Little Inspirations

Sister Nuala Kelly is a Daughter of Charity, who has taught children and assisted the homeless in west Belfast for the better part of the last five decades.

In this new episode of Little Inspirations, Sister Nuala and host Declan Lawn discuss service and faith, and how they guided communities through the Troubles’ darkest days. She also talks about the blessings of her vocation, being grateful for small things and how she is inspired, every day, by the journeys of those she supports.

Michaela Hollywood is a 2019 Emerging Leader, who campaigns for the rights of disabled young people. Named by the BBC as one of the world's 100 most inspirational women in 2015, she was given a Points of Light Award by then Prime Minister David Cameron that same year.

In this new episode of Little Inspirations, Michaela talks to Declan Lawn about how the pandemic has unexpectedly produced a more level playing field for disabled individuals and increased their access to the changed world at large. They also discuss marginalised communities finding common cause, the diversity of disability and how a deep love of snooker inspires her during tough times.

Domhnall Nugent is a member of the Antrim senior hurling panel and a native of west Belfast. Since debuting for his county in 2016, Domhnall has experienced success on the field and difficult times off it. Two years ago, even as his sporting achievements made him a celebrated figure, Domhnall entered treatment for alcohol addiction, a moment that set his life on a new path.

In the new episode of Little Inspirations, Domhnall talks to host Declan Lawn about the euphoria of victory and the depths of drinking. Domhnall also discusses the inspirational “higher power” of family, the curative impact of self-reflection and how a “warrior spirit” fuels his recovery journey.

Siobhan O’Neill is a professor of mental health sciences at Ulster University. Since June 2020, she has served as Northern Ireland’s interim Mental Health Champion, a crucial role that involves working across government and politics, meeting with and representing service users, and shaping the public conversation.

In this latest episode of Little Inspirations, Siobhan talks to Declan Lawn about taking control of her wellbeing during a pandemic and striving for positivity in difficult circumstances. They also talk about humanity’s capacity for resilience, the mental health legacy of COVID-19 and her own journey towards motherhood.

David Johnston is a self-described ‘socialpreneur’ and the founder of Belfast-based clothing brand OutsideIn. With its ‘Wear one, share one’ model, OutsideIn has, since being established in 2016, reached people across the globe, fostering connections and interactions along the way.

In this episode of Little Inspirations, host Declan Lawn talks to David about the ways in which unique stories and individual lives make him want to “bridge the gap between society and those on the street”, as well as the rigours of lockdown life, the genesis of OutsideIn’s ethos and the inspirational power of The Queen’s Gambit.

Geraldine is an actress and playwright from West Belfast. Her myriad acting credits include feature projects like Rocky Balboa and Gran Torino, and more recently in the newly released Your Honor. She has performed her one-woman show, Belfast Blues, on both sides of the Atlantic, including a run at her native city’s Lyric Theatre in 2019.

In this episode of Little Inspirations, Geraldine Hughes and series host Declan Lawn discuss getting married during a lockdown, the challenges of working and being creating during a pandemic. They also chat about building resilience as an artist and the importance of talking about one’s mental health.

In the eight years since she lost her son, Aidan, to an accidental overdose, Penny McCanny has channelled her grief into action. A prominent member of the Anyone’s Child campaign for the decriminalisation of drugs, Penny has set to out to reduce the number of lives lost to drug abuse, arguing that tighter regulation would reduce the stigma and ensure greater access to appropriate healthcare for drug users.

In this latest episode of Little Inspirations, host Declan Lawn speaks with Penny about the 25 years she spent with the “extremely brilliant”, “fascinating” Aidan and her experiences in helping him fight his addiction. She also discusses the moment her life changed, the pride she has in the memory of her son and how she is inspired every day to tell his story.

Wendy Austin has been a fixture on Northern Ireland’s airwaves since the mid-seventies, first as a television news correspondent and then as a respected broadcaster. During a journalistic career that spanned the better part of five decades, Wendy made her name as a stalwart of BBC radio, fronting Good Morning Ulster and Talkback for the Corporation in Northern Ireland, as well as Woman’s Hour and PM on Radio 4. Her voice chronicled changing eras and landmark events: the hunger strikes, the Omagh bombing, Margaret Thatcher’s downfall and Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

In this episode of Little Inspirations, host Declan Lawn chats to Wendy about her experiences during those formative years as a cub reporter, the inspiration she draws from family and her simple hopes for a post-COVID life. She also discusses her “joyful” late brother, David, from whose memory she draws strength every day.

Robin Swann is a member of the Ulster Unionist Party and holds the position of Northern Ireland’s Minister of Health. In his conversation with Declan Lawn, Robin speaks about his family, respect of the NHS and his influence by Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan, former Labour MP who led the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948. Robin discusses his role as Health Minister as we live through the Covid pandemic and about his own mental wellbeing and how he has connected with his family over lockdown.

Described as “A titan of the Northern Ireland music scene” by the BBC’s Tom Robinson, Stuart Bailie is a renowned music journalist, broadcaster and author from Belfast. He has been an industry professional for well over three decades, his career taking in contributions to Mojo, Uncut, Q, Vox, The Irish Times and Hot Press. He spent eight years at NME – including a three-year stint as deputy editor – and was, from 2008 to 2016, CEO of his native city’s Oh Yeah Music Centre, the dedicated creative hub he co-founded in 2007.

In his conversation with Declan Lawn, Stuart discusses his regard for the kind of “slow culture” exemplified by his quarterly magazine, Dig With It. He also recalls the role he played in the nascent Blur-Oasis rivalry of the mid-90s and explains how the “Cut your own groove” mantra has helped shepherd him through tough times.