Athena Media - Podcast Directory

Episode 1. Herosongs is an eight part series presented by Therese McIntyre and traces the journey of Irish ballads from the 16th century to today, and explores how the shape or distort our understanding of history. The oral ballad tradition dates back to the twelfth century but its not until the introduction of print in Ireland around 1760 that we begin to see a record of traditional songs in both the Irish and English language. In the first episode of Herosongs presenter Therese McIntyre, explores the importance of the hero concept in Ireland, the emergence of the printed ballad-sheets and she explores a genre of herosongs about one of the most romantic types the outlaw those individuals who rebel against the norms of society. John Moulden sings The Forger's Farewell.

Episode 1. Herosongs is an eight part series presented by Therese McIntyre and traces the journey of Irish ballads from the 16th century to today, and explores how the shape or distort our understanding of history. The oral ballad tradition dates back to the twelfth century but its not until the introduction of print in Ireland around 1760 that we begin to see a record of traditional songs in both the Irish and English language. In the first episode of Herosongs presenter Therese McIntyre, explores the importance of the hero concept in Ireland, the emergence of the printed ballad-sheets and she explores a genre of herosongs about one of the most romantic types the outlaw those individuals who rebel against the norms of society. Maire Ni Chronin sings Eamonn an Chnoic

Episode 1. Herosongs is an eight part series presented by Therese McIntyre and traces the journey of Irish ballads from the 16th century to today, and explores how the shape or distort our understanding of history. The oral ballad tradition dates back to the twelfth century but its not until the introduction of print in Ireland around 1760 that we begin to see a record of traditional songs in both the Irish and English language. In the first episode of Herosongs presenter Therese McIntyre, explores the importance of the hero concept in Ireland, the emergence of the printed ballad-sheets and she explores a genre of herosongs about one of the most romantic types the outlaw those individuals who rebel against the norms of society. Maire Ni Chronin sings The Newry Highwayman.

Taking on Tristan is the story of Wide Open Opera a new opera company launched by conductor Fergus Sheil who staged Wagners Tristan and Isolde as its first production starring the Irish soprano Miriam Murphy Isolde. The opera was performed in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin last month and a recording of the opening night was broadcast on RTE lyric fm on November 24th at 7pm.

Michael Gallen, a young composer himself, shadowed the new opera company from its first rehearsals to its final curtain call. The documentary is an Athena media production for RTE lyric fm and is made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The producer is Helen Shaw and sound editing by Brendan Rehill.

What about the future of opera in Ireland? Is the goal still to create a national opera company ? Or are there other ways to foster opera in a cash strapped economy? We started by asking the two leading Irish women in the Tristan production, Miriam Murphy and Imelda Drumm Imelda also just starred in Lyric Operas Aida production at the Gaiety last week.

This episode is the fourth in the series Re imagining Opera and was broadcast on Thursday 22nd November at 1.45pm on RTE lyric fm. Audio editing on the series by Brendan Rehill.

For its first production Wide Open Opera took on Wagners epic classic Tristan und Isolde. Its been a life ambition for founder and conductor Fergus Sheil but why this opera and why now? The tragic tale of the beautiful Irish princess and the Cornish war hero inspires some of the most beautiful music in Wagnerian opera yet this new production, which you can hear on RTE Lyric fm on Saturday night, was the first in Ireland in some 50 years. For those behind Wide Open Opera it was the sheer ambition of the project which appealed and the chance to cast probably the first Irish singer, Miriam Murphy in the role of the Isolde.

For some at opening night it was their first time to hear an opera.

This episode is the fourth in the series Re imagining Opera and was broadcast on Thursday 22nd November at 1.45pm on RTE lyric fm. Audio editing on the series by Brendan Rehill.

While existing opera companies like Wexford, Lyric Opera and Opera Theatre Company are continuing to produce and thrive, they are all facing funding challenges. With a significantly reduced pot of money the Arts Council has shifted to production awards, one of which helped Lyric Opera stage Verdis Aida at the Gaiety Theatre last week but which have also brought in new players like Wide Open Opera whose first production, Wagners Tristan Und Isolde was recently staged in Dublin or Everyman Theatres innovative staging of Leoncavallos Pagliacci in Cork. But is Ireland too small to support so many companies? And why do we need new initiatives?

This episode is the third in the series Re imagining Opera and was broadcast on Wednesday 21st November at 1.45pm on RTE lyric fm. Audio editing on the series by Brendan Rehill.

For opera companies in Ireland funding is an issue. While the Tristan Und Isolde production got Arts Council support to the tune of 600,000 euro - there's effectively just a small handful of productions getting a slice of a radically reduced opera budget. But is money really the issue or is it all about attracting and building audiences who are prepared to pay for opera or to support public funds going to opera?

This episode is the second in the series Re imagining Opera and was broadcast on Tuesday 20th November at 1.45pm on RTE lyric fm. Audio editing on the series by Brendan Rehill.

Opera in Ireland has been going through something of a crisis. Last year the newly formed Irish National Opera Company closed just two years after its birth was announced due to financial cut backs. Opera Ireland had been wound down to form it and Ireland was left with no national company and the loss of Opera Ireland. Today new roots are beginning to emerge including a new opera company called Wide Open Opera, launched by conductor Fergus Sheil. The Art Council is now supporting opera on a production rather than company basis and Wide Open Operas first production, Wagners Tristan Und Isolde, which was grant aided to the tune of 600,000 Euro is the featured opera on RTE lyric fm this Saturday evening.

A documentary on the production of Tristan Und Isolde, the first in Ireland in some 50 years, goes out at 7pm on Friday. And across this week were taking a daily bite sized look at the state of opera in Ireland. In a short feature series Re Imagining Opera were asking should Ireland still yearn for a national company? And what are the elements which will grow a unique Irish opera voice?

This episode is the first in the series Re imagining Opera and was broadcast on Monday 19th November at 1.45pm on RTE lyric fm. Audio editing on the series by Brendan Rehill.

Irish women athletes made history at these Olympic Games. Not only did Katie Taylor win Gold but more women qualified and competed than ever before, and for the first time about half of the Irish team were women. Team Ireland made it the best Olympic Games since Melbourne in 1956 and many in the team credit Chef de Mission Sonia O Sullivan, Olympic medal winner, as the reason for the unique spirit of the group.

In the weeks running up to the Games Athena Media produced a series profiling some of the women athletes and their stories for Newstalk Breakfast, and in this one hour documentary producers Helen Shaw and Lisa Essuman talk to athletes including Annalise Murphy, Olive Loughnane, Natalya Coyle, Chloe Magee, Lisa Kearney, Aileen Morrison and Sycerika McMahon as well as team leader Sonia O Sullivan about the behind the scenes stories of the Olympic Games, the highs and the lows, winners and losers, and the lessons from London 2012 for the future of sport in Ireland. The documentary aired on Bank Holiday Monday 29th October 2012 at 12pm on Newstalk 106-108fm and was made with the support of the BAI sound and vision scheme. The documentary breaks at 21.16 and returns again at 21:27.