Armagh I Podcast

At the tender age of fifteen it was clear to Libby Clarke that sales was the route for her, however, a change of product was on the cards. In the fourth and final episode of our Female Entrepreneur series, in partnership with Tarasis Enterprises – Supporting Female Entrepreneurs – we speak to the Portadown businesswoman who explains how property was not her first dabble in sales. Growing up with a farming background, cattle was always Libby's first passion and she recalls selling her first property at fifteen. Following Libby's father's retirement, the keen saleswoman took on a role with the then branded Joyce Estate Agents in 2002. Fast forward to 2010, Joyce Clarke was born following a buy out of the business. Libby explains the process as a "seamless transaction" and tells us how some of the team are key to the success of the business. Cash flow, IT systems, long hours and mortgage changes are all part of normal working life - not to mention a farm at home which Libby manages herself.

It is not always clear what the future holds. Plans are laid down and ideas cultivated but life often has a way of reshaping those plans. This is the third episode of our four part series, in partnership with Tarasis Enterprises, Supporting Female Entrepreneurs. In 2019, Benburb-based beautician Sinead O'Donnell was hard at work laying the foundations for her own brand of self-tanning products. Then, in 2020 with the onset of the Covid Pandemic her world was suddenly upended with the untimely and tragic passing of her beloved father, Patrick Hughes. Despite her incredible heartache, Sinead was acutely aware that her dad would not have wanted her to put paid to her new venture. So, with his devotion to her in mind, she decided to dedicate her line to his memory and thus PH20 Tanning was born. Two years on, Sinead has continued to develop her line. PH20 is currently being stocked by over 5o retailers, secured by none-other than Sinead herself, and is set to launch a new and exciting product in the very near future. With her sunny disposition, radiantly positive outlook on life and her quiet grit and determination it is patently clear that this female entrepreneur has a glowing future in business ahead of her.

What do you need to start a business? Qualifications, money, a business plan? Not according to long-standing Armagh based hairstylist and salon owner, Petra Carroll. Petra's is the second episode of our four part series, in partnership with Tarasis Enterprises, Supporting Female Entrepreneurs. 'Conventional' would not be the word to describe Petra. Her route to business, whilst not perhaps a stereotypical journey, is a reassuring one. She demonstrates that the key to success is intrinsic. It's something she believes we all hold. Petra champions those around her and places huge emphasis on the importance of the help and support she has received across her years in business. This support is something she is now keen to provide to those coming next, her team and her customer base. Through shamanic healing and ‘energy medicine' Petra has a zest and love for life that is nothing short of infectious. She has found a balance between business and pleasure that has allowed her to see life through a new lens. Her advice to fledgling entrepreneurs, also a tad unconventional, is perhaps some of the best and most actionable advice for anyone thinking of starting out on their own.

Most people can say that they have inherited something significant from an elderly relative, but few can say they have inherited a passion. Emma Stinson, of Richhill Co. Armagh, has inherited just that from her beloved Grandfather Jackie Stinson, saddler and restorer extraordinaire. This is the first of our four part series, in partnership with Tarasis Enterprises, Supporting Female Entrepreneurs.

For all intents and purposes, Sean Cavanagh is a son of Tyrone – a former county captain, three All-Ireland medals, five All-Stars; the list of accolades goes on. So much so, he says his parents' home is like a sporting monument; his own home, you would struggle to tell he played football at all. But strangely enough, Sean says his affinity – certainly off the sporting fields – lies on the Armagh side of the River Blackwater... Listen to Sean's story in business and how he keeps growing, despite the many challenges he faces – including a fire in his Moy premises within months of going out on his own – and how he balances his life between home and work - it certainly hasn't been easy! 

In 2019 Martin Carvill was on a life support machine battling for survival against oesophageal cancer. Three years later, almost to the day, since Martin underwent surgery, he won the singles championship title in the Banbridge and District Darts League. During the previous decade the world-class dart thrower was at the top of his game - a regular on the World Darts circuit and competing well in events like the Dutch, Belgium and Czech Opens, along with winning countless tournaments and trophies around Ireland as well as in Newry, with whichever team was lucky enough to have him. One of the only people who believed he would ever play darts again – especially at the level he had done – was Martin himself. Martin has been practising Mindfulness for 20-odd years and in the last 10 of those he developed a keen interest in Buddhism. It's an on-going long and painful road back from the cancer that ravaged his body, but there's no better man to overcome that obstacle than Martin, as the two words that fuel his life are ‘belief' and ‘fear' – the former a force that he says has helped him succeed in the darts world and in his recovery, and the latter the thing that he feels holds people back from reaching their goals. For this week's podcast, Martin talks about his journey, since his cancer diagnosis and after the miraculous surgeries that couldn't have been done a few years earlier. He battled through the doubts both from within and from fellow darts players when he decided to give up drink in 2016… But the biggest battle was still to come. Martin explains how Mindfulness and Buddhism has helped him through the  challenges he has overcome. He tells us all about his darts career and how he and other top dart players really need sponsors to come on board for the little it costs them in relative terms.

The KBRT logo can be seen on GAA jersey's from Crossmaglen to Kilcoo and even across the water in San Francisco. The little bird emblem is significant for Kevin Bell's parents Collie and Eithne whose charitable organisation, The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust [KBRT] is their son's legacy. Kevin was killed in a hit and run car accident in New York in 2013 and it took a network of family, friends and the community home and abroad to gather the funds needed to repatriate his body home to his loved ones in just three days. The extraordinary generosity of those who donated to the Bell family at such a horrific time of grief inadvertently led to Collie and Eithne establishing KBRT. The charity has brought home the bodies of over 1300 people from around the world since then. For this week's podcast, Collie explains how it all began and how the charity evolved over the years. He talks about his son Kevin and how KBRT is not only his legacy but also cathartic in some ways for his family. On a happier note, Collie and Eithne did have a little bit of luck a few years ago and Collie tells us all about that too…      

In 2008 Therese Hughes stayed in the Ritz, had afternoon tea at the House of Commons and was invited to to Buckingham Palace where HRH  Prince Charles awarded her an MBE as a recipient in the Queen's Honours list for her work with the Health Services in Northern Ireland. That work included a compassionate practical solution to people suffering from hair loss - often due to the side effects of chemotherapy. Sometimes it's the little things that help when a person is seriousl ill, and sometimes, in cases like the non-life-threatening condition alopecia, the service provided by Tresses Wig and Hairpiece Boutique can also be life-changing. Therese comes from a large family of 14 children and began her hairdressing career as a young teenager when she learned her trade in Scissors hairdressers in Newry. She opened her very own salon at the tender age of nineteen and 17 years later, when a client was in need of a wig, Therese went on a mission to find one in London. With the help of an Orthodox Jew she did, and with that the seed was sown to fulfil a want deep in her soul. In 1998 Therese opened Tresses, the first wig and hairpiece boutique in the country, and the business went from strength to strength. She opened another boutique in Belfast and Therese established a relationship with the NHS, cementing that collaboration when she and a psychologist Professor Davidson in Belvoir Park Hospital set up the first dedicated  room that provided wigs and counselling services to patients suffering from hair loss, which was rolled out to hospitals all around the UK and Ireland. For this week's podcast Therese tells Armagh I how she got where she is today and why she feels compelled to do what she does. She tells us all about that memorable weekend when she was handed her MBE by HRH Prince Charles. A story that includes a fake Chanel handbag, a secret handshake and a very famous celebrity she met on the day…

Covid lockdowns had their downsides, there's no denying it, but for twenty-five year old Banbridge designer Ellen Mooney the solitude inspired her to be creative and do something positive. Ellen, who studied fashion design at University, dusted off her sewing machine and began creating her own brand of quirky hair scrunchies. Demand grew rapidly and before long Ellen had progressed from scrunchies to sweaters and was growing her own streetwear brand ELN. Functional, sustainable and extremely fashionable, Ellen tells us about the factors that are most important to her brand. We talk fast fashion and influencer culture as Ellen explains the societal trends that shaped her vision, for not only the clothing line, but her own approach to branding and marketing.

An average of over seven million viewers are hooked on ITV crime drama The Bay, which first aired in 2019. The show, set in the small seaside town of Morecambe in Lancaster, is on its third season, with a fourth in the works. And the man behind the critically acclaimed and hugely popular whodunnit was born and bred right here in Armagh. Daragh Carville brought the complex characters and stories to life as writer and co-creator of The Bay and while it's probably his best-known work, the screenwriter, playwright and university lecturer has produced plenty of fine work over the years. The recipient of numerous awards from stage to screen, Daragh has more than proven that he is a true talent. His first feature film, Middletown, was nominated in nine categories at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2007, including Best Film and Best Screenplay, with Irish actress Eva Birthistle winning Best Actress. And his second film, Cherrybomb' starring Harry Potter's  Rupert Grint, Love /Hate alumnus Robert Sheehan and our very own James Nesbitt, also picked up awards at the Berlin and Belfast Film Festival. The theatre is where it all started for Daragh, but whatever the platform, his works have translated successfully on radio, and stage as well as on the big and small screen. Daragh is a proud Armagh man, a place that he still calls home despite settling in Lancaster with his novelist wife Jo Baker and their two children. The family come back to Armagh regularly to visit and  it's in Armagh where his career began. He says writing was a vocation for him, with an innate love of film, music, books, comics and art pulling him in that direction. But it was a special and inspirational English teacher in St Pat's Armagh, who encouraged Daragh to pursue his interests. That teacher nurtured his talents, and sent him on the path that led to the career that he loves. And for this week's podcast, Daragh tells us how it all happened and allows us a glimpse into the mind of a successful writer.          

Born together, business partners forever. Over the last nine years entrepreneurial Banbridge twins Aaron and Andrew Burns have built themselves a remarkable business empire, now based in the heart of Markethill. This is Part Three in a four-part series of podcasts featuring young entrepreneurs, sponsored by the Armagh Credit Union. Astute and ambitious, the twins recognised their own set of skills early on and kick-started their journey into self-employment by leaning into what they were most passionate about, sports and nutrition, and established a multi-sports coaching company, Burns Skills School, in 2013. Fast forward nine years… the brothers now head up three thriving businesses, all housed under the one Old Barn roof. Yes, they are hugely successful, but as Andrew confesses… It wasn't always fair weather. From long drives to recruit clients, creating an office from a spare bedroom to the hardships of decision making with a sibling - they have been through it all. Not a pair to be easily defeated, they continued to ‘drive it on' and, taking inspiration from their entrepreneurial father, Frank, they have now set sights on a new goal.

She grew up in Madden as Danielle Carragher, but since reaching back in time and taking her maternal great grandmother's long lost surname as her stage name, Dani Larkin was born. And it's not just the name that Dani has adopted from the past. The Armagh singer/songwriter and musician's songs also transcend time, steeped in Irelands ancient landscape, mythologies and folklore. Dani began writing at the age of 11 with a poem and since then years of working hard and performing , eventually saw her become the quintessential overnight success. Her debut album, ‘Notes For A Maiden Warrior' was released in to 2021 to rave reviews. ‘striking debut,' ‘stunning,' ‘otherworldly,' ‘powerful,' ‘you can feel the music in your bones,' are just a few accolades from the critics. A whirlwind year of touring home and abroad followed, amidst nominations  for ‘Best Album' at this year's Northern Ireland Music Prize and ‘Best Emerging Artist' at the RTE Folk Awards. She opened for Snow Patrol at sold-out London Palladium Theatre and Belfast's Waterfront, and after performing at SXSW festival in Austin Texas, it was off to Vancouver before coming home to tour with Declan O'Rourke. Armagh I caught up with Dani, after she took a short breather in Galway, and she spoke about her life, her music and her philosophies on both. While she's inspired by where she comes from and the legacies of the land, Dani, who has a degree in history and sociology and a masters in international conflict and cooperation, has also used her music to unite, working in places as far afield as Palestine, Indonesia and Columbia. It's back on the road again closer to home in the coming months however, with Dani's next tour kicking off on April 29 at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast, followed by a UK tour with Ye Vagabonds and some shows of her own. Tickets available at www.danilarkin.com

Anyone who has even the slightest interest in mountain biking will know the name Glyn O'Brien. The Newry man is a legend in the sport, and  for good reason. Glyn's racing career spans the 90's to the present day, and he's crammed in plenty over the decades. He raced the UCI Downhill World Cup circuit from 1997 to 2006, and in 2009 came second I the World Masters Downhill Championships. But in 2003 Glyn lost the plot altogether – taking himself off to Utah where he competed in the Red Bull Rampage – and finished an incredible third. Legendary status confirmed, Glyn still went back for more the following year. Just in case you're not clear exactly what this event consists of, Glyn describes it as ‘basically jumping of a cliff on a bike.' And he's not joking - check out the footage on YouTube. When he's not hurling himself off mountains Glyn is immersed in the business end of the sport, working with Vitus Bikes a s a Brand Ambassador and founder of the Vitus First Tracks team, coaching and, oh yeah – he's also been a fireman for the past 14 years. In fact Glyn took gold at the World Police and Fire Games in Canada in 2011 and again at home in Northern Ireland in 2013. Whenever he can though Glyn can be found riding the local trails in Bigwood or at the Mountain Bike Trail Centre in Kilbroney Park - which he was involved in setting up in 2013. Armagh I caught up with Glyn when he came down from a day's work in Rostrevor, filming with the new range of Vitus bikes at the top of the mountain. The fit-as-a-fiddle athlete wasn't even out of breath as he talked about his love of downhill biking and adventure. Glyn tells us all about that memorable day in Utah, touches on the tricky topic of the dangers posed by walkers on the bike trails in Kilbroney Park, and how he would love to see the area expanded. There's no sign of Glyn slowing down, as he gears up to compete in the first round of this year's Irish Downhill Mountainbike Series , which takes place in Rostrevor next weekend, April 2 -3. The event is completely sold out, with mountain biking more popular than ever – and long may it last.

An innovative media company is putting Portadown on the map with their 360-degree technology and high quality video content helping local businesses stay ahead of the curve. Atmosphere Immersive Media was established by Gerda Visinskaite and her boyfriend Jake Bailey-Sloan. Jake set up The Mill, the indoor combat centre on Bleary Road, when he was just a teenager, but sadly passed away in October, at the age of just 23. This is Part Two in a four-part series of podcasts featuring young entrepreneurs, sponsored by the Armagh Credit Union. Armagh I caught up with Gerda Visinskaite and videographer Jakub Cervenak to hear about the origins of the business and how they are working to keep Jake's legacy alive. Gerda explained that Jake had hired Jakub, whilst he was still working as a pizza chef, to carry out some videography work at the Mill. Impressed by the work, a few years later Jake approached Jakub with the idea for Atmosphere Immersive. From the start they tried to set themselves apart from the rest, using 360° multi-lens camera technology to capture 8K photo and video content. It was not an instant success, with Gerda and Jakub explaining there was a lot of free work to begin with building up a portfolio but after this businesses began contacting them impressed by the output.

Armagh may be quite some distances from Naples, but one young entrepreneur is bringing perhaps the region's most important invention to the Orchard county. Matthew Sherry, a Co Monaghan native, set up shop (quite literally) in the city centre when he opened up his artisan pizza shop, Basil Lane, less than two months ago. This is Part One in a serial of Armagh I podcasts featuring young entrepreneurs, sponsored by the Armagh Credit Union. Matthew realised his dream of serving the woodfired delights whilst studying science at university in Dublin. It took just one bite of an artisan pizza and he knew this is what he wanted to be doing. The 26-year-old did finish his initial degree but then changed tact with a post grad in entrepreneurship, which helped with the basics. Not only does Matthew own the business but he also will be your chef and server at Basil Lan, which he believes ensures quality. So focused was he in making sure his pies where up to scratch, Matthew had his pizza oven shipped in from Italy, however, piecing it together proved a bit of a tougher task. He admits that there were reservations to begin with but he has been blown away by the support of other businesses and customers. Looking forward, Matthew does have dreams of growing the business with more premises but he wants to make sure that this would not be to the detriment of the quality of his pizzas.

Vincent Loughran has been a photographer in Armagh for the best part of 50 years. He's been there, done it and, as the saying goes, got the t-shirt. He's had his near misses too... Like life itself, it's been a rollercoaster; there has been the good the bad and, indeed, the very ugly. Fires, hijackings, bombings – The Troubles in general – have been juxtaposed against happier times. An avid Armagh GAA fan, Vincy was there for the All-Ireland triumph in 2002 and before that, the All-Ireland defeat to Dublin in the '77 final. The contrast he says was "unreal".  Times have changed but memories last a lifetime. Here, Vincy details some of those memories as he exhibits some of the most striking images he has captured over the years at the Aonach Mhacha Culture centre on Lower English Street. That event runs for another few weeks...and just like those photos, our chat is well-worth listening to. 

It's been a road well-travelled for one local gin distiller who has enjoyed a remarkable career; one which once had him at the forefront of the battle against the HIV pandemic.  Nowadays, you can find Ric Dyer distilling his beautifully crafted gin in a lab in Benburb. It's been an unconventional route for Ric, but his Symphonia Gin is fast becoming a household name in a saturated gin market; his story, like his liqueur, is a unique one.

The casualties of war are often unseen and that's never been more apparent than in poverty-stricken Belarus. The country, tied up with Putin's Russia, is ruled by dictator Alexander Lukashenko and its poorest and most vulnerable citizens are locked away in abysmal conditions in institutions and orphanages out of sight hidden in forests throughout the country. Belarus was the country most affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the fallout continues, as the  children –  who never grew old, watched their children suffer on with illness, disability and poverty. Chernobyl Aid Newry was founded in 1997 to support the  neglected children and families of Belarus. Jacinta Curran was a pharmacist when she happened upon the charity when one of its founders came in for supplies to take to Belarus. Her medical knowledge was requested and she joined Chernobyl Aid Newry in 2001. They work tirelessly helping the Institutions, orphanages and asylums, providing them with whatever they require. Before Covid the charity travelled bi-annually to Belarus with medical and food  supplies, clothing, money and they even built a half-way house – in poignant circumstances -  for a group of men who had been institutionalised since birth. While all of our focus is naturally on the Ukrainian people right now, things have gotten even worse for the poor in Belarus. Any meagre amount of funding these state-run institutions receive will now go to the military for Lukashenko's support for Putin. For this week's podcast Jacinta tells Armagh I just what it's like in the forests of Belarus and all of the work that Chernobyl Aid Newry does to alleviate the suffering. The stories are harrowing but the urgency and genuine distress and love Jacinta feels for these people is palpable when you listen to her speak.  

Half-way up Chequer Hill in Newry sits an unassuming building that around six years ago was just a shell. Since then the space has been transformed into the hub of one of the most successful martial arts clubs in the country, with Northern Irelands TaeKwon-Do Master, Cathal Fegan at the helm. His Dojang training Centre is the epicentre of clubs the fourth Dan Black belt runs – from Dundalk to Silverbridge - with around 200 students of all ages. Cathal has been involved in martial arts since he was five years old and it didn't take him long to discover that TaeKwon-Do was the discipline for him. The walls of the Newry club are covered in pictures of founders, masters and inspirational leaders, alongside words of wisdom in Korean – the country where Tae Kwon Do was born. The Silverbridge man is passionate about spreading his knowledge throughout the community. He found his own way of giving back during the first lockdown by teaching classes to NHS workers and teachers to help with their mental health. Cathal is the current  world and 10-time All-Ireland Champion, and although it took him 10 years, he finally convinced the council to set up free introductory self-defence classes for girls on the back of  Ashling Murphy's tragic murder. Spirituality and building a more peaceful world is at the heart of martial arts. It's about technique and skill rather than physical size. For this week's podcast, Cathal tells Armagh I all about the origins of Tae Kwon-Do, it's place in our society, the success of his club and his students and how he hopes to expand the sport and spread the word.

For this week's podcast, I spoke with Culloville's Kieran Quinn of Co Armagh sporting goods brand 'Playr-Fit'. Kieran, alongside his business partner and friend Steven Burns, from Lurgan, started the brand having worked together for a number of years prior to the launch. It was a punt; a leap of faith that, despite Covid, has produced some serious results since.  A pandemic and an exiling of spectator sport did not stop the in their tracks; in fact, they grew bigger and stronger, against the odds. By chance, the pair brought in Monaghan GAA goalkeeper Rory Beggan, when they weren't planning on hiring...that was the catalyst for further growth. Three years later and a 15-strong team later, there are big plans in the pipeline..   Title music by NEW HORIZONS by Lesion X | https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

There's something magical about discovering the world through the eyes of a child, but capturing that essence is rare. Take two videographers, their adorable two-year-old son, a mic and the video-sharing platform TikTok though, and it's a different story. Dan and Hannah Gillespie wondered what ‘chatterbox' Zeke was saying when out of earshot as he explored the park on family days out, so, while out and about on a holiday, they stuck a mic on him and listened. Zeke's musings were so sweet, his parents decided to share some of those moments with the world, so they posted a video of Zeke at play on TikTok around four months ago and the clip went viral. Since then, the Gillespie family videos have amassed over 7000 followers and over a million hits. As videographers the quality of Dan and Hannah's content reflects that, with beautifully produced videos that their followers can't get enough of. Add five-month-old baby sister Eden and their dog Buddy, who has yet to feature, and you have the Gillespies...  

Spring is around the corner, the restrictions have lifted and there's a sense of optimism in the air. The outdoors beckons and there have never been more opportunities to get moving and start leading a more active life. And it's not exclusive to the young and healthy either. For this week's podcast Armagh I was back in South Lake Leisure centre speaking to Alex Clifford and Aaron McNeill about the ABC council's MUGAS (Multi Use Games  Areas) FREE programmes available across the Borough. The community based grassroots project takes an informal approach to getting people active but it's a whole lot more than that. Alex is the council's Community Sport Development Officer and he explains how MUGAS work and how kids can make use of them in any way they choose, be it for basketball, football, tennis or any activity they feel in the mood for. There are also free coaching programmes in open spaces, community centres, community halls and leisure facilities that include activities such as street soccer, and even a gaming bus to keep those less interested in sport engaged. Aaron is the council's Multi Sports Coach who tells us about the programmes he's involved in such as girls football, coach to 5k, disability programmes and walking football where you can simply come along and join in. While walking football might sound counterintuitive, it's anything but, as Aaron explains. And the community-based project not only serves to get people active, young people who come through the programmes can then get involved in coaching which can be added to a CV or university application and even lead to a career. More information can be found at Community Engagement (MUGAS) www.getactiveabc.com  

Retirement or redundancy can be a lonely place for men, but in 2011 Stiofan McCleirigh got involved in a movement that would change his and many other lives in for the better. The Men's Shed movement began in Australia and it arrived in Ireland in 2009 with the first shed set up in Tipperary. When Stiofan got wind of the concept he excitedly set the wheels in motion to bring one to Armagh. He got the funding in place, found a premises on English Street and began knocking on doors to recruit members. It worked, as Stiofan and fellow Shedder Dessie can attest to, with around 34 members at present enjoying everything the shed has to offer - from woodwork to projects, workshops, and even a choir that performed for Irish President Michael D Higgins, who became patron to the Irish Men's Shed Association in 2013. The grassroots community-based, non-commercial organisation is a lifeline for men who just need a place to call their own, where they can learn new skills and make friends in an environment that isn't the pub or the bookies. There are over 400 sheds registered with the Irish Men's Shed Association and at least 12,000 men visiting a shed every week. Some of those sheds have been inspired by the work that goes on in the Armagh City Men's Shed, as Stiofan and Dessie explain...   

Sometimes when a new concept or innovation is brought to life, you wonder why it hasn't always existed. Football For All is one of those things that really should be far more widespread than it is. The concept that 'every child wants to be part of a team' has become the motto for Warrenpoint GAA's newest Football For All team, which celebrates children with special needs and allows them to participate in games and training with their very own team. Decky and Helen Carville's 12-year-old son Michael has special needs. The family are all members of St Peter's GAA Club in Warrenpoint, but over the years it became increasingly difficult for Michael to participate, on an equal footing, with his teammates. That was when Decky and Helen put their heads together and came across Football For All, which a scattering of clubs nationwide had introduced. There was, and still is, nothing like this for children with special needs in Armagh or Down, but since the couple brought the idea to their chairman and the club welcomed it warmly, Football For All has taken off in Warrenpoint. The children train and even play matches, alongside their peers, every Sunday morning and the joy it brings to them, their families and the volunteers who help out is palpable when Decky and Helen talk about their experiences since they started the programme last July. Helen and Decky spoke to Armagh I for this week's podcast about how Football For All came about in Warrenpoint and their hopes to expand across Northern Ireland and with that maybe set up a small league. MLA Justin McNulty is a big fan and Ulster GAA have taken an interest too. Everyone from anywhere is welcome to join in. The more the merrier.  

So the last shiny wrapper from the countless tins of Quality Street is in the bin and you've sworn off chocolate … till the end of the week at least. However, this week's podcast might change your mind. Nestled near the foot of the Mournes, not far outside Newry, sits a small unassuming factory with a sign at the entrance welcoming you to NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate Makers. If you look around you the scenery is a feast for the eyes, but once you enter building your other senses will awaken as the rich aroma of chocolate fills the air. Here, the fruit of the Neary family's labour of love is brought to life, where their small artisan business produces the most delicious and purest chocolate products you'll find on this island, with their ethically sourced sustainable cacao beans imported from cacao farms around the world NearyNógs is Northern Ireland's first bean to bar craft chocolate makers and also one of the oldest in Ireland. Shane tells us all about how the chocolate is made and the origins of the business which began as a fundraiser in 2011, for one of his and his wife Dorothy's 12 children. Back then Dorothy's fudge was a big hit with their friends and family, and so the dream began... 

While life as we know it has changed drastically in the last few years, some things will always stay the same. For the past 30 years religiously, John Dalzell has spent the weeks preceding Christmas camped out on Hill Street collecting funds for the Souther Area Hospice. There was no exception this year on his eightieth birthday as John stood in his trailer and chatted to the passers by who threw money into his bucket, or those who came down specifically to show their support and wish him a happy birthday.  Over £1.85 million has been raised through the sit-out over the years and John, who has weathered every storm to become a local Christmas legend in the town, tells his story to Armagh I.  Meanwhile, in Rostrevor on Christmas Day the crowds were out as usual for the annual Christmas Swim that has been on the go for 50 years. One of the founders Gerry Sloan tells how it all began in 1972 during a 24-hour anti-internment hunger strike, when Down GAA legend, the late Leo Murphy, popped his head into the protestors' tent and asked if anyone fancied a swim. The organisers raised £100 when they made it an official event a couple of years later and since then the swim has raised over £100,000 for local charities.  Kevin Cole who runs local Rostrevor watering hole Henry's ran into the tide for his thirtieth consecutive Christmas dip this year and he, along with some others, chatted with Armagh I for this week's podcast.  

With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly and vaccine passports becoming mandatory since December 13, restaurants are being hit hard in the run-up to Christmas. Proof of vaccination, a negative Covid-19 test result or proof of natural immunity are now needed for access to restaurants and other indoor venues. Armagh I spoke to a number of local restaurant owners in recent days and all are experiencing increasing cancellations for various Covid-related reasons. Caorlan McAllister and Gavin Bates took over the Halfway House restaurant in Banbridge in August 2020 after it was forced to shut its doors due to the pressures of the pandemic. It's been a difficult year for the hospitality industry since then, with further lockdowns taking their toll. The Halfway House followed strict protocol when Armagh I met Caorlan on Friday for this week's podcast.

Tommy has spent all of his adult life in the fitness industry in one way or another. As an instructor in various Armagh gyms, he now teaches in the South Lake Leisure Centre where his two daughters are regular visitors - as is his wife who runs marathons for fun. He played football for St Paul's and has been part of the management team in Down club Ballyholland for a number of years, but Tommy still finds the time to compete in ironman triathlons and is constantly looking for new challenges. So much so that he signed up for RTE's Special Forces Ultimate Hell Week in 2019. Tommy was on the reserve list and was called up as competitor number 24 – his name throughout the gruelling physical and mental endurance test. As well as all of that, Tommy found the time to take up part-time ambulance driving at the start of the pandemic and volunteer in the community, organising and delivering food parcels. Tommy learned from the school of hard knocks and today he speaks to Armagh I about his upbringing by his late father who inspired him to be the best at what he does, his love of football, Hell Week, as one of the hardest yet rewarding challenges he has ever taken on, and why fitness is for everyone at every age.

Michael Loftus was just 16-years-old when he began his refereeing career. That was over 25 years ago when he played football and hurling in his native Dublin and stepped in to referee sometimes underage games but often standing up to men, a lot older than him. When he married a Bessbrook woman, Michael settled in Mullaghbawn and by then he was an established referee, featuring in games at every level. He may have shared his name with another famous Mayo man, but it was this Mick Loftus whose name even became known in the US, where, after a chance meeting he ended up as the man with the whistle in the biggest GAA tournament in the States. Many of you will know his face, either viewed from a stand in some Armagh club, Ulster or Inter-county game in either code, or from the pitch itself as a player or manager. These days though it's the referees, not the players who Michael is keeping is eye on.

‘The Missing Children' is a documentary about one of the darkest and most shameful episodes in Ireland's history. It's the story of the Tuam mother-and-baby home and much of the tragedy is that the horrific discovery of a hidden burial site in a septic tank on the grounds of the home over seven years ago has still not been properly investigated. The bodies are yet to be exhumed. Sean Donegan's work features heavily in the documentary. The Newry man's photographs and videos often depict derelict buildings dotted around the Irish landscape and some of his most powerful images are of mother-and-baby homes in Castlepollard, Tuam and Marianvale on the Armagh Road (main image).

*This podcast was recorded prior to last weekend's Ulster Rally stage.  As a teenager, I remember thumbing my way across the country with my friends, hoping to catch some stages of the Circuit of Ireland and maybe get a glimpse of our hero Austin McHale. That was some time ago, but Richard Swanston Director of the 2021 Modern Tyres Ulster International Rally, took me right back there. It wasn't that we were die-hard rally fanatics, but anyone who's ever been to any one of the rallies around Ireland or beyond, knows just what a thrill it is to be knee-deep in a watery ditch, near the best bend, with the smell of burning petrol in the air, listening for the roar of the approaching cars and then watching them skid and thunder past in their mud-splattered glory. It was with great pleasure then that I got to speak to Richard ahead of this year's Ulster Rally at HQ in Newry. This year the event was delayed due to government restrictions but Richard says the Northern Ireland Motor Club plan to move the rally back to its late summer slot in 2022. And despite November expected to bring up difficulties in terms of conditions, the weather has been kind, and Richard says there are even some advantages. Since the Ulster Rally is now a one-day event, the traditional Friday night stages couldn't happen in the summer, but with the nights closing in early, the thrill of rallying in the dark happened on Saturday evening. Both the British Rally Championship and the Junior British Rally Championship will be decided at this year's Ulster Rally so that adds some extra spice, with Irish contenders to watch out for out of the 100 plus drivers. And in case you couldn't make the event, for the first time ever the Ulster Rally was streamed live, so it can be viewed globally and at your leisure. Richard tells us all about the lengthy preparations it took to pull off the popular event; the intricacies of rally driving and navigating the stages; the importance of tactics and co-drivers; his winning predictions, favourite courses and his own future as event organiser.

While most of us were munching our way through lockdown, or binging on the Tiger King, Niamh Noade was busy making her mark on the music world. Around this time last year, the 13-year-old Lislea teenager was wowing the judges at TeenStar UK Singing competition, as the only harpist ever to compete in the online show and the only Irish contestant out of the 1000 plus hopefuls. Niamh finished fourth, performing a show-stopping rendition of John Lennon's ‘Imagine' in the final, and as the Showcase winner, the talented St Paul's Bessbrook pupil won the opportunity to record with professionals at AudioHaus Recording Studio in Wembley. Niamh got writing and playing and with the help of her harp teacher Dearbhla Bennett, came up with two originals songs, ‘Missing You,' and ‘Friendships.” She managed to get in a bit of shopping in London but the hard-working singer and musician was focussed on creating something special – and that she did. With the help of Re-Gen Waste Limited, who sponsored the resulting CD, Niamh and her family decided to do something charitable with the fruits of her labour, and given her age Niamh wanted to donate the proceeds raised from the sale of her CD to a children's charity. With increasing waiting lists for children with cancer in the news, The Cancer Fund for Children, became the chosen charity. The CD is being launched on Saturday November 20 at a Classical Cabaret event in Lislea Community Centre.

“We are the Hiking Hens,” sang a group of women as we left the carpark near the Invisible Tree on our way via the river path to Cloughmore Stone last Wednesday evening. That camaraderie and banter epitomised the next hour-and-a -half or so spent with around 20 members of the Hiking Hens. The group, led and established by Fidelma and Maria, meets every Wednesday and Sunday, where they hike various routes and mountains in the Mournes - and a lot of fun is had.

Overnight success usually comes from an awful lot of hard work and for Fiona Flynn and her students that's certainly the case. It may seem like everything the talented soprano touches turns to gold, but behind the scenes at her music school, Flynn Performing Arts, it takes time as well as talent to bring out the best in her students. The waiting list is long to get into the school that Fiona established six years ago – but that's no real surprise. Scrolling through its Facebook page brings up post after post on the terrific achievements by her students, from Feis to TV shows, to stage performances for the school and even some children performing across the water in the West End. For this week's podcast, Fiona tells us all about her journey from the Ulster orchestra to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as she built the career that she loves. She speaks about the hard work that goes into any performance, the pride she feels for her students achievements – big or small, and tells us whether she believes anyone can carry a tune -or not!

You can train, train and train some more. You can prepare everything down to the finest detail, but sometimes the unforeseen happens and sometimes that leads to a near-death experience. That's exactly what happened to ultra-runners Hugh Morgan and Paddy Hamilton in the scorching Sahara Desert earlier this month. It's billed as the ‘toughest foot race on earth' but the Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) became even more so this year. A crippling stomach illness spread like wildfire through the camp at the start of the race and the organisers weren't equipped with enough medical supplies to care for the victims. The seven-day 156- mile event across the dunes, rocky jebels and white-hot salt plains in temperatures that normally reach around 50 degrees is the ultimate test for any athlete, but this year the temperature soared to almost 60 degrees and with illness and heat-related dehydration rampant, the situation became very serious, very fast.

With the world opening up again slowly but surely, how does an evening out at the theatre sound?  I can promise you one thing, should you decide to take a run up to Belfast and pick up a ticket for ‘The Border Game' in the Lyric Theatre, you won't be disappointed.  Certainly if you watching anything that's simultaneously hilarious and deeply tragic and also brilliantly acted.  But you don't have to take my word for it. The reviews are in and the critics agree.  Warrenpoint playwright, director and filmmaker, Oisín Kearney, co-wrote ‘The Border Game' with his writing partner Michael Patrick, after travelling the length of the Irish border and listening to around 100 people tell their stories about how it has impacted on their lives.  The play is based on a compilation of some of those stories. It deals with the issues the two protagonists, Sinead and Henry – played wonderfully by Liz Fitzgibbon and Patrick McBrearty - faced as a young couple, of differing political and religious backgrounds, growing up on the border. 

In 2014, a petition was presented to Stormont with 10,000 signatures gathered from the streets and shops around Armagh, calling for the reinstatement of the local railway line. Two years before that the Portadown Armagh Railway Society (PARS) was established with the same purpose in mind. They also aim to educate the public on the history of the railway line between Armagh and Portadown and the huge impact its disbandment in 1957 has had on the area - not least from a connectivity point of view but also an environmental one, as cars increasingly clog our roadways. For this week's podcast we spoke to Chairman William Hutchinson and Committee member Willie Parr who told us all about the organisation and the progress their campaign has been making.

"I've heard you help people with horse problems," says Kristen Scott Thomas' character in the film ‘The Horse Whisperer,' to which Robert Redford's character replies: “Truth is, I help horses with people problems.” And that pretty much sums up this week's Armagh I podcast guest, Keith Mathews - albeit with a different species of animal. Keith, or, ‘The Dog Guru', as he is most famously known, has worked his magic with our favourite pets for over 25 years. He is one of the most sought after dog trainers and behaviourists in the world – and the Armagh man wouldn't wish for any other career. It all began for Keith in a field at his house where, as a child, he discovered his innate gift for understanding dog behaviour and his ability to train the family dogs.

If you know your Paso Doble from your Foxtrot and winter weekends aren't complete without a glimpse of the coveted glitterball and the tears and triumphs of a dance-off, then you'll be very familiar with Ryan McShane. The Lurgan native is one of the professional dancers on Ireland's Dancing With The Stars since the show began in 2017, where he has taken his celebrity partners through their paces before facing the scrutiny of both judges and viewers alike. For this week's podcast, Ryan spills the beans on how the audition process at Britains Got Talent really works and what it's like behind the scenes on Dancing with the Stars. The talented dancer has had plenty of highs and lows on DWTS. He survived three dance-offs with Erin McGregor – the sister of UFC fighter Conor – more than any other professional in the history of the show. He received three perfect 10s in the final of the first series with actress Denise McCormack. They didn't win but Ryan won the heart of his model girlfriend Thalia Heffernan who was also a contestant. Ryan was also partnered with B*Witched singer Sinead O'Carroll and Mrs Brown's Boys star Eilish O'Carroll, who he says was one of the nicest human beings he has ever met. Ryan fills us in on the secret to getting the best from his students – be they celebrities or kids or adults who teaches ballroom and Latin to. He tells us what his favourite dance is and which is the hardest to learn. Ryan tells us about life in lockdown with Thalia and their two dogs. And what the future holds for them since Thalia signed for IMG – one of the biggest modelling agencies in the world.

The world is a pretty big place, so to be able to say you are one of the fittest women on planet earth in one of the most gruelling competitions in the world, is a claim reserved for the very few - but one that Emma McQuaid can shout from the rooftops. Emma earned her place in the top echelon of the multi-disciplined sports movement, CrossFit, by finishing twelfth in the CrossFit Games held in Wisconsin last month. The 31-year-old Lisburn fitness instructor has dedicated most of her adult life to the sport that she loves and has worked her way up to the highest level possible. To put this achievement in perspective, Emma, who ranks number one CrossFit National Champion of Ireland for the past two years, was just one of over 263,000 athletes from across the globe who took part in the Open qualification for the CrossFit Games this year. That number was whittled down through a series of workouts in the quarter and semi-finals, until just 40 men and 40 women were left in contention for the finals in the USA. One would imagine that Emma would have been training hard and looking forward to the challenge ahead after she qualified, but there were even more hurdles – of a very different kind – to overcome.

You know when you're watching a film in a cinema theatre and you could hear a pin drop from start to finish, that your time is well spent. That's what it felt like at a screening in Belfast of Cathy Brady's debut feature film ‘Wildfire' ahead of its release on September 3. The Newry writer and director won Best Director for ‘Wildfire' at this year's Irish Film and Television Awards and both of her leading actresses Nora-Jane Noone and the late Nika McGuigan were nominated for Best Actress. Nika, who tragically died of cancer in 2019, after the film was made, won the award, accepted on her behalf by her father, boxing legend, Barry McGuigan. The critical success of the film has been a roller-coaster of emotions for Cathy and the rest of the cast and crew. They are excited and delighted that audiences are connecting with the film, yet Nika's absence is sorely felt. At the same time, having had some space to grieve during lockdown – with all red carpet events virtual - they are ready to celebrate the film and to keep Nika's memory alive by allowing her talent and hard work to be recognised. For this week's podcast Cathy took time out of her hectic schedule to chat with Armagh I over zoom and tell us all about the making of the film, the respect and admiration she has for Nora-Jane and Nika and how her own career evolved from fine art to making movies.

Gemma Winchester was born and raised in Singapore until she was 15-years-old and then she moved to Australia – although most of her 15 years there was spent travelling the world by sea or air.  But two things brought the newly-appointed general manager of Armagh Omniplex to our shores - one sad, the other happy.  Gemma's younger brother has Down's Syndrome. He lived with their mother in Bournemouth and because of his condition they discovered he wasn't allowed to move to Australia to join the rest of the family.  Rightly outraged, Gemma decided to leave Oz and move somewhere in the UK so the family could be together. She stuck a pin in a map and it landed on Armagh.  For this week's podcast, Gemma tells us all about her jam-packed life...

Sibling Grief Club was launched in July of this year by three sisters grieving the death of their youngest sibling. Triona McNabb sadly passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in hospital on February 27, 2017.  She left behind a legacy of love, but also a family bereaved and desperate for support as they tried to navigate unchartered waters  Triona's three older sisters, Maeveen, Edel and Cathy quickly discovered that there was little or no support specifically for grieving adult siblings, who are often termed as the ‘forgotten mourners'.  For this week's podcast, Maeveen talks lovingly about her sister Triona and her kind and caring nature. She recalls the debilitating quagmire of feelings she has gone through since Triona's death, and Maeveen tells us all about Sibling Grief Club and how she hopes it helps other people like her and her sisters throughout their grief. 

For this week's Armagh I podcast, we caught up with Jordan Leckey, outside the Discovery Centre in Lough Neagh where he trains regularly with the Lough Neagh Monster Dunkers. He told us all about his epic swim NI to Scotland, from exactly what it felt like the moment he dipped his toe into the water to face the long, gruelling journey ahead, to the perils he had to deal with in the freezing cold water, right to the finish line with the last kilometre feeling like the longest. Jordan says he wanted nothing more than to give up in the first two hours, which he says were the hardest. He persevered however and once his body was numb to the cold and he tricked his mind into thinking about other things, all of his hard work, including building a swimming pool in his back garden to train in, got him to Scotland in record-breaking time. Jordan's support team, including his dad and some members of The Lough Neagh Monster Dunkers and the Infinity Channel Swimming group were immensely supportive. And with the achievement just starting to sink in and the adrenaline still running high they have convinced him to take his time before planning his next challenge – Jordan has plans however…

Supporting Women Newry does just what it says on the tin. The group was set up around six months ago by seven local women, and since then it's gathered an enormous amount of support from the public, health care staff and political parties alike.  The purpose of the group is to, 'provide free access to health care without fear or intimidation'. And yes – they support men too – but given their remit it's most often women who require their help. They came into being on the back of an awareness of a growing number of anti-abortion protesters harassing people who were trying to access services at John Mitchell Place clinic in Newry.  These protestors displayed graphic posters along with disturbing and often frankly untrue banners and signs, protesting and blocking entrances, during the hours when abortion clinics operated - alongside all of the other family services in the clinic.  The Southern Trust moved its services as a result but the protesters – diminished in size but not in voice – followed.  Cara Malone is one of the committee members and founders of Supporting Women Newry and for this week's podcast she explains how and why they operate. 

If you take a spin out to Camlough Lake or Newry swimming pool you might run into this week's podcast guest. You might also read his name on one of the eight books he's written about subjects ranging from local football histories and sporting heroes, the story of the showband era - 'Do You Come Here Often'-  the history of Derrybeg, plus the only book written on triathlons in Ireland, 'The Irish Triathlete'.  His latest book –‘The History of Newry Celtic,' was just launched to a full house in Nan Rice's in Newry. Tony Bagnall, - Journalist, musician and Ironman - knows his stuff about all of the above subjects. He was the first person to compete in an ironman from the Newry area, when he was 38. And he's also the oldest man do complete that mighty feat at the age of 71.  Tony is now 76 but he certainly doesn't look it. He doesn't do much running these days but he cycles or swims on a daily basis – not for the love of it mind you. "People confuse enjoyment with satisfaction," he says. When he's not keeping fit, Tony can usually be found putting pen to paper, or keeping his many Facebook followers entertained with his amusing and informative stories – mostly about the many characters from the area that he's come across over the years. Tony wears many hats. But the former welder, who took to writing in middle age and became Sports Editor of the Newry Democrat, is modest about his many achievements. He says he wasn't a great musician or the best footballer, but he admits that he can write well. Of all of the things the popular man local legend is, Tony is first and foremost a story-teller and for this week's Armagh I podcast, he tells us all about his upbringing in Linen Hall Square as a ‘Barackovian'. He talks about his bands, including the brilliantly named ‘Sons of Rest' and their misadventures, including an ill-fated chance to appear on Hughie Green's ‘Opportunity Knocks', and how drummer Willie Reilly short-changed Newry menswear owner Kevin Russell who kitted the band out with the obligatory showband uniform. He tells us some of the stories in his book on Junior Football, including how referee Mousie Fitzpatrick was sent off by the other referee in the same game, Jim McCardle – it's complicated! And how an insult in Newry is really an underhanded compliment!

If you ask most girls in their early teens who their favourite celebrities are, chances are there'll be at least one TikToker on their list. If you stick your head in their bedroom door on any given evening, you'll probably see them either watching or emulating some TikTok clip from one of the names on their list. And there's a good chance one of the accounts they follow will belong to the Simpson family. If you want to see what the attraction is, go on the App and check out The Simpson family – so called lest they be confused with their famous namesakes. By day Zoe and Eva Simpson are just ordinary schoolgirls attending Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry, but once they exit the school gates and go home, they take on a whole new persona. It's at home where they set up the camera to entertain their almost 1.2 million followers on the most popular social media platform on the planet. It's not that the girls are any different from all of the other teenagers who hang out in their bedrooms and make TikTok videos. Or that the Simpsons are any different from your average family. But on a platform that has countless creators screaming for attention, they seem to have found the secret to success. Mark, Ali and their children Zoe (14), Eva (13) and Ella (8) opened a family account on TikTok just seven months ago and despite being taken down by the social media platform's ‘Bots' twice, their popularity continued to skyrocket and the number of followers they have continues to grow. ‘Relatable content,' is the trick says Mark, who freely admits that he saw a gap in the TikTok market with very few family creators, and decided to tap in at the right time from a business perspective. If anyone knows how to build a successful business , Mark and Ali do. The Mayobridge couple are Directors of the hugely successful SMS Platinum Group who own Air-tastic, Funky Monkeys and Captain Greens. Both are accountants and Mark says that it takes a lot of hard work and planning to make money from what from the outside looks like just a bit of fun. The Simpsons' content is refreshingly charming - funny, silly videos and situations any parent or teenager can relate to. Each of the family members has a role to play. Eva is the actress, Zoe the editor, Mark and Ali do the analytical research and some content and Ella is in some of the videos with mum and dad -but mostly just looks adorable. Mark says it's the girls who make it work and that himself and Ali stand behind them, making the occasional appearances in some of the videos. But there's a practical reason for that too. The girls can't have their own account and go live until they're 16 and going live helps to boost your following. For this week's podcast, Armagh I sat down with the Simpson family and they revealed the secrets behind their success. They spoke about how their TikTok journey began, how they discover the best content, how they learned what works and what doesn't, what being a household name means for the girls at school and where it all goes from here.

Seb has created an exhibition, both clever and imaginative, but also at times seemingly at odds with the innocence of toys. Upstairs in the gallery, a darker space awaits, with toys represented in wartime scenarios with recreations of iconic photographs and movie scenes from black and white D-Day battle scenes, moving to colour with the Vietnam War and the Middle Eastern conflicts. In his final year at the University of Ulster in 2014 studying Interactive Media Arts, Seb focussed on War Photography. Frank Capa, Roger Fenton and Matthew Brady became major influences on his work – particularly how their photographs were used as propaganda tools.

Heather Alexander and Courtney Allison are Education Officers at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP), and their knowledge and enthusiasm for the job is infectious. Imparting that knowledge and encouraging children to pursue a career in science and space exploration is part of their job, and it's one that the pair are very good at. The AOP has been in existence since 1790 as an observatory before it expanded to become a planetarium in 1968. Heather explains the history behind its origins and the work that goes on at the AOP, which has had a complete upheaval during lockdown, with a brand new sensory room, a brand new theatre experience and an interactive exhibition – which is both Heather and Courtney's favourite place to play. Heather is the history buff, keenly aware of the historical achievements in the AOP – not least the third director Thomas Romney Robinson who invented the Cup Anemometer in 1846 – a device that measures wind speeds which was used all over the world. Courtney is tasked with telling the weird and wonderful stories of our universe – including that of Black Holes, Strange Matter, Strangelets and Quarks – which ultimately – without any warning - could destroy the earth forever in a matter of hours. There's no point in worrying about that though – they both agree. Saturn is Courtney's favourite planet, Heather's is Mars - while we all feel sorry for Pluto which was demoted to a dwarf star in 2006. Interstellar and Star Trek give a fairly accurate depiction of space – while Armageddon does not – ‘you never blow up things in space.' We talk about all of the above and a whole lot more, as Heather and Courtney delight in welcoming the public back to the planetarium, which has relaunched and opened its doors for a summer of fun.

Stuart Neville's novels have come a long way from his native Armagh to bookshelves across the globe, but his stories remain very much rooted in home. His stellar career began with a manuscript at a John Connolly book reading in Dublin, handed to the established author by the aspiring crime writer, who had a publishing deal, but no readership as yet. That would soon change. “One of the finest thriller debuts of the last ten years,” Connolly wrote on the flyleaf of Neville's finished product after it was published in 2009. ‘The Ghosts of Belfast' was the original title. Perfect for an American audience. It became ‘The Twelve' for the home crowd – something that doesn't sit well with Stuart – but more on that anon. The plaudits continued, with the book winning the Los Angeles Times, Mystery/Thriller category Book Prize, and a host of other awards. It was named top crime novel of the year in the New York Times and the LA Times and received glowing reviews in numerous other publications, from the Boston Globe and The Irish Times, The Guardian – to name but a few. “The best first novel I've read in years. It grabs you by the throat,” wrote James Ellroy on the back cover. Nine successful novels followed, with Stuart's unique post-troubles take on Northern Ireland as the backdrop for most of his stories. Gerry Fegan, Jack Lennon, DCI Serena Flanagan became household names. The landscape he paints is unapologetically true to the character and personality of the land. The inhabitants – from the seedy, the downtrodden, the opportunists, the evil and the innocents - get on with life as best they can. Ghosts roam the pages. Stuart's novels are often bleak. Desperation, domestic violence and gruesome murders are the subject matter of his gritty crime noir tales. The ghosts both metaphorical, real or imagined are always there, but at the core of his stories are people trying to survive in whatever world they inhabit. ‘The Traveller and other stories', containing 12, often harrowing, short stories and a novella revisiting characters from the past, is a perfect example of this. His latest novel ‘The House of Ashes' is already receiving five-star ratings, with one reviewer saying it may well be his masterpiece. Stuart isn't just a writer. He has dabbled in film and he's also a guitarist in a band that originally began as a laugh at a crime writer's festival in New Orleans called, ‘Fun Lovin' Crime Writers'. Their tagline -‘Murdering songs for fun.' For this week's podcast, Stuart tells Armagh I about his writing style and roots. He talks about his books, his influences, why he feels the arts are neglected in Northern Ireland and how his band ended up playing at Glastonbury in 2019.

For this week's podcast, Armagh I spoke to Joseph Doherty about the evolution of Re-Gen and the different components of the business. He speaks about ‘the good, the bad and the ugly' when it comes to the human aspect of recycling; what it's like working closely with his family, and the expertise and drive within the entire team that makes for a successful business. He talks about new innovations in the pipeline and what's next for Re-Gen.