The Time Out Podcast

The achievements of Shaun Sharkey and Helena Melly in the world of pool in recent years can only be admired. Brother and sister, they have won individual and team trophies both in Donegal and nationally in Ireland. Among their titles won, Shaun has won so far 6x Donegal championships, 2x Ulster champion, 2 x Ulster team champion, 1x All Ireland team champion, 1x All Ireland singles champion, 2 x home nations team champions. Shaun was also ranked Irish no 1 before as well.  Helena is a 3x Donegal ladies champion, multiple Irish ranking event winner. 1x All Ireland team champions, and 2x All Ireland singles champion. You'd feel that their honours won list will grow much more in the future. I went along to Owenies Bar in the heart of Dungloe last week and chatted to them both about the highly impressive pool journey they're on. I ask them about different aspects of pool and Shaun and Helena mention the ambitions they'd like to achieve this year and beyond. I hope you enjoy the interview. 

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When I think of the very finest Irish country singers over the past number of decades Mick Flavin is without doubt on that list. The Longford native is on the country music scene 35 years and still going strong. It's personally very special for me to feature Mick on my podcast as I grew up listening to his music and grew a love for his voice and many of the songs he recorded. I chat to him about his great career in country music and how he first fell in love with the genre. Mick talks about who inpsired him, he reflects on his early family life in Longford and we talk about some of his biggest songs. I hope you enjoy the interview!

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Over the last decade plus Matt Britton is best known throughout Donegal for his journalism work. He was employed with the Donegal Democrat for many years before turning his attention to freelance journalism, something he has a great passion for. What a lot of people might not know about Matt is that he has past experience in many fields, including hotel management and being the director of Bord Failte. In hotel management, his work covered government catering and he was once responsible for feeding the late Pope John Paul II when he came to Ireland in 1979. Matt who hails from Donegal town has down through the years met some of the biggest names in acting, music etc. Recently he got to witness locally the great Liam Neeson filming scenes for his new upcoming movie  'In The Land Of Saints And Sinners'. I talk to him about his time working at the Gresham where he met the late Sean Connery, Ursula Andress,  Rod Stewart and more. His various work experiences made for a particularly interesting chat! I hope you enjoy the interview!

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When the discussion of the greatest GAA managers of all time is being had, there's no doubting Seán Boylan's name is never far away. What the Dunboyne native achieved with the Meath senior football team in particular was outstanding. Leading them to their first All Ireland title in 20 years in 1987, when they beat Cork. Retaining it the following year against the same opposition. Two more Sam Maguires followed in 96 and 99, v Mayo and Cork respectively. Under Boylan's 23 year spell in charge of the royals they also won 8 Leinster titles and 3 NFL titles. He has won a number of huge personal accolades too, including being made freeman of Meath in 2006, the first Meath person to receive such an honour. I was honoured to share an hour chat with Seán. We look back on his amazing spell in inter county management, how he adores the game of hurling and we look ahead to the provincial finals this weekend. Seán also gives his thoughts on the Tailteann Cup. I hope you enjoy the interview! 

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Co Antrim born Michael McMullan's voice is one many sporting fans across Ireland and the UK will recognise. He worked for Today FM for over a decade in presenting the popular 'Premier League Live' alongside Mark Lawrenson and co.  With Today FM he also got to experience in person great Irish sporting moments as a reporter. Including watching Ireland play at the Japan/Korea soccer World Cup in 2002 and Padraig Harrington's Open wins in 07/08. Michael now works within the sports of snooker, pool and golf and can be heard on Sky TV regularly. He also hosts the very popular World Snooker Tour podcast. I catch up with him to discuss the recent World Snooker Championship,  Irish major successes in golf and memories of Japan/Korea as its 20th anniversary nears. I hope you enjoy the interview! 

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Kelan Browne from Ballybofey is fastly making a huge impression on many throughout Ireland and beyond with his unique voice in singing country music songs. His wide vocal range gives him great ability to cover anything from classics to modern day. So far that is exactly what we've seen from Kelan. His first 2 singles were Conway Twitty's iconic 'Hello Darlin' and Luke Comb's smash hit 'Beautiful Crazy'. Kelan has done both songs great justice and is looking forward to the future, be it his own cover versions, songs written by himself or performing on stage. Whichever method it is, it's very clear Kelan's voices touches people. I chat to him about about his love of country music, the important people in music who've helped him along so far and he talks to me about his love of soccer and Liverpool FC.  I hope you enjoy the interview!

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Anthea Atkinson was born in Dublin and has lived in various parts of the world including the UK, the US and other locations but Donegal is her home now and has been for quite some time.  She has had many different job titles, from firefighter to paramedic, and working to help the homeless. One common theme is evident throughtout Anthea's working life; her desire to help people. Since moving to Donegal she has immersed herself in various local communities and in recent years worked voluntary as the chairperson of the Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival. I spoke to Anthea regarding all the above and more including how she and her husband Ken met and how years later they arrived in Dungloe where they ran successfully 'The River House B&B' and current day they let a popular holiday cottage in Meenaleck. I hope you enjoy the interview!

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'The Artist' Kevin Painter retired from the PDC darting scene in 2021 when he didn't make it through Q School. Like a lot of players his darting career began in the BDO but come the early noughties he made the switch to the PDC. It was there he began to flourish. In 2004, he narrowly lost out to Phil Taylor in the deciding sudden death leg of the world final. He made a couple of other semi final appearances at the worlds too, 2003 and 2008. The latter of those years Kevin had what he describes as his greatest win, when he knocked out the defending world champion at the time, Raymond Van Barneveld in the last 16. In 2011 Kevin finally got his hands on a major trophy; The 2011 Players Championship. A result which earned him a place in the 2012 Premier League. Kevin has also won numerous other trophies. amongst them, the 2000 Swedish Open and 2002 Bob Anderson Classic. My chat with him covers memories of his great career and we look ahead to the very first 'Seniors' World Darts Championship in a few weeks, an event which Kevin is competing in. I hope you enjoy the interview. 

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Bernard Flynn was part of a Meath senior football team that won the royal county their 1st All Ireland in 20 years when they beat the rebel county Cork in 1987. A year later Meath were champions again against the same opposition. Bernard was also  part of Meath teams to lose 2 All Ireland finals in 90 and 91 to Cork and Down respectively.  Flynn is a 2x All Star and formed one of the most formidable full forward lines in GAA history alongside Brian Stafford and Colm O'Rourke. I caught up with Bernard yesterday to talk about his memorable times in GAA as part of great teams, we chat about the legendary Sean Boylan and we look ahead to this years keenly anticipated race for Sam. I hope you enjoy the interview!

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Fr John Joe Duffy hails originally from Burtonport and was ordained as a priest in 2002.  He is currently the catholic curate in Creeslough, a position he has held since 2017. Other parishes he has served in are Glencolmcille, Kincasslagh/Burtonport, Stranorlar/Twin Towns.  Wherever Fr John Joe has worked, he has left with many friends and is widely respected. I chat with him about his ordination, the effects of the pandemic on everyday life plus he talks about the various locations he has served in as CC. A sector close to John Joe's heart is the fishing sector and we talk about how it has suffered along with others sectors in recent times.  Fr John Joe also offers up a prayer whilst also mentioning his favourite christmas carol.  I hope you enjoy the interview!

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