Irish with Mollie

#20 Ryan Dixon - Lakota Name: Taṡuƞka Wakiƞyaƞ Watogla (Wild Thunder Horse) is an inspiring Native American Educator and Indigenous Language Activist who has been teaching and coaching the Dakota Language since 2012. He has co-founded C̣aƞṡayapi Waḳaƞyeża Owayawa Oti- Lower Sioux Headstart and Early Headstart and drives the language movement forward with his community projects, leadership teams, competitions and innovative educational development. We talk about language loss, the revitalisation projects underway, the current status of Lakota and Dakota, colonisation, decolonisation, and hope for the future.

Eimear is Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. She is a Storyteller and a Psychologist. She has a deep love of the ancient Irish tales and has a passion for storytelling. In this conversation we talk about the healing power of nature, Eimear's earth-based exploration, her growing community, thin places and thin times.

Eimear loves to weave in song and the harp into her stories. She particularly enjoys showing people the sacred sites of Ireland and telling the ancient tales right where they happened.

Eimear has private practice as a Counselling Psychologist and her interests in Druidry and psychology have led her to act as a Celebrant, helping people to design and enact meaningful rites of passage.

She is licensed to perform legal weddings in the Republic of Ireland and can also offer non legal ceremonies.

Eimear is also a Priestess dedicated to Danú in the Fellowship of Isis. She is an Arch Druidess in the Druid Clan of Dana and a member of the Noble Order of Tara.

Enjoy! Bain taitneamh as :)

Thanks a million, Eimear - Go raibh míle maith agat, a Eimear!

www.kilkennydruidry.com

www.druidry.org/

eimear_burke_druid on instagram

Kevin Whelan is one of Ireland's most widely published scholars, and a professor at the University of Notre Dame Dublin, having lectured at top universities all over the world and worked on over 20 books.

Kevin was also the historical advisor to the Irish Government on the Famine and the 1798 Rebellion.

His articulate and expansive reflections on the ecocidal agenda of the Irish Famine are illuminating and sobering. We discuss the project of imperalism and globalisation, and how Ireland was an early ethnocidal experiment, which has affected Ireland to such an extent we could have talked for days.

"We live with a degree of post traumatic disorder. And what kind of country is it that some people think it's totally fine to denigrate the national langauge, or even think that being monolingual is superior to being bilingual!?"

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara - Thanks a million, friend. It was such an honour to talk to you and learn from you, Kevin.

What a pleasure, what lark! Talking to Barbara Scully about becoming more ourselves, knowing the privilege of ageing, cultivating a habit of gratitude, and making decisions on our own attitude... uáu! I loved our conversation, a chara!

Barbara is an accomplished writer, columnist, and broadcaster, comedian, and BANLAOCH (female warrior). She is frequently published in the national press and magazines. Her first book, ‘Wise Up, Power, Wisdom and the Older Woman’ was published in summer 2022 and has been widely well-received. Marian Keyes described it as “a warm, accessible, personal account of what it is to be a woman - and the unexpected courage and freedom we get as we age”.

Barbara is a familiar voice on radio and TV, contributing to talk shows on both local and national radio (including RTE Radio One) and she is one half of the very popular So You Think You’re An Adult slot every week on the Moncrieff Show on Newstalk with Declan Buckley.

She is an experienced MC and public speaker and her popular talk, entitled “What If The Best Is Yet To Come” has been delivered to both corporate and public audiences.

In 2023 Barbara inadvertently dipped her toes into stand-up comedy. It went better than she expected and so she did it again at the Funny Women show in Whelans in May 2024. As a result she is now working on her own one woman show which she hopes to perform later this year.

Follow Barbara on Instagram @barbarascully111 and on X @barbarascully.

Wise Up is available from www.barbarascully.com and also on Amazon.

In this episode, I am joined by the fantastic Seva, an enthusiastic linguist with vast knowledge and expertise around indigenous languages. He is a language professor who grew up in a bilingual environment in the Soviet Union. He studied anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley and now teaches academic Spanish and Italian in a community college in Seattle. He is an academic who poses questions regarding the connection between language and identity, a concept that is challenged and questioned in both Ukraine and Ireland. This comparison makes for a fascinating conversation about the parallels that exist between the Irish language and the Ukrainian language. This thought-provoking, informative conversation addresses the war in Ukraine and the political unrest that is still happening back home for Vsevolod. He speaks concisely about the ongoing war and shines a light on the experiences of the colonised people. An episode not to be missed with this fountain of knowledge! Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara! Thank you, friend! D'fhoghlaim mé go leor uait. I learned a lot from you

Find Seva's lessons here: www.sevalanguages.com

This week's conversation was with the one and only, Órla McGovern. A lengthy introduction is needed for this multitalented individual. She is an imaginative storyteller, a gifted actress, a sharp playwright, a dedicated teacher, a poetic author, and an entertaining performer. Órla allows us into her world of imagination and reveals how the Arts allow her to express herself and find her truth. She is a creative, progressive person who delves into hot topics such as blackcurrant in Guinness, her draw towards bodies of water and taking on a voice during the act of telling a story. Not only do we meet Órla in this week's episode, but we also meet her hilarious separate entity named Mrs. Nelly Murphy, who has been known to be successful in storytelling competitions. Órla has written folktales for children and is the founder of Moth and Butterfly Stories, a monthly storytelling and improvisation night in Co. Galway, as well as an annual International storytelling festival. This episode is not to be missed - an endearing chat with an Irish legend. Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara - Thank you friend! Thaitin an comhrá go mór liom - I really enjoyed the conversation. Make sure to keep up to date with Órla's work on her Instagram @theorlamcgovern, her storytelling events @mothandbutterflystories, and her Facebook page, Moth and Butterfly. 

Episode 14: Leon Diop is a fantastic spokesperson who aims to increase awareness and educate people, celebrating and connecting Black and Mixed Race Irish people.

When he is not advocating for a more inclusive, loving world, he is making TikTok content with his two gorgeous pugs or playing

In this insightful episode, Conor Creighton speaks in great depth about his life as a creator, a meditation teacher, a spiritual guide, and other roles he has put his hand to!

We touch on the Irish psyche, loving ourselves and the path towards acceptance and authenticity.

Conor dissects the endless opportunities his life has presented due to a deeper connection with both himself and the world around him, through an abundance of meditative experience. During this warm chat, I refer to his profound book, “The Truth About Love” and he describes his alluring artistic process, which always leads to a bountiful learning journey. Conor is a natural born storyteller and depicts exactly why he believes there is a strong connection between meditation and good language learning. Buíochas mór ó chroí, a chara! A big thank you from my heart, friend! Is duine iontach, machnamhach, éirimiúil thú! You are a great, reflective, intelligent person. Thaitin an comhrá seo go mór liom - I really enjoyed this conversation.

Be sure to follow Conor on Instagram @conorcreighton to stay informed of his wonderful work!

We all deeply love Ireland... but we need to talk about it.

In this episode we talk about the salvation of art, connection with the land, grá for mná (love for women),

Dee is an everyday Goddess. Her voice will transport you. Her relationship with and understanding of Ireland and Irishness will challenge, resonate, and inspire.

Go raibh míle míle maith agat, a chara!

Is bean iontach thú - You are a wonderful woman.

Táim fíorshásta go bhfuil aithne agam ort - I am truly happy to know you :)

@deemulrooney

deirdre-mulrooney.com

Episode 11:

We talk about students' confidence shifting, the positive power of music, the story of the Bodhrán, enjoying the process, preserving our culture, and reifying Irishness.

Enjoy! Thank you for listening :)

Agus go raibh míle maith agat, a Ruairi! It was such a pleasure and a privilege to be in conversation with you!

Find Ruairi on instagram @ruairi_glasheen

and www.ruairiglasheen.net