Is iarr Thánaiste do Ghaeltacht an Oileáin Úir é Diarmaid Ó Maolagáin - Diarmaid Ó Maolagáin was the Vice-President of the "New Island" Gaeltacht in Tamworth, Ontario.“A small community is drawn here, to a small patch of land in a tiny Ontario town where Gaelic acts as a lifeline to their history, their culture and to the Emerald Isle itself. This is the Canadian Gaeltacht.”

— Susan Krashinsky, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

www.gaeilge.ca

D'fhoghlaim sé a chuid Ghaelainne i gCeanada chun ceangal a dhéanamh len' dhúchais - He learned his Irish in Canada to make a link with his heritage. Fuair sé pobal láidir Gaelach agus d'fhoghlaim sé as bheith páirteach le himeachtaí tumoideachas agus sa tighe tabharnaí ag labhairt le cainteoirí líofa - He found a strong Irish community and he learned being part of immersive activities and in the pub speaking with fluent speakers.  Nuair a ghlac sé ról an Tánaiste bhí sé mar chuspóir aige an Ghaelainn a spreagadh - When he took up the role of Vice-President it was a goal of his to spread the language, agus mar sin thar aon rud éile bhí fonn múinteoireachta air - and therefore above all the desire to teach was on him. Thosnaigh sé ag múineadh tríd an Ghaeltacht agus théis tamaill thosnaigh sé ag múineadh ar a shon fhéin - He started to teach through the Gaeltacht agus after a while, for himself.  Anois tá sé ag múineadh agus ag freastal ar scoil chun céim a fháil sa Cheol Ceilteach - Now he is teaching and attending school to get a degree in Celtic Music. Oibríonn sé fós leis an nGaeltacht chun imeachtaí a eagrú - He still works with the Gaeltacht to organise events. Cuireann sé gliondar ina chroí go bhfuil sé in ann tacaíocht a thabhairt do fhoghlaimeoirí agus gur féidir leis cairdeas a dhéanamh tríd an teanga - It puts delight on his heart to be able to give support to learners and make friends through the language, agus tá sé ag tnúth le coinneáil ar aghaidh ag foghlaim agus ag labhairt na Gaelainne - and he is looking forward to carrying on learning and speaking Irish!

Connect with Diarmaid here :) @gael_ceanadachGo raibh míle maith agat, a chara! Thanks a million, friend. Thaitin ár gcomhrá go mór liom - I really enjoyed our conversation!

So wonderful to start 2026 releasing this conversation about naturally healing your relationship with food. Sinéad Crowe is an Intuitive Eating Counsellor, Nutritional Therapist, and Perinatal Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. She also has intensive training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Strategic Intervention, and Behavioural Family Therapy, alongside a Masters in Mindfulness-Based Interventions from UCD.

Our chat ranges from listening to our appetite, navigating the nuances of the food industry, our Irish relationship with famine vs feast, and mostly how to be good to ourselves and doing what feels good.

Having personally experienced binge eating for over 20 years and once enforced rigid food rules for her eldest children, Sinéad deeply understands the struggles many people face around food. Her own journey led her to raise her younger children as intuitive eaters, and this lived experience, combined with her professional expertise, allows her to support others with empathy, compassion, and practical guidance.

Find Sinéad's brilliantly effective, likeable and approachable work @intuitive.eating.ireland

If you need other support there are helplines like www.bodywhys.ie

Grá mór, a chara - Big love, friend! Bhí sé ar fheabhas caint leat - It was great to talk to you!

Kerry Irish aficionado, online sensation, brain rot connoisseur, and witty wizard, @an_maolchathach knows how to ride those trends while providing us with the most soothing, lyrical accent on the internet waves. This was an illuminating conversation with such a knowledgable young enthusiast who is celebrating our language and drawing in the giggles from far and wide. The richness of his accent and the great interest he has is inspiring. He creates memes and brain rot on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, making it inclusive and accessibe by adding subtitles. Brain rot is a slang term for the perceived mental decline from excessive, low-quality digital media consumption, especially short-form content, leading to reduced attention spans, cognitive fog, and difficulty with deeper focus, with Oxford naming it Word of the Year in 2024 to highlight digital overload's impact!

Find An Maolchathach for a good laugh and a lot of learning @an_maolchathach on Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube

@shaunwithafada is a bilingual content creator from Waterford. He learned his Irish in school - attending both an Irish speaking primary and secondary school. Shaun’s lifestyle content interweaves Irish and English together whilst showing us glimpses into his life! He showcases Irish as a language that is alive outside of the classroom, and shows that it’s more than just a school subject. Since creating his account in February of 2025, he has amassed thousands of followers and has been named in District Magazine and by the official Irish Government as one of the “Irish Language Content Creators to help Improve your Gaeilge”. He’s definitely one to watch! Inspiring, energetic, and now a Conradh na Gaeilge Gaeilge24 ambassador!

Míle buíochas as caint liom, a chara - A thousand gratitude for speaking to me, friend. Bhí sé ar fheabhas ar fad - It was wonderful altogether :)

Find Shaun on instagram and tiktok @shaunwithafada

Naoise and I talk wellness, the Irish language, nurturing our inner world and bringing that light to our communities. Naoise is a certified yoga teacher who brings techno, togetherness and technique to her practice and is developing her strengths through various exciting projects like Tabhair Aire - which means "Give care" or "Take care". Since recording, Naoise has also become an Image Magazine columnist! Her energy and eagerness to teach is truly beautiful. I was lucky enough to be invited to join in on one of her classes recently and it was a pleasure to stretch, breathe and laugh together. Her words weave in the Irish wisdom into everything she does. Gach rath ort, a chara - Every success on you, friend! I am so excited to see where else your passion will take you, and I'm thrilled to be collaborating with you in future magic :)

Find @YogaleNaoise and @TabhairAire.ie on instagram to find out more about events, workshops and opportunities to learn with Naoise.

Colm was born and raised in Clondalkin, Dublin, and attended Naíonra Chrónáin, Scoil Chrónáin & Coláiste Chillian. Colm's love for the language grew after spending time in East Timor, teaching English. East Timor is a multilingual country and experiencing that got him asking why we make such a song and dance about bilingualism in Ireland! When he came home he studied communications and worked with the Irish language newspapers Lá and Gaelscéal. He now works in the non-profit  sector. While he was working in journalism he started writing about myths we often hear about the Irish language, that it's a dead language, etc. He later developed that into a Mythbusting campaign with Conradh na Gaeilge which has included a TedX Talk and other public talks, articles in the Irish Times and Journal.ie, interviews on Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte, RTÉ Radio 1 and BBC Radio and YouTube videos. He believes these myths have a real, negative effect on the Irish language and that is the main reason for the campaign. 

Deconstructing Myths about the Irish Language | Colm Ó Broin | TEDxBallyroanLibrary

Dr. Mamobo Ogoro is a Social Psychologist, Scholar, Broadcaster and multi-award winning social entrepreneur. Mamobo’s PhD research focused on migrant identity and how systems of inclusion and exclusion impact belonging for migrant communities. As a result, she founded, and acts as the CEO of GORM, an award winning social enterprise on a mission to unify across differences and advance belonging for marginalised communities through intercultural media and education. Mamobo is an avid conversationalist and sits as the youngest presenter on NewstalkFM , hosting the show ‘Younified’. Mamobo has been heralded for her work with GORM on countless occasions. In 2024 she was listed as the first Echoing Green Fellow in Ireland (Previous fellows include Michelle Obama and Van Jones), and most recently won “Female Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office Award 2025. Mamobo spends most of her time working with organisations around the world, helping them develop intercultural leaders.

Bainigí taitneamh as an eipeasóid iontach seo - Enjoy this excellent episode!

Find Mamobo on instagram and

check out her project, Gorm:

@mamobo96

@gormmedia

“It’s starts with you”

“It’s a dial, not a lightswitch”

We talk about the power of positivity in integration and the spark that comes from within - of curiosity to change.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara

Thanks a million, friend

Blue Niall (@blue_niall_) is a rapper, music producer, artist and designer from Dublin. His work has been featured by DUMMY Magazine, District Magazine, Nialler9, Polyester Magazine, Hot Press and RTÉ. Niall’s work uses Celtic Mythology to explore modern Ireland and point to a future for a country in flux. His new project Oisín is focused on the experience of a returning emigrant to Ireland, and involves a retelling of the legend of Tír na nÓg. The first single “New Celtic Flow”, was premiered on Dearfxch TV Youtube channel and featured Celaviedmai. He runs a fortnightly show called Athbheochan on Dublin Digital Radio and music fundraising events of the same name. Niall's memes are also a cutting commentary on modern-day Ireland, weaving culture, history, language and music with his signature humourous, clever, original style.

Bainigí taitneamh as an eipeasóid iontach seo - Enjoy this excellent episode! Grma, a chara - Thank you, friend!

Episode 32:

Daragh Fleming is a poet, writer, and mental health advocate from Cork, Ireland. With a background in psychology and linguistics, his work explores themes of identity, vulnerability, and resilience. He has published multiple poetry collections—including Notes For A Mid-Youth Crisis and Enigmatic—alongside fiction and non-fiction titles such as Lonely Boy. His writing has appeared in journals like Southword, Crannóg, and Paris Lit Up, and he’s received several accolades, including the From The Well Short Story Prize. A passionate mental health advocate, Daragh is the founder of the blog Thoughts Too Big, works with charities like A Lust For Life and See Change, and is a powerful TEDx speaker.

Exploring different media, Daragh continues to use creativity as a tool for connection and change.

Find Daragh on instagram:

@daraghfleming

We talk about the loss and recall of our sense of home, our connection with our language, and Daragh’s journey from pain to purpose.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara

Thanks a million, friend

Brinsley takes us through whimsical, wild, weird stories and happenings around our island of Ireland. Thanks a million, Brinsley - it was an absolute pleasure to talk to you! Highly recommend Brinsley's book which you can find here linktr.ee/weirdireland or celebrate and support McNamara's work here buymeacoffee.com/weirdireland

Míle buíochas, a chara - A thousand gratitude, friend