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  • Watch // President Michael D Higgins: Keynote address on Eva Gore-Booth in London

    Watch // President Michael D Higgins: Keynote address on Eva Gore-Booth in London

    President Michael D Higgins at Congress House - nessymon.com

    I was delighted to get tickets to hear our President, Michael D. Higgins give a keynote speech here in London on October 14th.

    The event took place at Congress House, Trade Union Congress, just off Tottenham Court Road. The President was to speak about the Life of Eva Gore-Booth. I would have been more familiar with her sister’s name, Countess Markievicz, in our history books. After listening to the President’s talk, it’s clear to see that Eva Gore-Booth’s name should be remembered with more prominence.

    The President’s address was entitled “The Importance of Eva Gore-Booth’s Radical Vision in the Dramatic Historical Events in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries”

    Eva Gore-Booth was a hero, living before her time. She was involved in the fight for Irish Freedom and she spoke out about World War I which was a big no no. She moved to Manchester and fought for workers rights and met Esther Roper. Together, they worked for the disenfranchised within society. President Higgins beautifully described their relationship as ‘life companions’.

    A couple of notes about the night. I didn’t get to meet the President, there were about 300 people swarming around him for his attention after his address, he had his hands full. I do hope to meet him at some stage. I think I also spied a certain Martin O’Neil there I bought the President’s new book ‘When Ideas Matter – Speeches for an Ethical Republic’, I’d like to get him to sign it.

    The other, shocking thing I discovered was how little I actually know about Irish history. And I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I didn’t do history until Leaving Cert. Maybe it’s because there was still an element of not talking about fighting for Irish Freedom and what actually went on. If I take anything from the night, it’s that I personally want to learn more about our little island and more about it’s people.

    You can read the President’s diary for the event on the Presidential website.

    Watch the video of President Higgins’ address.

  • The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 131 with Jack O’Rourke

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 131 with Jack O’Rourke

    Jack O'Rourke - The London Ear 131 - nessymon.comEpisode 131 of The London Ear, gave me a chance to catch up with an artist who I had missed out on since moving to London.

    Interview with Jack O’Rourke

    Jack O’Rourke is a Cork musician with such a beautiful voice. It has a depth and warmth that many will envy. Think along the lines of John Grant or Leonard Cohen. He has just released his album ‘Dream Catcher’.

    You can find Jack on Twitter and Facebook or on his website. You can check out Dream Catcher on Spotify

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 131 // October 15 2016 // Playlist

    1. James Darkin: Chase
    2. Secret Cameras: Going Places
    3. Two Door Cinema Club: Gameshow
    4. The Academic: Mixtape 2003
    5. Gypsies on the Autobahn: Torrents
    6. Jack O’Rourke: Naviety
    7. Chat with Jack O’Rourke (Part 1)
    8. Jack O’Rourke: Iggy
    9. Chat with Jack O’Rourke (Part 2)
    10. Jack O’Rourke: On The Downlow
    11. The Japanese House: Face Like Thunder
    12. John Gibbons: Would I Lie To You?

    Listen Again

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

    Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

    Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

  • Behaviourism 101 – now with subtitles

    Behaviourism 101 – now with subtitles

    behaviourism-101-nessymonA couple of years ago, I posted this video on Behaviourism. It was an e-learning assignment for my Multimedia degree.

    Since then it has had 180000 on YouTube, which is great, nothing at all to be sneezed at.

    Why does the Behaviourism video have new subtitles?

    I got an email from Deanna Keller, who is a Disability Services Assistant at Western Piedmont Community College in North Carolina.

    Deanna’s job is to subtitle content that their students use. One of the instructors there is using our little video as part of their course. Deanna kindly generated subtitles, as the generic captions weren’t quite right. This means that all students, including hard of hearing students can now access the video.

    Thanks Deanna, I’m delighted that the video is helping.

    And before you all ask, yes, comic sans was intentional.

  • The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 130 with Abe Tarrush and Martin McNamara

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 130 with Abe Tarrush and Martin McNamara

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM nessymon

    On The London Ear this week I was delighted to be joined by with film maker and photographer Abe Tarrush and playwright Martin McNamara who chats about In The Shadow Or In The Shelter Festival.

    Abe Tarrush speaks about his short film ‘The Proposal’

    Nessy and Abe Tarrush - nessymon

    I’ve known Abe Tarrush a few years now and I was delighted to be able to catch up with him while he was in London. Abe was passing through following the screening of ‘The Proposal’ at the inaugural Exit 6 Film Festival in Basingstoke.

    We had a great chat and I enjoyed hearing Abe chat about the process of filmmaking and hearing about having his short screened at a festival.

    You can keep up with Abe on Twitter

    Martin McNamara speaks about ‘In The Shadow or In The Shelter Festival’

    Martin McNamara nessymon.comMartin McNamara is a journalist and radio producer who has worked on ‘The Parting Glass’, a documentary presented by Fintan O’Toole on the Celtic Tiger. Martin also produced and presented ‘From Inside: The Guildford Four’ a documentary about the Guildford Four.

    As a playwright, his first full length play, The Magic Hour, was produced at the Brockley Jack in 2013 and his first film script, The Shy Russian, is under option with Future Films USA.

    Martin joined me to chat about ‘In The Shadow or In The Shelter Festival’. It’s a series of six one hour plays which tell the story of Irish immigrants to the UK from 1916 until today. Martin’s play ‘Traitors, Cads & Cowards’ runs as part of the festival.

    In Shadow and In Shelter Festival - nessymonThe festival runs in the Lion and the Unicorn Theatre and then moves to River to Colour House Theatre from October 21st to 23rd.

    You can get tickets for the Lion and Unicorn Theatre here and River to Colour House Theatre Here

    You can keep up with the festival on Facebook and Twitter.

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 130 // October 08 2016

    1. Wallis Bird: Control
    2. Divine Comedy: How Can You Leave Me on My Own
    3. Chat with Abe Tarrush
    4. Benjamin Francis Leftwich: Kicking Roses
    5. The Twigs: These Words
    6. The Four of Us: Sugar Island
    7. Chat with Martin McNamara
    8. Placebo: Jesus’ Son
    9. Two Door Cinema Club: Gameshow
    10. The Japanese House: Face Like Thunder
    11. James Darkin: Chase

    Listen Again

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

    Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

    Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

    Photo of Martin from his website