Former teacher and Oideas Gael founder Liam Ó Cuinneagáin shares the story of how he grew the Irish language and cultural learning centre into one of the most successful and well-attended institutions in any of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions. This is the concluding and second part. 

Conversation includes: starting up the first Irish language courses with Seosamh Watson; Liam being separated physically from the Troubles in the six counties; the first people on the early courses; Fr. McDyer’s Irish levels; John Heron; Downings; the immersive system of learning; the structure of the day; Milwaukee Irish Fest; World Trade Center Bombing 1993; Patrick Campbell; why people are attracted to coming to Oideas Gael; the quality of the teaching staff; Siobhán Ní Churraighín; Rónán Ó Dochartaigh; the topography of the west of Ireland; Brendan Lyons and the International Fund for Ireland; acquiring the land on which to build the school; Máire Brennan; Mary McAleese attending the course during her presidency; Ray McManus; Foras Na Gaeilge; Daniel O’Donnell and Mary McAleese breaking and entering into Oideas Gael; dealing with banks; Broca's area; Enjoy Irish! by Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair; Gael Linn and other topics.

Music in the background from Eibhlis Farrell and Ray McManus in rehearsal as well as the sean-nós singing class of Gearóidín Breathnach which were happening in two classrooms concurrently.

Recorded on Tuesday 29th July 2025 - 2 days after Donegal competed against Kerry in the All-Ireland football final.

Links

http://www.oideas-gael.com

188. Liam Ó Cuinneagáin: Oideas Gael - Part 1

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Former teacher and Oideas Gael founder Liam Ó Cuinneagáin shares the story of how he grew the Irish language and cultural learning centre into one of the most successful and well-attended institutions in any of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions. Part one centres largely around the amazing partnership between Fr. McDyer and Liam’s father Willie Ó Cuinneagáin formed which transformed the area. 

Conversation includes: introductions; early life; education; studying psychology in UCD; Máirtín Ó Muilleoir; Seosamh Watson; connecting his Uncle Mickey and other family members in USA; Prof. Breandán MacSuibhne; Gleann Cholm Cille; Fr. James McDyer; Tory Island; McDyer bringing a weaving market into the area in 1950s; Willie Ó Cuinneagáin; Glencolmcille Folk Village; debating teams; Mansholt Plan; The Ireland House; Tom O’Donnell; Dean Charles Gray-Stack; Michael John Sweetman; Irish Press vs. Irish Independent; Éamon de Valera and other topics.

Music in the background from Eibhlis Farrell and Ray McManus in rehearsal as well as the sean-nós singing class of Gearóidín Breathnach which were happening in two classrooms concurrently.

Recorded on Tuesday 29th July 2025 - 2 days after Donegal competed against Kerry in the All-Ireland football final.

Relevant Links

http://www.oideas-gael.com/

189. Liam Ó Cuinneagáin: Oideas Gael - Part 2

Additional Links

https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcdyer-james-daniel-a5652

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Fr+McDyer%2C+Glencolmkille+Folk+Village

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Episode 187 Painter Erin Lawlor chats with Fender Jackson in Galway on Monday 4th August when her exhibition divining was presented at the Printworks Gallery in Galway as part of the Galway International Arts Festival, running from July 14 to 27, 2025. This was a Highlanes Gallery National Tour curated by Aoife Ruane.

Conversation includes: introductions; painter vs. artist; divining; Aoife Ruane; Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda; Source Arts Centre, Tipperary; curating the Drogheda municipal collection; Eddie Lawlor and Tullow, County Carlow; the complications of being brought up Anglo-Irish; moving to France; her father’s work with Co-operation North and John Hume; Peter Lawlor and The Lawlor Foundation; Irish Youth Foundation; Irish artistic identity; Roderic O’Conor; Jon Benington; Mary and Alan Hobart; Mainie Jellett; Evie Hone; Micheal Farrell; Isaac Newton; Sheela na gig; a deep dive into Erin’s techniques; David Bowie; portraits vs. landscapes; Philip Guston; Frank Auerbach; metapainting; German radical painting; Dr. Seuss vs. Caravaggio; background music; Beckett; Joyce; ‘Guernica’ by Picasso; Seamus Heaney; Kate Bush; writing; plans for the future; Irish With Mollie as well as other topics.

Links

Erin Lawlor website

https://www.erinlawlor.com

Highlanes Gallery

https://highlanes.ie/exhibition/divining-erin-lawlor/

https://highlanes.ie/exhibition/a-sense-of-place-erin-lawlor-selects-drogheda-municipal-collection/

GIAF 

https://www.giaf.ie/festival/event/erin-lawlor

The Source, Thurles 

https://www.thesourceartscentre.ie/whats-on/visual-arts/erin-lawlor-divining

 Irish Youth Foundation https://www.iyf.org.uk

Cooperation Ireland https://cooperationireland.org

Ep. 187 Spotify Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6olI2b5OcSjeO5MXabvkO1?si=37b1eb6114f34006

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Episode 185 European Medicines Agency Executive Director Emer Cooke chats with Fender Jackson in Amsterdam on Wednesday 9th July 2025.

Conversation includes: introductions; early life; being drawn to medicine; family and friends’ understanding; career and educational path; a comparison of the cultures between WHO and EMA; European and International harmonisation; being the Chair of International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA); politics vs. science; EMA responsibilities; EMA’s work with animals; antimicrobial resistance; maximum residue limits; the medicine journey from bench to bedside; the challenges of the pandemic; lessons learnt from the pandemic; AI; preparedness for the next pandemic; Health Threats Plan; pressures from pharmaceuticals and governments; conflicts of interests; public trust and misinformation; European public assessment reports; communicating; how being Irish affects Emer’s methods of working; unwinding; ‘Small Things Like These’ by Claire Keegan, and other topics.

Relevant Links

https://www.ema.europa.eu

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/what-we-publish-medicines-when/european-public-assessment-reports-background-context

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The concluding part of a conversation centred around advice for any visitors to Galway Racecourse. Recorded in Galway on Tuesday, 20th May 2025 - pre-recorded to coincide with the lead-up to this year’s Galway Races, which begin on Monday, 28th July 2025.

Conversation includes: what to expect on a day out at Galway Races; a break down of the different days; transport advice; advice for mobility issues; racing vs. Formula 1 and Bernie Ecclestone; jockeys as sports stars; Davy Russell; Patrick Mullins; the challenges of racing today; the racetrack itself including maintenance; the sponsors; Horse Racing Ireland and the prize money; the animal welfare; Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) vets; the Galway Racecourse team; the training involved; plans for the future; and other topics.

Relevant Links

www.galwayraces.com

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The second part of a conversation exploring the evolution of Galway Racecourse. Recorded in Galway on Tuesday, 20th May 2025 - pre-recorded to coincide with the lead-up to this year’s Galway Races, which begin on Monday, 28th July 2025.

The history of the racecourse; other non-racing events at the racecourse; Elf Town Galway; Classic Fest vintage car show; the spirit of the Galway Races; Ballinrobe Racecourse; being part of the Galway Festival calendar; breast cancer research day; being part of and giving back to the community and having pride in the area; a look back over 40 years and looking forwards; Galway as a city of festivals and innovation; Moses Rowen; Gary, Rob and the Monroe family; Gerry Broderick; Michael O’Sullivan as well as other topics.

Relevant Links

www.galwayraces.com

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Episode 183 Singer, Songwriter and Broadcaster Malachi Cush chats with Fender Jackson from his home in County Tyrone on Tuesday 1st July 2025.

Conversation includes: introductions; Tyrone’s chances after beating Dublin; Armagh & Kerry; the new GAA rules; Malachi’s house as a ceilidh house (a house where people gathered for an evening of craic); a performance of ‘On Raglan Road’; Luke Kelly and other influences; Phil Coulter; early life; Fame Academy; Pam Sheyne and Carrie Grant; talent shows in mid-2020’s compared to 20 years previous; playing in Thailand; a performance of ‘Under A Moon Of Gold’; grief and parental love; God’s guiding light; recording with Phil Coulter; ‘The Town I Loved So Well’; ‘A City Dreaming’; Ukraine; Elvis and Phil; ‘Blessed Be The One’ and Joanne Cash; Rosemary McConaghie and Mark Scullion; Johnny Cash; The First Nashville Cowboy Church; the uncertainty of artists today; Conor Grimes and other topics.

Relevant Links

www.malachicush.com

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Recorded in Galway on Tuesday, 20th May 2025 - pre-recorded to coincide with the lead-up to this year’s Galway Races, which begin on Monday, 28th July 2025.

In the first of a three-part special, Galway Racecourse CEO Michael Moloney joins Fender Jackson for a wide-ranging conversation that charts both his personal career path and the recent evolution of one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting venues. Michael reflects on how the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic became a catalyst for modernisation and change at Ballybrit.

Conversation includes: introductions; early life including education; working for horse racing Ireland; Plumpton Racecourse; Covid; comparison between Plumpton and Galway racecourses; the improvements made; how Michael prioritises the workload; implementing a culture of change; The Galway Plate; Knowledge Management; peer assists and other topics.

Relevant Link

www.galwayraces.com

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Episode 181 Fender Jackson visits the Lunch Club in the Kennedy Hall of the London Irish Centre on Fri 20th June 2025 and chats with Finola Marriott, Maeve Heath and Maria Connolly. This is a special year for the London Irish Centre as it marks its 70th anniversary.

In this special episode, Fender Jackson drops in to the Lunch Club at the London Irish Centre in Camden, London - a warm, vibrant hub for generations of the Irish diaspora. Set against a backdrop of laughter, tea, and stories, Fender chats with attendees and staff to explore the sense of community, identity, and belonging that the Centre fosters. From recollections of emigration and hard work to lighter tales of dances and reunions, the voices in this episode reflect a living thread that connects Ireland to London.

Sincere thanks to Finola, Maeve and Maria for their contributions and all at the London Irish Centre who have helped make this episode possible.

Relevant Links

https://londonirishcentre.org/

https://londonirishcentre.org/our-services/community-development/community-cafe/

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Episode 180 Fine Artist Kathryn Callaghan chats with Fender Jackson from her home in County Down on Thursday 26th June 2025.

Conversation includes: introductions; Kathryn’s journey towards being an artist; Outscape; Yard Gallery; Holywood, Co. Down; Gerard Byrne; Guggi; studying Fine Art HND; understanding Kathryn’s motivation as an artist; Daoirí Farrell; confidence; Kathryn’s pouring technique of painting; Jackson Pollock; Kathryn’s influence’s including Rothko; capturing the feeling; knowing when the piece is finished; John Cage and 4’33; less is more; working off an image; musical preferences; choosing colours; John and Killarney Falconry; illustration board; framing; Pete Fowler; the customers; Ciara O’Neill; current exhibition in Bushmills Inn; pricing paintings; making it as an artist; gallery commission; social media; accidents; Brian Eno and the Oblique Strategies; Colin Davidson; plans for the future; the Wild Atlantic Music Tours; Fender's freebies and other topics.

Relevant Links

https://www.kathryncallaghan.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/kcfineart

Spotify Playlist

Fender's Freebies

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3m17hxnoyar4wyrcplyj8/Family-Tree.pdf?rlkey=5f9zlsr1nguqxx29a6b8e0pcb&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cd88sp4ruaa4cvjru89bd/Life-Story-Interview-Questions.pdf?rlkey=f5x469lj1uhke2wirmj7f2nvt&st=cwqpuvkx&dl=0

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