60 acast.com Aran Island Discs ☘️ https://www.aranislanddiscs.ie/ en Aran Island Discs #rossamcdermott,#podcastseries,Life stories,Ireland,#irishness Rossa McDermott Podcast series about Irishness, resilience and reflection


Aran Island Discs is an intimate, Irish-hearted interview podcast that uses music as a gateway to the personal histories of Ireland’s most notable figures.


Set against the imagined, windswept backdrop of the Aran Islands off Ireland's west coast, the series reimagines the classic "castaway" format for a modern Irish audience. Hosted by Rossa McDermott, each episode invites a guest—from the worlds of sport, business, media, and the arts—to curate the "soundtrack of their life."


The Aran Islands serve as a powerful metaphor for resilience, reflection, and raw honesty. As guests introduce their chosen tracks, they unlock candid stories of childhood ambitions, defining setbacks, personal triumphs, and the mentors who shaped them. The music is not the destination; it is the doorway into deeper human truths.



Core Themes

  • Irishness: Exploring what it means to be Irish in the modern world and how heritage influences character.
  • Resilience: A recurring focus on "grit" and how guests have navigated the "Atlantic-sized" challenges in their careers and personal lives.
  • Music as Memory: Using specific songs to trigger "sliding doors" moments and emotional vulnerability that standard interviews often miss.

Key Series Information

  • Host: Rossa McDermott
  • production: Recorded at Dublin South Podcast Studios in Dundrum; produced and edited by Peter Rice.
  • Format: Fortnightly episodes, typically 40–50 minutes in length.
  • Distribution: Available on all major platforms, including Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.



Notable Guests to Date

The show has featured a diverse range of high-profile "islanders," including:

  • Conor Niland: Tennis star and award-winning author of The Racket.
  • Declan Ryan: Businessman and Ryanair founding family member.
  • Kevin Kilbane: Former Republic of Ireland international footballer.
  • Deb Grant: BBC Radio 6 Music presenter.
  • Eamon Carr: Drummer for the legendary rock band Horslips.
  • Caroline McGuigan: Founder of Suicide or Survive


Settle in. Take the ferry. Discover the stories that live between the notes.

The podcast presenter is Rossa McDermott, and the series is recorded at Dublin South Podcast Studios in Dundrum. The concept is devised by Dos Amigos, and edited by Peter Rice


Reviews

Aran Island Discs is more than just a "Irish version" of a BBC classic. It is a masterclass in empathetic interviewing that treats its guests as people first and "notables" second. It has successfully carved out a niche in the crowded Irish podcast market by being both nostalgic and intensely contemporary.


#aranislanddiscs #podcast #podcastseries #nusic #rossamcdermott #acast #spotify #applemusic #ireland #inismor #inismeain #inismaan

www.aranislanddiscs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>


Aran Island Discs is an intimate, Irish-hearted interview podcast that uses music as a gateway to the personal histories of Ireland’s most notable figures.


Set against the imagined, windswept backdrop of the Aran Islands off Ireland's west coast, the series reimagines the classic "castaway" format for a modern Irish audience. Hosted by Rossa McDermott, each episode invites a guest—from the worlds of sport, business, media, and the arts—to curate the "soundtrack of their life."


The Aran Islands serve as a powerful metaphor for resilience, reflection, and raw honesty. As guests introduce their chosen tracks, they unlock candid stories of childhood ambitions, defining setbacks, personal triumphs, and the mentors who shaped them. The music is not the destination; it is the doorway into deeper human truths.



Core Themes

  • Irishness: Exploring what it means to be Irish in the modern world and how heritage influences character.
  • Resilience: A recurring focus on "grit" and how guests have navigated the "Atlantic-sized" challenges in their careers and personal lives.
  • Music as Memory: Using specific songs to trigger "sliding doors" moments and emotional vulnerability that standard interviews often miss.

Key Series Information

  • Host: Rossa McDermott
  • production: Recorded at Dublin South Podcast Studios in Dundrum; produced and edited by Peter Rice.
  • Format: Fortnightly episodes, typically 40–50 minutes in length.
  • Distribution: Available on all major platforms, including Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.



Notable Guests to Date

The show has featured a diverse range of high-profile "islanders," including:

  • Conor Niland: Tennis star and award-winning author of The Racket.
  • Declan Ryan: Businessman and Ryanair founding family member.
  • Kevin Kilbane: Former Republic of Ireland international footballer.
  • Deb Grant: BBC Radio 6 Music presenter.
  • Eamon Carr: Drummer for the legendary rock band Horslips.
  • Caroline McGuigan: Founder of Suicide or Survive


Settle in. Take the ferry. Discover the stories that live between the notes.

The podcast presenter is Rossa McDermott, and the series is recorded at Dublin South Podcast Studios in Dundrum. The concept is devised by Dos Amigos, and edited by Peter Rice


Reviews

Aran Island Discs is more than just a "Irish version" of a BBC classic. It is a masterclass in empathetic interviewing that treats its guests as people first and "notables" second. It has successfully carved out a niche in the crowded Irish podcast market by being both nostalgic and intensely contemporary.


#aranislanddiscs #podcast #podcastseries #nusic #rossamcdermott #acast #spotify #applemusic #ireland #inismor #inismeain #inismaan

www.aranislanddiscs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Rossa McDermott Fcontact@aranislanddiscs.ie 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 aran-island-discs serial https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/1774080987927-4b68e9a6-72eb-4e05-81e0-cf115d950a2e.jpeg https://www.aranislanddiscs.ie/ Aran Island Discs ☘️ Gavin Friday Gavin Friday Fri, 08 May 2026 16:44:51 GMT 1:05:17 69fb4c43a3c5770dc9c365ca false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/gavin-friday 69fb4c43a3c5770dc9c365ca 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 gavin-friday Ecco Uomo full 2 19


The narrative of Gavin Friday is defined by a 50-year journey from a confrontational punk iconoclast to a high-culture composer. While many see him as "Bono’s best friend," his own history is filled with bizarre rituals and pioneering artistic risks.


As of May 2026, he is currently touring his "salty and sexier" live show—a theatrical masterclass that remains as provocative as his early days.


1. The "Slaughterhouse" Aesthetic

Before finding fame, Friday worked as a purchasing clerk at a Dublin abattoir.

  • The Ritual: He famously turned up to the slaughterhouse every morning in full glam-punk makeup, eye-liner, and jewelry.
  • The Impact: He later noted that the visceral, bloody environment was a major influence on the Virgin Prunes' visual identity—a mix of high-fashion and organic decay.


2. The Literal "Sh*t-Show"

In early 1980s Dublin, Friday and the Virgin Prunes staged "art exhibitions" that were closer to riots than concerts.

  • The "Performance": In one legendary show, the band set up a formal dining table on stage. Each member defecated on a plate and urinated in a glass, then turned up the heating in the venue and locked the doors, forcing the audience to endure the smell as part of the "art."
  • The Climax: They frequently threw raw offal and pigs' heads at the audience, leading to them being banned from RTÉ for years.


3. The "Gay Quentin Crisp" of Ballymun

Growing up in conservative, working-class Dublin, Friday and his best friend Guggi were famous for walking around their neighborhood in dresses and heavy makeup.

  • The Twist: Despite the frequent risk of violence, Friday’s father was a painter and decorator, and his mother hand-made the clothes he wore to provoke the public. He described himself during this era as a "heterosexual Quentin Crisp."

4. Stealing from Bono

The friendship that changed rock history began with a crime. Friday first met Bono at a teenage party in Glasnevin.

  • The Encounter: Bono reportedly caught Friday stealing something from the house (Friday hadn't actually been invited to the party). Instead of fighting, they realized they shared the same taste in "weird" music, leading to the creation of Lypton Village—the creative "secret society" that eventually birthed both U2 and the Virgin Prunes.


5. The "Fly" and the Secret Vocals

Friday is often called the "fifth member" of U2, acting as their creative "conscience."

  • The Intervention: When U2 was struggling with the Achtung Baby era, Friday told them they needed to "put a rocket up their asses."
  • The Voice: His own version of "The Fly" was so definitive that U2 used his vocals as the intermission piece for their Innocence + Experience tour. Critics also point out that Bono’s "MacPhisto" persona was largely "borrowed" from Friday’s stage theatrics.


First Job

Clerk in a slaughterhouse (while wearing eyeliner).


Band Name

Taken from a nickname for residents of a local psychiatric home.


Stage Prop

Once performed with 100 actual pigs' heads.


2026 Status

Touring the "Ecce Homo" show; described as "salty and sexier."


Legacy

Successfully transitioned from throwing offal to scoring Oscar-nominated films.


www.aranislanddiscs.ie

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>


The narrative of Gavin Friday is defined by a 50-year journey from a confrontational punk iconoclast to a high-culture composer. While many see him as "Bono’s best friend," his own history is filled with bizarre rituals and pioneering artistic risks.


As of May 2026, he is currently touring his "salty and sexier" live show—a theatrical masterclass that remains as provocative as his early days.


1. The "Slaughterhouse" Aesthetic

Before finding fame, Friday worked as a purchasing clerk at a Dublin abattoir.

  • The Ritual: He famously turned up to the slaughterhouse every morning in full glam-punk makeup, eye-liner, and jewelry.
  • The Impact: He later noted that the visceral, bloody environment was a major influence on the Virgin Prunes' visual identity—a mix of high-fashion and organic decay.


2. The Literal "Sh*t-Show"

In early 1980s Dublin, Friday and the Virgin Prunes staged "art exhibitions" that were closer to riots than concerts.

  • The "Performance": In one legendary show, the band set up a formal dining table on stage. Each member defecated on a plate and urinated in a glass, then turned up the heating in the venue and locked the doors, forcing the audience to endure the smell as part of the "art."
  • The Climax: They frequently threw raw offal and pigs' heads at the audience, leading to them being banned from RTÉ for years.


3. The "Gay Quentin Crisp" of Ballymun

Growing up in conservative, working-class Dublin, Friday and his best friend Guggi were famous for walking around their neighborhood in dresses and heavy makeup.

  • The Twist: Despite the frequent risk of violence, Friday’s father was a painter and decorator, and his mother hand-made the clothes he wore to provoke the public. He described himself during this era as a "heterosexual Quentin Crisp."

4. Stealing from Bono

The friendship that changed rock history began with a crime. Friday first met Bono at a teenage party in Glasnevin.

  • The Encounter: Bono reportedly caught Friday stealing something from the house (Friday hadn't actually been invited to the party). Instead of fighting, they realized they shared the same taste in "weird" music, leading to the creation of Lypton Village—the creative "secret society" that eventually birthed both U2 and the Virgin Prunes.


5. The "Fly" and the Secret Vocals

Friday is often called the "fifth member" of U2, acting as their creative "conscience."

  • The Intervention: When U2 was struggling with the Achtung Baby era, Friday told them they needed to "put a rocket up their asses."
  • The Voice: His own version of "The Fly" was so definitive that U2 used his vocals as the intermission piece for their Innocence + Experience tour. Critics also point out that Bono’s "MacPhisto" persona was largely "borrowed" from Friday’s stage theatrics.


First Job

Clerk in a slaughterhouse (while wearing eyeliner).


Band Name

Taken from a nickname for residents of a local psychiatric home.


Stage Prop

Once performed with 100 actual pigs' heads.


2026 Status

Touring the "Ecce Homo" show; described as "salty and sexier."


Legacy

Successfully transitioned from throwing offal to scoring Oscar-nominated films.


www.aranislanddiscs.ie

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dave Hannigan Dave Hannigan Sat, 02 May 2026 07:30:00 GMT 44:22 69ea23980b4baf3bf2bd9cd0 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/dave-hannigan 69ea23980b4baf3bf2bd9cd0 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 dave-hannigan Letter from America full 1 18 Dave Hannigan is a prominent Irish sports columnist, author, and historian who has served as Ireland’s "writer-in-residence" in the United States for over two decades. Originally from Cork City, he is widely regarded for his ability to blend sporting narratives with deep historical and social context.


Professional Career

  • Journalism: Hannigan began his career at the Sunday Tribune and was once named Irish Young Journalist of the Year. He currently writes the popular "America at Large" weekly column for The Irish Times. His work has appeared in the Evening Echo, The Sunday Times, and the Irish Echo (New York).

  • Academia: He lives on Long Island, New York, where he is an Adjunct Professor of History at Suffolk County Community College and has also taught at Stony Brook University.

  • Author: He is a prolific writer of non-fiction, specializing in Irish history and global sporting icons.

Key Published Works

Hannigan’s books often explore the intersection of Irish identity and international figures.

  • The Big Fight: When Ali Conquered Ireland (2002/2025): Chronicling Muhammad Ali’s 1972 fight against Al "Blue" Lewis at Croke Park and the cultural impact of his visit to Dublin.

  • Drama in the Bahamas (2016): An acclaimed account of Muhammad Ali’s final, heartbreaking fight against Trevor Berbick.

  • Behan in the USA (2014): A biography detailing the rise and fall of the legendary Irish writer Brendan Behan during his time in New York.

  • Terence MacSwiney: The Hunger Strike That Rocked an Empire (2010): A historical study of the Cork Lord Mayor whose 1920 death gained international attention for the Irish cause.

  • We Need to Talk About Roy: The Keaneification of Modern Ireland (2025/2026): His latest work, which analyzes Roy Keane’s enduring influence on the Irish psyche and the transition of Ireland into a "tabloid age."

The "Hannigan" Narrative

His narrative is that of the "Cultural Bridge." By living in New York while writing for a home audience, he offers a unique perspective on how Irish icons (like Roy Keane or Brendan Behan) are viewed abroad, and how American icons (like Muhammad Ali) impacted Ireland. He is known for a cynical, sharp wit—particularly regarding modern "choreographed" sports like the UFC—and a deep reverence for the "grit" of the 20th-century sporting era.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dave Hannigan is a prominent Irish sports columnist, author, and historian who has served as Ireland’s "writer-in-residence" in the United States for over two decades. Originally from Cork City, he is widely regarded for his ability to blend sporting narratives with deep historical and social context.


Professional Career

  • Journalism: Hannigan began his career at the Sunday Tribune and was once named Irish Young Journalist of the Year. He currently writes the popular "America at Large" weekly column for The Irish Times. His work has appeared in the Evening Echo, The Sunday Times, and the Irish Echo (New York).

  • Academia: He lives on Long Island, New York, where he is an Adjunct Professor of History at Suffolk County Community College and has also taught at Stony Brook University.

  • Author: He is a prolific writer of non-fiction, specializing in Irish history and global sporting icons.

Key Published Works

Hannigan’s books often explore the intersection of Irish identity and international figures.

  • The Big Fight: When Ali Conquered Ireland (2002/2025): Chronicling Muhammad Ali’s 1972 fight against Al "Blue" Lewis at Croke Park and the cultural impact of his visit to Dublin.

  • Drama in the Bahamas (2016): An acclaimed account of Muhammad Ali’s final, heartbreaking fight against Trevor Berbick.

  • Behan in the USA (2014): A biography detailing the rise and fall of the legendary Irish writer Brendan Behan during his time in New York.

  • Terence MacSwiney: The Hunger Strike That Rocked an Empire (2010): A historical study of the Cork Lord Mayor whose 1920 death gained international attention for the Irish cause.

  • We Need to Talk About Roy: The Keaneification of Modern Ireland (2025/2026): His latest work, which analyzes Roy Keane’s enduring influence on the Irish psyche and the transition of Ireland into a "tabloid age."

The "Hannigan" Narrative

His narrative is that of the "Cultural Bridge." By living in New York while writing for a home audience, he offers a unique perspective on how Irish icons (like Roy Keane or Brendan Behan) are viewed abroad, and how American icons (like Muhammad Ali) impacted Ireland. He is known for a cynical, sharp wit—particularly regarding modern "choreographed" sports like the UFC—and a deep reverence for the "grit" of the 20th-century sporting era.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Ian McKinley Ian McKinley Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:42:31 GMT 46:00 69ea2376d2febdbec924ac8a false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/ian-mckinley 69ea2376d2febdbec924ac8a 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 ian-mckinley Second Sight full 2 17 The story of Ian McKinley is one of the most remarkable tales of resilience in modern sports history—a narrative that saw a player go from permanent blindness and forced retirement to a historic international comeback.


McKinley was one of Ireland's brightest rugby prospects, a talented fly-half for Leinster and the Ireland U20s. His life changed in an instant during a routine club match for UCD in January 2010. A teammate’s boot accidentally perforated his left eyeball in a ruck.


  • Initial Recovery: He underwent emergency surgery and made a brief, brave return to the pitch six months later with 50% vision.

  • Total Blindness: Eighteen months after the initial accident, his retina detached, leaving him permanently blind in his left eye. At just 21, he was forced to retire from professional rugby.

The Innovation: "The Goggles"

Heartbroken and unable to play in Ireland due to safety regulations, McKinley moved to Udine, Italy, to work as a youth coach. His narrative shifted when his brother, Philip, refused to accept that Ian's playing days were over.


  • Technological Breakthrough: They collaborated with the Italian company Raleri to create specialized, shatterproof polycarbonate goggles.

  • The Trial: Italy became the first nation to trial the goggles. In 2014, after three years away from the game, McKinley put them on and began playing in the Italian lower leagues.

The Historic Comeback

McKinley’s ascent from the amateur leagues back to the professional level was unprecedented. He signed with Benetton Treviso, returning to the same elite league (the Pro14) he had left years earlier.


  • International History: Because he had never played for Ireland’s senior team, he became eligible for Italy via residency. On November 11, 2017, he made his international debut for Italy against Fiji, scoring a late penalty to seal the win.

  • The "Lansdowne Road" Return: He eventually played for Italy against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, receiving a standing ovation from a crowd that once hoped he would be wearing the green jersey.


Modern Legacy (2025–2026)

McKinley retired for a second and final time in March 2021. In 2026, his legacy is defined by advocacy and education:


  • Vision Sports Ireland: He leads the Shared Island Initiative, working to ensure that visually impaired people across the island of Ireland have equal access to physical activity and sports

  • Author: His autobiography, Second Sight: Rugby and Redemption, is a seminal text on sports resilience and the psychological battle of identity loss.
  • Coaching: He continues to influence the game as the Assistant Coach for Rangers Vicenza in Italy.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The story of Ian McKinley is one of the most remarkable tales of resilience in modern sports history—a narrative that saw a player go from permanent blindness and forced retirement to a historic international comeback.


McKinley was one of Ireland's brightest rugby prospects, a talented fly-half for Leinster and the Ireland U20s. His life changed in an instant during a routine club match for UCD in January 2010. A teammate’s boot accidentally perforated his left eyeball in a ruck.


  • Initial Recovery: He underwent emergency surgery and made a brief, brave return to the pitch six months later with 50% vision.

  • Total Blindness: Eighteen months after the initial accident, his retina detached, leaving him permanently blind in his left eye. At just 21, he was forced to retire from professional rugby.

The Innovation: "The Goggles"

Heartbroken and unable to play in Ireland due to safety regulations, McKinley moved to Udine, Italy, to work as a youth coach. His narrative shifted when his brother, Philip, refused to accept that Ian's playing days were over.


  • Technological Breakthrough: They collaborated with the Italian company Raleri to create specialized, shatterproof polycarbonate goggles.

  • The Trial: Italy became the first nation to trial the goggles. In 2014, after three years away from the game, McKinley put them on and began playing in the Italian lower leagues.

The Historic Comeback

McKinley’s ascent from the amateur leagues back to the professional level was unprecedented. He signed with Benetton Treviso, returning to the same elite league (the Pro14) he had left years earlier.


  • International History: Because he had never played for Ireland’s senior team, he became eligible for Italy via residency. On November 11, 2017, he made his international debut for Italy against Fiji, scoring a late penalty to seal the win.

  • The "Lansdowne Road" Return: He eventually played for Italy against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, receiving a standing ovation from a crowd that once hoped he would be wearing the green jersey.


Modern Legacy (2025–2026)

McKinley retired for a second and final time in March 2021. In 2026, his legacy is defined by advocacy and education:


  • Vision Sports Ireland: He leads the Shared Island Initiative, working to ensure that visually impaired people across the island of Ireland have equal access to physical activity and sports

  • Author: His autobiography, Second Sight: Rugby and Redemption, is a seminal text on sports resilience and the psychological battle of identity loss.
  • Coaching: He continues to influence the game as the Assistant Coach for Rangers Vicenza in Italy.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Alan Quinlan Alan Quinlan Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:30:00 GMT 1:00:35 69b81efbcad04b6222c57ef8 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/alan-quinlan 69b81efbcad04b6222c57ef8 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 alan-quinlan Red Blooded full 2 16 While Alan Quinlan is legendary for his "Red-Blooded" passion on the rugby pitch, some of the most interesting and "unusual" facts about his life lie in his unconventional path to professional sports and his radical openness about mental health.


1. The "Non-Rugby" Schooling

Unlike the vast majority of Irish rugby stars who come from elite "rugby-playing" private schools in Dublin or Limerick, Quinlan attended Abbey CBS in Tipperary town. This was a Christian Brothers school with a heavy focus on Gaelic games (GAA), not rugby. Quinlan has often noted that he felt like an outsider in the early days of his career because he didn't share the same social or educational background as his teammates.


2. His First Job: Motor Dealer

Before the advent of full-blown professionalism in Irish rugby, Quinlan didn't just train; he worked a "real" job. After leaving school, he worked for a motor dealer, which gave him a grounded perspective on life that he often cites in his motivational speeches today. He was famously "slow to embrace" the strict diet and fitness regimes of the professional era, admitting he preferred the camaraderie and post-match traditions of the amateur days.


3. The "Double Heineken" Comeback

In 2006, Quinlan achieved a feat that defies medical logic. After suffering a devastating cruciate ligament injury (usually a season-ender), he made a miraculous comeback in the same season to help Shannon win the AIB League and then came off the bench for Munster to win the Heineken Cup in Cardiff.


4. The Lion Who Never Was

One of the most bittersweet facts about his career is that he was officially named in the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad to South Africa—the pinnacle of a rugby player's career. However, he never actually went. He was handed a 12-week suspension for a "eye contact" incident with Leo Cullen in a Heineken Cup semi-final, which ended his Lions dream before it began.


5. "Mr. X" and the Training Ground Scuffles

Quinlan is known for being a "scrapper." He recently revealed a long-standing secret about the identity of "Mr. X"—an anonymous figure who used to inform him about what other players were saying about him behind his back at Munster. This internal "intel" often fueled his aggressive, competitive fire during training ground fights, which were common in the legendary, gritty Munster dressing rooms of the early 2000s.


6. Mental Health Trailblazer

Perhaps the most "unusual" thing about Quinlan in the context of tough-guy rugby culture was his decision to speak publicly about his struggles with depression and anxiety at the height of his career. At a time when elite athletes were expected to show zero vulnerability, Quinlan's openness was revolutionary in Ireland and has led to his current career as a sought-after wellness and resilience speaker.


Quick Stats & Trivia

  • The Record Breaker: He was the first player to surpass the legendary Anthony Foley's record for caps at Munster, finishing his career as the most-capped player in the province's history with 212 appearances.


  • The Goal Scorer: While a forward (blindside flanker), he had a knack for scoring; he notably scored two tries in the 2003 World Cup, including a vital one against Argentina that ended with him dislocating his shoulder in the act of scoring.


  • Famous Fan: He is a massive supporter of Liverpool FC and an avid golfer.


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> While Alan Quinlan is legendary for his "Red-Blooded" passion on the rugby pitch, some of the most interesting and "unusual" facts about his life lie in his unconventional path to professional sports and his radical openness about mental health.


1. The "Non-Rugby" Schooling

Unlike the vast majority of Irish rugby stars who come from elite "rugby-playing" private schools in Dublin or Limerick, Quinlan attended Abbey CBS in Tipperary town. This was a Christian Brothers school with a heavy focus on Gaelic games (GAA), not rugby. Quinlan has often noted that he felt like an outsider in the early days of his career because he didn't share the same social or educational background as his teammates.


2. His First Job: Motor Dealer

Before the advent of full-blown professionalism in Irish rugby, Quinlan didn't just train; he worked a "real" job. After leaving school, he worked for a motor dealer, which gave him a grounded perspective on life that he often cites in his motivational speeches today. He was famously "slow to embrace" the strict diet and fitness regimes of the professional era, admitting he preferred the camaraderie and post-match traditions of the amateur days.


3. The "Double Heineken" Comeback

In 2006, Quinlan achieved a feat that defies medical logic. After suffering a devastating cruciate ligament injury (usually a season-ender), he made a miraculous comeback in the same season to help Shannon win the AIB League and then came off the bench for Munster to win the Heineken Cup in Cardiff.


4. The Lion Who Never Was

One of the most bittersweet facts about his career is that he was officially named in the 2009 British & Irish Lions squad to South Africa—the pinnacle of a rugby player's career. However, he never actually went. He was handed a 12-week suspension for a "eye contact" incident with Leo Cullen in a Heineken Cup semi-final, which ended his Lions dream before it began.


5. "Mr. X" and the Training Ground Scuffles

Quinlan is known for being a "scrapper." He recently revealed a long-standing secret about the identity of "Mr. X"—an anonymous figure who used to inform him about what other players were saying about him behind his back at Munster. This internal "intel" often fueled his aggressive, competitive fire during training ground fights, which were common in the legendary, gritty Munster dressing rooms of the early 2000s.


6. Mental Health Trailblazer

Perhaps the most "unusual" thing about Quinlan in the context of tough-guy rugby culture was his decision to speak publicly about his struggles with depression and anxiety at the height of his career. At a time when elite athletes were expected to show zero vulnerability, Quinlan's openness was revolutionary in Ireland and has led to his current career as a sought-after wellness and resilience speaker.


Quick Stats & Trivia

  • The Record Breaker: He was the first player to surpass the legendary Anthony Foley's record for caps at Munster, finishing his career as the most-capped player in the province's history with 212 appearances.


  • The Goal Scorer: While a forward (blindside flanker), he had a knack for scoring; he notably scored two tries in the 2003 World Cup, including a vital one against Argentina that ended with him dislocating his shoulder in the act of scoring.


  • Famous Fan: He is a massive supporter of Liverpool FC and an avid golfer.


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Aidan Browne Aidan Browne Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:07:31 GMT 41:39 69d9fc64d3f0dd77471a2ce8 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/aidan-browne 69d9fc64d3f0dd77471a2ce8 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 aidan-browne Boston Law full 2 15

Born in in Dublin, Aidan Browne has lived in Boston for many years.


While Aidan s primarily known as a high-powered corporate lawyer at Sullivan & Worcester and a bridge between the U.S. and Irish business worlds, his life and career contain several unique and "unusual" intersections of sports, culture, and business: Unlike many corporate real estate lawyers, Browne’s client list includes world-class professional athletes. His specific expertise in cross-border law and foreign direct investment makes him a niche advisor for high-net-worth international sports figures managing their assets and legal statuses between Europe and the United States.


Browne has been instrumental in bringing Hurling—one of the world's oldest and fastest field sports—to one of the world's most iconic baseball stadiums, Fenway Park. As a key figure in the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) in Boston, he played a vital role in organizing the "Fenway Hurling Classic," successfully selling an ancient Irish sport to a modern American audience. In a subtle nod to his Irish heritage and history, Browne serves as a managing partner for several entities with evocative names, most notably GPO 1916 LLC. The name references the General Post Office in Dublin, the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rising—a significant piece of Irish revolutionary history—blending his modern business life with deep historical roots.


Despite being a prominent partner in a major U.S. firm for decades, Browne holds a unique bar admission status. He is admitted to practice in the Republic of Ireland and the Law Society of England and Wales, but in Massachusetts, he specifically operates as a Foreign Legal Consultant. This allows him to act as a "legal bridge" for Irish companies like A&L Goodbody entering the U.S. market.

Journalists often note that despite living in Boston since 1986, Browne has famously retained a "warm, prevalent Irish accent." In the high-stakes world of Boston law—where many Irish-Americans have lost their brogue over generations—his authentic Dublin accent is frequently cited as a key part of his personal brand and approachable leadership style.


While much of his civic work focuses on Ireland (such as the Irish American Partnership), he has an unusual (for a Boston-Irish leader) commitment to Haiti. He has served as the Chairman of the Boston Advisory Board for Haven for Haiti, applying his organizational leadership to humanitarian efforts in the Caribbean.


Holding aw degrees in both the United States and Ireland, Aidan has a background in both commercial real estate and foreign direct investment. Aidan has had a significant role in the development of Sullivan's Commercial Real Estate Development, Investment and Finance and Foreign Direct Investments Practices serving the technology, life sciences, financial services and commercial real estate sectors in the United States and Europe. He serves on several for-profit and non-profit advisory boards. He is a Fellow of the Smurfit Graduate School of Business at University College Dublin and Founding member of the school's North American Board.


www.sullivanlaw.com

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>

Born in in Dublin, Aidan Browne has lived in Boston for many years.


While Aidan s primarily known as a high-powered corporate lawyer at Sullivan & Worcester and a bridge between the U.S. and Irish business worlds, his life and career contain several unique and "unusual" intersections of sports, culture, and business: Unlike many corporate real estate lawyers, Browne’s client list includes world-class professional athletes. His specific expertise in cross-border law and foreign direct investment makes him a niche advisor for high-net-worth international sports figures managing their assets and legal statuses between Europe and the United States.


Browne has been instrumental in bringing Hurling—one of the world's oldest and fastest field sports—to one of the world's most iconic baseball stadiums, Fenway Park. As a key figure in the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) in Boston, he played a vital role in organizing the "Fenway Hurling Classic," successfully selling an ancient Irish sport to a modern American audience. In a subtle nod to his Irish heritage and history, Browne serves as a managing partner for several entities with evocative names, most notably GPO 1916 LLC. The name references the General Post Office in Dublin, the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rising—a significant piece of Irish revolutionary history—blending his modern business life with deep historical roots.


Despite being a prominent partner in a major U.S. firm for decades, Browne holds a unique bar admission status. He is admitted to practice in the Republic of Ireland and the Law Society of England and Wales, but in Massachusetts, he specifically operates as a Foreign Legal Consultant. This allows him to act as a "legal bridge" for Irish companies like A&L Goodbody entering the U.S. market.

Journalists often note that despite living in Boston since 1986, Browne has famously retained a "warm, prevalent Irish accent." In the high-stakes world of Boston law—where many Irish-Americans have lost their brogue over generations—his authentic Dublin accent is frequently cited as a key part of his personal brand and approachable leadership style.


While much of his civic work focuses on Ireland (such as the Irish American Partnership), he has an unusual (for a Boston-Irish leader) commitment to Haiti. He has served as the Chairman of the Boston Advisory Board for Haven for Haiti, applying his organizational leadership to humanitarian efforts in the Caribbean.


Holding aw degrees in both the United States and Ireland, Aidan has a background in both commercial real estate and foreign direct investment. Aidan has had a significant role in the development of Sullivan's Commercial Real Estate Development, Investment and Finance and Foreign Direct Investments Practices serving the technology, life sciences, financial services and commercial real estate sectors in the United States and Europe. He serves on several for-profit and non-profit advisory boards. He is a Fellow of the Smurfit Graduate School of Business at University College Dublin and Founding member of the school's North American Board.


www.sullivanlaw.com

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Ivan Yates Ivan Yates Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:30:00 GMT 48:51 69b81f2f19edd9d9c9ff249f false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/ivan-yates 69b81f2f19edd9d9c9ff249f 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 ivan-yates Yates Country - Politician, Businessman, Pundit full 2 14 Ivan Yates is one of the few figures in Irish public life to have successfully navigated three distinct and demanding acts: the corridors of power, the volatility of the betting industry, and the high-octane world of national broadcasting.


His story began in the early 1980s when he burst onto the political scene as the "Baby of the Dáil," becoming the youngest TD in the country at just 21 years old. A protégé of the Fine Gael party, Yates quickly proved he was more than a novelty act. He rose through the ranks to become the Minister for Agriculture during the mid-1990s, where he earned a reputation as a formidable negotiator and a sharp legislative mind.


However, at the height of his political influence in 2002, he made the rare and shocking decision to walk away from a "safe" seat to pursue a career in the private sector.


That second act was defined by the meteoric rise and subsequent collapse of Celtic Bookmakers. Yates transformed a small family business into a national powerhouse with dozens of outlets across Ireland. But the 2008 financial crash proved catastrophic; the business folded, leaving Yates facing personal debts in the millions.


In a move that became a defining moment of his public narrative, he moved to Wales to undergo a grueling 16-month bankruptcy process. Rather than retreating in shame, he documented the ordeal with a raw, "full-on" honesty that eventually endeared him to a public also struggling with the fallout of the Great Recession.


His third and perhaps most influential act saw him reinvented as a media firebrand. Upon his return to Ireland, Yates traded the political podium for the radio microphone, primarily at Newstalk. With a signature style—a mix of gruff skepticism, insider political knowledge, and a gambler’s wit—he became a titan of the airwaves.


Whether anchoring Newstalk Breakfast or sparring with Matt Cooper on television’s The Tonight Show, he positioned himself as the voice of the "squeezed middle" and a relentless critic of bureaucratic inertia.


Today, having stepped back from the daily grind of live radio, Yates remains a vital voice in Irish discourse. Through high-profile podcasts and political consulting, he continues to analyse the "horse race" of Irish elections with the same shrewd, unsentimental eye that has guided his journey from the backbench to the boardroom and, finally, to the top of the media ratings





Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Ivan Yates is one of the few figures in Irish public life to have successfully navigated three distinct and demanding acts: the corridors of power, the volatility of the betting industry, and the high-octane world of national broadcasting.


His story began in the early 1980s when he burst onto the political scene as the "Baby of the Dáil," becoming the youngest TD in the country at just 21 years old. A protégé of the Fine Gael party, Yates quickly proved he was more than a novelty act. He rose through the ranks to become the Minister for Agriculture during the mid-1990s, where he earned a reputation as a formidable negotiator and a sharp legislative mind.


However, at the height of his political influence in 2002, he made the rare and shocking decision to walk away from a "safe" seat to pursue a career in the private sector.


That second act was defined by the meteoric rise and subsequent collapse of Celtic Bookmakers. Yates transformed a small family business into a national powerhouse with dozens of outlets across Ireland. But the 2008 financial crash proved catastrophic; the business folded, leaving Yates facing personal debts in the millions.


In a move that became a defining moment of his public narrative, he moved to Wales to undergo a grueling 16-month bankruptcy process. Rather than retreating in shame, he documented the ordeal with a raw, "full-on" honesty that eventually endeared him to a public also struggling with the fallout of the Great Recession.


His third and perhaps most influential act saw him reinvented as a media firebrand. Upon his return to Ireland, Yates traded the political podium for the radio microphone, primarily at Newstalk. With a signature style—a mix of gruff skepticism, insider political knowledge, and a gambler’s wit—he became a titan of the airwaves.


Whether anchoring Newstalk Breakfast or sparring with Matt Cooper on television’s The Tonight Show, he positioned himself as the voice of the "squeezed middle" and a relentless critic of bureaucratic inertia.


Today, having stepped back from the daily grind of live radio, Yates remains a vital voice in Irish discourse. Through high-profile podcasts and political consulting, he continues to analyse the "horse race" of Irish elections with the same shrewd, unsentimental eye that has guided his journey from the backbench to the boardroom and, finally, to the top of the media ratings





Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Flo McSweeney Flo McSweeney Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:30:00 GMT 43:35 69be4c8c7878605e11ca18c2 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/flo-mcsweeney 69be4c8c7878605e11ca18c2 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 flo-mcsweeney full 2 13 Flo Mc Sweeney has enjoyed a career in the entertainment business in Ireland and abroad for over 40 years as a singer, TV presenter and actress. Flo has toured extensively over the years with ‘Moving Hearts’, ’The Commitments’ and Manchester band ‘A Certain Ratio’, with whom she recorded an album for Arista Records. In 2019 Flo released her debut solo album ‘Picture in A Frame’


Highlights as a vocalist include playing to over 30,000 people at the ‘The Festival of Song’ in South America and at the ‘Montreaux Jazz Festival’. She recently toured with Fiachra Trench & Carmel McCreagh in shows ‘Love and all that Jazz’ and ‘Two Diva’s and a Piano’. Other tours include a musical tribute to ‘Ladies In The Blues’, performing in theatres all over the country, including the ‘Cork Jazz Festival’

.

Flo McSweeney came to prominence as a TV presenter on ‘TV Gaga’, ‘Megamix’ and RTE’s travel show ‘No Frontiers’. Flo works as a session singer, voiceover artist for TV/Radio commercials, corporate and

documentaries.


Theatre roles have taken her to stages across Ireland and off Broadway in New York as Eva Gore Booth in Brian Merriman’s play ‘Eirebrushed’. Other roles include ‘Titania’ in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Gate, ‘Jacques Brel’ at the Gate and ‘Marie Claire’ at the Project Dublin. A longstanding association with composer Bill Whelan (Riverdance) has seen Flo perform for five years at the Yeats/Beckett Festival at the Abbey Theatre, at NCH as part of ‘An Evening with W.B. Yeats’ and in concert at St Patrick’s Cathedral, where she performed one of Bill’s compositions with a 30-piece orchestra and a 120-strong choir,

conducted by David Brophy.


In 2019 Flo released her debut album Picture in A Frame .The title track , written by Tom Waits has become what Flo likes to refer to as her funeral song, where she is regularly called upon to perform it!


Flo Performed with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra in April 2024 at The Bord Gaís Theatre in Dublin .She sang the arrangements that NR had written for Linda Ronstadt back in the eighties . Flo continues her musical journey as a regular guest vocalist with the 17 Piece ‘Hot House Big Band.Flo joined forces with singer Leslie Dowdall in the summer of 2025. Together they created a show celebrating musical legends Linda Ronstadt & Carole King. Natural Women played to a sold out Vicar St Dublin in September 2025 and also at The Lark Theatre Balbriggan.


2026 will see Leslie & Flo tour Natural Women around the country



Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Flo Mc Sweeney has enjoyed a career in the entertainment business in Ireland and abroad for over 40 years as a singer, TV presenter and actress. Flo has toured extensively over the years with ‘Moving Hearts’, ’The Commitments’ and Manchester band ‘A Certain Ratio’, with whom she recorded an album for Arista Records. In 2019 Flo released her debut solo album ‘Picture in A Frame’


Highlights as a vocalist include playing to over 30,000 people at the ‘The Festival of Song’ in South America and at the ‘Montreaux Jazz Festival’. She recently toured with Fiachra Trench & Carmel McCreagh in shows ‘Love and all that Jazz’ and ‘Two Diva’s and a Piano’. Other tours include a musical tribute to ‘Ladies In The Blues’, performing in theatres all over the country, including the ‘Cork Jazz Festival’

.

Flo McSweeney came to prominence as a TV presenter on ‘TV Gaga’, ‘Megamix’ and RTE’s travel show ‘No Frontiers’. Flo works as a session singer, voiceover artist for TV/Radio commercials, corporate and

documentaries.


Theatre roles have taken her to stages across Ireland and off Broadway in New York as Eva Gore Booth in Brian Merriman’s play ‘Eirebrushed’. Other roles include ‘Titania’ in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Gate, ‘Jacques Brel’ at the Gate and ‘Marie Claire’ at the Project Dublin. A longstanding association with composer Bill Whelan (Riverdance) has seen Flo perform for five years at the Yeats/Beckett Festival at the Abbey Theatre, at NCH as part of ‘An Evening with W.B. Yeats’ and in concert at St Patrick’s Cathedral, where she performed one of Bill’s compositions with a 30-piece orchestra and a 120-strong choir,

conducted by David Brophy.


In 2019 Flo released her debut album Picture in A Frame .The title track , written by Tom Waits has become what Flo likes to refer to as her funeral song, where she is regularly called upon to perform it!


Flo Performed with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra in April 2024 at The Bord Gaís Theatre in Dublin .She sang the arrangements that NR had written for Linda Ronstadt back in the eighties . Flo continues her musical journey as a regular guest vocalist with the 17 Piece ‘Hot House Big Band.Flo joined forces with singer Leslie Dowdall in the summer of 2025. Together they created a show celebrating musical legends Linda Ronstadt & Carole King. Natural Women played to a sold out Vicar St Dublin in September 2025 and also at The Lark Theatre Balbriggan.


2026 will see Leslie & Flo tour Natural Women around the country



Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Kevin Kilbane Kevin Kilbane Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:30:00 GMT 54:20 69be42121861d127d5f9a57a false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/kevin-kilbane 69be42121861d127d5f9a57a 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 kevin-kilbane Story of 110 Ireland Caps full 2 12 Kilbane began his career with Preston North End and played a role in getting them out of the fourth tier in 1996. After an additional season with his home-town club in the third tier, he was picked up by second tier West Bromwich Albion for a then club record fee of £1 million in 1997. He’d be with the Baggies for the next two-and-a-half seasons, clearly impressing once more as Premier League Sunderland forked out £2.5 million for his signature in December 1999.


That made him our third most expensive signing ever at the time and he made an immediate impact, putting in a cross for Kevin Phillips’ second goal in a 2-0 home win against Southampton on his debut. However, that was to be the brightest moment for SAFC until we finally won another game in March of 2000, beating Everton. That poor run of form was nicknamed the Curse of Kilbane. In February of that year he did assist a late equaliser against Newcastle United though, as we drew 2-2 from 2-0 down. Kilbane’s first goal for the club came in April, scoring with less than ten minutes to go to ensure we beat Wimbledon 2-1.


The following season, he netted in wins against Derby County, Southampton and Charlton Athletic as we completed back-to-back seventh place finishes in the top flight. However, as form declined in the 2001/02 season and Sunderland collapsed to finish 17th, Kilbane’s form also declined and his relationship with the fans suffered as a result. In pre-season 2002 in France, he infamously gave the Sunderland following a two-fingered salute. This wasn’t the end of his time on Wearside however.


He played another 34 times during our relegation season of 2002/03. His final goal for the Lads came in January 2003, scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Everton. After a handful of additional appearances in the First Division for us, he moved upwards back to the top league with the blue half of Merseyside for just under £1 million in summer 2003 and was reunited with his boss at Preston and future Sunderland manager, David Moyes.


Highly versatile at Everton, he was popular and made over 100 appearances during his three-year stint. In August 2006 he transferred to Wigan Athletic, also in the Premier League at the time, and he fared well there too. He ended his over two-and-a-half year goal drought at a club level in April 2007 and was named their Player of the Season in the 2007/08 campaign.


In January 2009 he moved to Hull City for £500,000, spending his first season-and-a-half in the Premier League prior to their relegation in 2010. His last two seasons on Humberside were mostly spent out on loan, firstly with League One Huddersfield Town and then Championship Derby. Kilbane’s final club was Coventry City in the third tier, moving there in July 2012. Despite being named as their captain, he retired just under halfway into the season.


Internationally, he earned 110 caps for the Republic of Ireland (both his parents are Irish) and scored eight times and was named the Senior FAI Player of the Year in 2004. He’s done quite a bit since hanging up his boots, working as a pundit and commentator for both club and international football, including for major international tournaments such as the World Cup and European Championship. Kilbane also appeared on Dancing on Ice and moved to Canada, plus he’s a patron of the Down’s Syndrome Association. In 2014, he donned a Sunderland shirt once more, playing in Jody Craddock's testimonial match.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Kilbane began his career with Preston North End and played a role in getting them out of the fourth tier in 1996. After an additional season with his home-town club in the third tier, he was picked up by second tier West Bromwich Albion for a then club record fee of £1 million in 1997. He’d be with the Baggies for the next two-and-a-half seasons, clearly impressing once more as Premier League Sunderland forked out £2.5 million for his signature in December 1999.


That made him our third most expensive signing ever at the time and he made an immediate impact, putting in a cross for Kevin Phillips’ second goal in a 2-0 home win against Southampton on his debut. However, that was to be the brightest moment for SAFC until we finally won another game in March of 2000, beating Everton. That poor run of form was nicknamed the Curse of Kilbane. In February of that year he did assist a late equaliser against Newcastle United though, as we drew 2-2 from 2-0 down. Kilbane’s first goal for the club came in April, scoring with less than ten minutes to go to ensure we beat Wimbledon 2-1.


The following season, he netted in wins against Derby County, Southampton and Charlton Athletic as we completed back-to-back seventh place finishes in the top flight. However, as form declined in the 2001/02 season and Sunderland collapsed to finish 17th, Kilbane’s form also declined and his relationship with the fans suffered as a result. In pre-season 2002 in France, he infamously gave the Sunderland following a two-fingered salute. This wasn’t the end of his time on Wearside however.


He played another 34 times during our relegation season of 2002/03. His final goal for the Lads came in January 2003, scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Everton. After a handful of additional appearances in the First Division for us, he moved upwards back to the top league with the blue half of Merseyside for just under £1 million in summer 2003 and was reunited with his boss at Preston and future Sunderland manager, David Moyes.


Highly versatile at Everton, he was popular and made over 100 appearances during his three-year stint. In August 2006 he transferred to Wigan Athletic, also in the Premier League at the time, and he fared well there too. He ended his over two-and-a-half year goal drought at a club level in April 2007 and was named their Player of the Season in the 2007/08 campaign.


In January 2009 he moved to Hull City for £500,000, spending his first season-and-a-half in the Premier League prior to their relegation in 2010. His last two seasons on Humberside were mostly spent out on loan, firstly with League One Huddersfield Town and then Championship Derby. Kilbane’s final club was Coventry City in the third tier, moving there in July 2012. Despite being named as their captain, he retired just under halfway into the season.


Internationally, he earned 110 caps for the Republic of Ireland (both his parents are Irish) and scored eight times and was named the Senior FAI Player of the Year in 2004. He’s done quite a bit since hanging up his boots, working as a pundit and commentator for both club and international football, including for major international tournaments such as the World Cup and European Championship. Kilbane also appeared on Dancing on Ice and moved to Canada, plus he’s a patron of the Down’s Syndrome Association. In 2014, he donned a Sunderland shirt once more, playing in Jody Craddock's testimonial match.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Duncan Hughes Duncan Hughes Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:30:00 GMT 39:04 69b3f036559de2c6342d19cd false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/duncan-hughes 69b3f036559de2c6342d19cd 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 duncan-hughes Facing Parkinson’s Battle full 2 11 Duncan Hughes is (in no order of importance!!) Husband, Father, Son, Brother and Friend. Working for himself for the last 20 years he is a business analysis professional working with family owned SME’s.


He has with his assistance dog Leon learnt to make the most of life despite a diagnosis 22 years ago of Early Onset Parkinson's Disease.


Qualified as an accountant in practice and am a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. My Bachelors degree is in Science from UCD.


He started Business Acumen in 2006 after spending 15 years in a variety of roles and industries: Healy Chemical Group: Group Finance Director; IONA Technologies: European Accounting Manager; GE Capital: Senior Finance and Analysis Analyst for GCF.


Dogs for the Disabled is a charity that provided Duncan Hughes with his service dog Leon and they have 26 nationwide “County Champions”, an exciting campaign designed to spread the word and raise vital funds for their life-changing work. Since the charity’s creation in 2007.


Dogs for the Disabled has worked quietly, transforming the lives of children and adults living with physical disabilities by providing, FREE of CHARGE, highly trained assistance dogs

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Duncan Hughes is (in no order of importance!!) Husband, Father, Son, Brother and Friend. Working for himself for the last 20 years he is a business analysis professional working with family owned SME’s.


He has with his assistance dog Leon learnt to make the most of life despite a diagnosis 22 years ago of Early Onset Parkinson's Disease.


Qualified as an accountant in practice and am a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. My Bachelors degree is in Science from UCD.


He started Business Acumen in 2006 after spending 15 years in a variety of roles and industries: Healy Chemical Group: Group Finance Director; IONA Technologies: European Accounting Manager; GE Capital: Senior Finance and Analysis Analyst for GCF.


Dogs for the Disabled is a charity that provided Duncan Hughes with his service dog Leon and they have 26 nationwide “County Champions”, an exciting campaign designed to spread the word and raise vital funds for their life-changing work. Since the charity’s creation in 2007.


Dogs for the Disabled has worked quietly, transforming the lives of children and adults living with physical disabilities by providing, FREE of CHARGE, highly trained assistance dogs

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Pat Byrne Pat Byrne Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:35:17 GMT 40:43 6990358a483d38b26e21a4b0 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/pat-byrne 6990358a483d38b26e21a4b0 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 pat-byrne After-Byrne for Cityjet Boss full 2 10 Pat Byrne has spent the best part of 5 decades in originating, developing and driving businesses across financial services, aviation, enterprise consulting, change management and software manufacturing.

He is probably most associated with his two very distinctly different ‘tours of duty’with Cityjet, the airline he founded, as he says himself, being a bit of a latecomer to the sector. But Pat can also lay claim to having been the foundational driving force behind what is now known as Cornmarket the financial services provider to the public sector workforce.


He was also a founding member of Rainmaker Technologies, the Dublin based software company (now part of the Skymetrix Group) responsible for the development of the highly regarded crew pay engine installed in leading airlines including Jet Blue, Air Canada, UPS, Alaska, Westjet, PSA, Endeavor and Mesa.


Passionate about sport, keenly interested in evolving World affairs and a man with a diverse taste in music, Pat would describe himself as very family focussed.Pat has recently launched his latest business pursuit, After-Byrne Strategic through which he is making his phenomenal depth and breath of business experience, strategic critical thinking and leadership learnings available to those who wish to seek it.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Pat Byrne has spent the best part of 5 decades in originating, developing and driving businesses across financial services, aviation, enterprise consulting, change management and software manufacturing.

He is probably most associated with his two very distinctly different ‘tours of duty’with Cityjet, the airline he founded, as he says himself, being a bit of a latecomer to the sector. But Pat can also lay claim to having been the foundational driving force behind what is now known as Cornmarket the financial services provider to the public sector workforce.


He was also a founding member of Rainmaker Technologies, the Dublin based software company (now part of the Skymetrix Group) responsible for the development of the highly regarded crew pay engine installed in leading airlines including Jet Blue, Air Canada, UPS, Alaska, Westjet, PSA, Endeavor and Mesa.


Passionate about sport, keenly interested in evolving World affairs and a man with a diverse taste in music, Pat would describe himself as very family focussed.Pat has recently launched his latest business pursuit, After-Byrne Strategic through which he is making his phenomenal depth and breath of business experience, strategic critical thinking and leadership learnings available to those who wish to seek it.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> John Robbie John Robbie Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:30:00 GMT 50:24 6991920dd6c27a06bbe32366 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/john-robbie 6991920dd6c27a06bbe32366 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 john-robbie full 2 9 John Cameron Robbie inherited a profound love for rugby from his Welsh grandfather. This passion led him to excel as scrumhalf at High School Dublin, contributing to the school's historic victory in the renowned Leinster Schools Cup in 1973.


Continuing his journey, John attended Trinity College Dublin, where he was elected the youngest-ever rugby captain in 1976. This pivotal year, in which the team had its greatest success in over sixty years, also saw him earn his first cap for Ireland against Australia, at just 20 years and three months old. Graduating with honours in B.Sc., he pursued further studies at Christ’s College Cambridge, where he captained the Light Blues to victory, scoring 17 points in the 1978 Varsity Match win over Oxford.


John's dedication to rugby extended beyond national boundaries, as he represented both Irish and British university fifteens and captained the Barbarians. His close friendship with the late Eddie Butler afforded him the opportunity to play in the Welsh Cup for the renowned Pontypool side.


John won nine caps for Ireland. Despite facing setbacks, such as a broken leg in 1977, he joined the 1980 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, contributing to their sole test victory over the Springboks in the series. Joining Arthur Guinness & Sons after university, he continued to make significant contributions to rugby, captaining the Greystones Club and the Leinster Provincial side to two championship victories.

However, a decision to tour South Africa with Ireland in 1981 resulted in John losing his job, prompting him to emigrate and eventually become a South African citizen after the democratic elections in 1994.


He played rugby for Wanderers, winning 83 caps for the Transvaal side. He also played in two Currie Cup and two Lion Cup Finals. He sat on the bench for the Springboks four times and played for them on the internal tour in 1985. However, no caps were awarded for this. John was voted one of the five SA players of the year in 1987 and he retired from rugby the following year. He also won the SA Superstars title for multiple sports and athletic performances.


In 1986, John joined 702 as a sports reporter, earning recognition as the 'SA Sports Journalist of the Year' twice, once for radio and once for television. His career expanded into current affairs, hosting notable radio shows like "Talk at Ten" and "The Breakfast Show" for seventeen years, during which he won ‘Best Morning Host’ and ‘Best Morning Show’ on multiple occasions and achieved significant audience and revenue growth. For a spell, he co-hosted with Dan Moyane, in what was then, the first multi-racial breakfast show in SA. They were known as “The Cereal Killers”!

Over the years John has interviewed almost all the top decision-makers in South Africa, building a reputation for professionalism, integrity and fairness.


Archbishop Desmond Tutu told him that his show was not a radio show, but rather ‘a mission’. Nelson Mandela once told John to “shut up!” but this was followed with a hearty laugh. Eugene de Kock, the apartheid assassin, revealed that he had once been instructed to kill John because of the influence of his show. John was one of the very first people publicly to call out a government minister over the insane Aids policies of the time and it led to the ANC demanding that he be fired. He wasn’t!


John received a rare Lifetime Achievement radio award for his thirty-year tenure at 702. He is an Ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a Rotary Paul Harris fellow, and for his work with Reach for a Dream Foundation, he had a star in the constellation of Perseus named after him.


Post-retirement, John remains active, engaging in several business ventures and entertainment pursuits.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> John Cameron Robbie inherited a profound love for rugby from his Welsh grandfather. This passion led him to excel as scrumhalf at High School Dublin, contributing to the school's historic victory in the renowned Leinster Schools Cup in 1973.


Continuing his journey, John attended Trinity College Dublin, where he was elected the youngest-ever rugby captain in 1976. This pivotal year, in which the team had its greatest success in over sixty years, also saw him earn his first cap for Ireland against Australia, at just 20 years and three months old. Graduating with honours in B.Sc., he pursued further studies at Christ’s College Cambridge, where he captained the Light Blues to victory, scoring 17 points in the 1978 Varsity Match win over Oxford.


John's dedication to rugby extended beyond national boundaries, as he represented both Irish and British university fifteens and captained the Barbarians. His close friendship with the late Eddie Butler afforded him the opportunity to play in the Welsh Cup for the renowned Pontypool side.


John won nine caps for Ireland. Despite facing setbacks, such as a broken leg in 1977, he joined the 1980 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, contributing to their sole test victory over the Springboks in the series. Joining Arthur Guinness & Sons after university, he continued to make significant contributions to rugby, captaining the Greystones Club and the Leinster Provincial side to two championship victories.

However, a decision to tour South Africa with Ireland in 1981 resulted in John losing his job, prompting him to emigrate and eventually become a South African citizen after the democratic elections in 1994.


He played rugby for Wanderers, winning 83 caps for the Transvaal side. He also played in two Currie Cup and two Lion Cup Finals. He sat on the bench for the Springboks four times and played for them on the internal tour in 1985. However, no caps were awarded for this. John was voted one of the five SA players of the year in 1987 and he retired from rugby the following year. He also won the SA Superstars title for multiple sports and athletic performances.


In 1986, John joined 702 as a sports reporter, earning recognition as the 'SA Sports Journalist of the Year' twice, once for radio and once for television. His career expanded into current affairs, hosting notable radio shows like "Talk at Ten" and "The Breakfast Show" for seventeen years, during which he won ‘Best Morning Host’ and ‘Best Morning Show’ on multiple occasions and achieved significant audience and revenue growth. For a spell, he co-hosted with Dan Moyane, in what was then, the first multi-racial breakfast show in SA. They were known as “The Cereal Killers”!

Over the years John has interviewed almost all the top decision-makers in South Africa, building a reputation for professionalism, integrity and fairness.


Archbishop Desmond Tutu told him that his show was not a radio show, but rather ‘a mission’. Nelson Mandela once told John to “shut up!” but this was followed with a hearty laugh. Eugene de Kock, the apartheid assassin, revealed that he had once been instructed to kill John because of the influence of his show. John was one of the very first people publicly to call out a government minister over the insane Aids policies of the time and it led to the ANC demanding that he be fired. He wasn’t!


John received a rare Lifetime Achievement radio award for his thirty-year tenure at 702. He is an Ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a Rotary Paul Harris fellow, and for his work with Reach for a Dream Foundation, he had a star in the constellation of Perseus named after him.


Post-retirement, John remains active, engaging in several business ventures and entertainment pursuits.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Olivia Hunt Olivia Hunt Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:30:00 GMT 47:44 69849d1b0ee6c7cf9bf5bf4d false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67d56e65aaba807fb7e8f86c 69849d1b0ee6c7cf9bf5bf4d 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 oliviahunt full 2 8 Olivia Hunt is a podcast host, mindfulness teacher, and business leader and coach in the tech sector.


She is the creator and host of the No. 1 podcast On Healing, which launched in April 2023. On Healing shares powerful, honest conversations about healing, intuition, love, loss, and the reality of being human.


Alongside her podcasting and mindfulness work, Olivia is a business leader and coach in the tech sector, where she has led international teams for more than a decade. Her leadership approach blends compassion, authenticity, and purpose, helping others grow both personally and professionally.


Having faced significant loss and adversity in her own life, Olivia's mission is to live a full and conscious life - and to inspire others to do the same through her teaching and talks.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Olivia Hunt is a podcast host, mindfulness teacher, and business leader and coach in the tech sector.


She is the creator and host of the No. 1 podcast On Healing, which launched in April 2023. On Healing shares powerful, honest conversations about healing, intuition, love, loss, and the reality of being human.


Alongside her podcasting and mindfulness work, Olivia is a business leader and coach in the tech sector, where she has led international teams for more than a decade. Her leadership approach blends compassion, authenticity, and purpose, helping others grow both personally and professionally.


Having faced significant loss and adversity in her own life, Olivia's mission is to live a full and conscious life - and to inspire others to do the same through her teaching and talks.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Kevin Killen Kevin Killen Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:30:00 GMT 58:08 69723b9e4b6b88f001777277 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/kevinkillen 69723b9e4b6b88f001777277 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 kevinkillen The Unforgettable Sound of Music - U2,Peter Gabriel, Bowie full 2 7 Kevin Killen has spent the last 34 years compiling an impressive list of credentials among the premier pop artists in the music industry, from Peter Gabriel to Elvis Costello, Kate Bush to Jewel, Bon Jovi to Shaun Colvin. Throw in the names of U2, Bryan Ferry, Shakira, Sugarland and Duncan Sheik and you get the idea. 


Growing up in a large family of eight children, Kevin was exposed from a young age to the disparate tastes of his elder siblings. This included a healthy dose of Motown, the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy to Free. He also became an avid fan of Europe's first pirate commercial radio station, "Radio Luxembourg" and the BBC's" Old Grey Whistle Test" which was responsible for introducing a plethora of new and emerging artists in non-formatted broadcasts. 


Kevin moved to NYC in the mid 1980's and has continued to expand the roster of artists that he works with. In the last few years Kevin received 5 Grammy awards for his contributions to the Shakir's "Oral Fajacion" Albums. In 2004 he co-founded the first music online collaboration website -eSession with his friend Gina Fant Saez. in 2007 he mixed his first country album for Sugarland and scored a number 1 hit. 


In December 2009 Kevin was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz Instrumental Category for his work on Allen Toussiants "The Bright Mississippi".


His most recently completed projects include Australian artists Ben Butler, GoodBye Motel, UK based all girl rock band Fake Club, the great Bobby McFerrin, Liz Brennan, Jen Chapin, Bear Bones and French based artist David Guez. Kevin is currently mixing Suzanne Vega's latest album and is engineering a project fro legendary producer Tony Visconti.


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Kevin Killen has spent the last 34 years compiling an impressive list of credentials among the premier pop artists in the music industry, from Peter Gabriel to Elvis Costello, Kate Bush to Jewel, Bon Jovi to Shaun Colvin. Throw in the names of U2, Bryan Ferry, Shakira, Sugarland and Duncan Sheik and you get the idea. 


Growing up in a large family of eight children, Kevin was exposed from a young age to the disparate tastes of his elder siblings. This included a healthy dose of Motown, the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy to Free. He also became an avid fan of Europe's first pirate commercial radio station, "Radio Luxembourg" and the BBC's" Old Grey Whistle Test" which was responsible for introducing a plethora of new and emerging artists in non-formatted broadcasts. 


Kevin moved to NYC in the mid 1980's and has continued to expand the roster of artists that he works with. In the last few years Kevin received 5 Grammy awards for his contributions to the Shakir's "Oral Fajacion" Albums. In 2004 he co-founded the first music online collaboration website -eSession with his friend Gina Fant Saez. in 2007 he mixed his first country album for Sugarland and scored a number 1 hit. 


In December 2009 Kevin was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz Instrumental Category for his work on Allen Toussiants "The Bright Mississippi".


His most recently completed projects include Australian artists Ben Butler, GoodBye Motel, UK based all girl rock band Fake Club, the great Bobby McFerrin, Liz Brennan, Jen Chapin, Bear Bones and French based artist David Guez. Kevin is currently mixing Suzanne Vega's latest album and is engineering a project fro legendary producer Tony Visconti.


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Christopher Murphy Christopher Murphy Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:10:37 GMT 39:59 693d0c9e2bda36b3538db9dd false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/christopher-murphy 693d0c9e2bda36b3538db9dd 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 christopher-murphy full 2 6 Christopher Murphy is an Irish castle restorer and heritage conservation specialist, best known for his long-term commitment to the restoration, preservation, and sustainable reuse of historic Irish castles and fortified houses.


His work focuses on safeguarding architectural heritage while ensuring buildings remain structurally sound and viable for modern use.


Murphy is particularly respected for his hands-on approach, combining traditional craft skills—such as stone masonry, lime mortar work, and historic carpentry—with modern conservation principles. He advocates strongly for minimum intervention, authenticity of materials, and respect for a structure’s historical layers.


He celebrated his 100th bursary in December


1931 Infants’ school in Rathmines, Dublin

1932 Primary School in Colombo, Sri Lanka

1933-35 Home Schooling in Oughterard

1935 Summer term at Kylemore Abbey (girls’ school)

1935-37 Baymount Preparatory School, Dollymount, North Dunlin

1937-39 Canterbury Cathedral Chori School, Chorister

1939 to 1940 - Kings School Canterbury, Scholar

1940-41 Home education at |Milford, Co. Mayo

Trinity College, Dublin 1943-1944 and after military service 1947-1948

 

Employment History:

April 1944 to September 1947 – British and Indian Armies, demobilised with rank of Lieutenant in the Inniskilling Fusiliers

January 1949 to April 1962 -Royal Dutch/Shell Group (lived and worked in London, Uganda, Kenya, Jamaica, Panama, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Algeria)

​Overseas Sales Executive, with a wide variety of responsibilities from time to time, including retail and wholesale planning and marketing, branch management, advertising, public relations, regional head office administration etc.

April 1962 – December 1993 – James Capel & Co (now HSBC), London

1962: Engaged as Investment Analyst/Salesman for Continental Europe, with a secondary function as a part-time Discretionary Fund Manager

1967: Investment Analyst in charge of computer applications for research

1968: Partner in charge of computer applications for research and back-office. Oversaw the successful completion of computer models of the London gilts, investment trust and gold share markets, respectively, and the installation of Capels’ first mainframe computer

1973: Gold Trader: Set up and ran a gold coin trading department for Capels

1975-1993: Consultant/Fund Manager: Resigned as a Senior Executive Shareholder, in favour of self-employed association with Capels. Continued computer research for the Firm under this arrangement and managed funds for discretionary clients.


Fund Management became primary interest and led to the development of the Pricepro stock selection system (started in 1983).

January – December 1994: twelve months on the trading floor of one of the largest Lonon market makers, in close touch with a leading investment research team. 

1995-2010 sets up own investment advisor firm and launched a small hedge fund specialising in market neutral portfolio composed of London Bluechips.


Moved permanently to Dublin in 2015 to oversee the completion of the restoration and running of Carraigin Castle (Headford, Co. Galway) as a tourist destination, which he has been doing as a sideline since 1969.


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Christopher Murphy is an Irish castle restorer and heritage conservation specialist, best known for his long-term commitment to the restoration, preservation, and sustainable reuse of historic Irish castles and fortified houses.


His work focuses on safeguarding architectural heritage while ensuring buildings remain structurally sound and viable for modern use.


Murphy is particularly respected for his hands-on approach, combining traditional craft skills—such as stone masonry, lime mortar work, and historic carpentry—with modern conservation principles. He advocates strongly for minimum intervention, authenticity of materials, and respect for a structure’s historical layers.


He celebrated his 100th bursary in December


1931 Infants’ school in Rathmines, Dublin

1932 Primary School in Colombo, Sri Lanka

1933-35 Home Schooling in Oughterard

1935 Summer term at Kylemore Abbey (girls’ school)

1935-37 Baymount Preparatory School, Dollymount, North Dunlin

1937-39 Canterbury Cathedral Chori School, Chorister

1939 to 1940 - Kings School Canterbury, Scholar

1940-41 Home education at |Milford, Co. Mayo

Trinity College, Dublin 1943-1944 and after military service 1947-1948

 

Employment History:

April 1944 to September 1947 – British and Indian Armies, demobilised with rank of Lieutenant in the Inniskilling Fusiliers

January 1949 to April 1962 -Royal Dutch/Shell Group (lived and worked in London, Uganda, Kenya, Jamaica, Panama, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Algeria)

​Overseas Sales Executive, with a wide variety of responsibilities from time to time, including retail and wholesale planning and marketing, branch management, advertising, public relations, regional head office administration etc.

April 1962 – December 1993 – James Capel & Co (now HSBC), London

1962: Engaged as Investment Analyst/Salesman for Continental Europe, with a secondary function as a part-time Discretionary Fund Manager

1967: Investment Analyst in charge of computer applications for research

1968: Partner in charge of computer applications for research and back-office. Oversaw the successful completion of computer models of the London gilts, investment trust and gold share markets, respectively, and the installation of Capels’ first mainframe computer

1973: Gold Trader: Set up and ran a gold coin trading department for Capels

1975-1993: Consultant/Fund Manager: Resigned as a Senior Executive Shareholder, in favour of self-employed association with Capels. Continued computer research for the Firm under this arrangement and managed funds for discretionary clients.


Fund Management became primary interest and led to the development of the Pricepro stock selection system (started in 1983).

January – December 1994: twelve months on the trading floor of one of the largest Lonon market makers, in close touch with a leading investment research team. 

1995-2010 sets up own investment advisor firm and launched a small hedge fund specialising in market neutral portfolio composed of London Bluechips.


Moved permanently to Dublin in 2015 to oversee the completion of the restoration and running of Carraigin Castle (Headford, Co. Galway) as a tourist destination, which he has been doing as a sideline since 1969.


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Daniel Mullhall Daniel Mullhall Sat, 20 Dec 2025 08:33:05 GMT 43:31 693d1963f817d7dbe8a1449b false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/693d1963f817d7dbe8a1449b 693d1963f817d7dbe8a1449b 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 daniel-mullhall A Diplomatic Life full 2 5 Daniel Mulhall is a former Irish Ambassador to Malaysia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.


Since his retirement from the diplomatic service, he has been Global Distinguished Professor of Irish Studies at Glucksman Ireland House, New York University, Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge and a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Harvard University. He is a consultant with the global

law firm, DLA Piper, Rockwood PR and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.


He is Brand Ambassador for the Carlichauns, an animated children’s entertainment venture based on Irish folklore. Throughout his diplomatic career, he has lectured and published extensively on Irish history and literature.


His most recent publications are Ulysses: A Reader’s Odyssey (New Island Books, 2022) and Pilgrim Soul: W.B. Yeats and the Ireland of his Time (New Island Books, 2023). He is a regular media commentator, columnist and book reviewer.



Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Daniel Mulhall is a former Irish Ambassador to Malaysia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.


Since his retirement from the diplomatic service, he has been Global Distinguished Professor of Irish Studies at Glucksman Ireland House, New York University, Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge and a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Harvard University. He is a consultant with the global

law firm, DLA Piper, Rockwood PR and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.


He is Brand Ambassador for the Carlichauns, an animated children’s entertainment venture based on Irish folklore. Throughout his diplomatic career, he has lectured and published extensively on Irish history and literature.


His most recent publications are Ulysses: A Reader’s Odyssey (New Island Books, 2022) and Pilgrim Soul: W.B. Yeats and the Ireland of his Time (New Island Books, 2023). He is a regular media commentator, columnist and book reviewer.



Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Kevin Cullen Kevin Cullen Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:02:57 GMT 57:20 691d6a95589629f7d6123c33 false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67f013f3dd74d6439c44909c 691d6a95589629f7d6123c33 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 kevin-cullen A Boston life in Journalism full 2 4 Kevin Cullen is an author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has written for The Boston Globe since 1985.


At the Globe, he served on the Spotlight team, as well as a local, national and foreign correspondent before becoming a columnist.


Kevin initially worked as the newspaper’s law enforcement correspondent, and won the Livingston Award for his 1987 portrait of an East Boston hoodlum. He spent several stints on the Spotlight Team, the Globe’s inestigative unit, and was part of the team that first exposed the mobster James “Whitey” Bulger as an FBI informant in 1988,


Cullen spent more than 20 years covering the conflict in Northern Ireland, and in 1994 was honored by the Overseas Press Club of America for interpretive reporting from Northern Ireland. In 1997, he was appointed as Dublin bureau chief, covering the peace process in Northern Ireland full time, the only American journalist who did so.


He was described by The Irish Times as “the most informed American journalist on Irish affairs,” while the media critic at The Independent of London called him “the most astute observer of Irish affairs in the American media.”


After a year in Dublin, he moved to London to serve as chief European correspondent, covering war in the former Yugoslavia. He reported from more than 20 countries across Europe.


In 2001, after four years abroad, he returned to Boston and joined the Globe’s investigative team which won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003 for exposing the coverup of sexual abuse of minors by Roman Catholic priests.


The team also won many other awards for those exposes, including the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, the George Polk Award for National Reporting, and the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting.


In 2007, he was promoted to metro columnist and the following year won the Batten Medal, from the American Society of Newspaper Editors for a selection of columns on people down on their luck.

in 2013. In 2010 and 2014, he was named best columnist by the National Headliners Awards.


His columns highlighting the suicide of a 15-year-old girl who was bullied by schoolmates won the top award from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University in 2013.In 2013, the American Society of Newspaper Editors awarded him the Batten Medal again and is the only person to win the award twice


In 2014, Cullen won the Mike Royko Award as best columnist chosen by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and was part of the team that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. Separately, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in commentary.


Cullen has been a frequent commentator on National Public Radio, the BBC, and RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster. His work has appeared in The Irish Times and Sunday Independent in Ireland. He also appeared weekly on Newstalk radio’s “Lunchtime” programe in Ireland.


He is co-author of “Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church,” and was a contributor to the book, “Britain and Ireland: Lives Entwined II.” Also, co-author of the New York Times bestseller, “Whitey Bulger: America’s Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice,” which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He wrote the opening chapter for the Houghton Mifflin anthology, “Our Boston,” to benefit victims of the Marathon bombings.


A Boston native, Kevin Cullen graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, attended Trinity College in Dublin, and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Kevin Cullen is an author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has written for The Boston Globe since 1985.


At the Globe, he served on the Spotlight team, as well as a local, national and foreign correspondent before becoming a columnist.


Kevin initially worked as the newspaper’s law enforcement correspondent, and won the Livingston Award for his 1987 portrait of an East Boston hoodlum. He spent several stints on the Spotlight Team, the Globe’s inestigative unit, and was part of the team that first exposed the mobster James “Whitey” Bulger as an FBI informant in 1988,


Cullen spent more than 20 years covering the conflict in Northern Ireland, and in 1994 was honored by the Overseas Press Club of America for interpretive reporting from Northern Ireland. In 1997, he was appointed as Dublin bureau chief, covering the peace process in Northern Ireland full time, the only American journalist who did so.


He was described by The Irish Times as “the most informed American journalist on Irish affairs,” while the media critic at The Independent of London called him “the most astute observer of Irish affairs in the American media.”


After a year in Dublin, he moved to London to serve as chief European correspondent, covering war in the former Yugoslavia. He reported from more than 20 countries across Europe.


In 2001, after four years abroad, he returned to Boston and joined the Globe’s investigative team which won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003 for exposing the coverup of sexual abuse of minors by Roman Catholic priests.


The team also won many other awards for those exposes, including the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, the George Polk Award for National Reporting, and the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting.


In 2007, he was promoted to metro columnist and the following year won the Batten Medal, from the American Society of Newspaper Editors for a selection of columns on people down on their luck.

in 2013. In 2010 and 2014, he was named best columnist by the National Headliners Awards.


His columns highlighting the suicide of a 15-year-old girl who was bullied by schoolmates won the top award from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University in 2013.In 2013, the American Society of Newspaper Editors awarded him the Batten Medal again and is the only person to win the award twice


In 2014, Cullen won the Mike Royko Award as best columnist chosen by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and was part of the team that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. Separately, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in commentary.


Cullen has been a frequent commentator on National Public Radio, the BBC, and RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster. His work has appeared in The Irish Times and Sunday Independent in Ireland. He also appeared weekly on Newstalk radio’s “Lunchtime” programe in Ireland.


He is co-author of “Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church,” and was a contributor to the book, “Britain and Ireland: Lives Entwined II.” Also, co-author of the New York Times bestseller, “Whitey Bulger: America’s Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice,” which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He wrote the opening chapter for the Houghton Mifflin anthology, “Our Boston,” to benefit victims of the Marathon bombings.


A Boston native, Kevin Cullen graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, attended Trinity College in Dublin, and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Aideen McQueen Aideen McQueen Sat, 22 Nov 2025 09:13:16 GMT 29:25 691d6dc4589629f7d612f66b false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/aideenmcqueen 691d6dc4589629f7d612f66b 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 aideenmcqueen Standup Life in comedy full 2 3 Aideen McQueen, one of Ireland’s most remarkable female stand-up comedians. Her meteoric rise in the comedy scene began when she reached the final of the esteemed “Funny Funny” comedy competition after only her third gig. Since then, she has been captivating audiences all across Ireland, performing at renowned clubs such as the International and The Laughter Lounge.


Aideen’s unique style sets her apart as a shining star among the new generation of Irish comics. Her wit is sharp, her persona is sassy, and her delivery is irresistibly funny. With her saucy and captivating stage presence, Aideen leaves audiences in stitches, ensuring an unforgettable comedy experience.


Not only a rising star on the stage, Aideen has made regular appearances on esteemed platforms such as RTE, TG4, BBC Northern Ireland, and BBC Radio 4. As one of the resident comperes at the prestigious International Comedy Club in Dublin, she has shared the stage with comedy legends like Sean Hughes, Reginald D Hunter, Ardal O’Hanon, Dylan Moran, Johnny Vegas, Phil Kay, and Frankie Boyle.


m

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Aideen McQueen, one of Ireland’s most remarkable female stand-up comedians. Her meteoric rise in the comedy scene began when she reached the final of the esteemed “Funny Funny” comedy competition after only her third gig. Since then, she has been captivating audiences all across Ireland, performing at renowned clubs such as the International and The Laughter Lounge.


Aideen’s unique style sets her apart as a shining star among the new generation of Irish comics. Her wit is sharp, her persona is sassy, and her delivery is irresistibly funny. With her saucy and captivating stage presence, Aideen leaves audiences in stitches, ensuring an unforgettable comedy experience.


Not only a rising star on the stage, Aideen has made regular appearances on esteemed platforms such as RTE, TG4, BBC Northern Ireland, and BBC Radio 4. As one of the resident comperes at the prestigious International Comedy Club in Dublin, she has shared the stage with comedy legends like Sean Hughes, Reginald D Hunter, Ardal O’Hanon, Dylan Moran, Johnny Vegas, Phil Kay, and Frankie Boyle.


m

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Redmond O’Donoghue Redmond O’Donoghue Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:15:57 GMT 49:54 6916ecd3243c8d88702a9e8a false https://open.spotify.com/show/4yoeT6vnReIHxJwXMcflPm 6916ecd3243c8d88702a9e8a 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 redmond-odonoghue Marketing a career in business - FORD, Waterford full 2 2 Redmond O'Donoghue is as near to being a Waterford man as you can get without actually being born there. As it happens, he was born in Cork but his bank manager father quickly moved down the coast to Waterford.


The family lived ``over the shop'' and O'Donoghue tells how he trotted through the branch each day en route to Waterpark, the city's rugby-playing school.


How proficient he was at the game is not known, but a passion and recognised skill at tennis was handed down from his mother, Mickie, who once took on her sister in the final of the Irish Open at Fitzwilliam.


Indeed, it was through tennis that he met his wife Anthea, who went on to represent Ireland at all levels of the game. On leaving school, O'Donoghue went to UCD and studied for a B Comm.


Bank managers' sons had a habit in those days of following in their fathers' footsteps. Luckily, O'Donoghue had a bit of pull with Harrington Goodlass Wall, the Cork paint maker, and entered its sales department.


In 1968, he joined Ford in Cork and spent 18 years with the motor company, moving to Bristol before becoming marketing director of Ford in Spain, a huge car market.


in 1985 He moved back home joining Waterford Crystal (or Waterford Glass as it was then known) at the behest of Paddy Hayes, his former boss at Ford in Cork, who had only recently moved to the company as executive chairman.


Given some of the challenges the company had been facing l, O'Donoghue said he saw Dr O'Reilly's involvement as ``the critical turning point''. It was the lifeline which allowed the executives to concentrate on developing what was one of Ireland's very few brands.


More recently as Chairman of the Board of Management at Newtown School, he has overseen its strategic planning and business development. He had also Chairman at the Confederation of Golf in Ireland for over a decade.


Redmond has held senior roles at esteemed institutions, including Good Food Ireland, Failte Ireland, IBEC, Waterford Institute of Technology, Greencore, Waterford Wedgwood Plc, The Marketing Institute, and Ford Motor Company 


His academic background is rooted in business marketing, with degrees from Harvard Business School and University College Dublin.


Being a native of Ireland, he holds a deep understanding of the local market and economy


Courtesy of the Irish Examiner

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Redmond O'Donoghue is as near to being a Waterford man as you can get without actually being born there. As it happens, he was born in Cork but his bank manager father quickly moved down the coast to Waterford.


The family lived ``over the shop'' and O'Donoghue tells how he trotted through the branch each day en route to Waterpark, the city's rugby-playing school.


How proficient he was at the game is not known, but a passion and recognised skill at tennis was handed down from his mother, Mickie, who once took on her sister in the final of the Irish Open at Fitzwilliam.


Indeed, it was through tennis that he met his wife Anthea, who went on to represent Ireland at all levels of the game. On leaving school, O'Donoghue went to UCD and studied for a B Comm.


Bank managers' sons had a habit in those days of following in their fathers' footsteps. Luckily, O'Donoghue had a bit of pull with Harrington Goodlass Wall, the Cork paint maker, and entered its sales department.


In 1968, he joined Ford in Cork and spent 18 years with the motor company, moving to Bristol before becoming marketing director of Ford in Spain, a huge car market.


in 1985 He moved back home joining Waterford Crystal (or Waterford Glass as it was then known) at the behest of Paddy Hayes, his former boss at Ford in Cork, who had only recently moved to the company as executive chairman.


Given some of the challenges the company had been facing l, O'Donoghue said he saw Dr O'Reilly's involvement as ``the critical turning point''. It was the lifeline which allowed the executives to concentrate on developing what was one of Ireland's very few brands.


More recently as Chairman of the Board of Management at Newtown School, he has overseen its strategic planning and business development. He had also Chairman at the Confederation of Golf in Ireland for over a decade.


Redmond has held senior roles at esteemed institutions, including Good Food Ireland, Failte Ireland, IBEC, Waterford Institute of Technology, Greencore, Waterford Wedgwood Plc, The Marketing Institute, and Ford Motor Company 


His academic background is rooted in business marketing, with degrees from Harvard Business School and University College Dublin.


Being a native of Ireland, he holds a deep understanding of the local market and economy


Courtesy of the Irish Examiner

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Eamon Carr Eamon Carr Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:41:58 GMT 54:18 68ff8edc4bfd27f82da441ec false https://www.aranislanddiscs.ie 68ff8edc4bfd27f82da441ec 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 eamon-carr Poet, Rock Drummer, Writer - and Horslips full 2 1 Writer, musician, art historian, Eamon Carr’s artistic career began when, inspired by the Liverpool Scene, he set up the Tara Telephone collective with Peter Fallon in 1969.  


The group organised poetry workshops and published the small press Capella magazine, Book of Invasions broadsheet and began a series of collections under the Gallery Books imprint. The group also gave recitals and toured extensively.


One of Eamon’s initiatives was to team up with Che Guevara poster artist Jim Fitzpatrick for a series of poem posters. One of these, A Tale of Love, was included in the Tate Gallery, Liverpool, Summer of Love: Art of the Psychedelic Era Exhibition in 2005, which later toured to Vienna and Frankfurt. 


In 1971, Eamon moved on to co-found Horslips, the pioneering folk-rock group in which he is lyricist and drummer. The group’s most recent release is More Than You Can Chew, a box-set of 33 albums. 


A journalist and broadcaster, he presented Seeking Refuge, an exhibition of his photography documenting life in refugee camps on the Kosovo-Albania border in 1999, with music by Ken O’Duffy, as part of the Festival of Politics (2019). 

In 2010, his five-poem cycle Ascension: Ireland was staged in the Walled Garden of the Pearse Museum by multi-media artist Daniel Figgis. 

Artists whose work he brought to general release, through independent record labels he supervised, include Philip Chevron's The Radiators from Space, Agnes Bernelle, Light A Big Fire, The Golden Horde and the Stars of Heaven among others. His poetry and lyrics have been recorded by a number of musicians including Henry McCullough, Eamonn Dowd and Mike Brookfield.  

 A former recipient of the Sarah Purser Scholarship (The History of European Painting) at Trinity College, Dublin, he is a widely-published commentator on culture, arts and sport.  

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Writer, musician, art historian, Eamon Carr’s artistic career began when, inspired by the Liverpool Scene, he set up the Tara Telephone collective with Peter Fallon in 1969.  


The group organised poetry workshops and published the small press Capella magazine, Book of Invasions broadsheet and began a series of collections under the Gallery Books imprint. The group also gave recitals and toured extensively.


One of Eamon’s initiatives was to team up with Che Guevara poster artist Jim Fitzpatrick for a series of poem posters. One of these, A Tale of Love, was included in the Tate Gallery, Liverpool, Summer of Love: Art of the Psychedelic Era Exhibition in 2005, which later toured to Vienna and Frankfurt. 


In 1971, Eamon moved on to co-found Horslips, the pioneering folk-rock group in which he is lyricist and drummer. The group’s most recent release is More Than You Can Chew, a box-set of 33 albums. 


A journalist and broadcaster, he presented Seeking Refuge, an exhibition of his photography documenting life in refugee camps on the Kosovo-Albania border in 1999, with music by Ken O’Duffy, as part of the Festival of Politics (2019). 

In 2010, his five-poem cycle Ascension: Ireland was staged in the Walled Garden of the Pearse Museum by multi-media artist Daniel Figgis. 

Artists whose work he brought to general release, through independent record labels he supervised, include Philip Chevron's The Radiators from Space, Agnes Bernelle, Light A Big Fire, The Golden Horde and the Stars of Heaven among others. His poetry and lyrics have been recorded by a number of musicians including Henry McCullough, Eamonn Dowd and Mike Brookfield.  

 A former recipient of the Sarah Purser Scholarship (The History of European Painting) at Trinity College, Dublin, he is a widely-published commentator on culture, arts and sport.  

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Peter Murtagh Peter Murtagh Sat, 24 May 2025 07:30:00 GMT 40:08 682ded22f1e6dabeea3ffa21 false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/682ded22f1e6dabeea3ffa21 682ded22f1e6dabeea3ffa21 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 peter-murtagh full 1 14 Peter Murtagh is an award-winning, Irish-born journalist and author. He spent almost 40 years in newspapers (working for The Irish Times and the Sunday Tribune in Ireland, and the Sunday Times and The Guardian in the UK) before retiring formally in 2019. He held several management positions across all titles, including chief editor, foreign editor, news editor, opinion editor and managing editor. As a reporter, he specialized in long form investigative pieces.


“Take your chances and go and do it,” was a key lesson journalist Peter Murtagh took from his motorbike trip from the southern tip of South America to the northern top of Alaska.


I didn’t want to stop working; I loved the buzz of my working life — the daily excitement of chasing stories, engaging with people, finding things out and then writing it all up. But all good things must, if not end completely, then at least change somewhat. Old farts must make way for bright young eager beavers who want to make their own mark. So, OK, I had to retire from formal, full-time employment because, in the bigger scheme of things, it was the right thing to do.


I knew that I wanted to mark this enormous change in my life by doing a few big things. One of those was long nurtured plans to ride my bike, a BMW R1200 GS Adventure, from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, to a place named, appropriately enough, Deadhorse. Which he described in his recent book, From Tip to Top, published by Gill (2024)


He has received the Award for Outstanding Journalism in Ireland (1983), Reporter of the Year in the UK Press Awards (1986), and the News Brands Ireland award for Investigative Journalism (2016).


He is the co-author (with Joe Joyce) of two books, The Boss – Charles J Haughey in Government (Poolbeg, 1983), and Blind Justice (Poolbeg 1984); The Rape of Greece – the king, the colonels and the resistance (Simon & Schuster, 1994), and, (with Natasha Murtagh), Buen Camino! – a father daughter journey from Croagh Patrick to Santiago de Compostela (Gill, 2011)


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Peter Murtagh is an award-winning, Irish-born journalist and author. He spent almost 40 years in newspapers (working for The Irish Times and the Sunday Tribune in Ireland, and the Sunday Times and The Guardian in the UK) before retiring formally in 2019. He held several management positions across all titles, including chief editor, foreign editor, news editor, opinion editor and managing editor. As a reporter, he specialized in long form investigative pieces.


“Take your chances and go and do it,” was a key lesson journalist Peter Murtagh took from his motorbike trip from the southern tip of South America to the northern top of Alaska.


I didn’t want to stop working; I loved the buzz of my working life — the daily excitement of chasing stories, engaging with people, finding things out and then writing it all up. But all good things must, if not end completely, then at least change somewhat. Old farts must make way for bright young eager beavers who want to make their own mark. So, OK, I had to retire from formal, full-time employment because, in the bigger scheme of things, it was the right thing to do.


I knew that I wanted to mark this enormous change in my life by doing a few big things. One of those was long nurtured plans to ride my bike, a BMW R1200 GS Adventure, from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, to a place named, appropriately enough, Deadhorse. Which he described in his recent book, From Tip to Top, published by Gill (2024)


He has received the Award for Outstanding Journalism in Ireland (1983), Reporter of the Year in the UK Press Awards (1986), and the News Brands Ireland award for Investigative Journalism (2016).


He is the co-author (with Joe Joyce) of two books, The Boss – Charles J Haughey in Government (Poolbeg, 1983), and Blind Justice (Poolbeg 1984); The Rape of Greece – the king, the colonels and the resistance (Simon & Schuster, 1994), and, (with Natasha Murtagh), Buen Camino! – a father daughter journey from Croagh Patrick to Santiago de Compostela (Gill, 2011)


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh Sat, 10 May 2025 07:30:00 GMT 43:08 681de3d3365a6906d36d82d7 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/aedin-ni-thiarnaigh 681de3d3365a6906d36d82d7 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 aedin-ni-thiarnaigh full 1 13 Television presenter, creative writer, translator, and Irish tutor.


Postgraduate Certificate in Irish Translation Studies at the University of Galway, MA in Irish Folklore and Ethnology from University College Dublin and BA in Gaeilge + Journalism from the University of Limerick.


Owner and founder of Bláthanna Fiáine Wildflower

Walks, Inis Meáin.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Television presenter, creative writer, translator, and Irish tutor.


Postgraduate Certificate in Irish Translation Studies at the University of Galway, MA in Irish Folklore and Ethnology from University College Dublin and BA in Gaeilge + Journalism from the University of Limerick.


Owner and founder of Bláthanna Fiáine Wildflower

Walks, Inis Meáin.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dick Spring Dick Spring Sat, 03 May 2025 07:30:00 GMT 46:01 6815c07bcea66829862fd148 false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/6815c07bcea66829862fd148 6815c07bcea66829862fd148 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 ddickickspring A life in politics and more - Spring full 1 12 Dick Spring is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and Minister for Foreign, elected Leader of the Labour Party in 1982.


During his 15 year tenure as Leader, the party participated in 3 Irish coalition governments, with Mr Spring holding the positions of Deputy Prime Minister (1982 – 1987 & 1993 – 1997), Minister for the Environment (1982 – 1983), Minister for Energy (1983 – 1987), and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1993 – 1997). 


Spring was prominently involved in the Northern Ireland Peace Process, initially as joint negotiator with the Irish Prime Minister during the Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985) and subsequently as a negotiator during the Downing Street Declaration (1993).


He went on to co-chair the Anglo Irish Intergovernmental Conference (1993-1997) and led the Irish delegation to the All Party Talks in Belfast, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. 


Dick was educated at Cistercian College, Roscrea, Trinity College Dublin and subsequently qualified as a barrister at The Society of Kings Inns, where he is now an Honorary Bencher.


Spring has also a number of Non-Executive Directorships including Goodbody Stockbrokers, Alder Capital, and the Diversification Strategy Fund, and is currently Deputy Chairman of Fexco Holdings and Chairman of the Foundation Board at The Institute of Technology Tralee.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dick Spring is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and Minister for Foreign, elected Leader of the Labour Party in 1982.


During his 15 year tenure as Leader, the party participated in 3 Irish coalition governments, with Mr Spring holding the positions of Deputy Prime Minister (1982 – 1987 & 1993 – 1997), Minister for the Environment (1982 – 1983), Minister for Energy (1983 – 1987), and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1993 – 1997). 


Spring was prominently involved in the Northern Ireland Peace Process, initially as joint negotiator with the Irish Prime Minister during the Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985) and subsequently as a negotiator during the Downing Street Declaration (1993).


He went on to co-chair the Anglo Irish Intergovernmental Conference (1993-1997) and led the Irish delegation to the All Party Talks in Belfast, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. 


Dick was educated at Cistercian College, Roscrea, Trinity College Dublin and subsequently qualified as a barrister at The Society of Kings Inns, where he is now an Honorary Bencher.


Spring has also a number of Non-Executive Directorships including Goodbody Stockbrokers, Alder Capital, and the Diversification Strategy Fund, and is currently Deputy Chairman of Fexco Holdings and Chairman of the Foundation Board at The Institute of Technology Tralee.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Annmarie O’Connor Annmarie O’Connor Sat, 26 Apr 2025 10:10:48 GMT 49:29 680c9f512e4e0a1b46f73c85 false https://shows.acast.com/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/680c9f512e4e0a1b46f73c85 680c9f512e4e0a1b46f73c85 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 annemariannemarie-connor-oconnor A full life challenged by a Twitch full 1 11 With a self-styled ‘wardrobe wellness’ brand and mindful approach to dressing, Annemarie helps people find their personal style. 


However, in late 2021, her life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition affecting movement and mental health.


She has since become an outspoken advocate for Parkinson’s awareness, sharing her journey to shed light on the realities of living with the disease including a five-part podcast series, Living Your Best Life.


In recognition of her commitment to bringing about social change, she won the Catalyst award at Irish Tatler’s Women of the Year 2023 and was featured by the Irish Examiner as one of 100 Women Changing Ireland, 2023.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> With a self-styled ‘wardrobe wellness’ brand and mindful approach to dressing, Annemarie helps people find their personal style. 


However, in late 2021, her life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition affecting movement and mental health.


She has since become an outspoken advocate for Parkinson’s awareness, sharing her journey to shed light on the realities of living with the disease including a five-part podcast series, Living Your Best Life.


In recognition of her commitment to bringing about social change, she won the Catalyst award at Irish Tatler’s Women of the Year 2023 and was featured by the Irish Examiner as one of 100 Women Changing Ireland, 2023.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Phil Quinlan Phil Quinlan Sat, 19 Apr 2025 07:57:00 GMT 41:38 68034a883d09fdf27f78b130 false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/68034a883d09fdf27f78b130 68034a883d09fdf27f78b130 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 phil-quinlan A Bang on the Ear full 1 10 Phil Quinlan was 16 years old when he went up for a header in 1989 and came down to a life transformed.


A clash of heads with a schoolfriend left him in a coma.When he woke, he was paralysed down his right side. Over time, he got the use of himself again but the 34 years since – the anniversary is next weekend – have been filled with chronic pain, a signature limp and a constant battle with his legs and feet to find some small level of comfort.


The life he had was one of non-stop sport and activity. He ran cross-country for Meath. He played soccer with Parkvilla, he won county medals with his school. That whole side of his life turned to vapour in an instant and he’s spent 3½ decades since trying to get back on his feet.


Courtesy Makachy Clerkin

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Phil Quinlan was 16 years old when he went up for a header in 1989 and came down to a life transformed.


A clash of heads with a schoolfriend left him in a coma.When he woke, he was paralysed down his right side. Over time, he got the use of himself again but the 34 years since – the anniversary is next weekend – have been filled with chronic pain, a signature limp and a constant battle with his legs and feet to find some small level of comfort.


The life he had was one of non-stop sport and activity. He ran cross-country for Meath. He played soccer with Parkvilla, he won county medals with his school. That whole side of his life turned to vapour in an instant and he’s spent 3½ decades since trying to get back on his feet.


Courtesy Makachy Clerkin

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dwayne Woods Dwayne Woods Sat, 12 Apr 2025 07:30:00 GMT 39:58 67ee9ef99524713132177e45 false https://open.acast.com/public/streams/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67ee9ef99524713132177e45.mp3 67ee9ef99524713132177e45 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 dwayne-woods full 1 9 Dwayne Woods is a Music Publicist and Artist Manager at Butter Wouldn’t Melt. 


With nearly 20 years of experience in the music industry, Dwayne has honed his expertise across various fields, including Radio Broadcasting, Journalism, Events, PR, and Artist Management and Development. He currently manages musician and visual artist Meljoann.


Dwayne is currently on a break from the music industry for mental health reasons, but admits he misses radio deeply, finding anything related to radio or programming therapeutic. Originally from County Leitrim and now living in Drogheda, Dwayne has been on a journey of sobriety since 2022. He is also a dedicated mental health advocate, activist, and openly talks about living with ADHD.


Music has been a life-saving force for Dwayne, helping him through the darkest moments and shaping who he is today. Despite facing significant challenges, including eight months of homelessness, he credits music with giving him the strength to carry on and build his career.


Dwayne’s passion for music and mental health advocacy continues to drive him forward, embracing life’s challenges with resilience and courage. 


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dwayne Woods is a Music Publicist and Artist Manager at Butter Wouldn’t Melt. 


With nearly 20 years of experience in the music industry, Dwayne has honed his expertise across various fields, including Radio Broadcasting, Journalism, Events, PR, and Artist Management and Development. He currently manages musician and visual artist Meljoann.


Dwayne is currently on a break from the music industry for mental health reasons, but admits he misses radio deeply, finding anything related to radio or programming therapeutic. Originally from County Leitrim and now living in Drogheda, Dwayne has been on a journey of sobriety since 2022. He is also a dedicated mental health advocate, activist, and openly talks about living with ADHD.


Music has been a life-saving force for Dwayne, helping him through the darkest moments and shaping who he is today. Despite facing significant challenges, including eight months of homelessness, he credits music with giving him the strength to carry on and build his career.


Dwayne’s passion for music and mental health advocacy continues to drive him forward, embracing life’s challenges with resilience and courage. 


Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[Niall O'Dowd]]> Sat, 05 Apr 2025 08:00:00 GMT 37:52 67f013f3dd74d6439c44909c false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67f013f3dd74d6439c44909c 67f013f3dd74d6439c44909c 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 niall-odowd A life in Irish America full 1 8 Niall O'Dowd is the Founder of IrishCentral as well as of Irish America Magazine and the Irish Voice Newspaper. He is also responsible for publishing IrishCentral.com community newspaper and The Irish Emigrant newspaper, in Boston. He founded the Wall Street 50 awards, the Top 100 Irish Americans, the Business 100 and more recently the Top 50 Women in Business and the Irish Legal 100 awards.


Niall was awarded an honorary doctorate by University College Dublin for his work on the Irish peace process, which was a subject of a book, "Daring Diplomacy" and a PBS Special, "An Irish Voice."


His book, An Irish Voice, is a remarkable first-hand account of an Irish emigrant who began as a part-time footballer and house-painter, and became a journalist, author, founder and publisher of two newspapers, a magazine and website, as well as a leading advocate for immigration reform for the ‘illegal’ Irish in the United States.


He played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process, securing a US visa for Gerry Adams in 1994 and acting as intermediary between the White House and Sinn Féin during a critical time in the peace negotiations.


He is also the author of Fire in the Morning, about the Irish at the World Trade Centre on 9/11 and an adjunct professor of journalism at Columbia University.


He was also a founder of the Irish Americans for Clinton campaign in 1991, supporting candidate Bill Clinton for president. He led an Irish American peace delegation to Northern Ireland after Clinton was elected and acted as intermediary between Sinn Fein and the White House at a critical period in the peace process. His role was featured in the book Daring Diplomacy by Conor O'Clery.


O'Dowd created the US Ireland Forum, a forerunner of the Diaspora forum held by the Irish government in 2009.


A native of Ireland, (his father was from Cillchuile, Ballydavid Co. Kerry, and lives in New York with wife Debbie McGoldrick and daughter, Alanna..

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Niall O'Dowd is the Founder of IrishCentral as well as of Irish America Magazine and the Irish Voice Newspaper. He is also responsible for publishing IrishCentral.com community newspaper and The Irish Emigrant newspaper, in Boston. He founded the Wall Street 50 awards, the Top 100 Irish Americans, the Business 100 and more recently the Top 50 Women in Business and the Irish Legal 100 awards.


Niall was awarded an honorary doctorate by University College Dublin for his work on the Irish peace process, which was a subject of a book, "Daring Diplomacy" and a PBS Special, "An Irish Voice."


His book, An Irish Voice, is a remarkable first-hand account of an Irish emigrant who began as a part-time footballer and house-painter, and became a journalist, author, founder and publisher of two newspapers, a magazine and website, as well as a leading advocate for immigration reform for the ‘illegal’ Irish in the United States.


He played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process, securing a US visa for Gerry Adams in 1994 and acting as intermediary between the White House and Sinn Féin during a critical time in the peace negotiations.


He is also the author of Fire in the Morning, about the Irish at the World Trade Centre on 9/11 and an adjunct professor of journalism at Columbia University.


He was also a founder of the Irish Americans for Clinton campaign in 1991, supporting candidate Bill Clinton for president. He led an Irish American peace delegation to Northern Ireland after Clinton was elected and acted as intermediary between Sinn Fein and the White House at a critical period in the peace process. His role was featured in the book Daring Diplomacy by Conor O'Clery.


O'Dowd created the US Ireland Forum, a forerunner of the Diaspora forum held by the Irish government in 2009.


A native of Ireland, (his father was from Cillchuile, Ballydavid Co. Kerry, and lives in New York with wife Debbie McGoldrick and daughter, Alanna..

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Pádraig Ó Céidigh Pádraig Ó Céidigh Sat, 29 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT 52:02 67cf13e0de20851680bca41e false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67cf13e0de20851680bca41e 67cf13e0de20851680bca41e 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 padraig-o-ceidigh full 1 7 Pádraig Ó Céidigh has had multiple careers. He’s been a teacher, an accountant, a lawyer, and an entrepreneur.


In 1993, he bought a tiny, failing airline and turned it into a thriving regional carrier with revenues in excess of $150 million. He went on to found and develop businesses across a range of sectors, including property, publishing, printing, and healthcare.


Pádraig is a former winner of Ireland EY Entrepreneur of the Year and represented Ireland at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. He’s also found time to serve on various state and non-state boards and was a senator in the Irish parliament from 2016 to 2020.


An alumnus of the University of Galway and Harvard University, he is currently an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship and business at the University of Galway.


Pádraig lives in the west of Ireland with his wife, Caitlín. The Purposeful Decision Maker is his first book.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Pádraig Ó Céidigh has had multiple careers. He’s been a teacher, an accountant, a lawyer, and an entrepreneur.


In 1993, he bought a tiny, failing airline and turned it into a thriving regional carrier with revenues in excess of $150 million. He went on to found and develop businesses across a range of sectors, including property, publishing, printing, and healthcare.


Pádraig is a former winner of Ireland EY Entrepreneur of the Year and represented Ireland at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. He’s also found time to serve on various state and non-state boards and was a senator in the Irish parliament from 2016 to 2020.


An alumnus of the University of Galway and Harvard University, he is currently an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship and business at the University of Galway.


Pádraig lives in the west of Ireland with his wife, Caitlín. The Purposeful Decision Maker is his first book.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Derek Daly Derek Daly Sat, 22 Mar 2025 06:57:45 GMT 44:17 67dd1b9eec9837e25e656561 false https://shows.acast.com/aran-island-discs/episodes/derek-daly 67dd1b9eec9837e25e656561 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 derek-daly Daly Life in the Fast Lane full 1 6 Derek Daly is an Irish former racing driver, businessman and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1978 to 1982.


Born and raised in Dublin, Daly won the British Formula Three Championship in 1977, before participating in 64 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting at the 1978 United States Grand Prix West. His 15 championship points made him the first Irish driver to score in Formula One, and remains the highest scoring; he also participated in several non-championship races. After Formula One, Daly moved to the United States to compete in CART and IMSA, where he led Nissan to the IMSA GTP Championship in 1990

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Derek Daly is an Irish former racing driver, businessman and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1978 to 1982.


Born and raised in Dublin, Daly won the British Formula Three Championship in 1977, before participating in 64 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting at the 1978 United States Grand Prix West. His 15 championship points made him the first Irish driver to score in Formula One, and remains the highest scoring; he also participated in several non-championship races. After Formula One, Daly moved to the United States to compete in CART and IMSA, where he led Nissan to the IMSA GTP Championship in 1990

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Declan Ryan Declan Ryan Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:41:57 GMT 48:37 67d56e65aaba807fb7e8f86c false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67d56e65aaba807fb7e8f86c 67d56e65aaba807fb7e8f86c 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 declan-ryan Ryan Aer Dog full 1 5 The story of how the Ryan family came back from the brink, and, in the process, brought low-fare airlines to the world is little known. Yes, people know about Ryanair, which transformed travel in Europe. But there is much more.


The family took the Ryanair template and rolled it out in five other low-fare airlines – making flying affordable to billions of people on four continents.


This is the story that became the book Aer Dogs. It is, of course, about Tony Ryan, who died in 2007, and the Ryan family. But it is also about other families few have heard of – names such as Carragher, Doherty, Maxwell, Mulvihill, Mason, Goode and Blaney.


These were the so-called “Aer Dogs”, people who took the Ryanair spirit and exported it around the world and the story is told by Tom Lyon’s in Aer Dogs, just recently published.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The story of how the Ryan family came back from the brink, and, in the process, brought low-fare airlines to the world is little known. Yes, people know about Ryanair, which transformed travel in Europe. But there is much more.


The family took the Ryanair template and rolled it out in five other low-fare airlines – making flying affordable to billions of people on four continents.


This is the story that became the book Aer Dogs. It is, of course, about Tony Ryan, who died in 2007, and the Ryan family. But it is also about other families few have heard of – names such as Carragher, Doherty, Maxwell, Mulvihill, Mason, Goode and Blaney.


These were the so-called “Aer Dogs”, people who took the Ryanair spirit and exported it around the world and the story is told by Tom Lyon’s in Aer Dogs, just recently published.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Colm Hayes Colm Hayes Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:53:34 GMT 38:14 67cf13b3d64d9d8e86ec0a7c false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67cf13b3d64d9d8e86ec0a7c 67cf13b3d64d9d8e86ec0a7c 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 colm-hayes Spinning Classic Records - Hayes full 1 4 Colm Hayes, is an Irish radio broadcaster and sometimes television presenter. He formerly presented weekend breakfasts on RTE2 FM, The Strawberry Alarm Clock and currently presents The Morning Show on Classic Hits with Lucy Kennedy.


Colm has just launched a new podcast with his brother, titled Brothers in Arms.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Colm Hayes, is an Irish radio broadcaster and sometimes television presenter. He formerly presented weekend breakfasts on RTE2 FM, The Strawberry Alarm Clock and currently presents The Morning Show on Classic Hits with Lucy Kennedy.


Colm has just launched a new podcast with his brother, titled Brothers in Arms.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Conor Niland Conor Niland Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:16:00 GMT 35:35 67c2bc83acf7d850b3a67659 false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67c2bc83acf7d850b3a67659 67c2bc83acf7d850b3a67659 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 conor-niland A side of life in tennis full 1 3 When Conor Niland was 16, he got the chance to hit with Serena Williams at Nick Bollettieri's famed tennis academy. Conor, the Irish junior number one, was feeling a bit homesick. Serena, also 16, already owned her own house beside the academy. Conor Niland knows what it's like when Roger Federer walks into the dressing room ('Ciao, bonjour, hello!'), and he has had the exquisitely terrible experience of facing Novak Djokovic in the world's biggest tennis stadium - while suffering from food poisoning. But he never reached the very top. 

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> When Conor Niland was 16, he got the chance to hit with Serena Williams at Nick Bollettieri's famed tennis academy. Conor, the Irish junior number one, was feeling a bit homesick. Serena, also 16, already owned her own house beside the academy. Conor Niland knows what it's like when Roger Federer walks into the dressing room ('Ciao, bonjour, hello!'), and he has had the exquisitely terrible experience of facing Novak Djokovic in the world's biggest tennis stadium - while suffering from food poisoning. But he never reached the very top. 

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Deb Grant Deb Grant Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:19:04 GMT 46:46 67b068e806ec54e1d27c426d false https://open.acast.com/networks/6797de60b6e07e5a2fd92ae7/shows/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/67b068e806ec54e1d27c426d 67b068e806ec54e1d27c426d 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 djdebgrant Grant life on 6Music full 1 2 Growing up in Dublin, Deb Grant was buying records from an early age and started DJing when she was just 15.

Her career has been a consistent pursuit of exciting opportunities to share her favourite records with a crowd ready to get down.

Deb now lives In Manchester, moving after being in London for many years, for her job as a presenter on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Growing up in Dublin, Deb Grant was buying records from an early age and started DJing when she was just 15.

Her career has been a consistent pursuit of exciting opportunities to share her favourite records with a crowd ready to get down.

Deb now lives In Manchester, moving after being in London for many years, for her job as a presenter on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Caroline McGuigan Caroline McGuigan Sat, 01 Feb 2025 09:29:10 GMT 49:47 679cadb774564c4194ee551b false https://open.acast.com/public/streams/6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9/episodes/679cadb774564c4194ee551b.mp3 679cadb774564c4194ee551b 6797e0dc673aa382e1fbaea9 carolinemcguigan The one and only -- Gentle John Pender full 1 1 Founder and past CEO of a Mental Health/Suicide Prevention organisation that evolved from passionate, persistence, unequivocal belief, anger, commitment and love. I followed my truth and remained authentic in relation to change even when this meant not fitting in, being challenged, bg left on the outskirts but also holding the essence of change in society.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Founder and past CEO of a Mental Health/Suicide Prevention organisation that evolved from passionate, persistence, unequivocal belief, anger, commitment and love. I followed my truth and remained authentic in relation to change even when this meant not fitting in, being challenged, bg left on the outskirts but also holding the essence of change in society.

Aran Island Discs is an Irish themed podcast hosted by Rossa McDermott


Each episode features a guest who is invited to imagine themselves on the Aran Islands—a symbolic place evoking rugged beauty and Irish cultural heritage—and explore the soundtrack of their life. Guests choose songs that have shaped their personal journeys, sparking conversations about key moments, memories, and influences in their life.


edited by Peter Rice, and distributed via platforms Acast, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. .


Sponsorship enquiries

contact@aranislanddiscs.ie

www.aranislanddiscs.ie


I“Feels like sitting in on a real conversation”


  • #AranIslandDiscs #IrishPodcast #PodcastIreland #IrishStories #MusicAndMemory #LongFormPodcast
  • #IrishCulture
  • #PodcastLife 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>