In Fact: An Optimist's Guide to Ireland at 100: In Fact is a story I have wanted to tell for a long time. Despite what many people believe, human progress all over the world has been incredible in recent decades. And Ireland’s progress has exceeded that of practically anywhere else. We live longer than ever before, we have never been healthier or better educated, we earn five times more than our grandparents did, our personal freedoms exceed those of any previous generation, and the lives of women and children have been transformed for the better. I wanted to prove this beyond doubt for readers, and to explain how we achieved it. I have gathered the data that tells the under-told story of our national progress across every aspect of Irish life. I have interviewed nearly fifty domain experts who have shared their insight into how progress was achieved in their fields. Together, we explore 100 remarkable achievements of our first 100 years as an independent nation. I identify the four factors that have accounted for Ireland’s extraordinary success, as well as the five most prominent psychological biases that prevent us from easily acknowledging how far we have come. Needless to say, our progress has not been flawless. I conclude by discussing some of the important areas that we must now address if we are to sustain our high quality of life in the century ahead. Birthdays are a time for celebration and Ireland’s 100th is the perfect time to take stock. As I demonstrate, we have good reason to be proud of what we have achieved together as a people, and every reason to be optimistic about our future.

I Remember it all: Oliver O'Connell A fireside view of the life’s journey of Oliver O’Connell, poet, music maker and story teller from Co Clare who narrates his passage of life from birth to present day Ireland weaving his story into the ever-changing tapestry of life in Ireland over the past 65 years. His north Clare memories set against the backdrop of some beautiful music will take the listener to another Ireland in another time and will ignite nostalgia and happy memories. He tells the story of the rise of Doolin to international fame as a music mecca. He delivers a scorching narration on the demise of the Celtic tiger and his self-penned poem of “Homeless in Dublin” is heart-breaking to hear. He tells of the decimation of rural country life through emigration, his own battles with life threatening cancer, his traditional music journey in Clare and London and his memories of a different Ireland and a different people. The audio recording is four hours of riveting memories interspersed with his own poetry and prose. Oliver’s writing is textbook imagery delivered in his own inimitable style and this audio is guaranteed to keep the listener interested to the very last chapter. Oliver has an uncanny ability to paint beautiful imagery with words and in a post covid world where people have woken up to a new world order, “I Remember it all” is a story worth listening to as we all face a future where the landscape, music and culture of an Irish Nation has defined who we are. and is moulding us for a new tomorrow.

Áine Tyrrell- Irish Troubadour explores Áine Tyrrell's journey as she plays Woodford Festival just north of Brisbane with her new band over New Years 2019/2020. It combines two storylines: Tyrell’s journey to the festival and performing there, and a personal story of escaping domestic violence. Irish Troubadour is directed and produced by Enda Murray. In coming to Australia, Áine was attempting to save a relationship with a violent partner. After much heart-searching Áine has decided to talk publicly about the experience where her Australian dream became a nightmare. When she was at her lowest ebb, Áine bought a 1966 Bedford bus and took her 3 young children on the road. Áine’s goal is to be a working artiste and a mother to her children. She is passionate about passing on her Irish language and culture to her family and equally passionate to respect and absorb the Aboriginal heritage of her adopted land. Áine says this is a dream come true for her. ‘Five years ago, when Enda asked to start filming me for a documentary about my life, I couldn’t have imagined it’d be premiering in my city of birth at the Galway Film Fleadh. It breaks my heart to not be able to get home to be there, but to be honest, I’d probably be a bit of an emotional mess if I did, because I am already here blubbering at all the lovely messages people are sending me about it,’ says Aine. ‘I don’t talk much about our past and being survivors of domestic violence because I’ve been so busy building me and my kids a brighter future. Sometimes I forget how far we have come and this movie documenting all that time is humbling’.

Telling the story of a black, working-class boy who comes of age in 1960s Dublin, this feature documentary from maestra Emer Reynolds (The Farthest) paints a warm and detailed portrait of one of Ireland’s greatest rock legends. As lead singer of Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott was a singer, composer, dreamer and occasional hellraiser. The film explores the man and his music through his own words and through interviews with a glittering array of admirers, friends and family, each speaking with warmth, authority and great dollops of humour about his public and private life. Reynolds chooses to focus meticulously on the creation of a powerful and varied body of work rather than dwell on the drink and drug dependency that blighted Lynott’s latter years before his death at 36, to create a work that will satisfy diehard fans and intrigue those not yet converted.

As a documentary, Untold Secrets is very well made - haunting imagery, first hand sources, names named. Director Teresa Lavina uses what little footage she had, along with taped interviews from the 1980s, and still images of the nuns and children involved. She never overdoes it and gets the tone perfect for telling this awful story - which is more tricky than you might think. 'Should be shown to everyone' Untold Secrets is just one chapter in the ongoing conversation about this enormous issue. It is the next step in the quest for justice that started in earnest when Catherine Corless published that story in 2012. The film is a series of interviews with survivors, families of survivors, and people involved in the mother and baby home scandal we are all familiar with.

Pat Scott talks about the history of #Halloween. This podcast was originally broadcast on 31 Oct 2010 on The Gaelic Hour (precursor to Irish Radio Canada) on CHIN 97.9FM in Ottawa.

The Embassy of Ireland in Canada is hosting two spooky events this Halloween... Join us for a lecture on the Celtic origins of Halloween with Tiber Falzett, UCD, on 29 October 4pm EDT, and for our younger community members, a reading of Una Wood's book on the 31st at 10am EDT! Tiber Falzett has conducted over fifteen years of fieldwork among Scottish Gaelic speakers in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. His research explores the relationship between language, music and the construction of community through socially-rooted forms of local knowledge as expressed, transmitted and maintained by Gaels on both sides of the Atlantic. Before joining the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore as a lecturer in Folklore and Ethnology, Tiber served as an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, teaching in both the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the Folklore Curriculum (American Studies). At UNC-CH, he was the inaugural SHUSA Lecturer in Scottish Gaelic Studies, the first dedicated academic post in Scottish Gaelic studies in the United States of America.

Fiona Maguire talks about the history of Ballinasloe resulting from a number of archaeological finds just 12 centimetres below an existing footpaths. A set of bone rosary beads was located around the feet of one of the skeletons. Radiocarbon dating suggests some of the bone samples date from between 1477 to 1638. Galway County Council's Heritage Officer, Marie Mannion, has described the finds as "incredible". She said they shed a "whole new light on the history of Ballinasloe". Saying it was "archaeology at its best", and that detailed e

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The Celtic Origins of Halloween

Hearing about the Celtic origins of Halloween with Tiber Falzett

In late 2015 discussions were first had within the Toronto Hurling Club committee to rename the club, to help develop the game in Toronto. A new hurling club had just been founded, Clan Na Gael, and with it came a new sense of excitement within GAA members in the city. The committee decided to hold over further discussions until 2016, so the new incoming committee could hold full and in depth discussions on it. At a committee meeting in Spring 2016, the committee decided to table a motion at an upcoming players meeting to change the name of the club, and to also provide a list of possible club names. During a players meeting, held on June 13 in Toronto City Hall, the committee held a vote by secret ballot (to ensure impartiality) to change the club name. From a list of 4 choices, Na Piarsaigh CLG won the required two thirds majority. The information and a formal request to change the club name were passed to the Canadian County board later that week, and approval was granted! A new club crest was soon designed, as well as a new playing kit, which are sponsored by Cathal & Nicholas Crossan of Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The kit is available to purchase from the O’Neills sportswear website. Na Piarsaigh CLG continues to welcome players from all over Ireland to come to Toronto for work and want to continue playing the real beautiful game! There have also been some Canadians who have joined up with us, and of course more are always welcome. The club continues to forge strong and lasting friendships between the players, and the players enjoy a close tight knit bond that ensures a positive attitude both on the pitch and off it.

In late 2015 discussions were first had within the Toronto Hurling Club committee to rename the club, to help develop the game in Toronto. A new hurling club had just been founded, Clan Na Gael, and with it came a new sense of excitement within GAA members in the city. The committee decided to hold over further discussions until 2016, so the new incoming committee could hold full and in depth discussions on it. At a committee meeting in Spring 2016, the committee decided to table a motion at an upcoming players meeting to change the name of the club, and to also provide a list of possible club names. During a players meeting, held on June 13 in Toronto City Hall, the committee held a vote by secret ballot (to ensure impartiality) to change the club name. From a list of 4 choices, Na Piarsaigh CLG won the required two thirds majority. The information and a formal request to change the club name were passed to the Canadian County board later that week, and approval was granted! A new club crest was soon designed, as well as a new playing kit, which are sponsored by Cathal & Nicholas Crossan of Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The kit is available to purchase from the O’Neills sportswear website. Na Piarsaigh CLG continues to welcome players from all over Ireland to come to Toronto for work and want to continue playing the real beautiful game! There have also been some Canadians who have joined up with us, and of course more are always welcome. The club continues to forge strong and lasting friendships between the players, and the players enjoy a close tight knit bond that ensures a positive attitude both on the pitch and off it.