A new radio documentary, premiering on Newstalk this Sunday, tells the story of two sisters from Northern Ireland who left their family and faith for an alternative spiritual journey with the Hare Krisna community in the 1990's. Peace and Love in a Time of Trouble is produced by Magi Scully and takes the listener on a journey from Christianity to Krishna with Karuna Smith-Ryan, from Co. Down.

Peace and Love in a Time of Trouble will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 13th October at 7am, and repeated on Saturday 19th October at 9pm.  Podcast goes live on www.newstalk.com after first broadcast.

Living in Northern Ireland during the troubles, the Smith sisters  moved with their husbands to rear their families among the Hare Krisna community at Inis Rath Island in Lough Erne on Fermanagh.

A relatively new religion, the Hare Krisna's were founded in New York in 1966, and were best known in Ireland for their street singing and chanting, as well as vegetarian food restaurants. Beatle band member, George Harrison, became a devotee and helped the spiritual organisation with funds for printing books, recorded albums and made the significant donation of a manor house in Watford, which is the UK headquarters today.

Karuna Ryan

Raised among the island community, Karuna's daughter Ekhadasi, was educated by Christians and moved to study fashion design in the UK, where she is a weekly visitor to the Temple in Watford.

Karuna Ryan now runs Karuna's Kitchen Catering at Temple Bar food market Dublin on Saturday and People's Park, Dun Laoghaire on Sunday. Sukhada Smith-Repass founded the Ray of Light, which is located at the Shambala Holistic Centre in Derrylin Co. Fermanagh. www.rayoflight108.com

Since the 1990’s, the number of Hare Krisna’s living on Inis Rath has dwindled. A small community are presently fundraising to maintain the temple, and open for retreats and events including the masters of calm festival. For more information, visit: www.Krishnaisland.com

CREDITS: Peace and Love in a Time of Trouble was edited by Heather Mcleod,  Produced and Presented by Magi Scully. The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee.

Thank you to Karuna and Ekhadashi Ryan, to Sukhada Smith – Repass, Radha Mohan Das and Keshto and the Hare Krisna communities at Bhakti – Vedanta Manor and Inis Rath.

Peace and Love in a Time of Trouble will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday 13th October at 7am, and repeated on Saturday 19th October at 9pm.  Podcast goes live on www.newstalk.com after first broadcast.