Coffee with Colm

Christmas can be a difficult time for some people for myriad reasons; we never really know what is going on behind a smile and some outward festive cheer and so it was that Angeline Collins Driver found herself on the Coffee at Eleven Show as the final guest of 2020 to talk about a very serious malaise in our society, suicide.

Truthfully, I wrestled with the timing around releasing this episode, given that it is 'The Holidays' but perhaps now is indeed the right time as we enter yet another lockdown as the strangest year in living memory comes to a close and a new one, showing as yet no signs of certainty, emerges on the horizon.

Angeline Collins Driver decided in 2020 it was time to tell her story, and finally do something about suicide and so founded Ohana ZERO Suicide.

She says, "Ohana means 'family' in Hawaiian. I loved the tagline from the Disney film Lilo & Stitch. Family, where no one is left behind. We all get into action when something [tragic] happens. So what about getting proactive so we can stop it before it happens and avoid the tsunami of grief?"

Angeline is convinced that action and responsibility has got to be taken by everyone in every community, in every county to stop this happening to any other family, mother, father, sister, brother, friend, colleague.

Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you take some time out over the Holidays and listen ton Angeline tell her story and find out how you can be part of a movement that is First Aid for Mental Health in 2021 and beyond.

It was hilarious! Santa Claus (the real one) popped in to the Coffee at Eleven Show for a chat just before the big day (or night!)!

We touched on the text-book perennial nature of of the Claus family business, centered on the three legs which require mastering for longevity: impeccable and unrelenting focus on Brand, Systems and People.

Then the craic (Irishese for fun) started, as adult after adult café goer lined up one after the other and 'Sat on Santa's Knee' for old times' sake. It was magical.

When all were duly seen and heard, Santa had to rush off - huge preparations were afoot; making lists, checking them twice, going to find out who's naughty or nice (are you humming yet?) - indeed one café regular had to plead his case for a transfer and may have been successful and Tim Kelly shall remain nameless.

However, in true Irish style we continued the party and went around the room to check out that essential "show us your Irish pedigree" test - the party piece! Songs were sung, poems recited, stories told, the odd tear squeaked out, and laughter, real laughter, Covid-beating laughter spread from one to the other in what one regular called, as he typed it into the Zoom chat, "THE BEST HOUR OF THE YEAR!" And Tim Kelly can take a bow for that one. Sláinte Timo.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, on behalf of Princess Shelley - aka Michelle Barry, The Monk - aka Eamonn Smith, Our Rock - aka Caterina O'Brien and our latest recruit, The Resident Pup - aka Tim Kelly  I invite you to gift yourself and your families one hour over the festive season to listen to The Coffee at Eleven Show Christmas Special 2020.

From Donegal to La Rochelle - What Alison Roux is taking from COVID

From Donegal to La Rochelle and Back - with 2 near-death experiences thrown in!

Poor Martin O'Regan's Mother thought he must be up to something nefarious when he was handing her large sums of cash to 'mind' during his teen years. Of course he wasn't but the 'forever entrepreneur' has always, even from a young age seen opportunities the rest of us mere mortals miss and whilst his buddies were enjoying the craic  (Irish-ese for fun), our Martin was the impresario making it all happen - for a margin, naturalment.

From those early 'Craic' dealing days, Martin has honed his entrepreneurial eye and raised his eyesight from the West of Ireland to view the entire globe for opportunity. And he found it when he founded InflightFlix International, potentially disrupting an entire industry by showcasing video destination guides at points before visitors arrive, online, onboard and on-social.

Despite the fact that the global airline industry is on it's knees, the irrepressible Martin O'Regan remains upbeat about 2021 and beyond.

Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this fascinating story of building a business despite many, many roadblocks.

Poor Martin O'Regan's Mother thought he must be up to something nefarious when he was handing her large sums of cash to 'mind' during his teen years. Of course he wasn't but the 'forever entrepreneur' has always, even from a young age seen opportunities the rest of us mere mortals miss and whilst his buddies were enjoying the craic  (Irish-ese for fun), our Martin was the impresario making it all happen - for a margin, naturalment.

From those early 'Craic' dealing days, Martin has honed his entrepreneurial eye and raised his eyesight from the West of Ireland to view the entire globe for opportunity. And he found it when he founded InflightFlix International, potentially disrupting an entire industry by showcasing video destination guides at points before visitors arrive, online, onboard and on-social.

Despite the fact that the global airline industry is on it's knees, the irrepressible Martin O'Regan remains upbeat about 2021 and beyond.

Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this fascinating story of building a business despite many, many roadblocks.

Tommy O'Brien (The Da) on The Coffee at Eleven Show

Padraig Smith’s first company vehicle was a pushbike with a wooden pallet strapped to the back from which he sold farm-fresh eggs for IR£1 per dozen at 10% commission when he was in school.

Roll on a handful of years and he is owner and Managing Director of a €multi-million business in the continuous energy space.

Padraig graced the Coffee at Eleven Show zoom café with his presence and regaled the live audience with story after story showcasing the human side of business.

He finished by telling us what he is taking with him from Covid.

Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this very human story of building a business.

Padraig Smith’s first company vehicle was a pushbike with a wooden pallet strapped to the back from which he sold farm-fresh eggs for IR£1 per dozen at 10% commission when he was in school.

Roll on a handful of years and he is owner and Managing Director of a €multi-million business in the continuous energy space.

Padraig graced the Coffee at Eleven Show zoom café with his presence and regaled the live audience with story after story showcasing the human side of business.

He finished by telling us what he is taking with him from Covid.

Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this very human story of building a business.