Sin Scéal Eile

89/365: Jess Majekodunmi in Ceannt Fort, Dublin.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:43:08 GMT

Jess has recently discovered a whole new strand to her family. She bought a DNA test for her Mum’s birthday and now has a new uncle and a whole heap of cousins.

It’s amazing to think back to just a few generations ago, when people often made heartbreaking decisions to give up much loved children and the need to take those secrets to the grave.

Together they’ve been discovering so much about their own history and unique connection with Ireland, tracing their Nigerian side as far back as 1930 in Dublin.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too, go to SinScealEile.com for more information.

If you love this series and you appreciate that it takes a lot of time, passion and funding to bring it to you every day, consider becoming a sponsor. You can subscribe for exclusive content on Patreon, or make a once off donation on BuyMeACoffee (I’m “ruthlessimagery” on both accounts, or click the link on our website)

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

88/365: Dimitrios Politis, Sallins, Co. Kildare.

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:38:45 GMT

Dimitrios is Greek by birth, but Irish by heart. He arrived here in 1989 and was met with nothing but good old Irish hospitality (a cup of tea and a scone). He speaks so fondly of Ireland that I find myself beaming with pride as he reads a short piece he wrote about his experience of being an immigrant in our country.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

87/365: Alan LaCasse, Co. Laois.

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:41:38 GMT

Life feels truly unfair sometimes. All Alan has wanted in life is a family of his own. After being abandoned at a train station in the UK by his mother when he was a child, he finally made his way back to Ireland and started his own family. He has 5 wonderful children, a wife and a 10 week old puppy called Elvis.

When Alan first reached out to me, he wanted to tell me his adoption story, that was November 2025. By the time I made it to Laois, Alan had received some devastating news. In December 2025 he started to get some worrying symptoms. He twinged his back while carrying his 5 year old autistic son and he also had blood in his stool. At the hospital he was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer.

The cancer has spread to his liver and bones. His back is fractured due to weakened bones, leaving him fairly bedridden. His life has been turned upside down and even with chemo he’s not sure how long he has left. All he wants now is to do everything as big and extravagantly as possible so as to leave his kids with the most amazing memories of him. He’s secured concert tickets for the older ones, hoping maybe they’ll get to meet their musical heroes and remember the night forever. He is also trying to figure out something perfectly ‘Mickey Mouse’ related for the youngest. In an ideal world he’d take them all to Disneyland. In an ideal world, his cancer wouldn’t exist.

Chatting to me today was exhausting for Alan, but he did it so that other people would take their symptoms seriously. More and more people under 50 are presenting with colon cancer. If bowel cancer is found early, it’s easier to treat and there’s a better chance of recovery.

Today is the start of Bowel Cancer Awareness month. Today’s episode was earmarked for my pal, Glenn Keating. We were to record his own story of bowel cancer on March 18th, but cancer took him sooner than we all thought.

Meeting Alan, hearing his story (so similar to Glenn’s), and publishing it on this day, was all purely coincidental.

I’m so grateful to Alan for sharing his story today.

Please see @bowelcancerireland for more information, get yourself screened regularly, and take all symptoms seriously.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

86/365: Gráinne Clear in Navan, Co. Meath.

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:46:51 GMT

I’ve never met someone who loves the art of book publishing more than Gráinne Clear. We met in her family home in Navan, where she pops back every few weeks from her base in London. She exploded her life not too long ago and luckily landed her dream job as a result.

She works in children’s books for a publisher that she’s long admired. We have a fascinating chat about the psychology of reading and how she feels responsible for minding little minds.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

85/365: Róisín Sheehy in Tymon Park, Dublin.

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:53:22 GMT

Róisín has quit her lovely stable job as a teacher and has followed her passion of professional birdwatching. We took a stroll around Tymon Park on a rainy Sunday morning and chatted about birds, spotting herons, blackbirds, and even some divorced swans.

Sometimes it’s the simplest topics which are the most enjoyable.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

84/365: Lisa Walsh at the Liffey, Dublin City Centre

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:31:13 GMT

It was Lisa Walsh’s choice that we meet on the banks of the Liffey for our podcast chat today. She’s a true Northside Dubliner from Ballymun. She’s only lived at 3 addresses in her lifetime, a home bird by all accounts.

Lisa, who trained as a social worker in child protection, loves the feeling of being rooted and acknowledges the sacredness of a home for her children, “It’s their home. They might never be able to afford a house of their own, so they need to see my home as theirs. I’ll leave it to them. But I don’t want to give them too much, I want them to earn for themselves, not to take privileges for granted so that their achievements are all the more sweeter”.

Lisa is now an accomplished playwright who writes what she knows, community, people and Dublin. She describes the Liffey to me and suddenly it’s like I’m seeing it for the first time in years. “It holds the chaos of the city very calmly. When I’m near the Liffey I think of all the people who have crossed it, from South to North, like my parents did way back when they moved for a better life. I think of all the couples who had their photos taken on O’Connell bridge on nights out. The Liffey holds their hopes and dreams, and it’s happy being the rhythm of whole city. No matter what happens, the river holds it all, calmly.”

I don’t think I’ve ever considered the Liffey to be a character in a story the way that Lisa describes it, playing a part in all of our lives.

She is the first of her family to go to college. She crossed the Ha’penny bridge each day to attend Trinity, in her Doc Marten boots and tights, not knowing what was in store for her on the Southside, she almost used the Liffey as a source of courage.

“I had no frame of reference for college, I hadn’t got a clue, I was terrified. When I got to the bridge, I remember it so clearly, it was like a magnet, holding on to me, rooting me. I took strength from that. I started to think I could do anything. With every step I got taller, louder, braver. I could take on anything that was in store for me in Trinity”

Lisa and I continue writing a joint love letter to Dublin. My sound engineer who is recording the podcast quips that he’s never met anyone who loves Dublin more than me, until now. We talk about all the issues that affect people, especially young women, growing up in “working class” areas of Dublin. We talk about the social structures that can limit you. The “poverty trap” that informs Lisa’s work. She writes from a working class perspective the way that only those with a lived experience can.

She grew up in a tight knit community and was always encouraged to advocate for herself. Knowing when to fight for what you need, and knowing when to adapt and fly under the radar.

Even in our short conversation I feel empowered and proud to be a Northside woman, our Dublin accents getting beautifully thicker with each sentence shared between us.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

83/365: Oli McHugh, Annaghkeen, Co. Galway.

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

I could have sat in Oli's beautiful wee cottage for hours and hours, drinking tea and listening to the story of his life. His home is as warm and inviting as he is. It's packed with art of various forms, including a gorgeous Mary statue passed down from his grandmother (which has been disco-fied to match the space). Thatch cottage living is in his genes, so it seems only fitting he has settled in and renovated one of his own. Taking time to plant native irish trees in his acre of land and enjoying a peaceful, rural, country life.

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

82/365: Martin Donnelly in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:31:59 GMT

Martin plays his cards close to his chest. He was recommended to be in the project by a mutual friend of ours and I can tell that he doesn’t quite know what to make of me and my project. In his lovely home in Ballycastle, we sit on his handmade furniture. His beautiful pieces that would sell for hundreds, if not thousands, in a gallery, modestly decorate his living room. In the local village he facilitates wood working classes and by all accounts is a bit of a local legend. We chat some more about Steiner schools, playing music and bit by bit I think he warms up to me..

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

81/365: Tony Clayton-Lea, Co. Meath.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Tony is a journalist, mostly writing about arts, culture and music. He’s written about me a couple of times too and I’ve always thought it was the most well researched interview I’ve ever had.

In his work, Tony is considerate and respectful of his interviewee. He knows when to push for more and when to stay silent. He favours broadsheets over tabloids and he graciously shares top class interview tips with me.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

80/365: Gillian Pryor in Malahide, Co. Dublin

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Gillian is a dog person if ever there was one. After her last wee dog crossed the rainbow bridge, she was obviously devastated.

Alone in the house, she felt the loss even more, but decided to be both proactive and utterly selfless by taking on the challenge of raising a puppy for Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland. Along came Cupid and with him so much joy, boundless energy and a link to a whole new community of friends for Gillian.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

79/365: Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan in Glasnevin, Dublin.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:12:07 GMT

Chandrika is a poet, an immigrant and self-described “diplo-brat”. She has travelled the world from a young age, following her Mum from post to post as she worked as an ambassador and diplomat for India.

Chandrika found many versions of “home” along the way. She recalls being so warmly welcomed by her classmates in Turkey and has kept those friendships alive well into adulthood.

It has been a lot more difficult to find herself a permanent home. She doesn't feel a true connection with India, having spent such little time there. She wanted to settle in the UK, but due to new immigration laws found it difficult. Much like our own immigration process in Ireland, it was stressful, long, expensive and oftentimes incredibly distressing.

She is settled now, living and working happily in Dublin. She owns her own home, she can finally hang picture frames, get a pet, write poetry and no longer be afraid of having to move on.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

78/365: Íde Hughes in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:20:42 GMT

I met Íde in Boyds pub in Ballycastle. She had seen online that I was bringing this project to the area and looking for people to share their story. She didn’t sign up at the time as she thought maybe I’d find more interesting people. We sat and chat over a few pints and I think she warmed up to me and in turn, really understood that I wanted to chat to all types of people. By the time I got back to my apartment, she had messaged me and told me a snippet of the story she’d like people to know.

From her food inspired instagram account, @ideiseating, Íde shares recipes and life stories. She wants to show the world all of the delicious food she’s been creating and eating, as a way of changing her relationship with food, and as part of her recovery from anorexia.

The pandemic and lockdown was a hard time for a lot of people and Íde struggled too. With constant media stories about “how to get fit” and influencers broadcasting their workouts from home, she felt like she needed to emerge from the lockdown as a different person.

She began to overexercise and drastically reduce her calorie intake. She was young, still a teenager, a time when she should have been socialising, studying, seeing the world, she was trapped and in a very anxious limbo.

“I think it was just me wanting to be in control of something at a time when everything else was out of my control. I could control what I ate. I could control how I exercised. I just grasped on to this craze of weight loss exercise, dieting. Not that I ever, ever had to lose weight. I was literally eighteen. Perfectly healthy.”

She’s a fiercely brave woman, who now works in the local café & bakery, Ursa Minor. You’d think that putting yourself in a food orientated environment would be triggering for someone with an eating disorder, but it has given Íde both confidence and joy. She has transformed, from being a young woman riddled with anxiety, to this beautiful, chatty person that sits with me here today. She has come through this ordeal and is not mournful or regretful, instead she has a greater understanding of how her mind and her body co-exist.

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

77/365: Colm O’Doherty, Lucan, Dublin.

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:20:13 GMT

Colm is a dark horse. You’d think he was just an unassuming man, part time taxi driver, loving Father, Husband etc. What you wouldn’t guess from him is that he’s lived a very full and exciting life.

He lived in Baghdad for a spell, building an airport for Saddam Hussein, entertaining the locals with his busking everywhere he went. He’s climbed Kilamanjaro and Everest base camp. He’s also a bit of a trailblazer, as both him and his wife have been vegetarian since the 90s, which I know from experience is not an easy thing!

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

76/365: Julian Friers in Bushmills, Co. Antrim

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 16:34:05 GMT

This is a very quick paced project. I don’t have any real time to research the life and work of people who I'm meeting, I’m usually learning along with the listener..

If I had time to research Julian’s work before meeting him, I probably would have fangirled my way through the interview. He shows me around his studio and I’m utterly dumbstruck by the incredible life and beauty in his paintings.

He paints mostly wildlife. Sometimes he paints from memory, sometimes from photos and sometimes using his collection of roadkill for reference (his collection of skulls will haunt me for life, but in a good way). He also paints native Irish animals which have since gone extinct, which really is the greatest job of all time.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

75/365: David Quinney Mee, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:30:44 GMT

I sat down with David to talk about his daughter, Lucia. He tells me that this is her story, not his, and that if she were here today she'd be the one chatting to us.

I've read Lucia's website and her blog, I've got a sense of who she was and David only confirms my impression of her. She was endlessly kind, gracious and compassionate. A young, vibrant and fun woman.

She was a recipient of multiple liver transplants in her short lifetime and in turn she dedicated her time and skills to campaigning for donor awareness.

She set up her website “Live Loudly, Donate Proudly” and encouraged people to have open conversations about organ donation.

You can read her blog and stories here as well as updates now managed by her family.

www.live-loudly-donate-proudly.org

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

74/365: Kelly Socol in Drogheda

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:39:12 GMT

It’s hard to keep up with Kelly, she talks a mile a minute and over one (very delicious cup of coffee) we have covered so many incredibly deep topics.

She tells me about how she met her wife and fell instantly and madly in love. How they went on to battle through multiple rounds of unsuccessful IVF, and then how they finally conceived their two beautiful children.

It’s a happy, loving family, tucked down a very cute and picturesque street. Kelly quietly battles with her MS, explaining to me what the reality of living with a disability and two young kids is like, all while I pet Otis, the orange fluffball, who also happens to be disabled.

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

73/365: Karen Murad in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:37:27 GMT

The great thing about this project is that I’m constantly learning, everyday is a school day in 2026. Karen came to tell me about the relationship between Ireland and the Roman Empire. I for one didn’t know we were all that close with the Romans!

Karen has a PHD and is fascinated by history but it was her fascination with Ireland that led her to work in an Irish bar back home in America, where, as we can all guess, she met an Irish man, whom she later married.

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

72/365: Damo Bolger at the St Patrick's Day Festival, Dublin City

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:35:04 GMT

I’ve known Damo from working in the events industry for years, I know he’s a grafter, I know he’s a plate spinner and I know he loves his work on the St. Patrick’s Day Festival.

We popped up to where the floats and performers were getting ready this morning to see Damo in action and get an insight into the production that goes into it all. Between his phone calls and radio calls he manages to tell us how you get an idea for a float to become a working, functional vehicle that can hoist an aerial performer in the air, swinging from a tree branch and surrounded by bold faeries and Irish wolfhounds.

The whole morning is a sensory overload as we see all the marching bands getting into formation, the stilt walkers climbing up, and all the wee kids absolutely buzzing to get going.

The parade is something to be truly cherished, along with the greater festival events too. It shows the best of the Irish community, our heritage, our talent, our skills, and our love of pure craic and divilment.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh go léir x

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

71/365: Sinead White in Dublin

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:42:23 GMT

Musician (and friend) Sinéad White, is about to have her first baby. By the time this podcast comes out, all going well, there’ll be a new baby boy or girl in the world. Her partner knows the gender, she doesn’t, so that’s also adding to the suspense in the room. (If you listen to the update at the end of the podcast, you can find out too! And the cutest name ever!)

All around her home there’s signs of something happening. In her bathroom, there’s a tiny baby bath placed in the shower. In the hallway, there’s a second hand freezer, with a list attached of all the pre-made meals inside that her and her partner Kieran have been preparing over the last few weeks. The energy and excitement in the house is palpable and it’s truly heartwarming to see.

When I ask about her pregnancy and if it went well, she’s almost embarrassed to tell me that it was really easy. “The experience has really made me a lot more sensitive to how much other people might be going through, even in terms of, say, fertility or babies. Everything behind the scenes that you've no clue about.” She almost feels a tad guilty for having such a lovely time while pregnant, but as her friend, it’s joyous to see. Sinéad has wanted a family for so long. She has not gone without her own struggles, ideally she would have loved to have started earlier (she’s 36), but life got a bit bumpy, as it does. It’s so very on brand for her that even now, at a time that should be all about her, she’s still considering the feelings of others.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

70/365: Niamh McComish in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:36:47 GMT

Let’s start by saying I met Niamh in the pub one afternoon and this podcast could have been about 8 hours long, but we couldn’t do that to our editor Dee. So we capped the recording after an hour and continued with the pints for a few hours more.

What I realised quite quickly after meeting her, is that Niamh is no ordinary woman. She’s a million different types of woman all rolled into one feisty wee package. She’s a life drawing model, bellydancer, single mother of four, mountain climber, podiatrist, solo traveller and an absolute, certified, top class buzzer.

Her stories have me in creases, she has impeccable comedic timing, but what strikes me the most is her warmth. She has a maternal energy around her, not mammy-ish, just general craic with a hint of divilment and a whole lot of kindness too.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

69/365: Orla Crilly in Dundalk

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:31:15 GMT

If you were ever looking for a sign, head to Orla’s house. She has adorned her walls in positive affirmations. Orla has welcomed 13 children into her home, both as a Mother and a foster parent. Her own mother and father (also foster parents) sadly died young, leaving Orla to come back home and raise the youngest of their family herself.

Orla is an incredibly passionate and community driven woman, but she’s also a very spiritual person. She firmly believes in angels, guardians, energies and healing. But mostly what she believes in is helping others. Offering them space and comfort while in this mortal world.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

68/365: Charlie Bosanquet, Rathlin Island

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:34:35 GMT

When I saw Charlie walking up the road with her dog, I knew instantly she was a boater. Effortlessly cool and extremely laid back. Charlie lives on a big red boat in the harbour of Rathlin Island. 10 years ago she went to a rave on the island, fell in love with the place and decided to move.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

67/365: Marianne Green on Rathlin Island

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

We got the ferry to Rathlin, our first island in the project. Marianne was waiting and took us for a lovely spin around the island. She's an incredibly knowledgeable woman and told us all about the ups and downs of island life. She was born and raised on Rathlin and tells me that everyone on the island has at least two jobs. Whether you’re on the committee or you volunteer for the fire brigade, everyone is expected to pitch in to make the island a better place to live. Like most people I speak to for this project, housing is a huge issue and it seems like the crisis hasn’t passed over Rathlin either. She points out all the summer homes and Air B&Bs currently standing empty.

We had an interesting and insightful chat, and a proper tour of the island, by someone who knows it intimately. I feel very lucky indeed and I can’t wait to meet more islanders as we endeavor to reach every inhabited island of Ireland.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

66/365: Laura Montgomery in Ballintoy

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:21:25 GMT

Laura’s house seems very unassuming from the front, it’s one of a row of houses in a little estate in Ballintoy. When you’re on the doorstep and turn around, you can really see its value. It has one of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen, all the way to Rathlin and Fair Head gleaming in the sunshine.

Laura is fun. Just straight up fun, positive, cheery and great to chat to. She’s a paramedic and explains that she comes face to face with mortality far more than most professions. To combat the negative impact of this, she hits the gym, feeds her hens, and perches at the top of her garden to take in the outstanding view.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

65/365: Alex McNeill, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:47:36 GMT

Alex answered the door of her family home in rural Antrim in full cosplay, and it made my day. She’s a confident, chatty young woman, but she wasn’t always so outgoing. Since she found her tribe of cosplayers and gamers, she has totally come out of her shell.

You’ll find her at conventions, in full cosplay attire, either on stage lip syncing, having some professional photos taken, or chatting with like minded friends. It seems like a beautiful way to spend the day and a very heartwarming hobby.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

64/365: Eamonn Moloney at Blackrock Diving Board, Salthill, Galway.

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:06:10 GMT

It’s a misty, grey day down in Galway. I met Eamonn at the Blackrock diving board, a place that so many people find comfort and solace in.

Eamonn, who has bounced between Galway and Dublin his whole life, swims here every day, even throughout the winter. He’s just come out of the water when I met him, even though it’s absolutely baltic.

Eamonn is an advocate for mental health and has been an ambassador for many charities. He speaks at events, and festivals and he presents talks in workplaces. Eamonn has the unique perspective of being able to speak from lived experience.

Eamonn’s life seems to centre around volunteering for various charities. He keeps himself busy by helping others in any way that he can. He’ll be the first to raise his hand for a fundraiser, no matter what the event is. He’ll try his hand at anything if he thinks it’ll make an impact or help even just one person.

You can have a little listen to our full chat, just search for Sin Scéal Eile wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify etc) or at our website, SinScealEile.

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Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

63/365: Ciara O’ hArtghaile in Ballycastle

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:51:54 GMT

When I arrived to Ballycastle and we checked into our incredible accommodation (shout out to Yarn Ballycastle) there was some sourdough bread and wee pistachio cakes left for us. Let me tell you this, those cakes were the best thing I’ve ever tasted and I instantly needed to meet the woman behind them.

Ursa Minor bakery is just a stones throw from the Yarn and inside you’ll find the bakery in the basement and a café and a very cute shop upstairs selling the finest foodie products our island has to offer.

I met Ciara in the Ursa Minor bakery school where she told me how the cafe came to be. It's a beautiful story filled with romance, community vibes and soulful food.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

62/365: Cheyanne Corbett, Ballymoney

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:31:14 GMT

It’s unusual to hear of big families these days, so when Cheyanne contacted me and told me she was one of 15, I jumped at the chance to chat to her. Her story is incredibly positive, growing up in a small house filled with love and bunk beds. She’s very proud of all that she has achieved in life, including her place at Uni, but credits her Mother above all else for her success.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

61/365: Lorcan Sirr

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:32:29 GMT

Have you ever wondered about owning a campervan? Lorcan has had 4 in his lifetime, and like myself, absolutely adores the lifestyle. It was great to meet a fellow campervan obsessive and really get to the nitty gritty of why we’re ‘mad for road’.

Unlike me, Lorcan likes a compact and stealthy van, something neat that he can fit into his driveway. What we totally agree on though is the utter relief you get when you park up somewhere new, open the door to an epic view, and crack a cold drink and watch the sunset.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

60/365: Matt Lunson, Dublin

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:44:22 GMT

Matt is a joy to be around, a real buzzer and total chatter. He’s Australian originally, but only very recently got his Irish citizenship and is only delighted with himself.

We talk about what it means to be Irish. It’s the first sunny day of the year, which is probably why we’re both in a great moon and together we gush over this fab Island and all who inhabit it.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

59/365: Ria Czerniak-LeBov at NCAD, Dublin.

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:10:50 GMT

I feel a bit underprepared when I meet Ria and listen to her speak. She’s incredibly informed, confident and articulate, referencing book after book. I’m in awe of her knowledge.

She’s an Irish, Jewish pro-Palestinian artist and activist, who works in NCAD (where she also studied). Her heritage has informed her practice as an artist, but also who she is as a person. She’s determined to speak her mind, even if it offends some of her own family (who would hold opposite political views). Working as both a lecturer and a journalist, she’s eager to make people understand that being Jewish, does not equate to being a Zionist and in turn, being anti-Israel, is not antisemitic.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

58/365: Colin Hanley, Lough Corrib, Galway

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:27:09 GMT

Usually at 6am, I’m getting into bed, not getting out of bed, putting on all my layers, and heading to a rowing club. I’m reluctant to say the least, especially as Galway has it’s trademark mist making my face glossy and freezing.

However, I will admit, as soon as we passed the river and reached the lake, everything got eerily peaceful and I began to understand the draw of rowing.

Colin has been rowing out here for decades and he’s currently the President of the Tribesmen Rowing Club in Galway. He rows for many reasons. For socialising, accountability, and to keep himself both physically and mentally healthy. It seems like the perfect activity to meet new, like-minded people who can become life-long friends. It’s also a great way to keep yourself out of the pub (rowing at 6am after a night out would obviously be all kinds of hell).

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

57/365: Siobhan Weldon, St Anne’s Park, Dublin

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:44:43 GMT

I met Siobhán in St Anne’s Park, it was cold, but refreshing. She doesn’t remember what she wrote on her application form to be in this project, and she’s a bit surprised I chose to interview her. For me, it’s so important to include Siobhán as she describes herself as “ordinary” which is precisely who this project is designed for.

“I feel a need to truly be "seen". I would never normally put myself forward for something like this but I'm moving into a new decade and I think it's OK to ask to be considered. An ordinary woman, an ordinary life, but I'm still here. I still matter.”

I sat with Siobhán first not knowing what we’d talk about. I had asked her if there were any similarities between when she had a child at 21 and her next child at 37, then the topic quickly revealed itself as postpartum depression. Within 10 minutes of meeting we were deep into an incredibly sensitive conversation.

The emotions, thoughts, symptoms she described to me sound utterly horrendous and I felt embarrassed for not previously understanding the complexity of postnatal depression.

In a world where community nurses are extremely overstretched and the focus is primarily on the beautiful new baby, Siobhán thinks it’s important to check in with new mums. To ask them honestly and outright “Do you think you might be depressed?” when you think things are a bit off. You could save them so much pain and anguish and start them on their journey to getting help..

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

56/365: Virtue Shine, Galway

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:55:14 GMT

Joyful, colourful, wonderful. Virtue is a Galway shop-keeper (but I really feel we should call her a shop-maker, as she makes a lot of things she sells). In her gorgeous shop on Dominick Street, she has a vibrant mix of Ghanian patterns, symbols and fabrics, paired with traditional Irish tweed and little dots of Gaeilge all around.

Her ethos in the store is all about legacy and heritage. Making long lasting, high quality pieces, that not only tell a story, but can be handed down to the next generation.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

55/365: Barry Kerr, Inverin, Co Galway.

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:44:45 GMT

Galway has a certain type of rain that feels wetter than anywhere else in Ireland. The streaks of thick rain flow sideways across the huge windows of Barry’s painting studio, which is nestled in the Connemara landscape. Everywhere I look, inside and out, there’s warm colours of rust, green and stone grey, both in his paintings, his outfit and outside the windows, all unmistakably Connemara.

We talk through Barry’s process as an artist. He tends to wear two hats in life, one as a successful touring trad musician, the other as an equally successful painter, both roles influencing each other. Elements of nature seeping deep into every aspect of his work.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

54/365: Julie Gordon in Galway

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:11:23 GMT

This project is an archive of 2026 and designed, not to serve me (the photographer) but you, the reader, the everyday people of Ireland. When Julie wrote to me and asked if she could use the project to remember her son, Zach, and record his name in print, I of course said yes.

Zach was just 14 when he died in a road traffic accident. Julie tells me that he was a very chilled, compassionate and quiet boy. He was on the cusp of his true teenage years and just about to grow taller than his Dad (no mean feat at 6 foot 1).

We talk about grief and there's no amount of imagination that will ever let me comprehend the pain of losing a child. What I do understand though is that Julie is an incredibly strong person, who is braving each day and making sure her family are as happy as they possibly can be, and that Zach lives on through all of them.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

53/365: Pat Branton, Kinvara, Co Galway

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:58:51 GMT

I met Pat in his home in rural Galway and instantly I’m taken with his sense of style, not just in how he dresses but how he has decorated his home. It’s obvious it’s a home that appreciates art and music. He tells me what it was like being a teenager, leaving Dundalk and moving to Dublin at a time when he was too young to even get into bars.

He’s lived a full life, 69 years of travelling, volunteering, playing music (even the odd bit of smoking weed) but he feels he’s kept young by his second wife (20 years his junior) and his beautiful kids. He now fills his days dishing out hot lunches to the kids in his daughter's primary school.

—--------

You can have a little listen to our full chat, just search for Sin Scéal Eile wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify etc) or at our website, SinScealEile.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

52/365 : Aoife Rankin in Galway City

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Aoife is lovely, calm, happy, and polite. All the things I could never be if I had been through what she has been through. She has suffered for over a decade with chronic Lyme disease, something she believes picked up while gardening in Galway.

It seems such an innocuous start to an experience that has been both devastating and life-changing for her. The chronic form of Lyme disease that experts in Germany finally diagnosed her with isn’t formally recognised in Ireland and many other states. This means that patients in these countries have to battle to get the care they need, whilst also battling the debilitating fatigue that is a classic symptom of their condition.

Her story makes me upset, angry and utterly concerned for the rest of the public who are, like I was, completely unaware of the damage that an untreated tick bite can do. With life on the move (and with a dog) we’ve been encouraged to learn more about safety measures we can take from here on in. Here’s a brief explainer from the HSE if you’d like to learn more.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

51/365: Larry Maguire, Dunmore, Co. Galway

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:21:16 GMT

Who knew, that tucked away down a very unassuming wee road, in rural Galway, there would be a house, and behind the house, a cheese factory!

Larry retired from the hustle and bustle in Dublin’s inner city, and migrated West with his wife Anne. Fascinated with the process of cheese making, Larry chipped in with a pal on some goats. He then got more goats, and more goats, until he had 64 of them, all being milked out the back of the house.

His business boomed, winning food awards left right and centre. He has since transitioned to cow’s milk, which he collects from a woman down the road. He’ll don his white lab coat and play around with new flavours to keep himself entertained, his new truffle variety is apparently quite amazing.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

50/365: Paul Connolly, The Old Schoolhouse, Swords, Co. Dublin

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:08:27 GMT

I’m not just meeting strangers for this project, although the majority of 365 people I interview will be new to me. This week I sat down with my cousin, Paul, as he was keen to share his story with the world.

Paul is 7 years older than me so we didn’t hang out a lot when we were younger. I always thought that he was cool, his bedroom was in the attic, he had dreadlocks and played guitar. I always knew he was adopted (and so did he). It was something that was never really mentioned, never made a big deal about, but not shrouded in secrecy either. Paul wants to chat today to normalise talking about adoption.

“It's about demystifying the whole thing. I think what we're suffering from still is the idea that adoption needs to be a secret. I only know myself and one other person who've publicly announced that they're adopted.”

Paul considers himself very fortunate that when he decided to trace his biological mother, the process was relatively easy, as she too was looking for him, but it’s not something he entered into lightly.

“There are so many different stakeholders who are going to be impacted by this process.

You’re keen, the birth mother is keen. But I've got siblings, I’ve got children, and all of those people need to be considered.”

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

49/365: Keara Sheeran, St Joseph's Church, Galway City.

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:21:59 GMT

Gospel music is something that has totally passed me by, except for the odd Sister Act marathon in my childhood. Seeing a gospel choir in full swing is amazing craic. Watching the choir's director, Keara, make it come to life with her sharp movements and blinding smile is truly fascinating. She lets her personality shine through via her faith, her gospel choir and her fashion style too.

She’s been directing her choir in Galway City since she was 28, but has been singing in churches her whole life. She speaks passionately about her faith, residing somewhere deep in Catholicism but with the added energetic bounce of Pentecostalism.

You can have a little listen to our full chat, just search for Sin Scéal Eile wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify etc) or at our website, SinScealEile.

#SinScéalEile

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

48:365: Séamus Reynolds in Naas, County Kildare

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:45:39 GMT

Seamus is a breath of fresh air. He's over 6 foot, ripped, owns a kick boxing gym but absolutely radiates a beautiful energy full of positive masculinity.

From his travels around the world as a “mindful rambler”, taking tantric classes with Dutch gigilos and teaching self defence classes in his local community, he has a very unique and enviable perspective on life.

After meeting him (and doing some nifty breathing exercises) I feel centered and very confident that there's amazing men out there like Séamus, who look out for new generations and improve every world they inhabit.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

47/365: Paul O'Connell in Sandyford, Dublin

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Meeting Paul is so inspiring. Here’s a 48 year old man who recently started a brand new hobby which has utterly changed his life.

Diagnosed with ADHD late in life, he began what he describes as a period of mourning, followed by investigation, education and eventually aerial silks. Now you’ll find him swinging from the rafters with a brand new lease of life.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

46/365: Eddie Bosano-Andrews at "The Jumping Church" in Ardee, Co Louth.

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:59:56 GMT

It’s safe to say I’ve never met a man in a kilt at a jumping church before. It was 3 degrees outside when we stood amongst the graves in the jumping church (named so after the walls “jumped” three feet to exclude a tortured soul from its burial grounds) and my feet were freezing to the ground. I'm not sure how Eddie coped with his bare knees.

Eddie is a self described “field person”. He’s spent 30 years in fields across the world, running the bars at festivals (including my beloved Glastonbury). We chatted about the buzz of festivals, how they’re such an inherent part of our culture , one that’s unfortunately at risk of being swept up into the corporate world.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

45/365 : Paul Goldsberry in Baltinglass, Wicklow.

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:17:37 GMT

We drove through what at times felt like a film set and found ourselves on a beautiful (albeit muddy) patch of land just outside Baltinglass. The rain gave us some grace as we pulled into a long driveway, making sure to close the fence and not let the horses out.

We met Paul with his partner of 17 years Martina, their dog, cats and 4 horses in their cosy home (you’d never know it was a refurbished ruin).

We have a very chilled conversation which concludes with a lovely thought, that sometimes success isn’t career goals, promotions and money. Success can be logging off at 5pm and heading out to care for the animals, with your partner by your side (and a birthday cake for Andromeda, the much loved, 37 year old horse).

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

44/365: Angela Dorgan in Dublin

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:08:03 GMT

To say that Angela Dorgan is well known in the Irish music industry would be the understatement of the year. Many would say she IS the Irish music industry. She’s the driving force behind Ireland Music Week, which gives so many young Irish bands their start. She uses her abundance of passion, her smarts, her charm and her incredible knowledge and compassion to ensure that baby bands get all the resources, funding, support and confidence they need to make it out of Ireland.

Angela has also been instrumental in Ireland welcoming the Basic Income for the Arts scheme. She fought so hard for Irish artists to be recognised and respected by the Irish government. She lobbied, argued, and fought for us all, all the while fighting her own battle with cancer. Legend.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

43/365: Geoff Finan at St Audeon’s Primary School, Dublin City Centre.

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:08:03 GMT

I got emotional talking to Geoff, not for sad reasons, but because it’s rare that I encounter someone who is so selfless, humble, proud of others, and so unbelievably grateful to his own Mother.

Geoff is two things, a poet and a principal and for the first time today he’s letting those two sides of himself come out in one interview.

Geoff and his team of teachers, SNAs and support staff have created a space that I could only have dreamed of when I was a child. The walls are colourful, and bouncing off them in huge letters are positive messages of encouragement.

“We believe in positive affirmation. That's our only rule in the school, kind hands, kind feet and kind words.”

Geoff didn’t ever see himself as a Principal, but he did always want to teach. His art loving, well-read Mother instilled in him the value of a good education his whole life.

“She'd say to me, they can take everything, son, but they can't take your education.” It’s a line that is echoed in a poem Geoff recites to me at the end of our chat today.

“My siblings and I went to a gaelscoil, when my mates all went to schools in the area. I saw the effects of a good education, something that my mates didn't have. They drifted towards drugs, dealing, using heroin, that type of stuff.”

What I see in Geoff is the effects of a strong matriarch, raising her children to have courage, pride and compassion. And in turn, what Geoff is doing in this school is giving so many little boys and girls a chance in life they may not otherwise have.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

42/365: Alex Ryan in Stoneybatter, Dublin.

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:27:04 GMT

Being a touring musician for most of his adult life, Alex Ryan has a unique perspective on the music industry. We sat in Walsh’s pub for the afternoon and reminisced about life on the road touring with Hozier and all that it offered us, the friends we made, relationships we formed and the craic that was had.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

41/365: Ruth Dardis in Dublin

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I’ve never met anyone who has worked in Antarctica before so it was such a joy to sit and chat with Ruth about her adventures there. Ruth is bubbly, hilarious and full of life.

It’s no surprise that she sold her house (almost on a whim), packed everything into her van and went to work in the kitchens of McMurdo station.

By all accounts, it sounded cold, very strange, but also romantic and fun in parts too.

We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily. You can be a part of it too. Go to SinScealEile.ie for more information.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

40/365: Tomás Mulligan, in The Cobblestone, Smithfield.

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:03:25 GMT

I’ve lost many a night (and day) sitting in the iconic Cobblestone pub, listening to tunes and sharing stories with friends.

I was so intrigued to chat with Tomás who grew up in the pub (and his Father, who himself has a few tales to tell) about their love of folklore and archiving.

Together they instill an amazing ethos in the pub, one of mutual respect and camaraderie between the pub owners, the musicians who play in it, and the punters who frequent it. It’s one of the reasons the pub is so loved within the community and why people rallied round to save it from developers.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

39/365: Liza Clancy in St Stephen’s Green Park, Dublin

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

You might think it’s weird or morbid to talk about death, it’s definitely discouraged in a lot of circles, but talking about death is something both Liza and I agree should be done more often. She’s even gone as far as hosting Death Cafés.

Liza found her way into the life of a death doula and undertaker after her husband passed. With no one to truly eulogise him the way he would have wanted, Liza stepped up. Little did she know at the time that she’d be stepping into the role more permanently, taking her life in a brand new direction, and in turn helping so many more families give a fitting goodbye to their loved ones.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

38/365: Sam Ahern in The Liberties, Dublin.

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:34:00 GMT

When Sam wrote to me to be included in the project, the first thing that struck me was the eloquence of their writing. They were passionate, proud and really understood my mission with this project. It was no surprise to hear that Sam is a writer and director for film and TV, a world which they have been extremely inamoured with from a young age.

What Sam loves the most about their job is that it provides an opportunity to give representation to the trans and queer communities they cherish so much. A way of ensuring that their lives are seen as “liveable lives”. Lives that can be happy, fulfilled and normal.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

37/365: Sharon Rickard-Plant in Bettystown, Co Meath

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:15:44 GMT

I’m buzzing from my morning of cuddles with the two of the most giggliest babies ever. Today I got to meet Sharon, a single mum of six beautiful, smart, confident children (who are an absolute credit to her). If you asked AI to imagine an “Irish Mammy”, you’d probably get a photo of a dowdy, middle aged woman in an apron, surrounded by peeled spuds or something equally as old fashioned and offensive.

The person who I sit with today is anything but that. She’s vibrant, young, glamorous. She has all the traits of a great Mam, she’s kind, supportive and fun. She puts her children, their education and their happiness first (something she learned from her own parents). She’s covered in tattoos, loves to pole dance, and works as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on the ambulances and tells me the gorgeous story of how her twins came into this world.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

36/365: Mo Arekat in Dublin 8

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:42:00 GMT

I met Mo Arekat in the Fumbally Cafe where he works as a chef and instantly I realise that he is a bit of a local celebrity. Everyone has a big hello and hugs for him as we wander through the busy cafe on his day off.

He is well loved in his new community and that feeling is truly reciprocated. Mo is bursting to tell me his story, but not the one you may think of when you meet a Palestinian/Jordanian asylum seeker, he wants to tell me about his amazing new Irish family. The people who rescued him from sleeping on the streets and the extended community who have surrounded and supported him since.

Mo landed in Ireland on a cold February day, he registered as an asylum seeker and was handed a tent. He had been sleeping on the streets for two weeks when he met some outreach volunteers. These people saw him for what he was, a young man of just 22, in need of help. He was terrified, with no money and no where to go.

The volunteers offered to house Mo for a few days while he recovered from a cold. “They welcomed me into their home. Not as a refugee, not as a case number. As a family. We shared dinners and they’d ask how my day was. Those small, ordinary moments did something powerful. They made me feel safe.” Mo got along so well with the family and their kids they invited him to stay for as long as he needed and until he got himself truly settled.

The young man who sits before me today is eloquent and witty. He has the same cheeky charm of many Irish men I’ve met before, so I’m surprised to hear he didn’t speak any english only two years prior when he arrived.

Hearing that Mo was rescued by absolute angels on the streets of Ireland and welcomed wholeheartedly by the Fumbally community gives me an enormous amount of pride. It also leaves me very saddened to know that there must be so many more people like him, clutching a tent, who simply want to be safe, to contribute and to belong.

As I tuck into Mo’s incredible carrot and tomato soup today, I overhear the table next to us raving about the food “the chefs here are amazing” and I agree.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

35/365: Keith Dunne in Dublin

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:59:16 GMT

I don’t think you’ll ever find a more passionate person than Keith when he’s talking about wrestling. In a great big barn in the middle of nowhere you’ll find The School of Irish Wrestling.

It may look like a cattle shed outside, but inside you’ll find two massive wrestling rings and huge posters of all the famous Irish wrestlers who’ve gone on to the WWE (the ultimate dream job according to Keith.)

I learned so much about wrestling, the touring, the performance element and yes, apparently it really does hurt!

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

34/365: Claire Malone in Naas, Co. Kildare

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:31:21 GMT

Claire is young, strong and extremely knowledgeable about endometriosis, a condition that has plagued her since she was 11 years old. She has had to fight with insurance companies, advocate for herself to be taken seriously by pharmacists and doctors, and persuade so many consultants to refer her so that she could get the treatment that she needed.

She sits here today telling me her story so that others may benefit from all this research she has done. Claire found the answers to her crippling pain in a clinic in Romania, but hopes that in the future, other women will be able to get the care they need at home.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

33/365: Lee Page in Howth

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:54:37 GMT

Lee is the kind of guy that just by looking at him, you know he will have a good yarn to spin. We met for a pint one very rainy afternoon in Howth, the clanging of the masts on the boats rocking in the bay and the rain pelting off the window added the perfect soundtrack to our chat.

Lee has come prepared. He tells me an adventurous tale from his past, one of Caribbean seas, cheap Colombian contraband and storm warnings that would have Teresa Mannion reaching for her rain coat.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

32/365: Angie Gough in The Tara Buildings, Dublin.

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Angie is modest and humble. I can tell she’s uncomfortable talking about the incredible work she has done for Helping Irish Hosts, the organisation she helped start in March 2022, just after the invasion in Ukraine.

Angie is much more relaxed when she’s talking about all of the other amazing people who work alongside her, making sure that the everyday people who signed up to host Ukrainian refugees are supported. HIH was started in a time of crisis and from pure necessity. Angie and her sister seem to have sprung into action as soon as it was clear that Ireland was going to welcome an immense amount of refugees. They immediately began to rally their neighbours and friends, they cleared space in their homes, started whatsapp groups and spreadsheets. They continued to work tirelessly for the years that followed, ensuring that both those hosting and being hosted, felt supported, recognised and respected.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

31/365: Michael Behan in Ringsend, Dublin

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

The first thing I notice about Michael and Anne’s apartment in Dublin City Centre is the colour. The walls are an incredible shade of orange, there’s portraits of David Bowie and Bob Marley on the wall and a huge colourful teapot collection on the shelves.

It’s a fun, vibrant space, which seems perfect for the couple who live here.

Michael invited me over to talk about his situation as a full time carer. He’s been minding Anne, full time, since she had brain surgery in 2017.

Michael is a positive man, chipper and chatty. He tells us about his life, Anne’s health struggles and how they used to live, in a very matter of fact way. He’s not looking for pity, he’s content, and of late, Anne has been happy too, as long as they’re together.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

30/365: Steacy O’Donohoe - Kia Ora Mini Farm, Wexford

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

“Kia ora” is Māori for “welcome”, an unusual phrase to hear in the sunny South East of Ireland but perfectly fitting for this particular farm.I remember visiting the Kia Ora Mini Farm on a school tour when I was about 5 or 6 and having my little Dubliner mind blown, so to re-visit a good 30+ years on was such a treat.

It’s a family run business in the truest sense and today I’m chatting with 23 year old Steacy who has lived next door, fed the chickens, mucked out the pigs and cuddled the rabbits her whole life.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

29/365: Morgan Wilson on Francis Street, Dublin.

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:01:00 GMT

Morgan is cool, but not in a pretentious way, in a charming and intellectual way, the way that most good songwriters and musicians can be if they keep themselves grounded. He plays drums, which is arguably one of the most physical roles in a band and Morgan has cerebral palsy.

I shamefully know very little (or even nothing) about cerebral palsy, which doesn’t surprise Morgan. It’s apparently rare to see people with the condition being portrayed in the media.

He explains the extent of his cerebral palsy and its physical restrictions to me in such a succinct and concise manner that it dawns on me that he’s been explaining this his whole life. He’s generous with my questions, and has a very calm way of telling me about all that he faces.

“So on this side, I can tap my foot as quickly as I like. But if I try and do that over here on my other foot, there's a lot less data from me to it, and it's not picking it up as well. It's essentially a signal error. That's how it feels to me, like bad wifi.”

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

28/365: Caitriona Nic Cárthaigh at Bull Island, Dublin

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:02:00 GMT

The awful stormy weather of late broke long enough for me to photograph Caitriona down on the wooden bridge in Clontarf, which was quite fitting as we’d been chatting about the arrival of Spring. Caitriona emailed me through Irish with a smattering of béarla to tell me about her love of “Naomh Bríd agus mná na hÉireann”.

We chat a bit about Bríd as well as her sister in sainthood, St Gobnait (the patron saint of bees) but mainly we chat about Irish country life, our language, religion and traditions.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily.

You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

27/365: Daria Decolleté in McHughs Pub, Drogheda

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met Daria on a quiet afternoon in her local pub in Drogheda, she was easy to recognise thankfully. She came dressed in sequins, feathers and legs that went on for days.

Apparently there’s a bit of a burlesque scene burgeoning in Drogheda. Daria has been producing wildly entertaining evenings for the past few years, attracting folk from as far as Belfast and locals alike, with each show selling out.

She explains the origins of burlesque to me, how it compares to modern day performing, while also patiently answering all my endless questions (and then letting me try on the headdress).

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait. We’re interviewing and photographing people from all over Ireland, collecting their stories and sharing them daily.

You can be a part of it too, just follow @ruthlessimagery online for more details.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

26/365: Ciara McNally at The Drury Buildings, Dublin

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

When Ciara wrote to me about being in this project, she didn’t say much at all. She just said that her story is one about “heartache and uncertainty at a time of life where others seem to have everything together”. This was enough for me to know I needed to listen to her story.

We sit outside on Drury street, it’s lashing rain and we’ve just begged the bar to turn on the patio heaters above us as we sip a warm cider. One of the many things that Ciara and I agree upon during our chats is that heartbreak isn’t respected or acknowledged enough in today’s society. The grief you experience when a relationship breaks down can be as painful as a death, but yet there’s no mass gathering of well wishers to help you get you through it.

Listening to Ciara speak today and I know that she’s speaking for entire generations of women who have been through relationship wars as well (myself included).

Come back tomorrow for another photograph/podcast/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

25/365: John McGuire in Ranelagh, Dublin

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

As I approach my 40th birthday, I find my mind beginning to focus on my health and mobility a lot more. When I see an email from Dr. John McGuire in my inbox, a 77 year old yoga teacher, wishing to share his story, I jumped at the chance to chat to him.

John found yoga in the 90s from a recommendation by his doctor, advising him to seek methods of core strengthening. What he ended up gaining was so much more.

When he retired from the business world, he entered the teaching world and his goal is to remain a yoga teacher until he’s 100.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/photo/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

24/365: Kim Littlefield in Rialto, Dublin

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:46:10 GMT

Kim is one of many Americans who have applied to be in this project, but what made her stand out to me was that she mentioned having absolutely no ancestral roots that tie her to Ireland.

She chose to come to Ireland in a very level headed, logistical way. She followed her work here, but she stayed because she loved it. She found a home, a community, a street full of neighbours who are gas craic and a gorgeous dog from Cork named Darby.

We chat about America and all that’s happening over there right now, how frightening it must be for those that live there. How the differences in politics might alienate people, even those in the same family.

Come back tomorrow for another photograph/podcast/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

23/365 - Emma Hill in Dunboyne, Co. Meath

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met Emma in her hometown of Dunboyne, in a cute cafe that she has recently started to frequent a lot more often. Emma has had some epic life changes of late. She’s done what a lot of people her age are doing and boomeranged back home to her parents house.

But not only has she moved back home, she’s also left a marriage and sold the home she worked so hard to afford. On top of that upheaval, she has decided to completely change her career too, turning her love for gardening into a new and fruitful future career in horticulture.

Emma is sharing her story today during these precarious and exciting months, so that when she manages to get back on track, she can see just how far she's come.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/photo/story.

xRuth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

22/365: MJ O’Brien at home in Dublin’s Docklands

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 02:29:51 GMT

I met MJ O’Brien in her home in the middle of Dublin City Centre, her back garden is the canal dock, which makes for a wonderful vista.

She’s funny, charming and flirting with my sound engineer/partner who is recording our podcast today.

MJ leads with “I got into some trouble” with a little smirk on her face, the kind that tells me there was a man involved. She starts telling me about her nursing college in the UK and how it was located near a U.S. Army base. How they would send bus loads of soldiers over for dances. MJ would wait all night for “ladies choice”, describing herself as a bit of a plain Jane who was constantly looked over. It was at one of these dances where she’d meet Al and fall madly in love with him.

“I was 17 and I thought he was the second coming. He was lovely and of course, he was a different shade”.

As I look around MJ’s apartment, the family photos come into focus, and the smiling faces of all different skin tones start to make perfect sense.

MJ has worked hard her whole life, living all across America for the last 43 years, from New Jersey to New Mexico, bringing up her two sons.

She has come back to Ireland to get to know her siblings and friends again, now as an adult. Sitting with me here today she reminisces about the life she’s lead and the choices that she’s made.

It hasn’t been an easy journey, she has faced all kinds of hardships, losses and injustices, but MJ feels it’s important to forgive those who’ve done you wrong or even inadvertently hurt you. However, it’s most important to forgive yourself, something she has only learned to do later in life.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

21/365: Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird at home on the Grand Canal

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met Niamh in her home on the banks of the canal. It's secluded, remote, peaceful. Her Mum answers the door and welcomes us into the kitchen, country style (through the back door). The house smells divine thanks to the plant-based cookies Niamh has been baking so considerately.

Niamh is back living in her parents home, like so many other 29 year olds. She’s done quite a bit of travelling, during which she met her husband, who also lives with them.

Niamh would prefer to live in Dublin city, in the thick of it all. Where she can easily access public transport and have everything at her fingertips. However, if you think about how hard the housing crisis is for people right now, it’s even worse for disabled people.

Niamh has a condition called Friedreich's ataxia. It’s quite rare, with only about 200 people in Ireland with it (including Niamh’s younger brother). It’s a neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system, including impaired coordination, muscle weakness, speech problems, and heart issues.

Niamh is an accomplished journalist. It’s a career she knew she wanted from a young age, she set her sights on it and worked incredibly hard and went on to write for the Guardian and Al Jazeera. She takes pride in giving disabled people a voice in the media.

Sadly, Niamh knows that she has a battle ahead of her. In 2023, the USA approved the first ever treatment for Niamh’s condition. It’s a treatment that could stop the progression of her disorder and give her a better quality of life for longer. However, the Irish government still has not decided to fund the treatment.

As Niamh’s condition worsens, she knows her speech will be affected soon, as will her ability to write. We’ve been chatting for about 30 minutes at her kitchen table and already I can sense it’s tiring her. It seems wholly cruel and unfair, that the people who we should be protecting and caring for most in society, are those who will be expected to lobby and campaign for the medical treatment that would improve their lives so much.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

20/365: Nessa Wrafter at Vico Baths

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

The sun was splitting the rocks down in Vico Baths when we met screenwriter and director, Nessa. She picked the location and I’m so glad she did. I’m not used to being this far south of the Liffey, I don’t know the area and I was a little bit nervous that she’d chosen somewhere so open to the elements to chat on a January day.

I feel like I was meant to meet this kindred soul and we were blessed with sunny skies to prove it. She’s a woman in the arts, fighting for her vision to be recognised. She’s a mother, a wife and a friend who misses her friends. It transpires that Nessa and I both emigrated to London around the same time, she however stuck it out for 18 years longer than I did, building both her career and her family.

We sit on the sunny rocks, listening to the waves, taking stock of our lives as Irish women and wondering what’s coming next over the horizon.

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

19/365: Michelle Cahill in Dublin City Centre

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:30:00 GMT

As we edge our way into this year and I hear stories from many different people across all demographics, there’s one topic that comes up time and time again, the housing crisis. So many people are living in fear. They fear that their landlord will decide to sell up, or that their rent will increase beyond their means. They fear that they won’t be able to find any suitable accommodation and that they’ll have to impose on friends, sleep on couches or move back in with parents.

For Michelle, her fear became a reality. She tells me her story of finding herself in emergency accommodation, with her children in tow and at the mercy of the state. Her story ends on a positive note after many months of tenacious searching and relentless positive thinking.

As we sit and chat in her lovely, cosy apartment, Michelle’s story has a happy ending but I can’t not think of the thousands more people struggling with homelessness.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

18/365: Mai Ishikawa at The Botanic Gardens

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Mai has a really interesting job as a theatre maker and translator, working on incredible productions like Waiting for Godot in Japan, but it’s not this that fascinates me today on our walk.

Mai has a truly gentle and beautifully curious character. She introduces me to the birds in the gardens that she has named. They’re her friends and confidants, visiting almost daily, a ritual that began in the pandemic. Mai moved to Ireland from Japan 6 years ago (after falling in love with an Irish man, a story we’ll probably hear quite a few times in this project).

As we walk around spotting birds, Mai explains to me some of the cultural differences between her home in Japan and how we do things here.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

17/365: Rebecca Grimes in Kinsealy

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Rebecca is a new Mum to Dara (and a dog Mum to Lola). We meet her in the afternoon in her suburban home and it’s just like every family home with a 1 year old. The floor is covered in toys within 4 seconds of Dara waking from her nap.

Rebecca makes me laugh, she’s witty, warm, and just casually hilarious. She describes motherhood to me with such honesty and humour, not denying how hard it is, but also being able to laugh at all the silliness it brings (I’ll let her tell the snail story).

She seems like a grafter, a hustler of sorts, who has made herself a good career as an actor on TV (you can see her in Fair City) but she trudged her way to this dream career, moonlighting along the way as a barber, a fitness instructor, nail technician, she has tried her hand at it all.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

16/365: Eric Lalor in his offices, Dublin City

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Eric and I did a podcast swap. He invited me onto his hilarious Joe.ie podcast “You Must Be Joking” which I was terrified about (I’m not funny) and in turn, I invited him into this project. I’ve left a certain amount of room in the 365 spaces to include interesting folk I meet along the way.

I’ve known Eric for a good few years but as acquaintances mainly, I don’t think I’ve ever just sat down and chatted to him. Our paths have crossed at festivals where I'd be sent to photograph his comedy shows and he was one of the first to appear in my last big project during Covid, Twilight Together (as he lives within my 2km).

We talk about risk taking, leaving behind cushy jobs with unreal perks, for a life of comedy and all the worry and laughs that brings with it.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

15/365: Gill Costelloe at home in Dublin

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

It’s a freezing cold January morning when I knock on Gill’s door in South Dublin. I can already see flashes of neon through the front room window and I get an inkling this is going to be an interesting shoot.

Gill wrote to me, asking if I could photograph her for this project “I'm a big smiler so I'd like people to remember me for being happy, rather than for being the girl who died of cancer.”

Gill begins to tell me her story. “I'm just a normal Joe soap, but I suppose I have a fairly unique story in that I have terminal cancer.”

Faced with an uncertain timeline and a new perspective on life, Gill takes support and inspiration from her circle of friends. They rally around her through hospital stays, home visits, summer barbecues and also help Gill achieve some life goals. They whizz around Mondello racecourse on bicycles for 24 hours, abseil down buildings dressed as superheroes and see the sunrise over the Sahara in a hot air balloon.

“I'm very vocal on my socials about sun safety and all that because I was a sun worshipper, that’s why I got melanoma. Normally I'd use my platform for that, but today, what I would say to people is just enjoy life. Enjoy life for yourself, not for others. Do what you want to do. Live in your own little bubble of niceness and happiness.”

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

14/365: Brian Bell in Raheny

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I don‘t even know how to start trying to describe the charmer that is Brian Bell. I met this distinguished and accomplished gent in his new digs in Raheny and completely lost myself in his stories.

Condensing his fascinating life into one tiny podcast would be impossible. From meeting the love of his life, Imelda (through Divine intervention no less) to breaking the Irish 3-mile running record while barefoot in 1954.

His story weaves across decades almost melodically, I’m certain that Brian has always been an incredible storyteller, keeping listeners on the hook with a flirty wink along the way.

His cosy bedroom in the nursing home has been lovingly decorated by his children with pictures of Imelda, including a sketch that was done of her as a teenager when they first moved to London back in the 50s.

I could listen to Brian forever, but it’s dinner time, and I don’t want to keep him from what he describes as “the best meals of his life”.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

13/365: Lucy Hayes on Parliament Street, Dublin

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met the wonderfully chatty Lucy Hayes on a sunny morning in Dublin’s city centre. We sat outside Difontaines pizza and chatted for what felt like two minutes but was actually an hour.

Lucy is currently in a position that a lot of people would covet, one that could bring change to our beautiful city, change that I suspect we all want. She tells me that Dublin City Council (where she’s the Cycling and Walking Officer for the city) has big plans for how we’ll get around.

We talk about cycle lanes, footpaths and my total disdain for street clutter and bollards. She shares my hope that Dublin could be a little more European, with some cute piazzas where lounging and loitering is encouraged.

Follow and/or subscribe for another photo/podcast/story tomorrow.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

12/365: Silvina Sisterna in Dublin City

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:04:00 GMT

I met Argentinian born artist, Silvina Sisterna in her home in Dublin that she shares with her housemates. We chat about the differences between life at home in rural Argentina and Ireland and how she’s fallen in love with our beautiful country in just a few years. We talk about the housing crisis and visa expirations, both huge issues which can cause a lot of worry and uncertainty to anyone's life. Her appreciation and gratitude for living here and her new found freedom to make art, makes me realise just how much I’ve been taking for granted lately. - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

11/365: Cian Griffin in Phoenix Park

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Let me preface this by saying I know nothing about sports, but this project for me is all about inclusiveness and making sure that everyone feels represented in some way.

This is something that Cian Griffin and I agree on. I meet him early (for me) on a Saturday morning on the pitches at the Phoenix Park where he's about to train with his GAA club, Na Gaeil Aeracha. Founded in 2020, Na Gaeil Aeracha is the world's first explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA team, and an extremely successful one at that.

The team has given Cian a community in Dublin, one that he didn't have easy access to growing up in rural Ireland, and through his work in the media (and his hilarious social pages) Cian is also spreading the Irish language, ensuring the gay gaeilgeoirí are well and truly represented!

The team are currently recruiting if you're interested - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

10/355: Karen Bell in St Anne's Park

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I can instantly recognise Karen Bell in the park cafe on a January afternoon. All I know in advance is that she’s a textile artist, so I find the most colourful and stunningly dressed person in the place, and low and behold it’s her (and her tiny dachshund Livy too). Karen’s story is one of reinvention, creativity and living your truth. She tells me about the career path she chose and all the places it brought her around the world, as well as reinventing herself later on in life to follow a new career.

Her art is inspired by the sea that surrounds her and far away lands that she’s encountered physically and spiritually.

In today’s podcast, I also learned a new word. Did you know what it meant? - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

9/365: Sarah Hone in Howth

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Walking into Sarah’s apartment and I’m stopped dead in my tracks by the view. Taking up nearly the whole wall is a big, square window, and through it, the most perfect view of the Irish sea.

Her apartment is compact, but perfect for her, her partner, their geriatric bunny Cedrick and Erica the seagull who pops by for some cat food on occasion.

She is living a life of passion, travel and adventure. Like herself, full of colour and character. She surrounds herself with drama (in the best possible way) in her role as a casting director and Associate Artistic Director at Bow Street Academy. We catch Sarah as she’s about to embark on another journey, one on the waterways of Ireland in a new canal boat. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

8/365: Pat Barrett in The Gravediggers, Dublin

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met Pat in the Gravediggers pub on what was supposed to be a quiet afternoon, but I don’t think that pub ever has a quiet spell. We sit in the snug, get a round in and chat like old times. I’ve known Pat for over 22 years. We first met while working in a record store on Henry Street.

Pat is what I’d always describe as a good egg. An old soul, kind and compassionate.

What we talk about surprises me. Pat has had an exciting career as a musician, he’s travelled the world and has recently gotten married but it’s his Mother’s story he wishes to share today. It’s a story familiar to most families of a certain generation. A matriarch who carried the family through tough times, often needing to sacrifice her own needs and desires to do so.

Marie Theresa was born in 1942, she was a classically trained singer, but never followed her career, choosing instead to raise 4 children with her husband. During the pandemic, Pat assumed the role of carer to his elderly parents and in today’s chat he tells me what that was truly like. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

7/365: Cormac Curran in Dublin

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I got to know the beautifully sincere gent that is Cormac Curran when I was working as a touring music photographer. Cormac has played keys (and a myriad of other musical instruments) for lots of artists such as Hozier (where we met) John Grant, Lisa Hannigan and loads more. When you see him on stage, you know you’re watching a man in his absolute element. In his home today, we sit and chat not just about music and touring, but about life, his upbringing and his total love for teaching music. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

6/365: Kathleen Stokes at the Royal Canal

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Kathleen, like myself, loves the Northside. In all the time since she’s moved here from Canada she has yet to cross the Liffey and live on the Southside. She’s found herself moving between houseshares, circling around Dublin 7, even finding herself in a bedroom facing the Phibsborough shopping centre at one stage (my dream!).

She talks all sorts of sense about the housing crisis that we find ourselves living through. In her role as an urban geography lecturer at DCU, she teaches students about cities and sustainability, as well as conducting research on incredibly important topics like urban vacancy and building towns that are actually enjoyable to live in. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

5/365: Barbara Grennell in Dublin

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

Barbara is a quintessential Irish Mammy in all the best ways. I was greeted at her door in Dublin 7 with a big smile, a warm hug and offers of tea, coffee and biscuits (she’d even remembered I was vegan). She has a story that’s been echoed across Ireland for centuries, and one we’ll no doubt hear a lot of in this series. Her children have grown and flown the nest, landing in far away lands like Australia in search of better opportunities (and better weather).

When faced with an abundance of free time on her hands and as a means to stave off any loneliness in the now quiet house, Barbara picked up portraiture.

She kindly shows me around her home studio (which was her daughter's make-up business before she emigrated) and treats me to some of her stunning photos.

Barbara is insightful, compassionate and honest, all of which is reflected back from her imagery. She spends her time mostly photographing elderly people (her Mam included) and the local men’s shed, stressing the importance of connection within the community. - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

4/365: Charlie Moon in Dublin

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met Charlie in the Big Romance on Parnell Street where he plays live jazz every Sunday. Our conversation was not what I was expecting. I ended up learning so much about him through his stories about his career as a music teacher in a prison. A job that you no doubt would need an awful lot of empathy, compassion and resilience for, not to mention a sense of humour. It seems like there were some guiding forces at work, ensuring he found the perfect role at just the right time. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

3/365: Marie Grennell in Dublin

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I met Marie almost by chance. I was interviewing her lovely daughter Barbara who mentioned that her 91 year old mother Marie grew up down the road from my family in Marino. Chatting with Marie is like having the opportunity to go back in time and listen to my own Dublin Nana chatting about her life. We hear about her youth and meeting the love of her life, Lauri Grennell. - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

2/365: Sean Smyth in Botanic Gardens

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

In this episode, myself and Sean Smyth walk through the Botanic Gardens in Dublin. We chat about his late husband, Conor Biddle. Conor was a prolific lighting designer, world renowned and highly accomplished. Conor was my pal, we came up the ranks of the Irish music scene together and he’s dearly missed by so many. I’m honoured that Sean would share their beautiful story with me today. - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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

1/365: Elaine Mai at home

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:02:00 GMT

I’m starting this series with my friend and artistic collaborator, Elaine Mai. Elaine is a musician and producer. She was once my neighbour in Dublin, but has recently moved back to the West of Ireland where I met her on January 1st 2026. Throughout this whole series, any music you hear in the podcast will have been created by Elaine - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

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