Gary Cooke's Trailblazers: Brian Kerr Pt2 of 3 by Senior Times

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Episode 30. Conor meets the new CEO of Leinster rugby Shane Nolan. They talk about his time in Google and what brought him to Leinster, his chats with Leo Cullen and everything from replacing Stuart Lancaster to the stadium project to growing the women’s game.

Sports Quiz EXTRA

The First of a new series of podcasts featuring the lives of some some of Irelands most celebrated poets . We begin the series with Patrick Kavanagh ....

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 Professor in English Michael Hinds of Dublin City University.

Patrick Kavanagh was born in rural Inniskeen, County Monaghan, in 1904, the fourth of ten children of James Kavanagh and Bridget Quinn.

His grandfather was a schoolteacher called "Kevany", which a local priest changed to "Kavanagh" at his baptism. The grandfather had to leave the area following a scandal and never taught in a national school again, but married and raised a family in Tullamore. Patrick Kavanagh's father, James, was a cobbler and farmer. Kavanagh's brother Peter became a university professor and writer, two of their sisters were teachers, three became nurses, and one became a nun.

Claddagh records have allowed us to share some of the wonderful recordings taken from the Album Almost Everything.

Gary Cooke Christmas Books by Senior Times

Gary meets former Ireland Manager Brian Kerr in the first of two episodes.

Conor meets UUP leader Doug Beattie in his office in Portadown. A long chat on his army career, his life in Ulster politics and his attempts towards a more progressive approach to Unionism. Along the way we get his views on the DUP, the Northern Ireland Protocol, LGBTQ+ community, relations with the EU, what it means to be Irish and our shared future.

Sports Christmas

Favourite Christmas Carols and Music, introduced by John Low.

Conor meets a childhood sporting hero in Tony Ward. A great talent in soccer and rugby, he became a superstar in his playing days as out half for Ireland, the Lions and of course Munster when they beat the All-Blacks in 1978. He now writes about rugby for the Irish Independent and still does commentary for the BBC. We chat about his early days, his friendship with Ollie Campbell and a fair bit about where Irish rugby is now.