Our Man In Stockholm

This week we hear from Irish author Doireann Ní Ghríofa who was in Sweden last week to promote a brand-new translation of her book "A Ghost In The Throat" ("Ett Spöke I Strupen") and Birgitta Hedin Curtin came by the studio to tell the awesome tale of how she ended up in the Burren in Co. Clare smoking fish that is now sold all over the world!

Back in the 1980s Ireland was awash with brilliant bands all being chased by record companies looking for the next U2, and when they found a teenage drummer from Walkinstown and his older brother, they thought they'd found them. Keith Walker went on to sign for a major label and tour the world, becoming hugely famous in Japan in the process, but like all such rock 'n roll dreams, it wasn't all plain sailing. A friend for more than three decades, he joins me on the podcast to talk about his life in music and how it took him around the world.

A rare midweek episode as artist Alannah Robins arrives in Stockholm to exhibit her work at Galleri Duerr. Titled "Comfort Ye My People", Alannah has created some tremendous visual work based on the surroundings of her Connemara studio, where the rugged mountains and age-old landscape give an impression of permanence, despite the ongoing climate crisis.

I visited the exhibition before it opened and Alannah took me through the process of creating the work, bringing it to Stockholm and exhibiting on one of the most prestigious streets in the Swedish art scene.

Be sure to visit the exhibition on Gallery Weekend (Nov 10-12) - you can find all the details on the Galleri Duerr website: https://www.galleriduerr.com/

This weekend we went behind the scenes with the Glass Mask theatre company as they took a play by one of Sweden's foremost writers and staged it in the Swedish capital. The director and cast tell us what it takes to put on a show like this, what it's like to perform in a different country and culture, and whether or not they might be back again with another English-language production any time soon ...

Few people can have had an impact as profound as that of Father Denis Slattery, an Irish priest from Fermoy whose St. Finbarr's Schoool in Nigeria went on to set the standard for they country's education system. Former pupil Adedeji Badiru joined me to reminisce about the man who gave him - a young boy with no shoes and his options fading fast - the chance at an education that has sustained him through a successful career in business and academia.

This week we've a discount code for a theatre event in Stockholm at the weekend, and Rory Moore from the Irish Chamber Of Commerce in Sweden joins me to talk about the upcoming gala dinner and networking event, as well has how you can make nominations for the annual Beacon Award!

Get your tickets for "ACT" by the Glass Mask Theatre Company here: https://tix.kulturhusetstadsteatern.se/sv/specialoffer/ffczjbwwbl25q/

On this week's podcast we unravel the mystery of an Irish-themed mural in Mölndal depicting the mythical figure of Niamh Cinn Oir, and Paul O'Mahony from the Local comes to the studio to talk about the stories that are making the news in Sweden.

Since open ing its doors in 1995, the Irish Cultural Centre in London has become one of the most important places for Irish culture outside our island. With a varied and exciting program, it is tasked with both preserving our culture and providing a platform for new artists, as well as being a meeting-place for the Irish in the British capital. William Foote sat down with me to take me through its history, its mission and what the future holds for an iconic Irish institution.

The GAA season came to an end in the Hague on Saturday with the final European Gaelic football round, and the girls of the Stockholm Gaels were there taking part in the junior competition. Tara O'Neill joined us from pitch-side to recount the games of the day, and camógie queen Michelle Cotter then jumped on to talk about how the season has been for women in the Nordic region and her hopes for next year.

There's also a business shout-out from Stephanie at the Läs Is More bookstore in a fast-moving, jam-packed episode!

I travelled to London to keep my promise to Joe O'Neill and attend an event with the Irish Creative Collective, and I was blown away by the range of talent on show - brilliant young Irish performers supporting one another in a fantastic venue, all in an atmosphere of mutual support and love.

Through the evening I collected the voices of many of those who took to the stage, and we talked about their sense of Irishness, where they fit in in London and what this collective means to them - and needless to say, Joe O'Neill is at the heart of it all.

You can follow the collective on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/irishcreativecollective/