The Ireland Podcast Salthill Media

In this episode of The Ireland Podcast with Gary Monroe, listeners are transported to the vibrant city of Galway, where Monroe's Tavern holds court as a beloved establishment. Host Gary Monroe shares the history and charm of Monroe's Tavern, a cultural cornerstone in the heart of Galway known for its lively atmosphere and warm hospitality.
The episode takes on a deeper resonance as Gary reflects on the profound personal journey that led to the creation of Rosabel's Rooms Charity. Inspired by the memory of his daughter, Rosabel, Gary and his wife Suzanne founded the charity to provide support and solace to families navigating the unimaginable loss of a child or young adult.
Through heartfelt storytelling and poignant reflections, Gary intertwines the tale of Monroe's Tavern with the mission and impact of Rosabel's Rooms Charity, illuminating the power of community, resilience, and compassion in the face of adversity.
Relevant Links
https://monroes.ie
https://hospicefoundation.ie/rosabel-campaign
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Episode 49 takes us to Biloxi, Mississippi in the USA for a chat with the delightful daughter of Derry: Mairéad Carlin of Celtic Woman. Despite the geographical distance between Fender and Mairéad the chat is rather homely given that Fender also comes from Derry.
Conversation includes: introductions; the history of Celtic Woman; Mairéad’s personal journey into Celtic Woman; Hugo Carlin and the Trend Showband; Áine Carlin and her 5 vegan cookbooks (so far!); favourite Irish poems; favourite Irish song; Declan O’Rourke; Paul Brady; Eleanor McEvoy; favourite Irish winner of the Eurovision Song Contest; favourite song of Derry; Danny Boy; Elvis Presley; Phil Coulter; The Undertones; Paul McCloone; Greg McCartney & The Undertones mural; Teenage Kicks; the different bands practising on Hamilton Street in the Bogside; recording in Abbey Road Studios as a 15 year old; Stuart Barr; Tim Sutton; Fiachra Trench working with Paul McCartney in Studio 1; Mairéad’s favourite podcast; favourite letter in the Book Of Kells; Tracy Emin; Cormac Crummey; Ciaran from Music Capital; Éabha McMahon; McElroy Guitars; ‘Awkward Annie’ by Kate Rusby performed by Mairéad and Cormac; Monroe’s live music venue in Galway, as well as other topics.
Relevant Links
https://www.instagram.com/maireadcarlinsings
https://www.celticwoman.com
Additional Links
https://www.instagram.com/cormaccrummey
https://www.instagram.com/ainecarlin
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Episode 48 is with Sinéad Reel who takes us from understanding the basics of Ladies Gaelic football through to more detailed analysis and ending on a surreal note!
Conversation includes: Gaelic vs. Soccer; LGFA vs. GAA; the rules; finances; the facilities; different pitch sizes; drainage systems on pitches; the popularity of the LGFA game; getting (back) into the game; Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others; Dads & Lads; Armagh; Croke Park; the different roles available for anyone interested in getting involved in LGFA; the costs in terms of time and money; personal goals and private goals; integration; a special shout out; Jarlath Burns from Silverbridge; locksmith problems; who will win the finals this year as well as other topics.
Relevant Links
https://armaghladies.com
https://www.gofundme.com/f/armagh-lgfa-development-fund
https://ladiesgaelic.ie
Additional Links
Gaelic4Mothers&Others
Dads & Lads
O’Neills and Armagh Ladies
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Episode 47 is the second part of a conversation with composer Fiachra Trench who has arranged music for The Corrs, Paul Brady, Kevin Rowland, Philip Lynott, Thin Lizzy, Elvis Costello, Hans Zimmer, Michael Kamen, Finbar Furey, Altan, Paul McCartney(!), Carmel McCreagh(!!) and many, many more.
Conversation includes Elvis Costello’s ‘Harpies Bizarre’; working with The Corrs and Mitchell Froom; working with Van Morrison on 11 albums doing about 60 tracks; working with Wet Wet Wet on about 15-20 tracks; working with Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains; Derek Bell; Long Journey Home; the science of arranging; working with Ian Levine; varispeed recording; working with Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy; working with Paul Brady; the pricing of jobs; the costs of hiring musicians vs. the diminishing budgets available; writing disco songs again with Ian Levine; Mary Wells; Hans Zimmer programming ‘High Energy’ for Fiachra on the Fairlight synth; Motown in the 1970s vs the 80’s; working with Ian Levine on ‘Northern Soul 2024’; Fiachra’s choice of software; working with Paul McCartney on ‘Wings at the Speed of Sound’; the urge to correct his own wikipedia entry; coaching Linda McCartney on the mellotron; the brilliance of both Tommy Tiernan and Sarah de Lagarde; working with Michael Kamen on ‘Die Hard’ and ’The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’; being an extra in ‘The Wall’; Jim Sheridan’s ’The Boxer’; ‘The Courier’ by Elvis Costello; playing the ballroom circuits at the same time as Elvis Costello’s father Ross MacManus and the Joe Loss Orchestra; Fiachra’s Desert Aran Discs; working with Mike Westbook; things Fiachra wished he had’ve done differently and what’s left to do as well as other topics.
This has been a long conversation and the only regret was that it wasn't longer. We are so thankful to Fiachra for given up so much of his time. The man is an absolute legend and we are blessed to have so much of his work available to us with just a click of a mouse. His arrangements are things of absolute beauty.
Relevant Links
https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/fiachra_trench/credits/
Additional Links
Fiachra's Portfolio:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wsghjzwi5OCsubOQ0rP2Z?si=6b9b4ed4ee6641bf
Fiachra's Influences:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7qHisZNzxlMJEi4qAKlXkq?si=83b9f29ee3c0400e
Fiachra’s Desert Aran Discs
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Bq9bHPbRWZMIgqhpFxf7c?si=5f40b5e732db4d53
Paul McCartney - ‘Same Time Next Year’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrnf2vi_kys
Greystones Guide - Tracks Of My Years: Fiachra Trench
https://www.greystonesguide.ie/tracks-of-my-years-fiachra-trench/
Marty chats with Fiachra Trench in Studio 8
https://www.rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/clips/22295759/
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Conversation includes: early life; music lessons; computer games; first gigs; working on ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ by Boomtown Rats with producer Phil Wainman; adding “sweetening” as an arranger; seeing and hearing as an arranger; inspiration vs. plagiarism; working on ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ and the oboe version; Fiachra’s method of arranging; working on ‘Fairytale Of New York’; the influence of Ennio Morricone’s ‘Once Upon A Time In America’; Van Morrison’s ‘Have I Told You Lately’; working on ‘Poetic Champions Compose’; heterophony; Ukrainian musicians; working with Hans Zimmer; recording a sampling session for ‘The Thin Red Line’; working on ‘Pearl Harbor’; other movies Fiachra has worked with Hans Zimmer on; arranging ‘Mná na hÉireann’ for Kate Bush and Dónal Lunny; working with Brian Kennedy and Mark E Nevin; the four scenarios the arranger faces when being employed as well as other topics.
The second and final part follows in the coming days.
Relevant Links
https://www.cmc.ie/composers/fiachra-trench
Additional Links
‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ Boomtown Rats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kobdb37Cwc
'Deborah’s Theme' - Ennio Morricone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ruz1VJQyqc&t=24s
'Fairy Tale Of New York' - The Pogues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
‘Have I Told You Lately’ - Van Morrison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J789GId1kaY
‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ The Pogues’ oboe version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNdeQda2fDg
‘Mná na hÉireann’ Kate Bush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9vtaQNTTHc
Greystones Guide - Tracks Of My Years: Fiachra Trench
https://www.greystonesguide.ie/tracks-of-my-years-fiachra-trench/
Marty chats with Fiachra Trench in Studio 8
https://www.rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/clips/22295759/
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 45 is a conversation largely framed around the poetry of James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Kennelly with singer and raconteur Noel O’Grady.
Conversation includes: introductions; Noel’s 35 years in the army; President Michael D. Higgins; Bloomsday; John McCormack; W.B.Yeats; James Joyce’s singing voice; Eileen Joyce; "the tyranny of the metronome"; Con Houlihan who spoke “English on a Gaelic loom”; the prose of Joyce; how Joyce placed music in his writings; Bellini’s bel canto ‘La sonnambula’ placed in Sirens in Joyce’s Ulysses; Christy Moore asking Noel how did he know which note to start on; adrenaline and performance; Noel’s close shaves in the army; Roger Casement; ‘The Island’ by Paul Brady; Úna Bhán; ‘Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away’; Peter Kavanagh; Hilda Moriarty; Noel’s brief analysis of the poem ‘On Raglan Road’ by Patrick Kavanagh; Lord Dunsany; Francis Ledwidge; County Kerry; Ben Kiely; Brendan Kennelly; Noel’s motivation to give Brendan Kennelly the celebration that he deserved with guests including the President, John Sheahan and Mary Black; “The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away, ” Pablo Picasso; memories of Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew and John Sheahan of The Dubliners; Luke Kelly; Frank Greally and his brother Tom from Ballyhaunis; Irish Runner; Noel’s insight into President Michael D. Higgins; the President’s intimate insight of ‘Mo Ghile Mear’; Sabina Higgins; Nora Barnacle’s ex boyfriend Michael ‘Sonny’ Bodkin; ‘The Dead’ by James Joyce in his book ‘Dubliners’; an old African adage; Brendan Kennelly’s improvised poem; Noel’s one-man show ‘Ode To James Joyce: Portrait Of A Tenor’; Carl Jung and Lucia Joyce; Noel’s one man show ‘Remembering Brendan Kennelly; Bono as a writer; Raglan Lane by Brendan Kennelly; Irish people being storytellers; Noel performing ’On Raglan Road’, and other topics.
Recorded in Dublin overlooking Christ Church on Saturday night on 5 April 2024, the 12th anniversary of Barney McKenna. 
Relevant Links
https://www.youtube.com/user/leonairs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enchanted-Way-Tribute-Patrick-Kavanagh/dp/B001VGDA6I
https://poetryarchive.org/poet/brendan-kennelly/
https://jamesjoyce.ie/
https://patrickkavanaghcentre.com/
Additional Links
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5i7vAJseR-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2DMdPds7qH/?hl=en
https://chaptersbookstore.com/products/running-full-circle-the-curious-course-of-a-man-obsessed-with-running
Photo: Richie McCann
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