Welcome to episode 2 from a new podcast series TRAVEL POD produced by Senior Times in association with Travel Department.

Cathy O Connor takes time out to chat with Conor Faughnan about some of the wonderful TD active Holidays on offer in 2023.

Cathy O Connor is one of Ireland's most respected fashion stylists and through her regular television appearances, is renowned for her expertise and practical advice. She hosts style workshops for the corporate and retail sectors, offers a personal shopping service and is a business mentor for the retail industry. Her passion for all things stylish has garnered her a devoted following. Twitter @cathyocstylist Instagram – cathyocstylist

TD active Holidays is a collection of adventure holidays full of amazing activities. Irish Owned and Operated, our holidays range from walking, yoga and photography to our Explore range of exciting small group tours. We take all the stress out of planning your adventure, taking care of everything from flights, transfers and accommodation to providing expertly guided excursions. Every holiday is accompanied by a passionate local guide and designed to offer authentic, unique experiences. www.tdactiveholidays.com

In this first series of podcasts all aspects of the Travel Department portfolio will be featured, including, river cruises, historical sites, benefits of a guided group holiday, bucket list destinations-to-city breaks and much more. Visit www.traveldepartment.com

https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/croatia-walking-holiday

https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/sierra-nevada-walking-holiday

https://www.tdactiveholidays.com/holiday/slovenia-walking-holiday

With TD Active Hoildays - Most of our groups are made up of a collection of individuals (couples, friends and single travellers) who don’t know each other before travelling.

• customers ages vary broadly depending on the holiday type, with customers generally being aged 35 years – 64 years old.

• Group sizes often smaller than a traditional group holiday allowing you to get to know everybody, between 15-40 people.

They include authentic accommodation with all tours and holidays generally stay in locally owned boutique hotels, 3 star hotels, home stays or guesthouses to try benefit the local community.

They occasionally offer 4 star hotels but never a chain hotel or a 5 star luxury hotel.

John Low and Mike Kelly continue the Senior Times Podcast 'Collectables'. In Episode Two, Mike talks John through the history of Irish banknotes and some of the rarities that could be hiding near you.

The second part of a 3 part series of podcasts featuring Patrick Kavanaghs life

Patrick Kavanagh (21 October 1904 – 30 November 1967) was an Irish poet and novelist.

His best-known works include the novel Tarry Flynn, and the poems "On Raglan Road" and "The Great Hunger".

Patrick is also known for his accounts of Irish life through reference to the everyday and commonplace.

Gary Cooke discusses Patrick Kavanaghs Life in a 3 part podcast series alongside Dr Michael Hinds who is an Associate Professor in the School of English at Dublin City University.

Michael is the founder of the Irish Centre for Poetry Studies at the Mater Dei Institute, where he was Senior Lecturer and Head of English.

He also started the journal POST: A Review of Poetry Studies while there. From 1996-9, he was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Tokyo, and retains an interest in the culture of Japan, as well as its representation elsewhere.

Michaels main interest is in American literature, however, and has published widely on it, with a particular emphasis on American poetry and its intersection with popular culture. In 2006, he edited Rebound: The American Poetry Book (Rodopi) with Stephen Matterson.

He has been a regular contributor to the Dublin Review of Books since 2010. He is currently working on an exploration of poetry's anguished relationship to money, unimaginatively entitled Moneypoetry.

Mairead Robinson talks to Eleanor O'Kelly Lynch, author of the remarkable novel The Girl with Special Knees. Can we live a second life - a happier life - in another dimension?

A chance remark about a parallel universe sparks original debut novel by Cork author

What if your distressed child could also access a second, wonderful life? That’s what Cork mother and author Eleanor O’Kelly-Lynch explores in her soon-to-be-launched women’s fiction novel, ‘The Girl with Special Knees’.

The book was launched Cork, in November and has already been described as ‘a sad, beautiful novel’ and ‘a triumph of a book’ by acclaimed Cork author, Billy O’Callaghan.

Eleanor’s daughter was born with a rare congenital condition. One night a few years back, as Lauren lay on the sofa self-injuring, Eleanor voiced her despair to her sister. Later after her daughter had gone to bed, her sister offered, by way of comfort, ‘How do we know? Maybe she’s also living another, happier life, a second life, in another dimension.’ The thought lifted Eleanor, and that was when the idea for ‘The Child with Special Knees’ was born.

The author of the novel, Eleanor O’Kelly-Lynch, said, ‘I think a lot of people will resonate with the themes in the book. When I started out, I thought the novel would be about escaping pain, grief and loss, but actually, it’s about courage and how we find it within ourselves – if we look long and hard enough. It’s a lesson we are all are learning every day: Don’t give up. Keep dreaming. Have courage. Be kind to yourself. Keep on keeping on. You’ll make it.’

The book is about a family in trouble; a sister who feels invisible; a mother in distress; a father in denial, and a child who just wants out. One day, an African doll arrives in the post, and something magical happens.

The novel is about family relationships, hope, courage, and renewal. More than anything else, it’s about the power of dreams to heal the human heart.

The Girl with Special Knees is now available nationwide ...

The third story in "Leitrim to Birmingham", a podcast by Tony Downey.

Welcome to the first episode from a new podcast series TRAVEL POD produced by Senior Times in association with Travel Department.

In this episode Mairead Robinson chats with well known broadcaster and Travel Writer Michelle Walsh Jackson about River cruise.

This first series of podcasts will discuss all aspects of Travel Departments portfolio and will focus on everything from river cruises to historical sites, to the benefits of a guided group holiday, and a bucket list of destinations-to-city breaks and much more.

Michelle is a weekly contributor on The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. She features bi-weekly on Travel Tuesdays on Virgin Media One’s Elaine, presented and produced by Elaine Crowley.

Michelle loves to write about travel, and has written a number best selling novels , all set in wonderful locations that will make you feel as if you are travelling with the characters that she writes about. Her debut novel ‘Two Days in Biarritz’ was published by Poolbeg Press and made number two in the Irish charts in 2008.

Travel Department is a leading provider of guided group holidays and synonymous with offering holidays specifically designed for that age group to a myriad of destinations in Europe and beyond.

Episode 1 - Michelle Jackson tells us about our River Cruise Holidays- Classical Danube River cruise (Passu – Budapest), Egypt – Nile River cruise including Cairo & Hurghada, Rhine & Cologne River cruise (Amsterdam – Basel), Seine River cruise including Paris & Rouen, Danube Rhapsody river cruise (Passu – Passu)

Conor O Hagen catches up with Claire Doherty , Commercial Director of Travel Department. ‘’ To discuss the many costs and benefits to traveling with Travel Department

To find out more about any of Travel Departments group or Active Holidays visit

https://www.traveldepartment.com/

January 2023

Episode 30: Conor meets Tony Scott, co-founder and driving force behind the Young Scientist Exhibition. The brainchild of himself and his great friend Fr Tom Burke as far back as 1965 and now known as the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, the event is back in person in the RDS this year. Tony continues to lead and inspire the next generation. They talk about the event and how the Young Scientist winners are chosen, and he fondly remembers Fr Tom as he reflects on the long-running success.

John Low and Mike Kelly kick off a new Senior Times Podcast 'Collectables'. In Episode One, Mike talks John through the history of Irish coinage and some of the rarities that could be hiding in a jar near you.

Once Gary Cooke's guitar teacher, Gerry Leonard is an Irish lead guitarist and solo artist, known for his harmonic and ambient guitar style and for his work with David Bowie. He has lived and worked in Dublin, Copenhagen, and Manhattan.