Episode 3: I joined Úna Walsh in the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Heritage Centre in Cullyhanna.

An historian, storyteller, community activist, mother, a champion of South Armagh, among many, many other things, Una needs no introduction when it comes to this area and its heritage.

Una is well known for preserving the stories of South Armagh, but this conversation offers a look into her own life.

Murphy before she got married, Úna shares seven children with her husband Michael Walsh. With their wedding day on Úna’s 21st birthday, and living in Mullaghbawn ever since, they recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

In this episode, we talk about how she was the first woman in a line of family historians to take on the role, how she balanced community activism and motherhood, and how she made it all happen even without a driver’s licence.

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We also discuss her lifelong belief that the story of South Armagh should be told by those who lived it, her love of literature, the importance of standing your ground, and giving recognition to the women who came before us.

This is Una Walsh, at Twenty-Five.

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Episode 2: I spent time with Patricia Kernan in her home in Crossmaglen. Family and football have been at the heart of Patricia’s life for decades, much like Gaelic games are central to culture in South Armagh.

Originally from Jonesborough, Patricia married Joe Kernan at 18, and in her own words, they took on every obstacle as a team. From then on, one of her main goals was to build and maintain a strong family unit- and they did just that.

In this episode, we talk about rearing a family during the conflict, getting married at Dublin Airport, working from home before it was normal, and how her ‘boys’ turned the field behind their house into their own Croke Park.

Patricia also reflects on the tragedy of losing their first baby boy, Joseph, who would have been 46. She talks about fertility struggles, their longing for a family, the trauma of an ectopic pregnancy, and how their Labrador Bruno helped save her life.

This is Patricia Kernan, at Twenty-Five.

***Content Warning: While this conversation aims to raise awareness, this episode contains discussions of baby loss which some people might find distressing.

Support and Resources:

Feileacain: https://feileacain.ie/about/

SANDS (North): https://www.sands.org.uk/***

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In this episode, I sat down with Aisling Muckian from Silverbridge. Aisling comes from a background familiar to many in South Armagh, being brought up surrounded by music and song.

Most recently, Aisling and her sister Aine were both diagnosed with breast cancer within weeks of each other.

Now known online as the Silverbridge Sisters online, they’ve been sharing their journey publicly to help raise awareness of breast cancer in younger women.

In this conversation, we talk about living in Miami, life on a cruise ship, and spending her 25th birthday on her honeymoon - though things didn’t quite go to plan. We also hear about the role of music in her life, her work, her family, and her friendships. And how nothing matters more to her than her children.

At 25, Aisling’s life was very different- and in her own words, not for better or for worse.

This is Aisling Muckian at 25.

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