Hello! #373 of The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM gives me the opportunity to play a full hour of brand new Irish music. 2022 is looking like continuing on with the fine vintage of Irish music that 2020 and 2021 have produced.
It’s always a pleasure to play music from artists I already know and to give a platform to those I’m playing for the first time. Hope you all enjoy(ed) this week’s programme.
Check out the video for Rowan’s Irish To My Bones
This was my first chance to play the new track from Rowan.. what a belter! Their debut album, ‘Does It Make You Happy?’ is out in May. Pre-order here. Warning: Flashing Lights in the video.
The London Ear Jan 29 22 Playlist
Here’s what I played on this week’s episode of The London Ear.
1. Wallis Bird: What’s Wrong With Changing
2. Wornoc: The Blackhole Paradox
3. Silver Moon: Fire For Light
4. New Dad: Say It
5. Nixer: People Feel
6. First Class & Coach: My Oh My
7. Junk Drawer: Tears in Costa
8. Soak: Last July
10. Telefis: Falun Gong Dancer
11. One Morning In Agust: A Wasted Love
12. Rowan: Irish To My Bones
13. Cat Dowling: All That I Can Do
14. Micah: Stranger
15. Zaska: The Basics
16. Thumper: Overbite
17. Aaron James: We Won’t Let It be
Listen On Demand
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.
You can listen here to my chat with Matt Taylor on last week’s show. Wallis Bird is my guest on next week’s programme.
It’s a couple of years since I last spoke to Matt Taylor on The London Ear. Matt is an Irish pop singer-songwriter and lives in Brighton (no, I’m not jealous – who am I kidding? I am jealous)
Matt has a new single out called ‘Drip Drip’, we spoke about that, his travels after having Covid last summer, as well as the future of Matt Taylor the pop star.
If you would like to find out more about Matt, check out his Instagram and do follow on Spotify.
The London Ear #372 – Jan 22 22
Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode of The London Ear.
1. Junk Drawer: Tears in Costa
2. Tara Nome Doyle: Caterpillar
3. Kevin Herm Connolly: It’s Ok (Cos We’re In Love)
4. Fia Moon: By Now
5. Cian Ducrot: Not Usually Like This
6. Matt Taylor Interview part 1
7. Seeva: Young
8. Matt Taylor Interview part 2
9. Matt Taylor: Drip Drip
10. Keeley: To A London Sunrise
11. Mhaol: Laundries
12. Fontaines DC: Jackie Down The Line
Listen On Demand
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.
Episode 371. It was a pleasure to chat to Jaime Nanci for this week’s episode of The London Ear. Jamie is such an interesting colourful character and has an amazing voice. I’m delighted that I had the opportunity to chat to him.
Jaime now lives in Valencia, Spain. It was lovely to catch up and find out about life in Spain and Jaime’s musical journey. It’s always very appreciated when an interviewee is so open and honest about their life and work. I love having the space on RTE 2XM to allow interviews like this and not having to rush.
You can find out more about Jaime and his new single ‘Escalante Street (Take Me Dancing) on his website, JaimeNanci.com .
Check out the video for Escalante Street (Take Me Dancing)
The London Ear – Jan 15 2022 Playlist
Here what was on the playlist for The London Ear, with our featured interview with Jaime Nanci.
1. Fontaines DC: Jackie Down The Line
2. Eileen Gogan + Sean O’Hagan: Wave
3. CMAT: Lonely
4. Jaime Nanci Interview Part 1
5. Jaime Nanci: Lost Boys of Turia
6. Jaime Nanci Interview Part 2
7. Jaime Nanci: Escalante Street (Take Me Dancing)
8. Viscose: I.L.Y.
9. Wekin Feat Ronia O’Connor: We Found Joy
10. NewDad: Say It
Listen On Demand
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.
I’ve been living in England for over eight years now and I’m proud to have my Irish passport. Since the Brexit kicked in a year ago, it has become more and more apparent to me that if you’re Irish in Great Britain, you really should possess an Irish Passport Card. Let me go through my reasons.
Firstly, before I start into this piece, this is my experience. Nessymon.com will not be held responsible for any omissions or errors on this page. Always consult with the relevant authorities.
Settled Status
EU citizens who were living in Great Britain prior to Brexit had to apply for settled status. Under the Common Area Agreement, the status of Irish citizens living and working in Britain did not and would not change. That meant that although you could apply for settled status if you wanted to, Irish citizens did not need to apply for settled status as their rights were not affected. You can read all about the Common Travel Area on the UK government website here.
The rights of Irish and British citizens living in each other’s country were updated in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement which came into place on December 30 2020.
People who have been successful in obtaining settled status can get a share code from the British government to prove their immigration status. Irish people who haven’t applied for settled status, don’t have share codes.
Although Irish citizens did not need to apply for settled status, we are now being asked to verify our Irishness and citizenship all the time. If this hasn’t happened to you yet, don’t worry, it will. Here are a few examples of where and when.
Irish Passport Book and Card Image from: https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/passport/passport-slider-blue.jpg
DVLA
The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority are, let’s face it, a pain to deal with. In Summer 2021, news reports said there were backlogs of up to 12 weeks with getting drivers’ licences. Why is this an issue? If you were born outside Great Britain or don’t have a GB passport, you need to prove that you are entitled to reside in GB. People who have settled status can submit their share code. Irish people need to submit their Irish passports.
Applying for Jobs
A similar situation occurs when applying for jobs. If you don’t have a British passport or a share code to prove your immigration status and your right to work in Great Britain, you will need to submit/show your Irish passport.
Getting your pension and benefits
There have also been reports that in order to claim your pension or benefits that you need a share code to prove your immigration status. Irish people will not have a share code if they didn’t apply for settled status. You will need to submit your Irish passport.
General Life Admin
There are lots of other reasons why you may need to prove that you’re Irish. Opening a bank account, renting or buying a property. They will all need proof.
Get Yourself an Irish Passport Card
Irish Passport Card – Image taken from Twitter: https://twitter.com/PassportIRL/status/1078358602316955650/photo/1
Getting a passport card is easy. You can apply online on the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs website. You must hold an Irish passport book to get a passport card. Passport cards are valid for five years, or to the expiry on your current passport and cost 35 euro plus postage.
You can use an Irish passport card to travel anywhere in the EU or into Great Britain. You can check that on the British government website here.
It’s the same size as a driving licence or bank card so it’s easy to always have the passport card in your wallet.
That’s not solving the problem of having to show I’m Irish
So what, I hear you ask? That’s not solving the problem of having to show I’m Irish! If any British government agency, employer or bank need your passport, you have to show it to them. That means sending off your passport book.
This is where your passport card becomes valuable.
Remember where I said you can travel around the EU on it? Living away from home, I for one, always feel like I need to have my proper ID and documents up to date. If you need to send your passport away, why would you limit yourself by NOT having a passport card?
If the delays at the DVLA etc continue, you could be without your passport book for potentially months. And, if you’ve sent the passport book to the DVLA that means you are either applying for or renewing your driving licence, so you won’t have that form of ID card.
Getting a passport card makes perfect sense to me.
