Hello and welcome to Ireland Creates the podcast about Ireland’s amazing storytellers.

I’m your host Aisling O’ Rourke and if you are new here I started this podcast in the middle of last year after turning the idea over and over in my head. I wanted to create a podcast that could showcase the wealth of talent within current storytelling here in Ireland and storytellers with a connection to Ireland.

We are known as the Island of saints and scholars and we sell ourselves to tourists on the basis of the great works that have been made here over the years, from William Butler Yeats to Seamus Heaney so I wanted to focus on the work that is being made here today and shine a light on the sheer volume of talent we have on this small island.

In this week’s episode, I speak with one of my favourite Photographers Mandy O’Neill. I should say I recorded this chat with Mandy quite some time ago now, and since we spoke Mandy’s portrait celebrating Edna O’Brien’s 90th birthday has gone on display in the National Gallery on Dublin’s Merrion square. I had the pleasure of viewing the work in a practically empty gallery space one evening just before Christmas and I have to admit I was blown away by the sensitivity in the two images.

Here in Ireland, we’re in full lockdown for the time being, but when the Gallery does reopen I hope you will pop in and have a look.

As always I would like to encourage you to support the podcast. I’ve decided to join Patreon, the platform that allows creators to begin to earn a living from their practice. So for the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help Ireland Creates continue and I hope flourish and in time if I reach my goals hire a producer to help put the podcast on an even better footing. You can support Ireland Creates by going to Patreon.com/IrelandCreates and get early access to the podcast and some lovely treats along the way.

You can get in contact with me directly on aislingorourke.com Thanks for listening I’ll be back with another episode next week. And in the meantime remember to share your story.

Our theme tune is by CreateSchool.ie

You can follow Mandy O’Neill’s work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/photomando7/