Tag: Irish abroad

The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 132 with Kiernan McMullan

This episode of The London Ear heads across the Atlantic to a member of the Irish dispora based in Nashville.

Interview with Kiernan McMullan

Kiernan McMullan is a musician based in Nashville. He went to secondary school in Ireland and also attended a Sound and Lighting Course in the Sound Training Centre in Temple Bar. His family still live in Ireland.

Kiernan has a new single out. “What’s for you (Won’t Go Past You) and it was great to catch up with him to chat about that. We spoke to Kiernan a while back on The London Ear and it was interesting and refreshing to hear a musician speak about how they had to take stock of everything and take a step back to recharge the batteries. We’re delighted Kiernan is now refreshed and ready to take on the world.

You can follow Kiernan on Facebook, Twitter and on his website.

The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 132 with Kiernan McMullan // October 22 2016 // Playlist

1. Sleaford Mods: TCR
2. Cronin: She Saves
3. James Vincent McMorrow: Evil
4. Justice: Randy
5. Slow Riot: Absent Dreams
6. We Cut Corners: Mandinka
7. Chat with Kiernan McMullan
8. Kiernan Mc Mullan: I Stayed The Same
9. Chat with Kiernan McMullan (Part 2)
10. Kiernan McMullan: What’s for you (Won’t Go Past You)
11. Green Day: Bang Bang
12. The Academic: Mixtape 2003

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 Kiernan from here and single cover from here.

October 23, 2016
Watch // President Michael D Higgins: Keynote address on Eva Gore-Booth in London

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.

October 18, 2016
The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 130 with Abe Tarrush and Martin McNamara

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’

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 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.

The 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

October 9, 2016
The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 129 with John Gibbons

After a little break, The London Ear is back and no better reason to get back behind the mic than to chat to Ireland’s very own superstar DJ, John Gibbons.

Interview with John Gibbons

John is the man behind the rework of Charles and Eddie’s ‘Would I lie to you?’.
When we recorded the interview on Tuesday September 27th, the track has 4.7 million streams on Spotify. Last night (September 30th) John posted that the track has passed 5 million streams, an amazing achievement.

The London Ear on RTE 2XM // Show 129 // October 1 2016 Playlist

Here’s what happened on this week’s episode of The London Ear.

1. Placebo: Jesus’ Son
2. Submotion: Headchecked
3. Interview with John Gibbons (Part 1)
4. John Gibbons: 1984 (Full Tilt remix)
5. Interview with John Gibbons (Part 2)
6. John Gibbons: Your Love
7. Interview with John Gibbons (Part 3)
8. John Gibbons: Would I lie to you?
9. The Shamen: Ebeneezer Goode

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

Check out John Gibbons online

Check out John’s website. You can also follow him on Twitter and Like him on Facebook.

Here’s ‘Would I lie to you?’ on Spotify.

October 1, 2016