Sin Scéal Eile

I don‘t even know how to start trying to describe the charmer that is Brian Bell. I met this distinguished and accomplished gent in his new digs in Raheny and completely lost myself in his stories. 

Condensing his fascinating life into one tiny podcast would be impossible. From meeting the love of his life, Imelda (through Divine intervention no less) to breaking the Irish 3-mile running record while barefoot in 1954. 

His story weaves across decades almost melodically, I’m certain that Brian has always been an incredible storyteller, keeping listeners on the hook with a flirty wink along the way. 

His cosy bedroom in the nursing home has been lovingly decorated by his children with pictures of Imelda, including a sketch that was done of her as a teenager when they first moved to London back in the 50s. 

I could listen to Brian forever, but it’s dinner time, and I don’t want to keep him from what he describes as “the best meals of his life”. 

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met the wonderfully chatty Lucy Hayes on a sunny morning in Dublin’s city centre. We sat outside Difontaines pizza and chatted for what felt like two minutes but was actually an hour.

Lucy is currently in a position that a lot of people would covet, one that could bring change to our beautiful city, change that I suspect we all want. She tells me that Dublin City Council (where she’s the Cycling and Walking Officer for the city) has big plans for how we’ll get around.

We talk about cycle lanes, footpaths and my total disdain for street clutter and bollards. She shares my hope that Dublin could be a little more European, with some cute piazzas where lounging and loitering is encouraged.

Follow and/or subscribe for another photo/podcast/story tomorrow.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Argentinian born artist, Silvina Sisterna in her home in Dublin that she shares with her housemates. We chat about the differences between life at home in rural Argentina and Ireland and how she’s fallen in love with our beautiful country in just a few years. We talk about the housing crisis and visa expirations, both huge issues which can cause a lot of worry and uncertainty to anyone's life. Her appreciation and gratitude for living here and her new found freedom to make art, makes me realise just how much I’ve been taking for granted lately. - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let me preface this by saying I know nothing about sports, but this project for me is all about inclusiveness and making sure that everyone feels represented in some way.

This is something that Cian Griffin and I agree on. I meet him early (for me) on a Saturday morning on the pitches at the Phoenix Park where he's about to train with his GAA club, Na Gaeil Aeracha. Founded in 2020, Na Gaeil Aeracha is the world's first explicitly LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA team, and an extremely successful one at that.

The team has given Cian a community in Dublin, one that he didn't have easy access to growing up in rural Ireland, and through his work in the media (and his hilarious social pages) Cian is also spreading the Irish language, ensuring the gay gaeilgeoirí are well and truly represented!

The team are currently recruiting if you're interested - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I can instantly recognise Karen Bell in the park cafe on a January afternoon. All I know in advance is that she’s a textile artist, so I find the most colourful and stunningly dressed person in the place, and low and behold it’s her (and her tiny dachshund Livy too). Karen’s story is one of reinvention, creativity and living your truth. She tells me about the career path she chose and all the places it brought her around the world, as well as reinventing herself later on in life to follow a new career.

Her art is inspired by the sea that surrounds her and far away lands that she’s encountered physically and spiritually. 

In today’s podcast, I also learned a new word. Did you know what it meant? - Ruth 

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walking into Sarah’s apartment and I’m stopped dead in my tracks by the view. Taking up nearly the whole wall is a big, square window, and through it, the most perfect view of the Irish sea. 

Her apartment is compact, but perfect for her, her partner, their geriatric bunny Cedrick and Erica the seagull who pops by for some cat food on occasion. 

She is living a life of passion, travel and adventure. Like herself, full of colour and character. She surrounds herself with drama (in the best possible way) in her role as a casting director and Associate Artistic Director at Bow Street Academy. We catch Sarah as she’s about to embark on another journey, one on the waterways of Ireland in a new canal boat. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Pat in the Gravediggers pub on what was supposed to be a quiet afternoon, but I don’t think that pub ever has a quiet spell. We sit in the snug, get a round in and chat like old times. I’ve known Pat for over 22 years. We first met while working in a record store on Henry Street. 

Pat is what I’d always describe as a good egg. An old soul, kind and compassionate. 

What we talk about surprises me. Pat has had an exciting career as a musician, he’s travelled the world and has recently gotten married but it’s his Mother’s story he wishes to share today. It’s a story familiar to most families of a certain generation. A matriarch who carried the family through tough times, often needing to sacrifice her own needs and desires to do so. 

Marie Theresa was born in 1942, she was a classically trained singer, but never followed her career, choosing instead to raise 4 children with her husband. During the pandemic, Pat assumed the role of carer to his elderly parents and in today’s chat he tells me what that was truly like. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I got to know the beautifully sincere gent that is Cormac Curran when I was working as a touring music photographer. Cormac has played keys (and a myriad of other musical instruments) for lots of artists such as Hozier (where we met) John Grant, Lisa Hannigan and loads more. When you see him on stage, you know you’re watching a man in his absolute element. In his home today, we sit and chat not just about music and touring, but about life, his upbringing and his total love for teaching music. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen, like myself, loves the Northside. In all the time since she’s moved here from Canada she has yet to cross the Liffey and live on the Southside. She’s found herself moving between houseshares, circling around Dublin 7, even finding herself in a bedroom facing the Phibsborough shopping centre at one stage (my dream!). 

She talks all sorts of sense about the housing crisis that we find ourselves living through. In her role as an urban geography lecturer at DCU, she teaches students about cities and sustainability, as well as conducting research on incredibly important topics like urban vacancy and building towns that are actually enjoyable to live in. Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbara is a quintessential Irish Mammy in all the best ways. I was greeted at her door in Dublin 7 with a big smile, a warm hug and offers of tea, coffee and biscuits (she’d even remembered I was vegan). She has a story that’s been echoed across Ireland for centuries, and one we’ll no doubt hear a lot of in this series. Her children have grown and flown the nest, landing in far away lands like Australia in search of better opportunities (and better weather). 

When faced with an abundance of free time on her hands and as a means to stave off any loneliness in the now quiet house, Barbara picked up portraiture. 

She kindly shows me around her home studio (which was her daughter's make-up business before she emigrated) and treats me to some of her stunning photos. 

Barbara is insightful, compassionate and honest, all of which is reflected back from her imagery. She spends her time mostly photographing elderly people (her Mam included) and the local men’s shed, stressing the importance of connection within the community. - Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.