–3 defeat by scoring the only try of the game. His efforts were rewarded later that year when he was selected for the Lions tour to New Zealand. see www.seniortimes.ie

The first of three parts! Who Was Wolfgang Mozart? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a musician capable of playing multiple instruments who started playing in public at the age of 6. Over the years, Mozart aligned himself with a variety of European venues and patrons, composing hundreds of works that included sonatas, symphonies, masses, chamber music, concertos and operas, marked by vivid emotion and sophisticated textures In this Podcast series John Low looks back on the life and times of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart... The boy’s early talent for music was remarkable. At three he was picking out chords on the harpsichord, at four playing short pieces, at five composing. At 13, Mozart had acquired considerable fluency in the musical language of his time, and he was especially adept at imitating the musical equivalent of local dialects.

Ollie Campbell Rugby International and British & Irish Lion fly half talks to Gary Cooke. Ollie played flyhalf for Ireland from 1976 to 1984. He is most well known for his role in orchestrating Ireland's Triple Crown victory at the 1982 Five Nations Championship, breaking a drought of over 30 years. Campbell was educated at Belvedere College, a famous Irish rugby school in Dublin, where he was on the teams that won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup twice in a row in 1971 and 1972. Campbell was also capped seven times for the British and Irish Lions. He earned three caps in the 1980 Lions tour to South Africa, where he was the Lions' leading scorer in the last two tests with six and five points respectively. He earned another four caps in the 1983 Lions tour to New Zealand, where he was the Lions' leading scorer in the four test matches with 15 points. He scored 184 points in total for the Lions.

A chance to answer sixty general knowledge Questions and give your brain a gentle workout. All 60 Correct Answers will be found on the wwwseniortimes.ie website or simply follow the Senior Times Facebook page.

Rugby legend Willie John McBride Willie played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times a record 17 Lions Test caps. He was born on 6 June, 1940 in Toomebridge, in a small village in County Antrim, and went on to become and still regarded by all rugby critics to be one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on a British and Irish Lions shirt. In this podcast interview with Gary Cooke - Willie tells us his life story in his own words from when he says he took up rugby relatively late at the age of 17 but once he began playing his talent was obvious and he quickly rose through the ranks after playing in the Ballymena Academy school’s XV In 1971, as the British and Irish Lions defeated the All Blacks in a series for the first time, McBride cemented himself as a great of the game. The Ireland international started all four Tests as they came away from New Zealand with a remarkable 2-1 triumph. It seemed impossible that the tourists – and McBride himself – could surpass that incredible achievement, but he and his team-mates did just that three years later in South Africa. He said ,There weren’t the camera angles or television match officials to keep a check on some of the off-the-ball violence which sometimes took place during the amateur era. South Africa were well known for it at the time and the Lions duly decided to confront it head on. The result was an utterly ferocious series with the tour marred by a number of fights. It was ultimately successful for the tourists, though, with the skipper coming up with the policy of ‘one in, all in’, believing that if they were all involved, the officials could not send everybody off. It was called ’99 visit www.seniortimes.ie

Charlie Bird meets Stardust Nightclub fire survivor Jimmy Fitzpatrick. ON VALENTINE’S Day, 1981, 48 people lost their lives in the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin A fire started up in a corner, and a few of the security staff went to try and extinguish it, and it just took hold really fast. The next thing, the lights went out, smoke came down, and everyone rushed to get out then. Jimmy Fitzpatrick was 17 years of age and training as an apprentice butcher in Superquinn in the Northside shopping centre when he went to the Stardust. He had gone there with a big group of friends, most of them fellow workers from the supermarket. But, as a big group of lads they were always prime targets for refusal by the bouncers. However, on this fateful night, almost all of his young friends whose average age was just over 17, were admitted without any problems and by the end of that night many of them would be dead or badly injured.

Senior Times wine critic Mairead Robinson shares tips and tastings with an award-winning sommelier in her first podcast.

Colm is an Irish actor known worldwide for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek . The Next Generation (1987–1994) and Star Trek Deep Space Nine (1993–1999). He has guest-starred on many TV shows including Law & Order and The Simpsons, and starred as Thomas Durant on Hell on Wheels. He was born in Finglas, Dublin and began studying acting at age 14, and he entered the Abbey Theatre School of Acting after secondary school. He became a member of the Irish National Theatre and worked for the next eight years in England, touring with several theatre companies, including a theatre group founded by John McGrath. In 2017, Meaney won the Best Actor IFTA for his portrayal of Irish politician Martin McGuinness in the film The Journey. In 2020, he was listed at number 24 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.

Charlie Bird meets Trinity graduate and humanitarian Seán Binder who has travelled to Lesbos, Greece, to save and rescue people at sea. In 2018, at the age of 23, Seán took his seafaring, search and rescue skills, learned off the coast of Kerry, and began his own rescue operation for refugees in Lesvos, Greece. Seán was moved to do this by the death of the three-year old boy, Alan Kurdi, whose image, lying drowned on a beach near the Greek islands, shocked and outraged people all across the world. Little did Seán know the journey that his instinctive reaction would bring him on. “I wanted to find out why one young person, out of thousands, decided to say, ‘I’m not going to accept this, I’m not going to just sit around and do nothing’,” said Charlie Bird. “In Seán, you had a young man with the world at his feet, an intelligent, articulate Trinity College graduate, who could have chosen any path. “But Seán isn’t just anybody and listeners will learn about his unique background, why he was spurred to take action in the Mediterranean and, shockingly, how his humanitarian actions led to him serving over 100 days in a Greek jail. “Although he still faces the threat of charges under Greek law, I have no doubt that listeners will hear an outstanding young role model, and an incredibly courageous person, in Seán Binder.” Charlie’s interview with Seán isn’t all about the hardship of the trials that he has faced, however. Over the course of the podcast, the pair also discuss Seán’s upbringing near Castlegregory, west Kerry, his love of the ocean from an early age, and the story of a pilgrimage taken by boat to the ancient monastery of Iona, in order to fulfil the lifelong dream of an old friend and County Kerry priest. “People will identify with Seán Binder, with his values and his passion,” added Charlie Bird. “If there is a perfect role model for young Irish people - although there is no such thing - Seán Binder comes extremely close.” Seán Binder is also in the finals of the UK’s Big Idea Environmental Entrepreneurship Competition. “I've been interested in the environment since growing,” he says. “But because it’s been so difficult to move forward with my career, I thought I'd make myself a job. So, I am setting up an initiative that helps plant trees. Nice and simple.”

Part 2 of Mike's interview with Author, Magician, Actor, TV Producer and creator of beloved childrens TV shows Bosco, Forty Coats and Wanderly Wagon Joe O'Donnell looks back on his rich and varied career and reads from some of his essays.

A chance to answer sixty general knowledge Questions and give your brain a gentle workout. All 60 Correct Answers will be found on the wwwseniortimes.ie website or simply follow the Senior Times Facebook page.

Gary Cook chats with Ronnie Delany who is regarded by many as the greatest sportsman in Irish history. Ronald Michael Delany (born 6 March 1935), better known as Ron or Ronnie Delany, is an Irish former athlete, who specialised in middle-distance running. He won gold medal in the 1500 metres event at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He later earned a bronze medal in the 1500 metres event at the 1958 European Athletics Championships in Stockholm. Delany also competed at the 1954 European Athletics Championships in Bern and the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, though was less successful on these occasions. Retiring from competitive athletics in 1962, he has secured his status as Ireland's most recognisable Olympian as well as one of the greatest sportsmen and international ambassadors in his country's history.

Gary Cooke talks to legendary rally car driver and all round trailblazer Rosemary Smith. Rosemary Smith – A Remarkable Life In the Fast Lane In an inspiring new podcast interview released by Senior Times, rally driver, Rosemary Smith, speaks about her life, career and her ongoing passion for life. Smith, such a glamour figure of the 1960s, remains an indomitable spirit, continuing to race in rally events and recently becoming the oldest person to drive a Formula One car – performing notably better than one Jeremy Clarkson. In a wide-ranging and candid interview with Senior Times’s Gary Cooke, Smith describes how she has coped with lockdown this year, her disappointments in marriage, teaching young people to drive and, of course, the incredible adventures of her global rallying career. “I knew women were bad drivers - but this is ridiculous!” was the verdict of stunned locals, as Rosemary describes it, when she refused to admit defeat and reversed 73 kilometres up the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan, as part of the London to Sydney Rally. Meanwhile, in the ‘skittery, humpy’ roads of Donegal, Smith confirms that her great friend and navigator, Pauline, actually sat on the wing of her car while they continued to race, before “she shot up in the air, hit the roof of the car and rolled down the road behind me”. Smith’s fear of failure and her determination to succeed continues to this day and is evident in the success that she describes when driving the Formula One car as an ambassador for Renault. Equally, Smith describes her disappointment that women drivers have not yet breached the male bastion of Formula One, in the same way that she broke down barriers of male chauvinism as a rally driver in Ireland and internationally.

John Horan was born 1958 became a Gaelic games administrator and went on to serve as the 39th president of the GAA. John was chairman of the Leinster Council from 2011 to 2014 and was previously vice-chairman from 2008 to 2011. A member of the Na Fianna club in Glasnevin, Horan was the first Dublin-born GAA president since 1924 when Daniel McCarthy finished his three-year term. He is a secondary school principal and taught at St Vincent's in Glasnevin, where his pupils included Dessie Farrell. In this interview with Robbie , John reflected on his three-year term in office before passing on the stewardship of the Association to his successor, Larry McCarthy, at GAA Annual Congress 2021. A great man once said the biggest challenge facing the GAA is to stay relevant. I believe we did that, and continue to do that, and while we are here with the beginning of an end to the Pandemic in sight – the GAA will be ready to emerge in a better place . We’re told that all good things must come to an end. But while Johns part in this chapter of GAA history is over, he leaves office with a happy heart that the GAA is far from over, neither with his passion and awe of this great Association and he looks forward to watching my family to continue to get the same satisfaction and benefit from their involvement in their local club that he did.

Bird Table Ep2 by Senior Times

Charlie Bird meets Irish American journalist and author Niall O'Dowd. Niall is the co-founder of Irish America magazine as well as the founder of the Irish Voice Newspaper and Irishcentral.com and publishes Home and Away, a successful weekly freesheet. at one point Niall was also named among New York’s most influential people by New York magazine . He was featured on the “People You Should Know” segment of the Paula Zahn Now program on CNN in 2007. In January 2008, he was appointed an adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Author, Magician, Actor, TV Producer and creator of beloved childrens TV shows Bosco, Forty Coats and Wanderly Wagon Joe O'Donnell looks back on his rich and varied career and reads from some of his essays.

Bird Table presented by Niall Hatch & Conor O Hagen Ep1 by Senior Times

Radio DJ and Author Gareth O'Callaghan keeps an inspirational podcast diary of his life after his diagnosis of the rare disease Multiple System Atrophy.

Classic Collection Presenter John Low.. slows it all down for us with a wonderful selection of some of his favorite classics ! In association with Naxos. Naxos, the world's leading classical music label is known for recording exciting new repertoire with exceptional talent. The label has one of the largest and fastest growing catalogues of unduplicated repertoire available anywhere with state-of-the-art sound and consumer-friendly prices Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. For more information on Naxos visit https://www.naxos.com

Radio DJ and Author Gareth O'Callaghan keeps an inspirational podcast diary of his life after his diagnosis of the rare disease Multiple System Atrophy.

Charlie Bird meets hotelier and philanthropist John Fitzpatrick the owner of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group New York. John Fitzpatrick is one of the most down to earth people you could meet. When he walks into a room he instantly puts you at your ease. Perhaps it’s a talent that he has developed over the years from being in the hospitality industry. He is the president and CEO of Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, N.A., but there more to it than that. He is genuinely interested in people and though it’s his business to meet and greet, behind the scenes he is just as likely to be helping out someone or some group that needs a hand. John was raised in the hotel business, the second eldest of five children of Paddy and Eithne Fitzpatrick who owned Killiney Castle Hotel in Co. Dublin, Silver Spring Cork and Fitzpatrick’s Shamrock Hotel in Bunratty, Co. Clare. John did not have his career handed to him . He began by cutting grass at Killiney Castle during the summers when he was a teenager. Eventually, he moved on to washing dishes in the hotel kitchen and from there onto washing glasses and, eventually, when he was 17, to mixing drinks behind the bar, working every weekend while he was still in school. “Dad was always tough on us. He said, ‘if you want to have money you have to work for it,’” John recalled in an interview with Irish America. But even back then as a teenager, his favorite part of the job was meeting customers.

Radio DJ and Author Gareth O'Callaghan keeps an inspirational podcast diary of his life after his diagnosis of the rare disease Multiple System Atrophy.

Radio DJ and Author Gareth O'Callaghan keeps an inspirational podcast diary of his life after his diagnosis of the rare disease Multiple System Atrophy.

Presented by John Low in association with Naxos Music. A feast of music from Bach, Dvorak, Elgar, Wagner, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Mahler, Verdi, Tchaikovsky and more! A three-hour-plus feast of memorable melodies. Just dip in – you’ll find something you’ll love!!

Charlie Bird talks to the heroic and inspirational mother from Donegal, Kathleen Sharkey.

Radio DJ and Author Gareth O'Callaghan keeps an inspirational podcast diary of his life after his diagnosis of the rare disease Multiple System Atrophy.

Mary O'Rourke was a Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Leader of Seanad Éireann and Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad from 2002 to 2007, Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2002. Mary has been contributing articles to the Senior Times Magazine for a number of Years... see www.seniortimes.ie In 1987, Mary was appointed Minister for Education by Charles Haughey. When Mary O'Rourke and her brother, Brian Lenihan, became the first brother and sister in Irish history to serve in the same cabinet. Mary has gone on to become a bestselling author of Just Mary which is a political memoir and another book published Mary shares the letters of her life... In this book Mary O’Rourke looks back over her life in the form of 20 letters to people who have made an impression on her - from her childhood growing up in Athlone to her college days in Maynooth, to those who supported and mentored her during her political career, the friends who have sustained her in good times and bad and family members who mean the most. What emerges is a thoughtful meditation on the universal themes in life that touch us all – love, loss, facing adversity and the passing of time among them .

Emily Hourican is a journalist and author and has written features for the Sunday Independent for over fifteen years, as well as Image magazine, Conde Nast Traveler and Woman and Home. She was also editor of The Dubliner Magazine. Author of five novels, The Glorious Guinness Girls, The Privileged, White Villa, The Blamed and The Outsider, and one book of non-fiction, How To Really Be A Mother. Emily's first novel, The Privileged, was published in 2016, became an instant bestseller, and was short-listed for the Best Popular Fiction Award at the 2016 Irish Book Awards. Emily is an articulate, entertaining and an experienced public speaker. She has regularly appeared on radio and TV, and teaches occasional creative writing classes.

Charlie Bird gets top tips on how to keep safe and healthy from HSE advisor Professor Martin Cormican. Prof Martin Cormican, bacteriologist at NUI Galway and national lead for antimicrobial resistance at the HSE Prof Cormican says he was often asked, should we be worried? “He says, you should always be careful. Worry doesn’t make you any safer. It’s about how we balance fear. Some people have taken a level of precaution that doesn’t materially reduce their risk yet it harms their lives. He was referring to people who were so afraid to leave their houses, shut down their lives and stopped taking exercise and gained weight. Prof Cormican says that communication about the threat of Covid-19 and the variants over the last two years has been as much about “managing fear as managing the spread of infection during the times of uncertainty”.

Former president, Mary Robinson is the most consequential Irish woman of the 20th century Mary Robinson was the first woman to achieve this position in the history of the state . She is the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and currently Chair of The Elders and has always been a passionate advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building, human dignity and climate justice. Mary was elected Irish President in 1990 and served for seven years as a principled and transformative leader who continued to fight for equality and women’s rights throughout her time in office. A firm believer in dialogue and reconciliation, she broke taboos by being the first Irish head of state to make official visits to Britain, as well as regularly visiting Northern Ireland. She was the first head of state to visit Somalia following the crisis there in 1992, and brought global media attention to the suffering of Rwandans as the first Head of State to visit the country just after the 1994 genocide. Charlie Bird interviewed Mary Robinson on the 3oth anniversary of her inauguration. The Elders which Mary Chairs are an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights. Nelson Mandela brought a selected group of leaders together as Elders, and he did so in the belief that together we are stronger, that change happens when people collectively take action to make our world a better place. Part of the wisdom of the Elders is to remind the world that we actually have universal values that are accepted by every government in the world and yet they are not being implemented Mary Says' As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), Mary Robinson integrated human rights into the United Nations system and became renowned as an outspoken voice dedicated to investigating and exposing human rights abuses across the world. As an academic, legislator and barrister, Mary Robinson has always sought to use law as an instrument for social change, arguing landmark cases before the European Court of Human Rights as well as in the Irish courts and the European Court in Luxembourg.

Eoghan Corry talks to Anne Rizzo

Gary Cooke meets professional caddie, author and Irish Times contributor Colin Byrne. Colin has worked with some giant names in golf including the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Darren Clarke and a 4 year spell with Rafa Cabrera Bello.

In this best of we hear excerpts from Mike's interviews with President Michael D. Higgins, Denis O'Brien, John McColgan, Ryan Tubridy and Marty Morrisey.

Liam Ó Maonlaí meets Séamus Grealey.

Gary Cooke talks to football legend and RTE Sports analysts John Giles about his life and his autobiography “John Giles: A Football Man” Johnny Giles is a true Irish soccer great. Like some great Irish internationals that played before and after him it is something of a tragedy that this midfielder never graced a major football championship finals. However throughout his career as a Leeds United footballer he became one of the most decorated players to emerge from Ireland. He has league winners medals and various cup winners medals and is one of a small band of Irish footballers to ever play in a European Cup final. Johnny Giles made his debut in 1959 against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford lining up with Munich survivors Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg. Unfortunately United lost 5-1 on the day however the young Giles went on to play for the first team in nine more matches. For the the next four years everything was on the up. Although United struggled to avoid relegation in 1963 they won the FA Cup that year beating Leicester City 3-1 in the final. Leicester had finished fourth in the league so United were not expected to win. It was Johnny Giles first senior winners medal and all seemed fine. Later that Summer Giles had been transferred to second division Leeds United.

Mike Murphy gets top tips on how to keep safe and healthy this holiday season from HSE lead advisor Dr. Vida Hamilton.

John Banville and Mike Murphy discuss books, short stories and poetry collections. John Banville is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry James are the two real influences on his work. John has won the 1976 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the 2003 International Nonino Prize, the 2005 Booker Prize, the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize, the 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, Italy made him a Cavaliere of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (essentially a knighthood) in 2017. John is a former member of Aosdána, having voluntarily relinquished the financial stipend in 2001 to another, more impoverished, writer. He was born in Co Wexford and he published his first novel, Nightspawn, in 1971. A second, Birchwood, followed two years later. "The Revolutions Trilogy", published between 1976 and 1982, comprises three works, each named in reference to a renowned scientist: Doctor Copernicus, Kepler and The Newton Letter. His next work, Mefisto, had a mathematical theme. His 1989 novel The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of that year's Guinness Peat Aviation award, heralded a second trilogy, three works which deal in common with the work of art. "The Frames Trilogy" is completed by Ghosts and Athena, both published during the 1990s. Banville's thirteenth novel. In addition, John publishes crime novels as Benjamin Black — most of these feature the character of Quirke, an Irish pathologist based in Dublin. Banville is considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVLcfdEHtUg

Mary Kennedy meets best selling Irish author Cathy Kelly.

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast. John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the 14 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 Recorded over the last number of months , John endeavored to record each episode as one, though sometimes with a little editing help from Mark Murphy, John's good friend Mike Murphy's son. The result is 6 wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. This episode is a best of John's first season of My Tunes.

Mary Kennedy interviews best selling Irish author Sheila O'Flanagan.

Mary Kennedy gets top tips on how to keep safe and healthy this holiday season from HSE lead advisor Dr. Nuala O'Connor.

Liam Ó Maonlaí meets poet, author and founder of the IMRAM Irish Language Literature Festival Liam Carson.

John Banville and Mike Murphy discuss books, short stories and poetry collections. John Banville is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry James are the two real influences on his work. John has won the 1976 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the 2003 International Nonino Prize, the 2005 Booker Prize, the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize, the 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, Italy made him a Cavaliere of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (essentially a knighthood) in 2017. John is a former member of Aosdána, having voluntarily relinquished the financial stipend in 2001 to another, more impoverished, writer. He was born in Co Wexford and he published his first novel, Nightspawn, in 1971. A second, Birchwood, followed two years later. "The Revolutions Trilogy", published between 1976 and 1982, comprises three works, each named in reference to a renowned scientist: Doctor Copernicus, Kepler and The Newton Letter. His next work, Mefisto, had a mathematical theme. His 1989 novel The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of that year's Guinness Peat Aviation award, heralded a second trilogy, three works which deal in common with the work of art. "The Frames Trilogy" is completed by Ghosts and Athena, both published during the 1990s. Banville's thirteenth novel. In addition, John publishes crime novels as Benjamin Black — most of these feature the character of Quirke, an Irish pathologist based in Dublin. Banville is considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature

Classical Collection Ep3 Pt3 by Senior Times

Classical Collection Ep3 Pt2 by Senior Times

Classical Collection Ep3 Pt1 by Senior Times

Kathleen Watkins reflects on her lifelong love of music with Mike Murphy. The new Senior Times Podcast Series two will release over 30 podcasts over the coming weeks and months. visit www.seniortimes.ie

Three hours of Beethoven!

Liam Ó Maonlaí meets award winning glass artist, instrument maker and visual artist Róisín de Buitléir.

Rachael English is Irish radio presenter and a best selling author. Rachael is the author of five novels, including the number one bestseller, The American Girl. Her first book, Going Back, was shortlisted for the most promising newcomer award at the Irish Book Awards. Her latest novel is The Paper Bracelet. She is also the co-author of one work of nonfiction, a guide to the 2007 General Election. Originally from Shannon in County Clare, Rachel studied Communications at DCU before starting work as a journalist with Clare FM in Ennis. She has worked for RTE for almost thirty years, covering a huge range of national and international stories. Since 2010, she has presented Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1. Rachael lives in Dublin with her husband, Eamon Quinn. Twitter @EnglishRachael https://m.facebook.com/rachaelenglishwriter

John Banville and Mike Murphy discuss books, short stories and poetry collections. John Banville is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry James are the two real influences on his work. John has won the 1976 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the 2003 International Nonino Prize, the 2005 Booker Prize, the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize, the 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, Italy made him a Cavaliere of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (essentially a knighthood) in 2017. John is a former member of Aosdána, having voluntarily relinquished the financial stipend in 2001 to another, more impoverished, writer. He was born in Co Wexford and he published his first novel, Nightspawn, in 1971. A second, Birchwood, followed two years later. "The Revolutions Trilogy", published between 1976 and 1982, comprises three works, each named in reference to a renowned scientist: Doctor Copernicus, Kepler and The Newton Letter. His next work, Mefisto, had a mathematical theme. His 1989 novel The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of that year's Guinness Peat Aviation award, heralded a second trilogy, three works which deal in common with the work of art. "The Frames Trilogy" is completed by Ghosts and Athena, both published during the 1990s. Banville's thirteenth novel. In addition, John publishes crime novels as Benjamin Black — most of these feature the character of Quirke, an Irish pathologist based in Dublin. Banville is considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature

Liam Ó Maonlaí meets composer, multi-instrumentalist and woodwind master Renaud - Gabriel Pion Renaud-Gabriel uses real-time electronics. He is currently sharing his time between Paris and Berlin. Classically trained but also largely self-taught, he plays bass clarinet, Turkish clarinet, saxophones, bass flute, English horn, e.w.i (electronic woodwind) and piano.

Mary Kennedy meets the award winning best selling Irish novelist Liz Nugent.

John McColgan - My Tunes Episode 14 by Senior Times

Liam Ó Maonlaí singer, songwriter, musician and the lead singer with Hothouse Flowers meets Composer and Fiddle player Charlie Lennon. Charlie's Biog: Charlie Lennon is one of the most prolific living Irish tune composers and he has also written some ambitious large scale works with orchestras. He was named TG4 Composer of the Year in 2006. He has published a book of tunes Musical Memories. A second book is to be published in 2012. Some of Charlie's most played and recorded tunes include The Twelve Pins, Lennon's No.4, The Smiling Bride, The Road to Cashel and The Handsome Young Maidens. https://irishtunecomposers.weebly.com/charlie-lennon.html Music used: The Waterboys/When Ye Go Away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyoMs6EzOTM Máirseáil Rí Laoise/Ó Riada Sa Gaiety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFsZSx76N5o&list=OLAK5uy_kKiipRVwI_lZDVkzUUPhd_DoTMHAWDaF8

Mary Kennedy meets former president and author Mary McAleese. “Mary McAleese - President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011, the first person from Northern Ireland to hold that role. She is a barrister and academic lawyer qualified in both civil law and Catholic Church canon law. She was the first female Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Queen’s University Belfast and is currently Professor of Children, Religion and Law at the University of Glasgow. She is Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin where she held her first academic post as Reid Professor. She was born into a Catholic family in North Belfast’s Ardoyne in 1951. Northern Ireland, to quote David Trimble its one time Ulster Unionist First Minister, was then “a cold house for Catholics”. The eldest of nine children, Mary’s family experienced first-hand the political and sectarian violence which dragged on for decades destroying lives, relationships and hopes. Her response to the challenge of such a bitterly divided society was to become deeply involved in promoting anti-sectarianism, reconciliation and inter-religious dialogue. She was co-author of a seminal report on the Churches’ response to sectarianism which was jointly commissioned by the Catholic Church and the Irish Council of Churches (which represents the main Protestant Churches). The theme of her Presidency was Building Bridges and throughout her fourteen years in office she worked to heal the fractured politico/sectarian relationships on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. Her ambition was to replace a culture of deep distrust with one of good neighbourliness especially extending the hand of friendship to the hard to reach Loyalist communities. In 2011 she invited and hosted HM Queen Elizabeth II on the first state visit to the Irish Republic by a British monarch. After leaving office in 2011 she spent the following three years living in Rome and studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University where she obtained a licentiate and doctorate in canon law. In 2019 she was awarded the Alfons Auer Award in Ethics of the Catholic Faculty of Theology at the University of Tubingen. In 2020 she received the Woman of Courage Award of UNANIMA International at a ceremony in the United Nations HQ, New York.”

John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of six podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 John endeavored to record each episode as one, though sometimes with a little editing help from Mark Murphy, John's good friend Mike Murphy's son. The result is wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. A new episode will be released each week.

John Banville and Mike Murphy discuss books, short stories and poetry collections. John Banville is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry James are the two real influences on his work. John has won the 1976 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the 2003 International Nonino Prize, the 2005 Booker Prize, the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize, the 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, Italy made him a Cavaliere of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (essentially a knighthood) in 2017. John is a former member of Aosdána, having voluntarily relinquished the financial stipend in 2001 to another, more impoverished, writer. He was born in Co Wexford and he published his first novel, Nightspawn, in 1971. A second, Birchwood, followed two years later. "The Revolutions Trilogy", published between 1976 and 1982, comprises three works, each named in reference to a renowned scientist: Doctor Copernicus, Kepler and The Newton Letter. His next work, Mefisto, had a mathematical theme. His 1989 novel The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of that year's Guinness Peat Aviation award, heralded a second trilogy, three works which deal in common with the work of art. "The Frames Trilogy" is completed by Ghosts and Athena, both published during the 1990s. Banville's thirteenth novel. In addition, John publishes crime novels as Benjamin Black — most of these feature the character of Quirke, an Irish pathologist based in Dublin. Banville is considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature

Mary Kennedy meets awards winning Irish novelist, short story writer and playwright Christine Dwyer Hickey. Christine has published 8 novels, one short story collection and a full-length play. Her latest novel The Narrow Land is the 2020 winner of the Walter Scott Prize and the inaugural winner of The Dalkey Literary Prize 2020. Her novel Tatty is the Unesco Dublin One City One Book for 2020. Christine also supports a project called “Silent Voices,” which helps children and adults dealing with the effects of parental alcohol misuse. She is a member of Aosdana. #seniortimespodcasts @seniortimes www.seniortimes.ie

My Tunes John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of six podcasts from his studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8

Mary Kennedy first podcast interview features the renowned, funny and enduring character that is best-selling novelist, Patricia Scanlan. In this series Mary interviews a range of Irish women writers as diverse as , Christine Dwyer Hickey, Sheila O’Flanagan, Liz Nugent and Cathy Kelly. “Other interesting and innovative writers include Mary McAleese, Roisin Meaney and Rachael English, who all have had hugely accomplished careers in other fields. Do Like and share. Patricia Scanlan was born in Dublin, where she still lives. All her books are #1 bestsellers and have sold in their millions, worldwide. Her novels, including the City Girl trilogy have sold over 1.4 million in Ireland alone. Her books are translated in many languages. Her most recent novels include With All My Love, A Time For Friends, Orange Blossom Days and her latest novel The Liberation of Brigid Dunne. She has also written two non-fiction books, Winter Blessings a personal anthology of thoughts, poems and memories. She has co-authored, with Aidan Storey, Pamela Young and Dr. Mary Helen Hensley, Bringing Death to Life An Uplifting Exploration of Living, Dying, the Soul Journey and the Afterlife Patricia is the series editor and a contributing author to the award winning Open Door series of novellas, a literacy initiative she started with New Island Books in 1998, which has since published 40 novellas and several books of non-fiction. She has contributed four novellas to the series. She is the editor of Voices an Open Door anthology of short stories from some of Ireland’s foremost writers. She is very interested in the life of Mary Magdalene, the Essenes and Cathars, and the restoration to its rightful place of the Divine Feminine Energy. She has travelled with co-author, Dr. Mary Helen Hensley, to Scotland to research Mary Magdalene’s journey to Iona and Mull, and looks forward to writing a book on the subject, in the near future. When she’s not busy writing and editing she loves being outdoors and finds nature a balm to the spirit. Also balming to the spirit are her Prosecco Nights with the Gals, which take place at regular intervals, especially in Wicklow, where she spends as much time as she can.

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of six podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8

John Banville and Mike Murphy discuss books, short stories and poetry collections. John Banville is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry James are the two real influences on his work. John has won the 1976 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the 2003 International Nonino Prize, the 2005 Booker Prize, the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize, the 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, Italy made him a Cavaliere of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (essentially a knighthood) in 2017. John is a former member of Aosdána, having voluntarily relinquished the financial stipend in 2001 to another, more impoverished, writer. He was born in Co Wexford and he published his first novel, Nightspawn, in 1971. A second, Birchwood, followed two years later. "The Revolutions Trilogy", published between 1976 and 1982, comprises three works, each named in reference to a renowned scientist: Doctor Copernicus, Kepler and The Newton Letter. His next work, Mefisto, had a mathematical theme. His 1989 novel The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of that year's Guinness Peat Aviation award, heralded a second trilogy, three works which deal in common with the work of art. "The Frames Trilogy" is completed by Ghosts and Athena, both published during the 1990s. Banville's thirteenth novel. In addition, John publishes crime novels as Benjamin Black — most of these feature the character of Quirke, an Irish pathologist based in Dublin. Banville is considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature

Kathleen Watkins recites and discusses WB Yeats’s , his love poems, his poetry, and much much more with Irish broadcasting legend Mike Murphy. The new Senior Times Podcast Series two will release over 30 podcasts over the coming weeks and months. visit www.seniortimes.ie

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of six podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' To Listen to episode one in full https://soundcloud.com/user-682413562-561358898/john-mccolgan-my-tunes-e01/s-Anmlc0iSz6y

John Banville and Mike Murphy discuss books, short stories and poetry collections. John Banville is an Irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. Though he has been described as "the heir to Proust, via Nabokov", Banville himself maintains that W. B. Yeats and Henry James are the two real influences on his work. John has won the 1976 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the 2003 International Nonino Prize, the 2005 Booker Prize, the 2011 Franz Kafka Prize, the 2013 Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2007, Italy made him a Cavaliere of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (essentially a knighthood) in 2017. John is a former member of Aosdána, having voluntarily relinquished the financial stipend in 2001 to another, more impoverished, writer. He was born in Co Wexford and he published his first novel, Nightspawn, in 1971. A second, Birchwood, followed two years later. "The Revolutions Trilogy", published between 1976 and 1982, comprises three works, each named in reference to a renowned scientist: Doctor Copernicus, Kepler and The Newton Letter. His next work, Mefisto, had a mathematical theme. His 1989 novel The Book of Evidence, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of that year's Guinness Peat Aviation award, heralded a second trilogy, three works which deal in common with the work of art. "The Frames Trilogy" is completed by Ghosts and Athena, both published during the 1990s. Banville's thirteenth novel. In addition, John publishes crime novels as Benjamin Black — most of these feature the character of Quirke, an Irish pathologist based in Dublin. Banville is considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature

Mike Murphy talks with TV and Radio presenter Marty Morrissey. Marty regularly presents high-profile sports events for RTÉ Sport, such as the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Olympic Games.

My Tunes John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of podcasts from his studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record this podcast series Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8

John McColgan - My Tunes - Episode 8 by Senior Times

Mike Murphy interviews communications guru, broadcaster and author Terry Prone.

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of six podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 Recorded over the last number of months , John endeavored to record each episode as one, though sometimes with a little editing help from Mark Murphy, John's good friend Mike Murphy's son. The result is 6 wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. A new episode will be released each week. To Listen to episode one in full https://soundcloud.com/user-682413562-561358898/john-mccolgan-my-tunes-e01/s-Anmlc0iSz6y

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast John McColgan has recorded a brand new series of six podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. Speaking of the podcast John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 Recorded over the last number of months , John endeavored to record each episode as one, though sometimes with a little editing help from Mark Murphy, John's good friend Mike Murphy's son. The result is 6 wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. A new episode will be released each week. To Listen to episode one in full https://soundcloud.com/user-682413562-561358898/john-mccolgan-my-tunes-e01/s-Anmlc0iSz6y

John McColgan' s My Tunes podcast Series - Ep 5 John McColgan producer, director and one of the creators of Riverdance recorded a series of podcasts from his home studio in Howth. The result is wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. John has been an avid fan of music all his life, Covid lockdowns gave John the chance to research and record this series of podcasts for us. John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, we think it is very entertaining!' To View a Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 visit https://seniortimes.ie/

Ryan Tubridy swaps seats - Mike Murphy interviews Ryan.

John McColgan' s My Tunes podcast Series - Ep 4 John McColgan producer, director and one of the creators of Riverdance recorded a series of podcasts from his home studio in Howth. The result is wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. John has been an avid fan of music all his life, Covid lockdowns gave John the chance to research and record this series of podcasts for us. 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, we think it is very entertaining!' To View a Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 visit https://seniortimes.ie/

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast Episode 03 John McColgan has recorded a series of six podcasts from his little studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record the six 90-minute podcast shows. 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8

John McColgan's My Tunes podcast Ep 2 John McColgan has recorded a series of podcasts from his studio in Howth. An avid fan of music all his life, the lockdown gave John the chance to research and record a series of podcast shows. 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, I think it is very entertaining!' Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8

Mike Murphy interviews one of Irelands most well respected personal trainers and fitness guru Pat Henry. Pat now in his early 70s is a highly qualified yoga therapist and fitness consultant who has lectured on yoga and health in both Europe and the USA, where has acquired a growing reputation as a fitness consultant and motivational speaker. He has worked with leading companies and individuals world-wide over the years as a personal coach and is the author of best-selling books on fitness and health as well as producing a best selling fitness video. Pat has appeared regularly on television and his health and fitness instruction has reached an audience of over 6 million people in Ireland and England. He has participated in radio programmes and has written numerous articles on fitness and health for many leading magazines and newspapers. Pat has trained people like David Bowie, Bruce Sprinsteen, Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren, Matt Dillon, Christina Ricci, Ellen Barkin, Julie Ormond, Dolores O'Riordan, Michael Flatley, Fionnuala Sherry, Carol King, Emily Watson, Keith Duffy, Def Leppard and many more through his centres in Ireland, LA and West Cork. Pat is the originator of the Company Wellness Programme, and has helped many companies including Bank of Ireland, Aer Rianta, Deloitte Touche, ILAM, Scottish Provident, IBEC, AABS, Network Business Associates and government bodies to unlock the potential of their people. For details visit http://www.henryfitnesscentre.com/

Mike Murphy spoke with Author, Journalist & Broadcaster Deirdre Purcell. Deirdre Purcell, who died on February 13th at 77, is considered by most to be one of Ireland’s most popular writers of contemporary fiction, with 19 novels to her name, including A Place of Stones (1991), Falling For a Dancer (1993), Love Like Hate Adore (1997), Tell Me Your Secret (2006), The Husband (2016) and The Christmas Voyage (2017). She also published three works of non-fiction and contributed to the Open Door and Finbar’s Hotel series. She was nominated for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction in 1998. Deirdre was also a former Abbey Theatre actress, who has played as Christine opposite Donal McCann in Drama at Inish, Miss Frost in the stage adaptation of The Ginger Man, and Pegeen Mike in The Playboy of the Western World. Deirdre was also a TV and press journalist. One of Deirdre's ongoing projects, is a book about the mental health services in this country, influenced Grace in Winter – because of the plight of carers, usually relatives, whose charges are adults suffering from mental illnesses and who struggle almost alone with the task. President Higgins released his own statement about the renowned author's death, remembering her "warm and creative presence" fondly. “Sabina and I have learnt with sadness of the passing of Deirdre Purcell, whose life’s work extended across the wide spectrum of the arts and broadcasting." "In a distinguished career, Deirdre left a singular contribution in all of the different aspects of literature and broadcasting to which she turned her many talents – from her work as an actress in the Abbey Theatre, through her award-winning print journalism and time as the first female anchor of RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock news, and on to her critically acclaimed creative work in fiction." "I particularly recall one afternoon where Deirdre interviewed Brendan Kennelly and myself for the Sunday Tribune, the attention to detail which she gave to such interviews was indicative of the skill with which she went about her work and has been often remarked upon by her many admirers." Her family, including her husband Kevin Healy and her two sons Adrian and Simon Wreckler, released a statement about her death. "To the day before her death Deirdre was as full of plans, schemes and dreams as she always was. Deirdre made friends wherever she went and will be remembered by so many as a vibrant, clever and caring companion." In their final remarks, the statement reminisced about "the talent, vivacity and sharp mind" that she carried within her throughout her life. https://issuu.com/seniortimesireland/docs/st_85_deirdre_purcell/3

John McColgan' s My Tunes podcast Series - Ep 1 John McColgan producer, director and one of the creators of Riverdance recorded a series of podcasts from his home studio in Howth. The result is wonderfully entertaining walks through a selection of the music, stories and memories across John's life and career. John has been an avid fan of music all his life, Covid lockdowns gave John the chance to research and record this series of podcasts for us. John explains what it is all about, 'Its song, stories, poetry and memories of parts of my life. My Tunes is a very eccentric and eclectic mix from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, Seamus Heaney to Seamus O’Rourke, Maureen Potter to Eamon Kelly along with a splattering of country music. It may sound like a mess, but as modest as I can be, we think it is very entertaining!' To View a Video of John at his studio desk in Howth talking about the podcast: https://youtu.be/bu8VpctLTR8 visit https://seniortimes.ie/

Mendelssohn! Gilbert & Sullivan! Schubert! Ravel! Mozart! Smetana! Bruch! Haydn! Strauss! Bizet! Delibes! Chopin! Brahms! more Mozart! Donizetti! Beethoven! Boccherini! Handel! Hummel! The Other Strauss! In association with Naxos. Naxos, the world's leading classical music label is known for recording exciting new repertoire with exceptional talent. The label has one of the largest and fastest growing catalogues of unduplicated repertoire available anywhere with state-of-the-art sound and consumer-friendly prices Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. For more information on Naxos visit https://www.naxos.com

Mike Murphy chats with Dr Ray Moran, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director at Sports Surgery Clinic and is also the brother of Irish international footballer Kevin Moran. Dr Ray Moran's Achievements include : Surgical practice devoted to the management of Knee Pathology Fellow of the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine (Ireland) Ex – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine (Ireland) Ex – Honorary Secretary of the Irish Orthopaedic Association Current President of the Irish Orthopaedic Association Sports Surgery Clinic can reassure patients that we will be maintaining continuity of all our services during COVID restrictions. All of the hospital`s departments will continue to care for patients with the implementation of comprehensive infection control precautions to ensure your safety and that of our staff during a patient visit to SSC. In compliance with social distancing and infection control protocols, SSC has modified patient pathways through the Clinic, ensuring enhanced safety measures are in place. We would kindly ask patients to follow the instructions and advice of our staff in this regard. And Please note the following: Patients only permitted into the hospital Patients may be dropped off and picked up at the main entrance Children are not permitted to the Clinic unless they are a patient The wearing of face masks is mandatory Visit the website https://sportssurgeryclinic.com/

Mike Murphy Chats with Marie-Louise O'Donnell , an Irish academic, and later broadcaster and politician, who served as a Senator from May 2011 to March 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

Mike Murphy meets John McColgan producer, director and creator of Riverdance, Riverdance: The Show, as we all know now, first appeared in The Point Depot and its Eurovision debut went on to be known as one of the most famous interval acts in the history of the of the Eurovision song contest. Ireland won the contest again that year (with Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington’s Rock and Roll Kids) but the following day’s headlines were reserved for Riverdance. The Sunday Press hailed it as ‘Seven Minutes That Shook The World.’ The following year John and Moya his wife , mortgaged their house to turn the Eurovision interval act into a full-blown show. It was a bold move, the enthusiasm of the audience on the night gave them a feeling in their gut that it would be a success. Along with Bill Whelan Moya and John set about developing the show. Success? That’s one of the biggest understatements in show business history. The show in the Point was the talk of the town for months if not years afterwards. A video of the music went viral and Bill Whelan’s single went to number one in the charts. It also won him a Grammy Award. A quarter of a century on, the show still takes people’s breath away as a cavalcade of feet clicking in unison creates a kind of electric charge. It’s like a colossal army march. One of the shows John most enjoyed producing at this time was the candid camera one where Mike Murphy caught people out in various ruses by taking on different identities. The most famous was probably when he repeatedly interrupted a broadcast Gay Byrne was doing in TCD when he pretended to be a French tourist. It’s hilarious to watch Gay becoming more and more infuriated before he finally snaps with some very uncharacteristic expletives. When Mike Murphy announced who he was, Gay Byrne proved to be a good sport about it all. John also got to know both of them well. He worked with Gay often over the years . www.seniortimes.ie

Denis O’Brien, founder and owner of Digicel Group and the former owner of Communicorp, and a philanthropist, talks exclusively with broadcasting legend Mike Murphy. This podcast is the one and only interview Denis O Brien has given to the media. He discusses growing up in Dublin city and how he and his family lived a very normal upbringing . How he earned his pocket money as a student by working as a bar man in the well known Horseshow bar in Ballsbride Dublin 4 and how he got to where he is today. The recent sale of Communicorp for more than €100 million marked the exit of Denis O’Brien from the Irish media market after a decades-long presence that, at its peak, saw him exercise significant control over large swathes of print and broadcast media.

Weber! Beethoven! Mozart! Field! Mendelssohn! Mozart! Chabrier! Handel! Haydn! Schumann! Strauss! More Mozart!

Senior Times Podcasts presents an extended interview with Irelands President, Michael D. Higgins & presented by broadcasting legend Mike Murphy. Michael Daniel Higgins , an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011 Michael D was born in Limerick in 1941 but, aged five, he was sent at the to live on his unmarried uncle and aunt's small farm in Clare. He grew up there alongside his younger brother with the "delights and simplicities of country living", from milking cows to sowing turnips.