Shows
M1 PodcastEpisode 26: Drogheda local is a key character in Disney drama series ‘Say Nothing’- interview with Anthony McIntyre
‘Say Nothing’, a troubles era colloquialism in the North, is the title of a 9 part drama series following the lives of young people growing up in Belfast in the early years of the troubles. In particular, there is focus on Dolours and Marian Price, Brendan Hughes and Gerry Adams.
The series is an adaptation of the 2018 book of same name by Patrick Radden Keefe. Keefe began researching and writing the book on learning of the death of Dolours Price. Among those he came into contact with was Anthony McIntyre.
I spoke with Anthony and my firs...2024-12-071h 21M1 PodcastEpisode 25: General election forecast; prospects for M1 constituencies
In this episode, we discuss with former Cllr Killian Forde the election coming this Friday and what we can expect in the M1 constituencies.
Podcast will be uploaded before Wednesday.
We have forecasts for Fingal East, Fingal West, Meath East and Louth.
Listen in for the discussion and why these are my tips for the M1 constituencies for #Election2024. We discuss the campaign and the mood of the electorate and positioning of parties and independents and we discuss with particular regards to the four M1 constituencies.
Having studied the form, we...2024-11-2559 minM1 PodcastEpisode 24- Santry resident fled Russia before the war against Ukraine
Olga Popova and her husband moved to Ireland in 2021 before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They settled in Santry on the northside of Dublin. Her husband was involved in activities protesting against the Russian government and they were prompted to flee after he spent a night in police custody. ‘I was at home with our child, because in Russia, if you go protests you need to be able to run fast’.
Now Olga has her own business here and is co-ordinator of Free Russians Ireland and has developed her Tiktok profile, which has 50,000 followers. Free Russ...2024-11-0641 minM1 PodcastEpisode 23: M1 Review
In this episode, we look at what’s on along the M1 both cultural and other events in your locality but also what’s on the box.
The M1 podcast is joined by Julieanne Doyle, Editor of Ireland AM at Virgin Media events, which is 25 years on air to discuss what’s on in your locality and what’s on the box.
We look at the following venues: The Lark Balbriggan, Millbank Theatre Rush, TLT theatre Drogheda, Seamus Ennis Centre in Naul.
We cover some of the interesting and amazing events on at all of t...2024-10-2322 minM1 PodcastEpisode 22: The road to Drogheda – from Damascus
In this episode, I speak with Adam Jazi who grew up in Damascus and lived there until 2015, when he fled the Syrian civil war. We talk culture, politics and life in Syria and his journey from Damascus to Drogheda.
In the last episode, I discussed the role of the Gormanston Army Camp. It is to have a future has the induction centre for all defence forces recruits. For decades, there has been Irish troops on peace keeping missions in Lebanon , with 389 currently in place.
In this episode, I open the discussion with Adam to reflect...2024-10-0943 minM1 PodcastEpisode 21- In the army at Gormanston
Just off exit 7 on the M1 is the Gormanston Army Camp. What goes on here? What is the history? I spoke to three people who told me more.
I discussed with Lt Col John Kirke (Retired), the history of the camp, from its set up as a training base for the British air force, what was to become the RAF, from 1917 during World War 1 through its use as a training base for the Auxilleries (black & tans) and his own experience training and flying with the Irish Air Corp from the 1970s onwards.
Lt Col Ronan...2024-09-2345 minM1 PodcastEpisode 20- A drive through history down the M1
In this episode, we team up with the Irish History Show Podcast to do a historical drive down the M1. Motorways typically are not the most interesting of places. They are roads to and from one place and another. We look at places of historical interest along the road.
Battle of the Boyne site
Irish Military War Museum
Newgrange
Swords Castle
We start our drive on from the Cooley Peninsula just north of Dundalk and discuss the legend of Chu Chulainn, driving down the M1, we turn off to the Irish Military Museum just outside Collon.
2024-09-1143 minM1 PodcastEpisode 19- Getting creative in Balbriggan
It has been compared to a youth club for adults. That’s a fair comparison, as there is even a table tennis table in the Warehouse Balbriggan. The Warehouse has been the home of the Sceal arts collective. It was a vacant building with no water, no toilets, not much of a roof acquired by Fingal Council and handed over to the group to facilitate the creative arts.
Brigg Bus audience
Message of Sceal Arts
Memory Swans
Sunset Mosaic
Sceal arts brings local creatives together to meet and exchange ideas. Since founding just two years ago, dozens of projec...2024-08-2825 minM1 PodcastEpisode 18- Crime & Anti Social Behaviour
In the aftermath of the Dublin riots and more riots in Coolock and dozens of arson attacks on refugee accommodation centres, many people will be thinking Gardai have lost control. Added to a general perception of many, with the level of drug use that our city centres are not safe, there is increased anxiety about how safe we are in our society.
I ask former Assistant Garda Commissioner Jack Nolan the following questions:
Was the Minister for Justice right in stating that Dublin was generally safe, last year?
Is crime going up, down...2024-08-0831 minM1 PodcastEpisode 17- Hampton Hall, home of Balbriggan’s Gaeltacht and Hitler Youth Summer Camps
If you live in Balbriggan, you live on land that was once owned by just one family- the Hamiltons. Their home was Hampton Hall, which has achieved fame for different reasons. I went to speak to the current owner and custodian of Hampton Hall, David Pratt about how he came to own this building and discuss its history and his current and future plans.
This is a building with extraordinary history and I also discussed with Historian Gerry Mullins as regards ‘that photo’ and with Cathy Mullan about the Gaeltacht experience in the 1970s.
Cath...2024-07-2558 minM1 PodcastEpisode 16- Is this Meath based modular house builder the key to resolving our housing crisis?
Last month, Dublin City Council listed new houses as affordable at €475,000 on Oscar Traynor Road. The ‘market’ price is even higher. This is a discounted price, which is meant to be affordable, but €475,000 is not affordable for most of us.
There is another housing scheme introduced in 2020 which seeks to address the crisis in affordability. The ‘cost rental’ housing which is increasing since that time find its inspiration from the so called ‘Vienna’ model. That is, housing rented out at no profit. The rent pays for the cost of the house and maintenance.
When activists were advocating...2024-07-0345 minM1 PodcastEpisode 15- Why are there so many cricket clubs in Fingal?
I have long wondered about this question, particularly as I have moved from Howth to Balbriggan. No cricket between Howth and Clontarf but then as soon as you pass Malahide, which has a club, every town in Fingal is blessed with a club. There is a cricket club in Malahide, Portrane, Rusk, Lusk, Skerries, Ring Commons, Balrothery, Balbriggan, Ongar, Tyrellstown and possibly a few other places. Nowhere in Ireland has such a strong cricket profile- here we find out why.
In this episode, I discuss with Jim Bennett, former President of Leinster Cricket and Chair of the...2024-06-2630 minM1 PodcastEpisode 14- Harry Reynolds; cycling then and now
Ireland’s Stephen Roche of the time in 1896, a Balbriggan local came to prominence when he won the World Championship in cycling in Copenhagen.
I spoke to Brian Howley, Chairperson of the Balbriggan Historical Society about Harry Reynolds, his life in Balbriggan and beyond. The Historical Society also had a display about Harry Reynolds on exhibition during their pop-up museum at the Summerfest.
I also spoke to Hugh Devlin of HD Bike and Sport at the Balbriggan Retail Park. Hugh’s father set up a bike shop in 1984 at the back of Quinnsworth, later Tesco, off...2024-06-1334 minM1 PodcastEpisode 13- Focus on Louth Meath
Election day is fast approaching and in this episode, we start with news updates. Caio Benicio was a Deliveroo cyclist who intervened to stop the knife attacker on Parnell Square in Dublin back in November and now is he is a Fianna Fail candidate in the local elections.
Marion Agrios was a candidate for Fine Gael for Drogheda Rural but had to step down after On the Ditch revealed she had received a pay off from a developer who wanted her to withdraw an objection to housing near her Termonfeckin home.
We discussed the far...2024-05-301h 00M1 PodcastEpisode 12- Local Elections 2024 Special- Focus on Fingal
In this episode, we discuss with Ex Cllr Killian Forde and Sam Tranum (Deputy Editor Dublin Inquirer) prospects for the upcoming local elections due on Friday June 7th.
The Dublin Inquirer has just produced the Dublin Voter Guide. The guide is a very comprehensive guide to the local elections. The Dublin Inquirer wrote to every candidate in Dublin City and Fingal wards they could identify and asked them questions on issues their readers wanted to raise.
We discussed further aspects of the councillor role and what should be expected. Should councillors be full time, how...2024-05-231h 05M1 PodcastEpisode 11- Pirate radio on the M1
If you didn’t want to listen to RTE Radio 1 or 2 up to the end of the 1980s, the only option you had was to listen to the pirate radio stations.
Pictured: Brian Greene, host of Pirate.ie and the famous Radio Caroline ship, which was launched from the port of Greenore by Ronan O’ Rahilly in 1964 and changed the radio landscape for decades in both UK and Ireland.
The most famous of these stations was Radio Caroline. The station broadcast to the UK from 1964 and was seen as core to the swinging 60s counter cult...2024-05-1637 minM1 PodcastEpisode 10- The future of print media
Yes, we vary the topics here and in this episode we discuss with north county Dublin resident news reporter for the Irish Independent Laura Lynott her career in journalism and with former journalist Dundalk resident and Head of Communications at Fingal County Council Gerry Mc Dermott, the future of print media.
Gerry tells us about the role and impact of print media at a local level and what brought him to his career in journalism from commentating his childhood playtime and writing match reports for his grandfather, journalism was his career from just after school onwards. He...2024-05-0951 minM1 PodcastEpisode 9- From Kharkiv, Sumy, Bucha to Balbriggan
I spoke to some women living in Balbriggan having fled the war in Ukraine. All were grateful for the response both by the Irish state but also the Irish people for their support in helping people to find safety in Ireland.
I spoke to Nadia and her daughter Ivana who fled Bucha just as the Russians arrived by air to invade Hostomel Airport. Nadia has lived in Ireland for 22 years and went to Bucha to see her daughter Ivanna and grandchildren for a holiday. They saw the Russian helicopters and troops, just as they fled.
...2024-05-0233 minM1 PodcastEpisode 8- Regenerating Drogheda
With Marks & Spencer pulling out, the D Hotel changing use, in addition to the fact that there are over 100 vacant properties in Drogheda town centre, we look at whether it is possible to rebuild the town with a vibrant centre at its core.
In these discussions, we explore solutions that might help regenerate Drogheda including pedestrian status, co working hubs, vacant sites levies and more.
First we speak to Ged Nash TD, who believes city status will help drive development in Drogheda.
I spoke to journalist with the Drogheda Independent Alison Comyn for...2024-04-2537 minM1 PodcastEpisode 7- Will later opening hours save the night time economy?
Rush based comedian Steve Cummins discusses his career in comedy and the night time economy.
In this episode, we interview Comedian and MC at the Laughter Lounge Steve Cummins. As someone who has been making his living from the night time economy, we get Steve’s take on how things are.
In 2000, there were over 500 night clubs in Ireland and today there are less than 80, while the number of pubs has dropped off in the number of thousands. Social habits have changed with people drinking less and going out less. The Irish pub is renowned ar...2024-04-1841 minM1 PodcastEpisode 6- The local elections; what to expect in Louth, Meath and Fingal
Local elections can be important but many people aren’t aware of what their local council does and what difference local elections make.
In this episode, we discuss with Ex Sinn Fein and Labour Councillor Killian Forde the role of a councillor, councils and what to expect in the campaign in the run up to election day on 7th June.
We will be discussing the possibilities for all parties in the three council areas of Louth, Meath and Fingal. This is essential listening if you want a broad overview as to these areas.
2024-04-1142 minM1 PodcastEpisode 5- If you live along the M1, which League of Ireland team should you support
Dublin , Ireland – 30 June 2017; Conan Byrne of St Patrick’s Athletic celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between St Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United at Richmond Park in Dublin. (Photo By David Maher/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
In this episode, we are joined by Conan Byrne, former Professional footballer, stellar League of Ireland legend, who had stints at UCD, Sporting Fingal, St Patricks Athletic, Shelbourne and Glenavon in the Irish League. Conan lives in Swords and is now a school teacher in Rush.
Last week, saw a record 1...2024-04-0431 minM1 PodcastEpisode 4- The Cost of Living Crisis
For the past number of years, we have been impacted by what is commonly referred to as the Cost of Living crisis. Food, rent, mortgages, energy costs have all increased so much, yet our incomes haven’t risen to match. In this episode, we are joined by Food writer and Irish Examiner Balbriggan resident Caitriona Redmond what you can do about managing costs and coping with increased cost of living.
2024-03-2825 minM1 PodcastEpisode 3- Gormanston College: the 7 day boarding school
Today, it is a school like any other but not so long ago in a bygone era, it was the Franciscan boarding school for boys. By 2015, when the school transferred to the public sector, there were 250 pupils left – mostly day pupils and they included boys and girls. In 1991, there were 600 boys only and of this number 550 were 7 day boarders. What was it like?
Credit: Jim Fitzpatrick (yes, the same Jim who painted the iconic Che Guevara image. Jim is an ex pupil)
2024-03-2136 minM1 PodcastEpisode 2- Teaching & Writing in Balbriggan
In this episode, we discuss with Teacher Kevin Curran what it is like to teach in Balbriggan. The town with Ireland’s youngest and most diverse population has been subject to much attention. From discourse about gangs to the Newstalk 3 part feature on youth in Balbriggan, the M1 Podcast figures it an opportune time to discuss with Kevin Curran his book Youth.
2024-03-1432 min
nearfmRespect Words 11 – United in SportsCiaran Murray introduces Tatjana Skot’s interview with Ken McCue of Sports Against Racism Ireland (SARI) who explains the ethos of the organisation and how sport, and specially soccer, can be a tool for integration and solidarity. Later, Ciaran talks to Garrett Mullan of Show Racism the Red Card on the organisation’s initiatives to tackle racism in sports.
More on the project:
Amid a troubling global context – the dehumanisation of migration policy, a decline in sensitive to human life and human rights, a rise in Islamophobic and xenophobic speech, the commercialisation of journalism – more than 150 European radio outlets and nearly 1...2018-07-2427 min