Creative Souls of Clare

Dora is a force of nature. She's a singer, songwriter, musician and dancer living in Lahinch. Dora moved to Ireland from Poland as a teenager and she shares some of her journey around this in what is a very rich conversation which includes her views on why authenticity is so important to Dora in her journey. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as an audio podcast on main platforms www.pod.link/creativesouls and also as a video podcast on YouTube at https://youtu.be/OGV66VY1APERuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

David is a singer-songwriter from Shannon who oozes music and musicality. He has 5 studio albums to his name and he also has a rich and fascinating background in bringing music into youth and community settings, including care homes. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video podcast on YouTube at https://youtu.be/h831HLYJAkURuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Nóirin is a singer and songwriter living in Spanish Point on the west coast of Clare. Nóirin is deeply immersed in the Irish folk tradition and has two albums out in the world. She's also a great community person and as you'll hear now, works hard to help create spaces for people to come together to connect with each other, and with themselves. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available to watch as a video on YouTube https://youtu.be/1sqQjJ9WGYwRuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Originally from Kildare, Miltown Malbay-based Pat is a stalwart of the music scene around Clare, especially North West Clare. He is the co-founder of Anam Music, which hosts great intimate gigs for music lovers and he also runs Pat Ryan Music Services which helps artists with a range of administrative and operational supports. Pat has also recently ventured into the world of songwriting and he has a lot to say about his love for music and the importance of music in our lives.  This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video version on YouTube https://youtu.be/gMP7mD0FSzcRuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Ennis-based Deirdre is a writer of poetry, prose and songs. Deirdre has been published extensively and has a very strong and clear voice on social issues. She's had a fascinating journey along the way including 2 years in a Buddhist Monastery in LA. We talk about this and so much more in this fascinating chat. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video podcast on YouTube https://youtu.be/IGEzUiPC6ZARuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Based near Inagh Harrison is a Co-Founder of Common Knowledge, a new non-profit organisation that is making waves. Common Knowledge focuses on sharing skills for a sustainable life. Originally from Australia, Harrison has worked all over the world and is particularly focused on how building and construction creates and nourishes not just houses, but homes, communities, lives, and relationships. He has a bestselling book called Build Your Own and he also has a new TV show hitting our screens. Harrison Gardner on the Creative Souls of Clare podcast with Ruairí McKiernan. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video version at https://youtu.be/x8f_Ekk5xlARuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Originally from California, Tara is a writer living and working in north Clare, a place she truly loves. Writing has always been a great passion of Tara's, something that helps her explore her emotional world and the world around her. In this episode, she shares with me how after considerable challenges in her youth she ended up joining the US military at the time of the Iraq war. She talks openly about some of what she has been through and how County Clare has been a huge part of her journey to healing, transformation and creativity. Tara is currently working on a memoir and publishes at www.TaraDarleneSmith.com. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video on YouTube https://youtu.be/Y5qXjRlHmgkRuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Matthew is an Australian-Irish ex-indie rocker, improviser, composer, thinker and performer. Originally from Brisbane and now living in East Clare, he's particularly well known for his devotion to Indian classical music which he brings to a range of disciplines including Irish traditional music, free improvisation and electroacoustic music. Matthew is also a scholar with a PhD and recently took up the role of Director of the World Music programme at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. This podcast is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and is also available as a video version on YouTube at https://youtu.be/DIE6g9vab7IRuairí McKiernan Website | E-newsletter | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Book | Patron | Love and Courage Podcast | Creative Souls of Clare Podcast |

Ceara Conway is an Irish Contemporary Vocalist and Visual Artist based in the Courthouse Studios in Ennistymon. She also works with the Clare Arts Office as a coordinator ( Arts and Disability and Artists in Schools ) and also as Creative Associate with the Arts Council. So plenty to discuss when it comes to art, culture and creativity in the banner county. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks to Creative Ireland Clare and Clare Co Co for support. Audio version, Spotify, Apple etc: www.pod.link/creativesouls YouTube https://youtu.be/IpXCTxCTFvQ

Ruth Marshall in conversation with Ruairí McKiernan. Ruth is a poet, author, storyteller and crafter living in East Clare. Originally from Scotland, Ruth is passionate weaver between the worlds of arts, culture and heritage. She's the author of Celebrating Irish Festivals about the traditional Irish seasonal festivals, Clare folk tales and Limerick folk tales and her first book of poetry is making its way towards publication. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks to Creative Ireland Clare and Clare Co Co for support. Audio version, Spotify, Apple etc: www.pod.link/creativesouls  YouTube https://youtu.be/uhhNDoTWm4c

Aisling Drennan on Creative Souls of Clare podcast with Ruairí McKiernan. Aisling Drennan is an award-winning abstract artist from Lisdoonvarna who has been blazing a trail in the London art world for several years. Before focusing entirely on her art, Aisling toured the world as a dancer for Riverdance. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks to Creative Ireland Clare and Clare Co Co for support. Audio version, Spotify, Apple etc: www.pod.link/creativesouls YouTube https://youtu.be/SOQQS3x4ok0

Miltown-Malbay singer-songwriter Shona Blake on Creative Souls of Clare podcast (audio/video). Shona's debut album is called Explore and is well worth checking out and her next album, A Woman Knows, is out very soon. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks to Creative Ireland Clare and Clare Co Co for support. Audio version, Spotify, Apple etc: www.pod.link/creativesouls YouTube: https://youtu.be/l_ddtDb4k7M

Ken O'Sullivan with Ruairí McKiernan on Creative Souls of Clare podcast. Ken is a highly respected documentary film maker and author originally from Ennis and now living in Lahinch. Ken's excellent memoir is Stories from the Deep: Reflections on a Life Exploring Ireland's North Atlantic Waters. He is also the co-founder of Sea Fever Productions, which has made numerous acclaimed TV productions including The Silver Branch, which I highly recommend. Ken is also a talented musician and we get talking a bit about music as part of this wide ranging conversation. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks to Creative Ireland Clare and Clare Co Co for support. Audio version, Spotify, Apple etc: www.pod.link/creativesouls YouTube: https://youtu.be/F2v6D9_yc3U

Mark O'Halloran is a multi-award winning writer and actor originally from Ennis, Co Clare. Mark has worked with all the major theatres in Ireland and is well known for his acclaimed films Adam and Paul, Garage, and Rialto as well as lots of other great work on stage and screen. Creative Souls of Clare is supported by Creative Ireland Clare and Clare County Council. All subscribes, shares and support appreciated. Video version also available on http://www.Facebook.com/hopehitching/videos and YouTube https://youtu.be/2Xrq_brmK7M

Sydney-based Miltown Malbay born poet Anne Casey on great new episode of the Creative Souls of Clare #podcast. Video versions + audio on all main podcast platforms www.pod.link/creativesouls & more coming soon. Anne is a multi award-winning poet and writer and a former journalist, magazine editor, and media communications director. She is the author of three acclaimed books of poetry published by the wonderful Ennistymon-based Salmon poetry, including the Light We Cannot See which came out in 2021. Well worth checking out this conversation & stayed tune for more podcast episodes and check out the archives. Shares, ratings, reviews appreciated. Thanks Creative Ireland Clare and Clare Co Co for support. Audio version, Spotify, Apple etc: www.pod.link/creativesouls YouTube https://youtu.be/kyz6AVDNSz8

Enda Gallery is a songwriter, multi-intrumentalist musician and respected producer living near Kilfenora, Co Clare. He also spends a lot of his time in Berlin. Enda's acclaimed debut album is titled The Journey to Zero and it's well worth checking out, as are his collaborations and productions with numerous other artists. Find the video version of this episode on YouTube and Facebook. Look up Creative Souls of Clare podcast. With thanks to Creative Ireland Clare and Clare CoCo Community Support Scheme, and to all listeners. Also check out Ruairí McKiernan's Love and Courage podcast. 

Tony Griffin is a writer, speaker, co-founder of the Soar Foundation which does amazing youth empowerment work throughout Ireland, and he’s a former sports star who played hurling for his native County Clare and he is the recipient of a prestigious all-star award. I talk to Tony on the day his new book The Teenagers Book of Life is released into the world and we explore his own childhood and youth, his days playing for Clare, his charity cycle across Canada, his views on what it means to live a good life, and so much more. Video version of this conversation available on YouTube. 

Playwright, Actor and Drama Therapist Jacinta Sheerin on the Creative Souls of Clare Podcast. On all audio platforms http://pod.link/creativesouls & video at YouTube: https://youtu.be/9eJyabidqGg Thanks to Creative Ireland for support.

Myriam Riand is a Visual Artist from Ennistymon who grew up in France. You can watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube at https://youtu.be/EXHkxISt-ew or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hopehitching/videos Thanks to Creative Ireland for support.

Katie Theasby is a singer, songwriter and musician from Kilfenora.  You can find the video version of the episode by searching Creative Souls of Clare on YouTube or on the Hitching for Hope Facebook page. Thanks to Creative Ireland for support.

Darragh McKeon is a writer and former theatre director originally from County Offaly who now lives near Miltown Malbay. His acclaimed debut novel All That is Solid Melts Into Air uses the Chernobyl disaster as a backdrop and chronicles the collapse and ultimate end of the Soviet Union. At the time of recording Darragh is just about to complete his second novel.  We have a wide-ranging conversation about his early influences, and his experiences in Dublin, Chicago, Letterfrack, London, New York and more recently in County Clare. You can find the video version of the episode online by searching Creative Souls of Clare on YouTube or on the Hitching for Hope Facebook page, just look me up under Ruairi McKiernan – Hitching for Hope. Thanks to Creative Ireland for support.  

Grace Wells, a Writer, poet, gardener, re-wilder, mother, yoga teacher. Her debut children’s novel Gyrfalcon (O’Brien Press, 2002), which won the Eilís Dillon Best Newcomer Award and was an International White Ravens Choice. Her debut poetry collection When God has been Called Away to Greater Things (Dedalus Press, 2010), won the Rupert and Eithne Strong Best First Collection Award, and was shortlisted for the London Festival Fringe New Poetry Award.  Her second poetry collection Fur (Dedalus Press, 2015), moved more deeply into eco-poetics. Fur was lauded as ‘a book that enlarges the possibilities of poetry’, and her poem Otter was Highly Commended by the Forward Prize. She reviews Irish poetry for a wide range of journals, and for the past twenty years has taught and mentored a generation of emerging writers, ceaselessly encouraging creativity and expression. In 2018 Grace moved to County Clare, which has informed her work with a coastal, marine light. She is currently working on her third collection of poetry, Home, a meditation on belonging within culture, body, self, and nature in our era of ecological crisis. The poems are accompanied by a sequence of eco-poetry-films, Wells’ Home Movies.

Tommy Hayes is known as one of the world’s greatest ever bodhrán players and has been at the forefront of traditional Irish music for over 30 years. He has been a member of legendary groups Stockton's Wing, Puck Fair, Altan and Liam O’Flynn and the Pipers Call Band. He was the original percussionist for Riverdance and has performed on hundreds of albums as well as in numerous films including the Titanic, the Devils Own, and in the Name of the Father. Tommy is currently a member of the duo An Tara alongside Matthew Noone and he is also well known as a founding member of Irish Seed Savers, which was started by his wife Anita Hayes. Tommy has also been a practicing art therapist for many years, something you’ll learn more about soon.   Episode also available as a video episode. See: https://youtu.be/7T2Mr_wWjmw   With thanks to Creative Ireland for support  

My guest in this episode is Sara Foust, a US-born artist who grew up in the American deep south, and who has ended up living and working in Ennistymon where she has a studio gallery. I spoke with Sara over Zoom and I found it fascinating to hear the stories of her unique upbringing, her time in San Francisco, her experiences working with prisoners, and her incredible love for the landscape of County Clare.

Ann is a singer, songwriter and musician from Miltown Malbay. She is from a well-known musical family and is also an inspirational community stalwart.