Shows
Rebel Matters Podcast111: Síomha BrockThis is a special episode, and one that was a long time in the making. Síomha Brock and I sat down by the fireside and recoded this conversation while a storm raged outside. During this episode we talk through the process of the creation of Síomha's maiden album 'Infinite Space'. The chat navigates through the unique process in which the album was made, a discussion on the merits of community funded projects, lowering the environmental impact of creation, Síomha's time in Palestine, and her upcoming plans in the post release phase of the album. Thank...
2022-11-0459 minRebel Matters Podcast110: Navigating OverwhelmThis weeks episode is a solo run discussing strategies and routines to handle periods of high workload. I discuss the idea of checking in with ones-self when the going gets tough, actions that create maximal results in relation to the effort it takes to carry out the actions, the transience of stressful periods, and the importance of reminding ourselves that our self worth is more valuable than our work.
2022-08-021h 06Rebel Matters Podcast109: Echlas Al-AzzaWe are back on the road! This is the first episode in a while after my 3 month spell living and working in the Aida refugee camp on @aclaipalestine Today’s guest on the show is Echlas Al-Azza, a Palestinian refugee with muscular atrophy living in the Alazza camp. Echlas is also my Arabic teacher whom I visited twice per week to start my Arabic learning journey. The Alazza camp is less than a 10 minute walk from the Aida camp, and Echlas has an amazing story to tell. As with many of the personal stories of Paletinina’s living under occu...
2022-06-241h 01Rebel Matters Podcast108: Caoimhe ButterlyToday we have an International Women's Day special with Caoimhe Butterly. I first met Caoimhe when we hosted a delegation of Zapatistas at ACLAÍ in 2021, and was really happy to get a chance to chat to her at length for this episode. Caoimhe is a human rights campaigner, educator, film-maker and therapist who has spent over twenty years working in humanitarian and social justice contexts in Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and with refugee communities in Europe. In this episode we talk about some of Caoimhe's work past and present, working within marganilsed and migrating communities, and touch on...
2022-03-081h 15Rebel Matters Podcast107: Conor HammerslyThis week's epsiode is with my long term friend Conor Hammersley, and in this episode we discusses the isssues of male violence towards women and men's health. Conor has extensive experience in the area of men’s health at a research, policy and advocacy level. He is a PhD Scholar with Teagasc and the National Center for Men’s Health and his work looks at the socio-cultural context that shapes gendered behaviour among rural men in Ireland. His research interests include gender and health, mental health and suicide prevention in men, and health promotion targeted at ‘ha...
2022-02-251h 23Rebel Matters Podcast106: Fidelma O'KaneFidelma O’Kane from the Save Our Sperrins anti-gold mining campaign is our guest on episode 106. This chat was a massive eye opener for me. What I thought was a big gold-mining company picking on a small rural community was way off. The success of the Save Our Sperrins campaign is critical to close the door on gold mining prospects popping up all over the country. If the gold mine goes ahead in the Sperrins goes ahead it will be an ecological and environmental train wreck, and will jeopardise the lives of the people who live there now and th...
2022-02-041h 10Rebel Matters Podcast105: Tomás MulliganTomás Mulligan is our guest for episode 105 of Rebel Matters. We discussed the supposed ‘development’ that was planned for the Cobblestone Bar last year, an institution of traditional music and a cultural hub in Dublin city. Tomás shares his family long standing and deep connection with the Cobblestone, talks about how they found out about the proposed plan, and how the protests took hold that ultimately saved the Cobblestones from being the latest casualty what seems to be a sustained attack on cultural spaces in Dublin city. An important listen for anyone interested in organising collective action to pro...
2022-01-2144 minRebel Matters Podcast104: Huna AmweeroIn this episode Ainle chats to screenwriter, radio presenter, and at time of writing president of Radio Skidrow in Sydney Australia. The chat ranged from the importance of acknowledging the original people and place names of land that is now. most commonly known as Australia, Huna's work at Radio Skidrow, the challenges faced by the station during the pandemic, and the power of community radio.
2022-01-0758 minRebel Matters Podcast103: Timmy Long and James LeonardThis is our first proper episode back after the bit of. Break over the last few months. I recorded this chat with Timmy and James from the Two Norries Podcast about 4 months ago in the social space at ACLAÍ. This is such a special episode for me as I got to spend more time with Timmy and James who I first met when I was a guest on the 2 Norrries a while back. We chatted about some of the socio-economic divides that exist in Cork city and the lads share some of their own stories in a ve...
2021-11-121h 26Rebel Matters Podcast102: Catching Up and Restarting The ShowIt has been 15 weeks since the last episode and this one is a short catchup with Ainle to get the ball rolling again. The chat veers towards ACLAÍ, one year anniversaries, music, and the plan for RMP in the upcoming weeks. There is a howling wind to be heard during this episode and a bit of whinging from Neansaí, the latest addition to the Rebel Matters household!
2021-10-3130 minRebel Matters Podcast101: Some of my mum's musicWhen I was in Belfast recently I put this special edition together featuring tracks from my mum's rather extensive and broad ranging CD collection. A nice way to spend an evening and something different than the regular Rebel Matters format!
2021-07-1648 minRebel Matters Podcast100: Ainle gets interviewed Darragh GrahamFor the 100th episode I sat down with long term pal and guest from episode #6 Darragh Graham and he interviewed me rather than the standard format of me asking the questions. This is an informal chat covering quite a bit of ground, and something a little different for the 100th episode. We talked about the backdrop of the Rebel Matters Podcast, how the show has developed over the last four years, the practice of interviewing the guests and how it had changed over 100 episodes. We also discussed the value of sharing food, community, the grieving process, identity and self-expression...
2021-07-101h 10Rebel Matters Podcast99: Harrison GardnerThis weeks guest is builder Harrison Gardner, who I first got to know while attending his How To Build Everything Out Of Anything course in the summer of 2020. In this episode we chat about how Harrison got into the building game in the first place, his path to running his educational course at his home outside of Ennistymon County Clare where he lives with his wife Erin and their daughter Inari. We discuss the ideas and philosophies behind Harrison's approach, and our primal connection to creating homes. Harrison's Website: https://www.harrisongardner.net Harrison's Instagram @_h...
2021-06-041h 01Rebel Matters Podcast98: Mazin QumsiyehThis weeks guest is Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, a founder of the Palestine Museum of Natural History and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at the Bethlehem University. Professor Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. He previously served on the faculties of the University of Tennessee, Duke, and Yale Universities. He and his wife returned to Palestine in 2008 starting a number of institutions and projects such as a clinical genetics laboratory that serves cancer and other patients. Qumsiyeh has published over 140 scientific papers on topics ranging from cultural heritage to biodiversity to c...
2021-05-1456 minRebel Matters Podcast97: Richard HowardThis week's guest is Richard Howard, author of Space for Peace: Fragments of the Irish Troubles in the Science Fiction of Bob Shaw and James White. We discuss the Irish science fiction movement and the lives of Shaw and White. We take a look at the social and political climate in which they lived, worked and wrote, and its inextricable influence on their creative output.
2021-05-0748 minRebel Matters Podcast96: In Memory of Salah AjarmaThis week is half solo-run and half conversation in memory of our dear friend and comrade Salah Ajarma who passed away suddenly at his home in the Aida refugee on the 14th of April 2020. The solo-run section contains some reflections on trips to Palestine and time with Salah as well as a bit of a chat about the parallels between the political history here in Ireland and the current situation in Palestine. The interview section is a chat I recorded with Salah on the 4th of December 2019 while he was on a visit t...
2021-04-301h 25Rebel Matters Podcast95: Briege VoyleBetween the 9th and 11th of August 1971, the 1st Battalion of the British Army's Parachute Regiment murdered 11 innocent civilians on the streets of Ballymurphy, West Belfast. One of the victims was Briege's mother, 44 year old Joan Connolly. Briege talks about the events of the time, the recently concluded inquest into the massacre, and the decades-long battle that relatives have fought for justice, transparency about how and why the massacre happened, and to clear the innocent names of the 11 victims of British state murder.
2021-04-1659 minRebel Matters Podcast94: Taz Kelleher and Geraldine CartonThe Useless Project was started by Geraldine Carton and Taz Kelleher in November 2018. Powered by energy, enthusiasm and positivity, the pair highlight the positive, accessible and pragmatic side to living a more sustainable lifestyle. Starting-off largely events-based, The Useless Project has expanded beyond the realms of swap shops and flea markets, merging into education, advocacy and online content generation. Touching on the “useless” feeling so many people experience in the face of the current climate crisis, Geraldine and Taz show that one surefire way to ensure positive change is to just start small; connect more; and...
2021-04-021h 10Rebel Matters Podcast93: Tom FowlerEp 93: #SpyCops - the Undercover Policing scandal, with Tom Fowler Back in January, we got in touch with a member of the Cardiff Anarchist Network named Tom Fowler, who was spied upon by an undercover police officer back in the early 2000s. For decades, individuals across the UK have been targeted by secret police due to their involvement in political activism and community organising. Citizens have been spied on, manipulated, and abused in order to undermine democratic participation in politics. Sustained pressure from activists networks campaigning on these issues led to the calling of a public inquiry in...
2021-03-1959 minRebel Matters Podcast92: Bernadette and Deirdre McAliskeyToday’s episode, the 92nd in the series, coincides with International Women’s Day. To mark the occasion we are joined by life-long civil rights activist Bernadette McAliskey and her daughter Deirdre McAliskey. Bernadette discussed the work she is currently undertaking with the South Tyrone Empowerment Program (STEP), her tour of America in 1969, the new generation in Ireland, and the local and lesser-known women who put their bodies on the line during the war, yet given little space in official accounts of the struggle. Deirdre discussed seeing the events of the time through a child's eyes, the expe...
2021-03-081h 44Rebel Matters Podcast91: Craic Boi MentalWe’re so pleased to get to speak with the relentlessly prolific underground Irish hip-hop artist and producer Craic Boi Mental. As well as being one half of Whip Mental (his project with his wife, Whip Girl), Craic Boi has released countless tapes, tracks and music videos under a multitude of distinctive hip-hop aliases such as Oscar Benso, Yung Gowl, Dudewithswag, Mili$, and King Flora. Humour, hooks and vibes abound! Craic Boi also pioneered the $quick movement, a supportive community platform for underground and uncategorisable rural-based artists in Ireland. Craic Boi Mental talks to Rebel Matters about bei...
2021-02-2639 minRebel Matters Podcast90: Laurence FentonWe are very proud to be part of #DouglassWeek, the weeklong, wide-ranging celebration of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass’s visit to Ireland over 175 years ago. For this episode, we speak with historian Laurence Fenton, the author of Frederick Douglass in Ireland: 'The Black O'Connell' and 'I Was Transformed' Frederick Douglass: An American Slave in Victorian Britain. #DouglassWeek runs between 8-14 February, 2021 and is an all-island, collaborative event series that celebrates the arrival of Frederick Douglass in Ireland between 1845-1846. Douglass had been born into slavery but escaped bondage on a plantation in Maryland by fleeing to the N...
2021-02-1259 minRebel Matters Podcast89: Margaretta D'ArcyThis week's episode is with artist, actor, peace activist, playwright and pirate radio queen, Margaretta D'Arcy. Margaretta has campaigned for decades on issues related to global peace and civil liberties. In 2014, Margaretta, then aged 80, served two prison sentences resulting from her opposition to the use of Shannon Airport by the US military. Over the years, her activism has taken many forms. She was a member of Bertrand Russell's Committee of 100 group. She participated in anti-nuclear demonstrations at Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, and took part in the H-Block women's protests in Armagh. Broadcasting from her kitchen in G...
2021-02-0552 minRebel Matters Podcast88: Ian LynchInvestigate this hideous din. We welcome Ian Lynch as our first Rebel Matters guest of 2021! Many listeners will know Ian from the acclaimed folk group Lankum, and more recently from his podcast Fire Draw Near, a monthly show which investigates Irish traditional music and song in all of its myriad forms. Try on the boots. Ian opens up about an unseen aspect of being in a regularly gigging band, giving us a sense of the havoc that a heavy touring schedule can wreak on the body and mind. Just what has he been do...
2021-01-221h 27Rebel Matters PodcastEp 87: Be Healthy.This weeks show is a solo run episode with Ainle taking a news year's look at health. A kind of crossover episode encompassing Ainle's professional experience of over 15 years in the strength and conditioning field, personal thoughts on the health and fitness industry and how it often serves to exaggerate our insecurities for the benefit of selling us more rubbish, and some practical suggestions on wholesome exercise, nutrition, and self-care.
2021-01-081h 10Rebel Matters Podcast86: Kate McGrewIn this episode, I talk to Kate McGrew (also known as Lady Grew) about sex work in Ireland and SWAI, the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland. SWAI is an organisation that works with sex workers for better access to rights, health and justice in Ireland. SWAI believes sex workers themselves should be at the centre of the development of policy which directly impacts upon their lives. We spoke about Kate's own background as a performer, how she went from working as a Greenpeace 'chugger' to working in a house of domination in New York, before eventually settling here...
2020-12-1150 minRebel Matters Podcast85: Stevie GStevie G is a DJ, radio presenter, a producer, a promoter and a youth worker who, for the past number of years, has been helping to nurture and amplify the creative expressions of Cork’s young migrant communities. Many people will be familiar with Stevie from his long-running show on Cork's RedFM and from spinning records in clubs all over. He started out DJing back in the early 90's at many legendary club nights and is a generous and respected figure in the Cork arts community, using his wide platform to help, encourage and open doors for the...
2020-11-271h 23Rebel Matters Podcast84: Virginia O' GaraThis week's guest is Virginia O' Gara who co-founded the vegan food company My Goodness in Cork in 2014. We chatted about the Food Not Bombs movement, how Virginia learned Spanish from guerrilla fighters in Guatemala, the intersection of business and revolutionary politics, and the Cork Urban Soil Project. It was recorded in the social space of ACLAÍ in Cork while sipping on some lovely My Goodness kombucha.
2020-11-131h 05Rebel Matters Podcast83: Gan Ainm (No Name)This weeks episode is a solo run with Ainle and is the first show in 5 weeks on account of a family bereavement. Ainle chats about a few aspects of his experience over the last month or so including thoughts about acceptance, meditation, and the importance of community.
2020-10-3040 minRebel Matters Podcast82: Gemma DunleavyThis week's guest is Dublin songwriter and producer Gemma Dunleavy whose recent EP 'Up De Flats' is a direct response to the ongoing developments in the Sheriff Street/Dublin 1 area. We chatted with her about the importance of community, how working class areas are often stigmatised & discriminated against, and about the danger posed to the area that she grew up in by ongoing commercial developments without regard for the community that have lived there for generations. Hear Gemma talk about systematic oppression, old souls, self-worth and how important poetry was to her growing up.
2020-09-251h 09Rebel Matters Podcast81: Laurence McKeownThis week I am in conversation with author, screenwriter, playwright and former Provisional IRA volunteer and prisoner of war Laurence McKeown. Laurence spent 70 days on hunger strike as part of the 1981 hunger strike in the H-Blocks gaol that resulted in 10 republican POWs giving their lives for political status, and that changed the course of Irish history and the struggle for freedom from British rule. Laurence has written two books about Irish republican prisoners in the H-Blocks; Nor Meekly Serve My Time: The H-Block Struggle 1976–1981 (co-written with Brian Campbell and Felim O'Hagan) was published in 1994, and Out Of Time...
2020-09-181h 35Rebel Matters Podcast80: Carol BridgemanWe just posted an emergency episode in support of the current sit-in that is being staged by the former Debenhams workers on Patrick Street Cork on the 153rd day of their strike action for a fair redundancy package and for workers rights. I spoke to Carol Bridgeman who is one of 8 workers in the Patrick Street store having gained access to the building yesterday. We discussed the lead up to the strike, the demands of the workers, the personal toll that the strike is taking and some of the sacrifices being made to keep the strike going. They are...
2020-09-0937 minRebel Matters Podcast79: Hyper-Capitalism and Self CareThis weeks episode is a solo run on the back of a week or so of feeling slightly off and somewhat stressed without being able to put my finger on exactly what was causing my feelings of worry and anxiety. I ended up having a good chat with myself and giving myself some solid advice via my notebook late one night, and share some of that self-advice in this episode. I also made a chill-out playlist on Spotify to accompany the episode, and had a good dig at the evil ways of hyper-captialism the dangers of constant competition, as...
2020-09-0446 minRebel Matters Podcast78: Timmy CreedThis week I chat with actor Timmy Creed who has a one man show called Spliced that examines his relationship with our national game of hurling, showcases some of the wonders of the game, and confronts some difficult questions about the culture with GAA and team sports.
2020-08-281h 02Rebel Matters Podcast77: Personal Narratives and Anti-Social BehaviourThis weeks episode was recorded under the Milky Way at Mahon Falls in the Comeragh Mountains of County Waterford. On account of the events of the night, the conversation veered towards the roots of anti-social behaviour and specifically, who it was actively encouraged by British security forces in the north of Ireland during the political conflict.
2020-07-2447 minRebel Matters Podcast76: Creative Energy In Post Lockdown LifeThis weeks episode is the first in a few weeks, and is one of the rare episodes where it’s me doing a solo run talking about the lockdown life, the hustle and bustle of every day life, the challenges of going back to work, and some things that I found useful to ease myself out of procrastination funks, and that help to let the creative and productivity energies flow freely. After i finished this episode last night I realised that I talked to myself for over an hour and considered that it might be a sign that I am...
2020-07-101h 14Rebel Matters Podcast75: Donal FallonThis weeks episode is a chat with historian and Three Castles Burning host Donal Fallon. We talked about the role commemorations have in the telling of history, the origins of the Blueshirts, how music plays an important part in the telling of history, and looked at some examples of how cities have come through tough times in the past.
2020-06-121h 48Rebel Matters Podcast74: Tai CarpenterI just released a special episode of the show with Tai Carpenter who is on the board of Don’t Shoot Portland, which is a nonprofit organisation based in Portland Oregon dedicated to civic participation, community engagement and bridging social justice with art programming. They are playing an important role in helping to organise the current protests in America sparked by the brutal murder of George Floyd on Monday the 25th of May, and helping protesters who are being arrested and detained by police. This is a very important episode if you want to understand more about the political en...
2020-06-0357 minRebel Matters Podcast73: Aodh Ó CorcráinComhrá leathan le mo shean-chara Aodh Ó Corcráin a bhfuil aithne air mar Bhéal Feirsteach agus mar chócaire., agus a chaith blianta thall i dTír na mBascasch ag cur faobhar ar a cheird.
2020-06-021h 44Rebel Matters Podcast72: Roxanna Nic LiamThis week's episodes is a quarantine chat on the importance of the arts in Ireland with actor and spoken word artist Roxanna Nic Liam There is a spoken word treat from Roxanna at the end of the chat, and as usual, a bit of story time after the outro music.
2020-05-291h 23Rebel Matters Podcast71: Áine O GormanOn this episode I discussed climate change on a global , national, local, and individual level with Áine O Gorman, who works for Friends of The Earth, is involved in Stop Climate Chaos, and also is a part of a group called Model Activists that work to promote sustainability in the fashion industry.
2020-05-221h 32Rebel Matters Podcast70: Abdallah MarakaThis week's guest on the show is a friend who gives walking tours in the old city of Hebron in Palestine, one of the most politically charged areas of the West Bank. This episode has an accompanying blog post on rebelmatters.ie with links to documentaries, films and further reading.
2020-05-151h 00Rebel Matters Podcast69: Mary HicksonThis week I chatted with Mary Hickson who runs the Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival in Cork every two years, the pioneering collaborative festival People in the Funkhaus Berlin, and the philosophy behind her work and approach. A timely chat as we start to consider what festivals and parties will look like as we start to come out of our prolonged Covid-19 lockdown.
2020-05-081h 13Rebel Matters Podcast68: Mark GrahamMark Graham from King Kong Company, and the Irish Music Industry podcast joined me this week for a chat on the show. We chatted about King Kong Company, the challenges facing Irish artists during the Covid-19 pandemic, and what the musical landscape might look like in the near future. Mark also discussed how King Kong Company ended up with their very own brand of Buckfast infused beer. Chapter 2 of The Last Of The Name can be found at the end of this episode.
2020-04-241h 53Rebel Matters PodcastEp 67: Ainle in PalestineThe main section is an interview I did from Palestine with Somhailre Mag uidhie from Raidió Fáilte and is in Irish. There is an extended intro in English, as well as a shorter interview in English i did with the Off The Ball crew for Newstalk Radio, which comes after the main section with Somhairle, and also a new book at the very end as we have finished Roald Dahl's one last week!
2020-04-171h 36Rebel Matters Podcast66: Easter Sunday Special -To make Easter Sunday 2020 I recorded myself reading Bobby Sands' One Day in My Life. "Written on toilet paper, with a biro refill, and hidden inside Bobby Sands' own body, this is a book about bravery and endurance' - Excerpt from the back cover of the book.
2020-04-122h 14Rebel Matters Podcast65: Síobhra Quinlan, Aisling O' Riordan, and Emmet CondonThis chat was recorded as part of the Quiet Lights festival in Cork in late 2019, and covers a lot of ground around the background and work that goes into alternative and socially conscious arts events and festivals.
2020-04-101h 27Rebel Matters Podcast64: Hoba and Ahmad HmidanThis weeks episode is with brothers Ahmad and Hoba and we discussed growing up in Nablus under Israeli occupation, being an artists in Palestine, and their careers as performers in circus, dance, juggling, and acrobatics.
2020-04-031h 05Rebel Matters Podcast63: Siobhán De Paor and Diarmuid LyngThis weeks episode was recorded around the kitchen table in the home of Siobhán De Paor and Diarmuid Lyng who together run Wild Irish Retreats. I have added a short blog post on rebelmatters.ie with some additional links for anyone who would like to fins out more about these two legends but don't have the Gaeilge to follow along with the episode.
2020-03-311h 41Rebel Matters Podcast62: Maysa DawThis episode was recorded in a café in Ramallah while I was there setting up the ACLAÍ Palestine community gym in the Aida refugee camp. Thank you to Maysa who took the time to meet Alex and I to record this!
2020-03-271h 30Rebel Matters Podcast61: Lewis KennyThis week is the first instalment of the next batch of episodes, and is a sit-down with my good friend Lewis Kenny.
2020-03-241h 35Rebel Matters Podcast60: Jenny HigginsA chat with Jenny about her involvement in the Gaza Women's Yoga and Circus Hub recorded as part of the very first Cork Podcast Festival. This episode was recorded in the Spailpín Fánach pub in Cork city.
2020-01-311h 15Rebel Matters Podcast59: Maria GillenThis week I chat with storyteller, drama therapist, and Cork Yarn-Spinner Maria Gillen. We discussed strength from softness, the impact of technology on our social skills, and the passing down of wisdom from one generation to the next.
2019-12-211h 26Rebel Matters Podcast58: Steve LallyA conversation recorded in South Armagh with storyteller Steve Lally. We discussed how Steve became a storyteller, the writing of his latest book, 'Irish Gothic Fairy Stories', and the importance of folklore and storytelling in modern society.
2019-12-131h 59Rebel Matters Podcast57: Solo RunThis week is a solo run on making December a 'healing month' to finish the year on a positive note, which I started thinking about on the way back from a recent trip to Berlin. Every year has its challenges and highlights, and December seems to be as good a time as any to practice some self-love, looking after yourself going into the festive season, and doing the work up front to have a positive start to the new year, which can often be a challenging time in itself. Grá Mór, Ainle. x
2019-12-061h 18Rebel Matters Podcast56: Solo RunA solo run on the merits and negatives of black Friday. Is it a good time to big a bargain, or a marketing campaign of manufactured desire and scarcity to make us part with our hard earned bills and fall over each other to accumulate more useless stuff?
2019-11-2854 minRebel Matters Podcast55: Calvin James SweeneyThis week I chat with Calvin James Sweeney who formed the SCOOP foundation with his brother Andy in 2009, and has been over and back from Syria 18 times to date. https://scoopfoundation.org/about/
2019-10-111h 27Rebel Matters Podcast54: Seamus KennedyThis week I sat down with recent All Ireland hurling championship winner and Tipperary hurler Seamus Kennedy.
2019-09-131h 36Rebel Matters Podcast53: Solo RunThis week is a recording of my rambling thoughs and self-chats as I made my way to Coumshingaun Lake in the Comeragh Mountains, Co Waterford.
2019-08-241h 29Rebel Matters Podcast52: Solo Run and Granny ChatsThis weeks marks 50 years since the British soldiers landed in Belfast and Derry, and 6 years since ACLAÍ opened its doors for business. In this episode I talk about checking in with my own mental and physical health, ACLAÍ, and share some chats that I had with my Granny about what it was like back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s during some of the most turbulent times in Belfast.
2019-08-161h 00
Rebel Matters Podcast51: Ainle on Middle East MonitorThe full recording of an interview I did recently with the Middle East Monitor. Article interview can be read at link below. Short surprise at the very end after the outro music! https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190711-were-trying-to-find-a-gap-in-israels-walls/
2019-08-091h 10Rebel Matters Podcast50: Solo RunThis week we look at the stories behind 2 ballads. Joe McDonnell, and The Ballad of Mairéad Farrell. Links below for full songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybcgc8BQlQQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik3P9-1SQ9U&t=130s Mairéad Farrell interview clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2TyzlQVL4o
2019-06-2852 minRebel Matters Podcast49: Radie PeatThis week's episode comes from the kitchen of Lankum's Radie Peat. We talked about how Radie ended up as a professional musician, Lankum, Dublin, Pullin the Devil By the Tail, and the Sopranos, among other things.
2019-06-211h 05Rebel Matters Podcast48: Solo RunThis week is another solo run where I discuss some of the basics of starting and running a small business using the last 6 years of ACLAÍ as an example. A nice listen for anyone in a craft business, startup business, or interested in how ACLAÍ developed over the last 6 years.
2019-06-141h 01Rebel Matters Podcast47: Solo RunA solo run with Ainle Ó Cairealláin that includes an update on the Palestine Community Gym, the impact of positive and negative social infrastructure, and deconstructing the 'fitness industry'.
2019-06-0755 min2019-05-311h 08Rebel Matters Podcast45: Charles and Andrew HendyA fantastic conversation about hip hop, Ireland, RTÉ, folk music, fashion, punk, and buying skunk from a local drug dealer.
2019-05-241h 02Rebel Matters Podcast44: Mary CrillyA conversation with the founder of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre (formerly known as the Rape Crises Centre).
2019-05-1758 minRebel Matters Podcast43: Lisa O FlynnA casual conversation with DJ Lish Oh on the best way to have a great time at festivals from what to bring, how to look out for each other, and how to give yourself the best oppiortunity of having a smashing time!
2019-05-101h 15Rebel Matters Podcast42: Martin DavorenExecutive Director of the Sexual Health Centre in Cork Martin Davoren on breaking down the stigma around sexual health, sex work, and the services provided by the Sexual Health Centre in Cork.
2019-05-031h 11Rebel Matters Podcast41: Mohammad AlazzaThis weeks episode os a chat with Mohammad Alazza. Mohammad is a refugee from the village of Beit Jibreen who was born and lives in Aida Refugee Camp. He is a photographer, film-maker, and director of the Arts & Media Unit of Lajee Center in Aida Refugee Camp, Palestine.
2019-04-261h 15Rebel Matters Podcast40: Solo RunThis week is a solo run with host Ainle Ó Cairealláin on birthdays, age as a social construct, people as consumers, and pain management. Support Rebel Matters on Patreon.
2019-04-1959 minRebel Matters Podcast39: Solo RunThis episode is based on a talk I gave in Headway to a group of stroke and acquired brain injury survivors, and covers some of the philosophy behind ACLAÍ as well as quite a personal reflection about exercise, health, nutrition, and gratitude. A few special audio treats are included in this episode too!
2019-04-121h 10Rebel Matters Podcast38: John FlemingThis week I spoke to counsellor, and coach John Fleming on his work in the area of mental and sexual health, and transactional analysis.
2019-04-051h 34Rebel Matters PodcastEp 37: Gearóid Ó Cairealláin Shuí mé síos le m'athair Gearóid Ó Cairealláin san eagrán seo agus phlé muid cúrsaí Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste agus saol Gheaóid mar gníomhaí.
2019-03-2949 min
Rebel Matters Podcast36: Alex HomitsI sat down with Alex Homits of the Connolly Youth Movement at the Connolly Barracks in Cork, and discussed the liberated building that the CYM are currently occupying, as well as capitalism, socialism, and Ireland today.
2019-03-221h 51Rebel Matters Podcast35: Solo RunToday's episode looks at the amount of exploitative advertising and marketing in the health and fitness world, a run through some basic principles of nutrition that are ethical, sustainable, realistic, and effective, goal setting, and how you can eat well and still have a social life!
2019-03-1551 min
Rebel Matters Podcast34: Séanna BreathnachIn conversation with Séanna Breathnach, ex POW and current Belfast City Councillor for Sinn Féin. The main part of this episode is in Irish, with a 20 minute extended introduction by me in English.
2019-03-081h 25Rebel Matters Podcast33: Dan LambertToday's episode is with Dan Lambert from the Bang Bang Café in Phibsborough Dublin. This episode was recorded before KNEECAP performed a daytime gig in the café to raise money for our West Bang Gym Project. We talked about where Bang Bang came from and how to have a business that has a net positive effect on the community in which it is based. http://bangbang.ie https://www.facebook.com/bangbangD7/
2019-03-011h 22
Rebel Matters Podcast32: Fatin Al TamimiThis week is a discussion with Fatin Al Tamimi (chair of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign), that was recorded at the IPSC office in Dublin. I also share details of our West Bank Gym Project/
2019-02-221h 01
Rebel Matters Podcast31: KNEECAPThis weeks episode is with Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap from KNEECAP who are making waves in the hiphop world over the last year or so. KNEECAP picked up 5 awards at the Gradam Ceoil Nós, have been described as 'hip hop gold' by Nialler9, and have been banned from RTÉ. Check them out on Spotify, Youtube, Instgram (KNEECAP32), Facebook, and Snapchat. You can now support the Rebel Matters Podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!
2019-02-1543 minRebel Matters Podcast30: Joe McGinleyThis week's episode is a chat with lead students strength and conditioning coach for the Leinster Rugby Academy, Joe McGinley, and it is very much two friends sitting down to shoot the breeze about coaching and what we do in our professional lives. We talk about Is it healthy to be an athlete Coaching mastery and coaching philosophy Creativity in coaching Creating a productive and nurturing environment to work in Being 'in service' to the people you are coaching or facilitating The basics of nutrition and recovery.
2019-02-081h 22
Rebel Matters Podcast29: Brian ReddinThis week's episode is a conversation with producer and documentary maker Brian Reddin. Brian has a massive amount of shows under his belt from It Came from Connemara (2014), Fir Bolg (2016) and John Huston: An t-Éireannach (1996), Route 66, Underdogs, Amú le Hector, and many more. We talked about how to prepare for interviews, some of the most bizarre experiences and situations that Brian found himself in during the course of his work from filming with the KKK, a minute man on the American side of the Mexican border, and some of the awkward moments he has had including an...
2019-02-011h 23Rebel Matters PodcastEp 28: Feargal Mac IonnrachtaighThis week I chatted with my friend Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh about his work as a community activist in West Belfast, issues that effect working class areas, and the Irish language revival.
2019-01-251h 22
Rebel Matters Podcast27: Father Des WilsonThis week I am chatting with Father Des Wilson, who is 93 years of age, and spent nearly his entire life serving the people of West Belfast and Ballymurphy through some of the darkest times Ireland has ever seen. He is particularly known for his work in setting up Springhill Community house 'as a place for discussion and learning, where people could work and enjoy themselves in freedom.' Relevant show links: Video of Father Des During Hunger Strikes Mother Theresa in Ballymurphy Article about the Ballymurphy Massacre Article about N...
2018-12-211h 24
Rebel Matters Podcast26: Ainle and Orla-Peach PowerIn this episode, the roles are reversed and Orla-Peach was calling the shots and asking me about my experience of being in Palestine twice this year. We spoke about the Irish connection with the conflict in Palestine, and some of the differences between the two struggles, as well as discussing some of the lesser know facts from the ground in the West Bank. Enjoy! Ainle Links mentioned in the show: http://www.badil.org http://www.alhaq.org https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Aida+refugee+camp
2018-12-121h 22Rebel Matters Podcast25: Kieran McCarthyThis week is a chat with local historian Kieran McCarthy about this history of Cork city, the river Lee and many other facets of day to day life in Cork. Checkout Kieran’s website and details about his walking tours below. http://kieranmccarthy.ie In this podcast I also talk about the brand new initiative Cork, Neighbour Food, ACLAÍ’s recent National Inclusion Award, my interview on Raidió Fáilte’s new studio, anabolic steroid abuse feature in the Evening Echo, and our latest project to open a volunteer gym in the West Bank. Links below:
2018-12-071h 24
Rebel Matters Podcast24: Linda ErvineToday's episode episode was recorded in the East Belfast Mission, on the Newtownards Road with Linda Ervine. Linda has been the driving force behind setting up Turas, which provides Irish lessons and talks on the Irish language on the Newtownards Road, making it the only Irish language centre based in a Unionist community, It was great to record this episode with Linda to get an insight into how Turas came about, its challenges, and what they have planned for the future. In this episode we also talked about the current political landscape within Unionism, and quite a f...
2018-11-231h 16
Rebel Matters Podcast23: Séamus Mac SeáinA few weeks ago i went up to Belfast and recorded chats for the podcast with people that have given a huge commitment to community development and people that have a story that I would like people to hear about. Today’s episode is a sit down chat with Séamus Mac Seáin, and it is a chat as Gaeilge. Séamus is a community leader, an Irish language activist and a revolutionary. I think he coined the motto "Ná habair é, déan é" (Don’t say it do it), that has become the philosophy of the Irish langua...
2018-11-151h 20Rebel Matters Podcast22: Ellie KisyombeWe have a system in Ireland called direct provision that keeps asylum seekers who have come here to seek refuge from violence and the threat of being killed in their home countries in institutions with very poor living conditions. The direct provision system forces people into a limbo for long periods of time where they can’t work, build a meaningful life for themselves in this country, and have no control over the food they eat and their overall day to day lives. It is an inhumane system that needs to be ended. In this episode I chatted with El...
2018-11-0952 min
Rebel Matters PodcastEp 21: Solo Run and Aysar Al SaifiThis year I was in the West Bank twice. This episode countains a short selection of sounds that represent some of the things that are happening in Palestine today, the basics of Palestinian modern history that gives an idea of how we ended up with the situation that exists there today, and a short talk I recorded from Aysar, who is a volunteer in the Laylac Centre that serves the second biggest refugee camp in the West Bank, the Dheisheh Camp. Useful Links for More Information Laylac Centre Information Aysar Go Fund Me T...
2018-10-2848 min
Rebel Matters Podcast20: The Man With No NameThere is a man living in a tent on Patricks Quay in Cork city. I have seen him around many times, and he has been in the news recently as a local politician and former Lord Mayor of Cork featured in the local newspaper and said about his home: "It should be removed, dismantled, thrown into the back of one of our council trucks and taken away." I spoke to him about his life, his home, and his philosophical outlook on life.
2018-10-1157 min
Rebel Matters Podcast19: Dan JohnOn this episode I chat with Strength Coach and Author Dan John about the importance of developing a coaching philosophy, training and nutrition, the benefits and importance of intentional community, the challenges facing young people today, and a few more topics!
2018-09-211h 20
Rebel Matters Podcast18: Bon VoyageArveene and Shamon Cassette from Acid/Hiphouse duo Bon Voyage are in the Rebel Matters hotseat this week. We chatted about their individual paths to hip-hop, the creative process, and the importance of the message behind genuine music and art. So many great points were raised and discussed that this is an episode to listen to, not only if you are a music fan, but if you just want the good vibes to spread all over! Enjoy.
2018-07-201h 23
Rebel Matters Podcast17: Dan MurphyThis week I sat down with Dan Murphy from Hermitage Green and Global Village Tours. We discussed the creative process, working within set limits in art, the Irish language, travel, and a few more interesting segues.
2018-07-131h 36
Rebel Matters Podcast16: Mick 'The Iron Man' MurphyThis weeks episode is a conversation that I recorded with Mick 'The Iron Man' Murphy at his home just outside Caherciveen back in 2010. The original recording was 4 hours long, and not initially intended for release, so the quality is not as good as it should be. This enthralling conversation details Mick's life as a circus performer, wrestler, cyclist, weightlifter, darts player, and all round journeyman. Putting this episode together brought back a lot of great memories of the chats that I had with Mick over the 5 years that I knew him.
2018-06-2956 minRebel Matters PodcastEp 15: Pádraic Mac CoitirPádraic discusses his involvement in the Republican movement from a young age, his time in Crumlin Road Gaol, and in Long Kesh, where he took part in the blanket and no-wash protests, and his life as a community activist.
2018-06-222h 01Rebel Matters Podcast14: Gill BourkeGill Bourke has over 50 caps for the Irish Rugby team and suffered a life altering concussion during an Irish training session. In this episode, Gill chats about how she built her international career, and her treatment in the aftermath of sustaining the concussion. We also get stuck into the importance of upholding personal and professional values on and off the field.
2018-06-152h 13Rebel Matters Podcast13: Peter PowerThis week on Rebel Matters I sat down with music producer Peter Power to discuss the importance of art in our modern society and the challenges that come with building a successful career in an industry that is off the beaten path in relation to more conventional career paths. I also have another Rebel Matters first for all you lovely listeners out there. Today we are going to close out the episode with a new song that has over 300000 views online, has been banned from radio and television, and despite that has picked up several aw...
2018-02-161h 25Rebel Matters Podcast12: Clare O MahonyCork Musician Clare O Mahony was in the Rebel Matters Hotseat today talking about her albums, what goes in to getting a show on stage, and he upcoming Songs of Joni Mitchell show at the Everyman Theatre.
2018-02-0940 min