Interview with Gerry Maguire, Irish Film Festival London
Hello, time for this week’s episode of The London Ear. I’m delighted to share an interview with Gerry Maguire, Irish Film Festival London, on this week’s episode. The film festival runs from November 17th to 21st and is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
It was great to chat with Gerry Maguire, Head of Irish Film London, who has programmed the festival. We got some some highlights from Gerry and we also chatted about inclusivity and accessibility and why it’s important to ensure an online / digital presence.
You can head over to the Irish Film Festival London website for the full programme details, how to book, and information about each strand of the festival.
Now, who’s buying the popcorn?
The London Ear November 13 2021 Playlist
Here’s what was on the playlist for today’s episode of The London Ear.
1. Fontaines D.C.: The Black Angel’s Death Song
2. Big Daisy: Without Dreams
3. Reevah: Nights
4. The City and US: Save Me
5. Pastiche: Bad Loser
6. Maverick Sabre: Walk These Days
7. Maria Somerville: Kinky Love
8. Future West: Late Last Night
9. Cherym: Kisses On My Cards
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 listen to the show again on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.
It was an absolute pleasure to have Maria Kelly on The London Ear today to chat about her new album ‘The Sum of the In-between’. The album is genuinely beautiful. It’s subtle, vulnerable, personal but relatable. Quite frankly, as I said in my intro to the interview with Maria, it is a gem!
I really enjoyed my chat with Maria, it was the first time we’ve spoken, and thanks to Maria for being so open and honest. Maria has created something beautiful with her album and I highly encourage you all to check it out.
You can find out more about Maria Kelly on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Insta. You can stream ‘The Sum of the In-Between’ on Spotify and go to Bandcamp to purchase the album.
The London Ear Playlist Nov 6 2021
Here’s what was on the playlist on today’s episode of The London Ear.
1. Denise Chaila: Energy
2. Lyra: Lose My Mind
3. Roe Feat Ciaran Lavery: Destroyer
4. Bayonets: Cheap Cravat
5. Sinead O’Brien: Girlkind
6. Interview with Maria Kelly Part 1
7. Maria Kelly: Like I Used To
8. Interview with Maria Kelly Part 2
9. Maria Kelly: The Sum of the In-between
10. Dan B. Patrick: Embers
11. HamsandwicH: Electro~Wave
12. Big Daisy: Without Dreams
13. Future West: Late Last Nite
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 listen to the show again on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.
Happy Halloween! On this week’s episode of The London Ear, it’s time to check in with Ger Eaton to chat about his spookily good new EP. Released on Dimple Discs, ‘Three by Ger Eaton’ is exactly that. But, what the title doesn’t tell you is how good these three tracks are. Lush, in some ways reminiscent of Scott Walker. For me, the strings on ‘Hollow’ bring me straight back to when I can first remember hearing Bobby Goldboro’s ‘Honey’.
Ger’s music is a gift and this is a unique-sounding release in 2021. One that is just perfect for long dark evenings we’re heading into. I can imagine myself sticking on an album of Ger’s, a hot chocolate, getting hygge with it, and losing myself in the production. Yes, it’s that good.
I was delighted to catch up with Ger to chat about his musical background, collaborations, being signed to Dimple Discs, and about how your songwriting changes as you get older, you’ve lived, you got more responsibilities.
I really enjoyed the chat with Ger and I thoroughly recommend that you check out his music. You can find out more about Ger on Facebook, Insta, Twitter, and don’t forget to check out Bandcamp.
The London Ear Playlist Oct 30 2021
Here’s what was on the playlist on today’s episode of The London Ear.
1. HamsandwicH: Electro Wave
2. CMAT: No More Virgos
3. The Pale: Dogs With No Tales
4. Interview with Ger Eaton
5. Ger Eaton Hollow
6. Interview with Ger Eaton
7. Ger Eaton: The Time It Takes To Fall
8. Duncan Maitland: Terry The Toad
9. Col Patterson: Heart Listens Out
10. New Pagans: Find Fault With Me
11. Melts: Maelstrom
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 listen to the show again on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.
My Mum is from a place called Bawnboy in Co. Cavan. Bawnboy is a village in the parish of Templeport in Co. Cavan, Ireland. I finally got home in August and got to spend time with my family. This included an evening visiting where my Mum is from, visiting my Nana and Granda’s graves in the nearby Kilnavart graveyard, and a quick trip to St Peter’s Church in Templeport. I hasten to add this is a journey around the churchyard and not the actual church itself as it was closed on our visit.
History and Folklore
I remember as a small person passing the laneway which leads to the church and Mam telling us that the laneway led to St. Mogue’s Island. This is the first time, however, that I had actually walked through the graveyard.
St Peter’s Church was built on the shore of Templeport Lake. In the middle of the Lake is St. Mogue’s Island, a tiny island with the ruins of an old Church that has been used as a cemetery. It’s officially closed now except only for a few family members of those already buried on the island.
There is a definite sense of history on the churchyard, much like in St Columba’s Churchyard in Kells, the ground has subsided in parts. The local Templeport website says that there has been a church there since 1594. The church that stands there now was built in 1815.
Since I’ve been reading and trying to find out more about St Peter’s Church, I found this about an RAF plane that crashed into Templeport Lake. It immediately jolted my memory and I remember Nana telling me in her kitchen as I was drying the dishes about a British plane that crashed. I had completely forgotten about this.
When you arrive at St Peter’s you are greeted by the black gates, there’s a path straight in front of you which lies around the boundary of the churchyard. The church and burial grounds are to your your right.
When you step through the gates, there is an immense sense of history. Some of the graves are visibly older than others, their headstones now resting at an angle rather than their original upright position. Another giveaway of the age is that some of the burial plots have chains around the outside. I’m not sure whether these were designed to keep people out or in. I jest.
The stand-out and most unusual thing for me is what seem to be, overground crypts. Now, I’m not sure what way these were designed originally. Perhaps, they were just complete stone boxes overground. Nowadays they have a mound of earth over them and are part of the landscaping around them. They are definitely curious things.
The church is an imposing structure, especially so here in, what seems like, the middle of nowhere. It would be lovely at some stage to snoop around inside. There are still some services held here but alas, midweek, it was closed.
Behind the church is Templeport Lake, with St Mogue’s Island to the left. It’s quiet a serene setting, with the swans on the lake. But I really wanted to what the church looked like from the opposite side of the lake.
We jumped into the car and went down another side road. With the lake now on our left, we came to a boathouse and pulled in. The boathouse, the lake, St Mogue’s Island are all very scenic, serene, and beautiful, but the view of St Peter’s is just divine. You really couldn’t get more picturesque.
Some Photos of St. Peter’s Churchyard
Hope you enjoy the photos!
I’d really love a drone to go fly over this whole area and see everything from above. I found this video online which shows a little of what I’d love to do.
