Eoin Devereux is a professor of cultural sociology at Limerick University and also one half of Blowtorch Records' post punk duo Dopamine Fix.

Gardening Leave is his debut poetry collection featuring 48 poems which explore themes of working-class experience, social injustice, and nature through a bold, political, and often personal lens. They sometimes deliver explicitly local stories and sometimes widen out to show how those stories can intersect with global politics and contemporary social issues. 

He reads from the collection and gives his trenchant views on a wide range of topics from poetry itself to Morrissey, The Fall, the demise of universities, the self aggrandisement of political parties and class structures in Ireland and the UK.

More details of Gardening Leave

Recording in his Dublin Darklands studio, Dan Doherty is one of Ireland's most in demand producers. Before that he was in two well known Irish bands - Ghosts Estates and SICKBOY. He has recently picked up his drumsticks again to play with Galway chaos merchants Slyrydes.

Many people might know him for his work on the first three Fontaines DC singles, however his list of credits is incredible, ranging from established artists such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Hope Sandoval and Denzel Curry to raw, young talent bringing the latest rap, post punk or hip hop.

P.S. if you do listen, sick boy is a lyric from The Stooges' Death Trip - no need to send a postcard!!

The podcast opens with October and closes with Wake Up both by Ghosts Estates

Darklands website

Darklands on Instagram

Ghost Estates on Spotify

SICKBOY on YouTube

In this episode we are delighted to be joined by all four members of Galway band In Athens who recently released their debut EP Mirrorism, four tracks laced with notes of post-punk, shoegaze and fuzzy, experimental rock. 

We discuss all things In Athens related, who does what, how many other bands they have been in, Galway weather and whether or not drummer Mosey is a heavy hitter.

Mirrorism is available on a 12" vinyl LP via Blowtorch Records

Tracks played:

Or Anything

Days Into Days

Tides

Expiration Marks

Beaming in from his Orc's Lair studio is Darragh Hansard, one half of funky psych pop duo Unique Freaks, along with his partner in space/time Beth Doyle. With a recent name change from Thee UFO and a brand new album to obsess over (Enjoyment Planted) there's plenty for us to chat about. For example, previous albums Beaming A Moments Reflection and Ponderous Fug; snails; production and mastering work for the likes of Search Results, The Daisy Chain, DUMB POSH HIPPIES and Puck; and err ... glasses.

Tracks played:

Junk Funk Garbage

Surveyor

Unconditionally Loving Pets

Somebody Special (not Something Special as I said a couple of times - sorry!)

Links

Orc's Lair instagram

Unique Freaks on Spotify

Buy Enjoyment Planted on Bandcamp

Contact Darragh: theeorcslair[at]gmail.com

In this episode we are delighted to welcome Emily Dollery, bassist and lead vocalist for THERAPY HORSE. She tells us her musical story, how the band came together, how the music comes together and the story of their epic 12 hour recording session.

THERAPY HORSE are a Cork/Limerick trio bringing a terrific blast of no wave/noise rock/shoegaze energy to the Irish alternative guitar scene. They are completed by Cormac Donovan O'Neill and Eoin Schuch, who are also in Pebbledash. Their debut single LET ME BE CLEAR was released in August 2025 and second single LOVE/MERCY on September 26.

THERAPY HORSE on Instagram

Powgirl on Spotify

Mother of Pearl LP on CD

Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath

Live Dates

Dolans Kasbah Oct 2 with Mother of Pearl

Cork Kino Oct 4 with Skinner

Dolans Kasbah Oct 16 with The Low Field

The Grand Social Nov 20 with Slyrydes

As Galway's thrillingly abrasive yet melodic four piece Slyrydes release their debut album 'What Happens If You Get Happy' five years after it was recorded, we chat to frontman Rafto and bassist Eoin. This is not a inquest into what went wrong, more a celebration that this brilliant album is now available for everyone to hear.

A combination of Covid and personal issues scuppered the original release and they don't shy away from talking about the addiction and communication issues which hampered them. But now clean, sober and raring to go they look forward to live dates, a vinyl release and potentially new music. Highly recommended listening.

Slyrydes Bandcamp

Order album vinyl

Slyrydes on Instagram

Slyrydes live

Tracks played:

Mental Health

Procrastination Is A Fear Of Failure

Famous To Five Million

Just For Show

Taking time out from a busy schedule as the band rehearse for the recording of their debut album, accordion maestro Finn Ó Mainnín guides us through all things Cardinals. A Cork band with heart, soul and principles.

They continue to develop their unique sound on latest single 'Big Empty Heart' and look forward to a big festival Summer including supporting Fontaines DC. Then it's an Autumn tour taking in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Flying high and unionising romance.

Cardinals' Instagram

All gig tickets

In our latest episode we are heading over the Atlantic to chat to Andy Gesner. Andy is the founder and president of HIP video promotion based in New Jersey in the USA.

His company have promoted over 4800 music videos, starting with someone called Johnny Cash and his video for Hurt. Interestingly they have turned down over twice that number which for us that marks them out as a company of integrity.

Andy shares over 20 years of experience in this field and has great advice and tips on how up and coming artists can produce and promote videos which will help them carve out a career in a tough industry. 

As he says "if you are a music creative your visual is your most potent and powerful piece of marketing currency"

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression!

HIP website

HIP on Instagram

Pebbledash are a six piece outfit from Cork who effortlessly and thrillingly mix shoegaze, dream pop, noise and traditional Irish music. In this episode I am joined by Cormac and Fionnbharr from the band to discuss their debut EP 'Four Portraits Of The Same Ugly House'.

As we play excerpts from of each of the four tracks on the EP (the physical versions also have 2 bonus tracks), we delve into their creative process, find out what the slightly cryptic title means and why they are named after a house cladding material. 

The EP was recorded and produced by Aidan O'Mahoney at Kitten Lane Studios in Cork and mastered by Pete Maher. 

Pebbledash Instagram

Pebbledash tour tickets

Buy EP on vinyl

During lockdown, ex Revelino guitarist and Vicar Street promoter Bren Berry oversaw the re-release of the band's debut album on vinyl. Their songs were written by Brendan Tallon. With the encouragement of his best mate (and also Brendan's brother) Ciarán, he has stepped up to the microphone with an album of his own songs 'IN HOPE OUR STARS ALIGN'.

In this episode we play several songs from the album and chat to Bren about what inspired him to start writing songs and what fires his lyrical concerns. As he says, he views these tracks as protest songs wrapped in love letters post marked Dublin City. 

The 12 songs cover personal reflections on family, friendship, home, resilience, music & creativity, and address some of the social & political crises that we are living through in these troubled times. The album title comes from 'Fire Drill' and is inspired by Seamus Heaney’s 'The Cure At Troy'. 

Album on Spotify

Buy vinyl on Bandcamp

Bren Berry Instagram

Tracks Played

1. Come Alive
2. Black Satellite
3. Winter Song
4. Neon Lights
5. Fire Drill