Love and Courage

Martin Hayes is a world-renowned Irish fiddler from Feakle in east Clare, a place steeped in music and tradition. Martin is well known for his distinctive and soulful style of playing that blends traditional Irish music with innovative contemporary interpretations. He's an iconic figure in Irish music. From his early years winning multiple All-Ireland Fiddle Championships to his celebrated work with the late Dennis Cahill and The Gloaming, Martin is a man who brings great depth, expression and beauty to all that he does. It was a joy to have this chat with him and to hear about his early influences, his years in the US, his thoughts on mediation, music and culture, and his new life in Spain. This episode is also part of my Creative Souls of Clare podcast series, where you can find lots of great conversations with some of County Clare's leading creative lights. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

Adi Roche is the Founder and voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI). Adi is a globally recognized humanitarian and activist who has dedicated nearly 50 years of her life to advocating for peace, social justice, and environmental causes. A native of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Adi's commitment to helping others was ignited at a young age, inspired by her family's dedication to social justice.She began her journey as a passionate advocate for nuclear disarmament in the 1970s, leaving her job at Aer Lingus to work full-time with the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Her activism took a transformative turn in 1986, following the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Moved by the plight of the children suffering from the aftermath, she went on to found Chernobyl Children International. Under her leadership, CCI has delivered over €108 million in aid and imacted the lives of thousands across Belarus, Ukraine, and Western Russia. This work has included innovative programs like the Rest and Recuperation Program, which has provided sanctuary to over 26,500 children,In addition to her humanitarian work, Adi is a prolific writer and documentary producer. She's written 2 books and worked on numerous documentaries including working on the Chernobyl Heart documentary and consulting on the acclaimed HBO/Sky Chernobyl series .Her advocacy has also reached the halls of the United Nations, where she has addressed the General Assembly and played a pivotal role in establishing the United Nations International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honorary doctorates, including Irish Person of the Year and European Person of the Year.Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

Lee Keylock is the Director of Global Programs with Narrative 4. Originally from England, Lee has lived in the US for over 30 years. He is a former night club manager turned high school teacher who has a lot to say about social division and why we need to talk about empathy and human connection. A major turning point in Lee's life was his experience working as a teacher in Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut at the time of the 2012 mass school shooting in which 26 people were shot and killed, 20 of whom were children aged between 6 and 7 years old. The other six were adult staff members. This was a major turning point for Lee that sparked a remarkable journey which eventually led him to become one of the founding figures behind Narrative 4. Lee is recognized internationally as an inspirational leader in championing understanding, education and conversations that have the power to heal and transform our fractured world. www.narrative4.ie and www.narrative4.com Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

Dubliner Mary Lawlor is a veteran human rights champion with a fascinating backstory, including a stint in her youth selling encyclopaedias in Canada. After a meeting with Amnesty International co-founder Sean MacBride, Mary got involved in the early days of Amnesty International Ireland, becoming one of their first volunteers while she was running a Montessori school. She served as a board member for several years, including as Chairperson, before serving as the Director of the organization for 12 years. In 2001 Mary founded Frontline Defenders, an internationally respected organisation that supports the security and protection needs of human rights defenders at risk worldwide. In 2015, Mary was appointed Adjunct Professor in the School of Business Trinity College Dublin, and in 2020 she was named the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the French government's National Order of the Legion of Honour and an honorary doctorate of Laws from Trinity College Dublin. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

My guest in this podcast is John Evoy. John is someone I've connected with at different times in the past due through my work in the community. I've always found him to be a deep thinker with a big heart. John lives in County Wexford, Ireland, and works as the General Manager of Grow Remote Ireland. He previously worked with social innovation funding body Rethink Ireland, and before that, he was the founder of the Irish Men's Sheds movement. In this conversation, we talk about his work as well as his rural upbringing, bereavement, the importance of community, the challenges of addiction, the benefits of counselling, men's mental health, and lots more. Thanks to Love and Courage podcast patrons for your support. 

Áine Tyrell is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician who grew up in counties Galway and Clare. She's been living in Australia for over a decade now where she has toured extensively and developed a reputation as a fiercely grassroots and independent artist who is a powerhouse live performer and I highly recommend going to see if you get a chance. Áine's music connects with so many aspects of our humanity, heartache, loss and suffering, and also resilience, hope, recovery, survival, and overcoming. Aine also courageously shares about her experiences as a single mother, dealing with abuse and gender-based violence and she's an advocate on these and so many issues including Indigenous rights and solidarity with the people of Palestine. She's also an important voice for women in music and the challenges of existing and thriving as an independent artist in today's world. We talk about these issues and more in this conversation which is part of my Creative Souls of Clare podcast series, supported by Creative Ireland Clare.  

Ann Marie Flanagan is a disabled human rights activist from County Clare in the west of Ireland. Growing up in a tight-knit, supportive community, she says attitudes towards her physical impairment were generally inclusive. However, that changed when Ann Marie hit the age of 12 and entered secondary school. She says the environment was hostile and exclusionary. Despite the challenges, she went on to flourish, completing an IT degree and getting involved in student activism. She has also completed a Master's in partnership studies and public administration and an advanced diploma in human services management. She has trained as a family systems and person-centred therapist and is completing a Master's in international and comparative disability law and policy at Galway University. Ann Marie is known for her work in co-founding Disabled People of Clare. Her activism and interests have taken her all over the world, including spending time in Ethiopia at the Centre for Independent Living. She is very much tuned into the importance of politics to create change, having run for local elections twice and been nominated as a candidate for the Irish senate, the Seanad, in 2020. Recently, she has been focused on leading research, co-writing, and editing the publication "We Are Human Too," alongside spearheading the "Equality Not Care" referendum campaign. Ann Marie is married to Derek and is a proud mother to 12-year-old Robert. She's also a former self-described ‘wild child' who has enjoyed her fair share of raves and parties, and while she works hard, she believes passionately in enjoying life too. Thanks to all podcast patrons and supporters for spreading the word. Chip in here to support www.loveandcourage.org

John Seed is a 78-year-old world-renowned Australian environmental educator, author, activist, artist and filmmaker. A recipient of the Australian government's Order of Australia medal, John is the founder and director of the Rainforest Information Centre and, since 1979, has been involved in 100s of campaigns and education initiatives that have protected remaining rainforests and helped humanity rethink our relationship with nature. John and his family first came to Australia as Jewish refugees who experienced incredible hardship and devastating loss during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. They went on to create a new life in Australia, where John's mother, Judy Cassab, went on to become one of Australia's most celebrated painters.  John also has an artistic flair, and he and his mother had an exhibition together during the final years of Judy's life. John has had a fascinating and adventurous path in life.After a short career in computing with IBM, John joined the hippy trail, travelling overland through Afghanistan and onto India, where he studied meditation before arriving back in Australia and co-founding an intentional community in Bundjalung Country,  and the Northern Rivers ‘rainbow region' of Northern NSW at Bodhi farm, which still exists to this day. It was here that John found his true calling, or it found him. As you're about to hear, at the time, outside of Indigenous culture, there was little respect or appreciation for the value of rainforests, and they were being destroyed at an alarming rate. John joined locals in blockading the site at Terania Creek and said the experience at the time was as if nature was speaking to him. The protesters succeeded, and John went on to found the Rainforest Information Centre, a pioneering global organisation that has been instrumental in rainforest protection and conversation throughout Latin America, Cambodia, India, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the South Pacific. His work also helped initiate the creation of the US Rainforest Action Network.John has written and lectured extensively on the concept of deep ecology. With Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming and Professor Arne Naess, he wrote "Thinking Like a Mountain - Towards a Council of All Beings" which has been translated into 12 languages including Korean and Tibetan.In 1987 he co-produced a television documentary, "EARTH FIRST!" for Australian national television about the struggle for the rainforests. In 2003 he spearheaded RIC's endangered species campaign and made the film "On The Brink" with David Attenborough, David Suzuki, Olivia Newton-John and Jack Thompson. You can find that via the Rainforest Information Centre online, as well as lots of other great videos, including one of John in conversation with Ram Dass in 1992.In 2021 – after an arduous and prolonged struggle with life-threatening cancer, John got back in the saddle and jumped straight into action. Some of his campaigning at this time helped lead to Ecuador's Constitutional Court ruling that mining in the Los Cedros Protected Forest is a violation of the constitutional rights of nature and is therefore prohibited in the forest. This has created an important national and worldwide precedent.More recently, John was involved in the Rising Tide blockade of coal ships leaving the world's Largest Coal Port in Newcastle, NSW. 3000 protesters gathered, and John was one of over 100 people in Kayaks arrested as part of a collective stand against Australia's continued investment in fossil fuels.   I should add that John is also an accomplished songwriter and has produced 5 albums of environmental songs, as well as numerous other environmental films. 

Tim Costello is one of Australia's most well-known and respected community leaders. In recent times he was voted one of Australia's 100 national living treasures. A recipient of Victorian of the Year and Victoria's Australian of the Year accolades, as well as an Officer of the Order of Australia, he is an influential leader on a range of social issues, including the huge harm caused by the scourge of gambling in Australia.Tim is a previous longtime CEO of World Vision Australia and has helped lead the response to some of the greatest humanitarian disasters of recent times, including the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. A former Lawyer, Tim is a man with many hats. He's the Director of Ethical Voice, Executive Director of Micah Australia, Chair of the Community Council of Australia, Senior Fellow for the Centre for Public Christianity, and Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform. He is also the Chief Advocate of the Thriving Communities Partnership and Patron of the National Youth Commission. He's also the author of several books, including his excellent memoir, A Lot with a Little, which I highly recommend. I particularly enjoyed the section of that book that describes Tim and his wife Merridie's journey in building a congregation at St Kilda Baptist Church and an accompanying drop-in centre and outreach program. It was from here that Tim's advocacy grew and he later went on to become the Mayor of St Kilda, where he developed a reputation as an outspoken social and political voice for change, a voice that is very much a voice of love and courage. 

This episode features a conversation with Cork man Don O'Leary. Don is the Director of the Cork Life Centre, which is a voluntary organization established over 20 years ago to offer an alternative learning environment to young people aged 12-18 who have not thrived or coped in a mainstream educational setting. I have visited the centre as a guest speaker in the past and witnessed first-hand the loving and creative environment in which young people can flourish. The centre has struggled to receive state support and recognition and the first few minutes of the podcast include some updates and insights from Don concerning the battle to stay open in recent months despite the centre winning widespread acclaim, and being the feature of a major TV documentary, among other accolades, which has included Don receiving an honorary doctorate from University College Cork. There's lots more in this conversation including Don's reflections on a lifetime of youth and community work and social activism, his thoughts on the recent tribute concert for him by folk music legend and previous podcast guest Christy Moore, and lots on his critiques of social, economic and education inequalities. Don also shares openly about his experience of living with a terminal illness and how he has responded to that challenge with great grace, strength and dignity.There's so much we didn't get to talk about including his overland visit to Ukraine as part of an Irish community fundraising and war relief effort. At the heart of the conversation is a passionate appeal for greater care, support, love and investment in children and young people, especially those that are on the margins. 

Wallis Bird is one of my favourite artists and perhaps my favourite all-time performer. Originally from Wexford Ireland, Wallis has been based in Berlin Germany for over a decade. She has 7 albums to her name including her latest called Hands, which is in many ways is a celebration of uniqueness and difference. The origin story goes back to when Wallis was 18 months old 5 of her fingers were severed in a lawnmower accident. 4 were sown back on meaning she ended up losing one and from then on was forced to do things differently to many people, including how she learned to play the guitar. And for anyone that has seen her play, she truly is a force of nature. 

My guest in this episode I Michael Barron. Michael is a well-known Irish human rights activist originally from rural Co Kilkenny where he grew up as a young gay man dancing to Madonna while many of the other boys focused on hurling and sports. He shares some fascinating stories and insights from that time in his life and his coming of age in Dublin and New York. Michael is currently working as the Executive Director of the Rowan Trust, which is an important independent foundation that funds important social movements, campaigns and initiatives. Since the 1990s Michael has worked with communities pushed to the margins - as a front-line youth and community worker, an executive director of a number of national organisations, a researcher, a grantmaker and a campaigner. As well as being an activist, hes also a great thinker and a bit of a scholar – he has a PhD in the social sciences and he tells me he's also working on a book.   I first met Michael when he was working as the founder and Executive Director of the BeLonG To, a pioneering LGBTI+ organisation that does amazing work with young people in Ireland. Michael went on to play a leading role in the Marriage Equality referendum he also headed up a campaign to remove the so-called Catholic baptism barrier from Irish public schools in 2018 - both major milestones in our recent history. As you'll hear now, Michael doesn't shy away from taking on important issues such as the separation of church and state, Trans rights, and the rise of the far right. We also reflect a lot in this on our shared experiences of working in the non-profit sector, some of the trials and tribulations, and the importance of authenticity, creativity, and self-care.

Eugene O'Brien is a  playwright, screenwriter, and former actor originally from County Offaly in the Irish midlands. He has written for the stage, screen and radio. His work includes the critically acclaimed TV drama Pure Mule, winner of five IFTA Awards, and which, according to the Irish Times, ‘spectacularly raised the bar for Irish TV drama'. The show was inspired by his play Eden, which debuted at the Abbey Theatre and has since played the West End and Off-Broadway. At the time of recording, Eugene is on the cusp of a creative wave with a new play called Heaven, a film called Tarrac, and a new book, his first novel, which is called Going Back.  Eugene is someone hugely dedicated to his craft and to the role of the artist in exploring ideas and understanding in society and we cover this and so much more in this conversation.

My friend Grace Dyas is still relatively young but she's already something of an Irish legend. Grace is an artist, activist, writer, director, producer, and performer. Originally from south inner-city Dublin, she now lives on the Inis Oirr, one of the beautiful Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway. Grace has an incredible portfolio of work and award-winning achievements to her name. She has created films, plays, live performances and large-scale projects with people who had never done art before. She has made art about all facets of addiction, and topics such as sex work, social housing, political conflict and corruption, abortion, and the legacy of Church and State abuse in Ireland, mostly with survivors of Magdalene Laundries. Grace writes on her website, “I make art because I know it changes lives for the better”. We're going to dive into some of these areas and more in this rich conversation. We also talk a good bit about emotional health and some of the challenges Grace has been through and I want to say if you find yourself in need of help or support, please do reach out to a friend, a GP, a relevant helpline, or support service in whatever country you are in. It's also important that we look out for each other these days when so many people are under pressure.

I'm delighted to welcome John Connell back to the podcast. This is his second time on the podcast and it was great to catch-up with him. John is a multi award winning bestselling author, journalist, producer and farmer. He writes a weekly column for the Irish Independent newspaper and lives and works in Longford in the Irish midlands. His newest book is called the Stream of Everything and it's a bestseller, as were his previous 2 books – The Running Book and the Cow Book. John is a deep thinking man with plenty of insightful stories and reflections to share and I'd also encourage you to check out the previous episode with John from September 2020.

Kindred Motes is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur and an inspirational voice for change from working-class, rural Alabama in the southern United States. After approximately a decade working with some of the world's leading social justice organizations, Kindred recently established the Washington DC based KM Strategies Group to support organizations working for social impact and positive change.   I first encountered Kindred when he was working with Wallace Global Fund and I was struck by his intellect, passion, and drive, and his deep commitment to change on many issues such as LGBTQI+ rights, which has been informed by his own experiences growing up gay in the Deep South. Kindred is also passionate about mental health supports, immigration reform, democracy, participation, and amplifying citizen voices in general. He also has a lot to say on the topic of burnout and wellbeing, and how we can create healthier and more appealing workplace cultures.

Noeline Blackwell is the CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Noeline has worked for several decades as a solicitor and previously as Director General of FLAC, the Free Legal Advice Centres, She's a powerful voice for change in so many areas of society, not least sexual violence.   Website E-newsletter |  Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Book Patron Love and Courage Podcast Creative Souls of Clare Podcast | My No.1 bestselling book available direct or from main retailers. Info  'Hitching for Hope - a Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland'

My guest is this episode is someone I'm been keen to talk to for white a white. Tara Flynn is much loved Irish actor and writer and is well known for her leadership in the campaign to repeal the 8th amendment in Ireland, as well as her various books, articles and creative productions. Tara is the co-host of a popular BBC podcast called Now You're Asking with Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn, something to add to your podcast radar if you haven't come across it yet. 

Johann Hari is well known as the author of international bestsellers Chasing the Scream about the failure of the so-called war on drugs and Lost Connections, which explores depression, anxiety and the importance of social connection in our lives. Lost Connections was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association. Johann's latest book Stolen Focus ‘why you can't pay attention' uncovers the reasons behind our shortening attention spans and how we can start to reclaim our focus, our minds, and our humanity. The book is creating a huge stir globally and has attracted praise from reviewers and people such as Eve Ensler, Stephen Fry, Susan Cain, Emma Thompson, and Gabor Mate. Johann has had tens of millions views of his two TED talks  ‘Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong' and ‘This Could Be Why You Are Depressed or Anxious'. He is also an award-winning journalist and he has written over the past decade for some of the world's leading newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, the Spectator, Le Monde, the Melbourne Age, and Politico. He is a regular panellist on HBO's Realtime With Bill Maher. I first met Johann back in November 2018 in Dublin when he was on tour with Lost Connections. You can listen to my conversation with him in the archives of this podcast so consider that as a listen for after you listen to this one. It was great to talk to Johann again recently and I was really struck by his clarity of thought and his passion for change is one of the most important issues of our time. I'd encourage you to give this episode your full attention, and indeed your full focus, and please share this episode far and wide. Also please consider rating and reviewing the Love and Courage podcast, subscribing through your app to receive updates, and chipping in as a once off or monthly patron at LoveandCourage.org. You support helps me bring important voices like Johann's to the world.

Keith Walsh is a popular writer and broadcaster. Keith is also the host of the popular Keith Walsh podcast and at the time of recording he had just completed a tour of his debut play, titled Pure Mental, which you'll hear about shortly.  We also get talking Keith's 20-year career in radio, his thoughts on success, therapy, relationships, parenting, alcohol, masculinity, and lots lots more. A huge thanks as always to all you wonderful patrons and supporters who chip in to support the podcast over at LoveandCourage.org. As always, your support in promoting, sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast is hugely appreciated, especially as it helps get voices like Keith's out into the world. If you're new to the podcast, please be sure to hit subscribe in your app to be notified of upcoming episodes and have a look through the archive of great conversations once you finish this one. 

Sarah Clancy is a well-known poet, activist and commentator who works in community development in County Clare where she now lives. Sarah grew up in Galway immersed in the world of ponies and horses which led her to working all over Ireland and later in Australia and New Zealand. Although she dabbled in poetry in her youth, it wasn't until her 30s that she really found her poetic voice. And when she did, things really took off. It wasn't long before she was winning awards, performing on major stages and on radio. She also released 3 separate poetry collections, published by Lapwing Press and Salmon Poetry. During this same period Sarah delved deeper into the world of social justice, both through academia, and through community organising and campaigning. This is when I first met Sarah. I was running the SpunOut youth organisation which was based in Galway at the time. We ended up involved in different campaigns together and over the years I always found her to have one of the sharpest and most insightful minds I've ever encountered. This conversation covers a lot of ground and although it's a long one, it's worth going the distance and listening to the end, or perhaps in different sittings. In it, we talk about Sarah's early years, her travels, some of the campaigns she has been involved in, as well as her courageous and difficult personal journey of reporting the man who abused her. Sarah also talks about how poetry helped her navigate this particularly turbulent period, as well as discover an unexpected platform for social and political expression. I had a couple of minor issues with the online sound recording which resulted in me turning my microphone down but in general the quality should be okay. I'm working on improving the overall sound recording for remote recordings and appreciate your support and patience while I work on this. As always, your support in promoting, sharing, subscribing, rating and reviewing the podcast is hugely appreciated, especially as it helps get voices like Sarah's out into the world.  

Anne is a singer, songwriter and community stalwart living in Miltown Malbay not too far away from me here in County Clare on the wild west coast of Ireland. Anne took up the guitar in her 60s and since then has created and released 2 albums. It might be no surprise that music was calling Anne given her family background. She grew up in Co Kildare in the same household as two famous Irish folk musicians, Luka Bloom and Christy Moore. Anne is hugely respected in her community as a real force for love and courage. This episode was originally created for my other podcast, the Creative Souls of Clare podcast, and it got a great response so I thought Love and Courage listeners might enjoy it too. It was recorded over Zoom during one of the lockdown periods so the video version is also available if you just look up Anne Rynne Creative Souls of Clare.

Declan O'Rourke is one of Ireland's finest singer-songwriters and musicians and is respected and loved by music lovers around the world. He has received praise from the likes of John Prine, Paul Weller and other luminaries. Declan has created 7 excellent albums, including the latest Arrivals, which I have to say is one of my favourite albums of recent years. A truly stunning piece of art for your ears. Do check that out. Declan is also wise and informed voice when it comes to history and social issues, as evidenced in his 2017 album Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine. Continuing with the theme of An Gorta Mór, the great hunger, and showing he is a man of many talents, Declan is about to release his first book, a novel of historical fiction called The Pawnbroker's Reward.

Colm O'Gorman is an author, activist, cook, charity founder, and lots more. Colm is one of Ireland's best known activists. Colm O'Gorman was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1966. He's from a farming background and spent the first eleven years of his life in the village of Adamstown before moving with his family to Wexford town in 1977. He left Wexford in 1984, living in Dublin for a few years before moving to London in 1986. He has had an impressive list of jobs and careers to date. He previously worked as a waiter, a barman, a charity fundraiser, a hair salon manager, a security guard, a coat check attendant, a radio dj, a cook, a restaurant manager and a mini cab driver before he finally decided to get serious about a single career and train as a therapist. He qualified as a physical therapist in 1994, and as a psychotherapist in 1996. He worked initially in private practice before founding the organisation One in Four in 1999 to support women and men who have experienced sexual violence. In 1998 he launched a legal case against the Roman Catholic Church as a result of his experiences of sexual abuse at the hands of one of its priests when he was a teenager. He went on to sue the Bishop of his home diocese of Ferns and the Pope. In 2002 he took part in a BBC documentary, which told the story of his battle with the Roman Catholic Church. The film, Suing the Pope aired in March 2002 and resulted in the resignation of the Bishop of Ferns Dr Brendan Comiskey. Colm returned to live in Ireland in 2003 to found One in Four Ireland. In his role as Director of One in Four, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Ferns Inquiry, the first state investigation into clerical sexual abuse in Ireland. The inquiry investigated the management of child sexual abuse concerns and allegations by the Catholic Church and by State authorities. In 2005 he helped to establish Gorey Educate Together National School ; a multi-denominational, co-educational, child centred and democratically run primary school. Colm is a regular media commentator and contributor, has written extensively on social justice and human rights. He has made a number of documentary films, including the BAFTA awarding winning A Family Affair (2000), Suing the Pope (2002) and Sex Crimes and The Vatican which he presented for BBC Panorama in 2006. Colm's work as a human rights defender is driven by a deep commitment to human rights and social justice and an abiding belief in the power of advocacy and activism, which challenges all of us to use our individual and collective voices to demand change where it is most needed. Colm served briefly as a member of Seanan Éireann, the upper house of the Irish parliament. He unsuccessfully contested the 2007 Irish general election and discovered that electoral politics was most definitely not his thing. In February 2008, Colm was appointed Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland. His first book Beyond Belief was published by Hodder & Stoughton. It became an instant bestseller, reaching number one in the Irish non-fiction bestsellers list within a week of its publication. Colm lives in County Wexford with his family.

Razan Ibraheem is an Irish-Syrian journalist and activist. She first came to Ireland to do her MA at the University of Limerick and ending up unable to return home after the war started in her native Syria. Razan worked for several years with the Storyful news agency and recently joined Kinzen as a senior editorial analyst researching misinformation on social media. Part of her past work has included contributing additional research to The New York Times visual investigations team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2020 for a series of stories about Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. Razan's deeply personal connection to the tragic situation in Syria prompted her to volunteer on two occasions to help refugees arriving in the Greek islands. Razan is increasingly recognised as a trailblazing force for change and is a recipient of an International Woman of the Year award by Irish Tatler.

Joe Murray is the coordinator with Afri – Action from Ireland, which is a small but significant national and independent Irish organisation working for human rights, global justice and environmental action since 1975. Afri’s patron is none other than Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Originally from Ballyglasson, Carrickboy in County Longford, Joe has been with Afri for over 40 years. Not one for the limelight, Joe is highly regarded a humble leader, often quietly working behind the scenes. He has however been recognised in the past with an unsung hero award from Desmond Tutu and a humanitarian award from the Dalai Lama. I’ve known Joe a long time and as you’re about to hear, he’s often reluctant to speak about himself and his work so it was a great honour that he finally accepted my invitation to come on the Love and Courage podcast. This podcast is also available as a video version on YouTube and Facebook. I want to say a big thanks as always to all who chip in to support the podcast, either on a once off or a monthly basis. It helps us reach listeners in over 50 countries and share important voices like Joe’s. If you want to chip in please make a note to head over to www.LoveandCourage.org , it takes just a minute. If you’re new to the podcast, do check out the archive of great conversations, and be sure to hit subscribe on your podcast app. Ratings and reviews are also appreciated, as is recommending the podcast to friends and family and on social media. Thanks also to everyone who continues to support my book Hitching for Hope and for all the support with my wife Susan Quirke’s album launch. Her debut album into the Sea is out about 2 weeks now and it’s been a great success so far with lots of national and regional radio play, features and reviews in the media, and musician lovers buying digital and signed CD copies direct from her via her Bandcamp page www.susanquirke.bandcamp.com. That support matters greatly so thank you all and please do have a listen to the album. It’s Into the Sea by Susan Quirke and you can find out more about Susan, her music, and online learn to meditate classes, over at www.SusanQuirke.com. I end this episode with a song from the album, a track called Home which is about the global refugee crisis.

Colm Mac Con Iomaire is an acclaimed Irish violinist and composer. He was a founding member of renowned folk fusion band Kila and, at the age of 19 became a founding member of legendary indie rock band The Frames, which led him to tour the world for up on 30 years. He was also a member of The Swell Season. In recent times Colm has been focused on his solo career and has released three albums to great acclaim. Colm has also performed on albums by numerous other artists including on the White Ladder by David Gray and on O by Damien Rice. He has also written music for several movies, TV, theatre, and dance productions. Colm is a passionate champion of the Irish language and very politically engaged when it comes to cultural, environmental, and social justice issues. He’s a guy who oozes wit and wisdom while staying grounded with a great sense of fun and zest for life. Just to say, this podcast is also available as a video version on the Love and Courage YouTube channel and on my Facebook page, just look up Ruairi McKiernan Hitching for Hope on Facebook. And a heads up. We have a surprise special guest half way through the podcast. Colm’s son Darach makes an impromptu appearance and things go a bit off script for a couple of minutes in case you’re wondering what’s going on. It’s a bit more obvious on the video version. It’s only a couple of minutes but it might be confusing. I chose to not to edit this out as we get talking about Darach soon afterwards and Darach makes another fun reappearance later on. So, back to Colm. I first met Colm 10 years ago when he performed at the POSSIBILITIES summit, which I was involved in organising. The Dalai Lama was the keynote speaker that day, and Colm joined Kila on stage for a musical celebration. A day I’ll never forget. We stayed in touch, and over the years, Colm performed and my and Susan’s wedding, which was an incredible honour, he features in my book Hitching for Hope. In recent times he played on Susan’s debut album Into the Sea alongside some other musical luminaries, including Colm Quearney, Justin Carroll, Graham Hopkins, and Robbie Malone. That’s the big focus for me these days, supporting Susan as her album makes its way into the world. It’s an exciting adventure after several years of working on it. I’m including one of her tracks HOLD ON at the end of the podcast for you to enjoy, you’ll hear Colm working his magic on it, so consider hanging back to listen after the conversation with Colm. I’m pleased to say things are shaping up nicely with national and regional airplay for recent singles and people getting behind her by buying digital and signed CD copies of the album via Bandcamp. It’s so important to support independent musicians like Colm and Susan. These days we listen to so much fantastic music, but it’s not always easy for the artist to make money to pay for the costs of recording, production, and album releases, especially now during Covid times when there are no gigs in this part of the world. So you’ll understand why I’m keen to promote Susan and encourage as many people as possible to get behind her debut album, a stunning piece of art and a real labour of love that is available on Bandcamp, and through Apple, Spotify and her website at www.susanquirke.com. The same goes for Colm, do check out his incredible repertoire at www.ColmMacConIomaire.com . Thanks for supporting the music and also a big thanks as always to you podcast patrons who chip in to support and help grow this podcast over at www.LoveandCourage.org. I really appreciate all your support as together we help share important voices like Colm's, which need to be heard in these turbulent times. Finally, before we get started, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review and share the podcast if you feel so inclined, it all helps get these great voices out into the world.

Noelle Brown is a well-known Irish actor, playwright, and activist. Noelle was born in the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork and much of our conversation centres around her campaign work to advance the rights and voices of Mother and Baby home survivors. Mother and Baby Homes were institutions mostly run by the Catholic church where pregnant women who were unmarried were sent to have their babies. These institutions were established in 1922, the same time as the foundation of the state, and the last one didn’t close until as recently as 1998. In that time, tens of thousands of women were sent to these institutions. Many of the women, incarcerated against their will in often cold and cruel conditions, were under the age of 18. Some were as young as 12. Some were the victims of rape. The Irish state, which in many ways modelled itself as a catholic state, had the world’s highest proportion of women sent to such institutions in the 20th century. At the heart of this regime was a dominant moral and religious code which deemed these women to be somehow impure and lesser, and their children, for some reason, were to be seen as illegitimate, despite the creed that we’re all God’s children. It is estimated that 15% of babies born in these homes died. At one point an inspection of the Bessborough home revealed a 82% infant mortality rate. These children were often buried in unmarked mass graves such as that discovered in Tuam, Co. Galway. One of those buried there was a relative of mine by the name of Peter Malone, someone my family only recently found out about thanks to the campaigning of historian Catherine Corless. Large numbers of children were sold to foreign couples, often in secret deals and against their parents’ wishes. Many of those born in the homes are unable to access their birth certificates, despite years of trying. Many, like Noelle, never got to meet their birth parents, and were often blocked by the authorities and the relevant institutions from doing so. Another guest on this podcast, Joseph Farrell, talks about his story in a previous episode that is worth checking out. At the time of recording this episode Noelle was fresh from running a powerful St Patrick’s Day production at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin called Home where the testimonies of survivors were given voice on the stage of the national theatre. This was in the wake of a controversial report from the Mother and Baby Home commission. Noelle is a hugely important voice on all of this and brings great depth, passion, insight and humanity to her work and her activism. We also talk about her life as an actor and a playwright.

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, 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. 

This is a crosspost of an interview I did on Una Mullally and Andrea Horan's United Ireland podcast. In it, I talk about a campaign I lead concerning Syrian refugees in Longford and other topics such as life during lockdown.

Michael McCaughan is a former Irish Times Latin America correspondent and has spent three decades working and writing in places like Mexico, Cuba and Colombia. He’s the author of several books and his most recent book Coming Home explores his journey to reconnect with the Irish language.

My guest in this epsisode is Fr Peter McVerry, a Belfast born Jesuit priest who grew up in Newry, County Down before moving to Dublin. After his ordination in 1975 he  lived and worked in summerhill in North Dublin and came face to face with homelessness, poverty and deprivation. He went on to set up a trust to help struggling young people, including those facing addiction. This work started life in a 3 bedroom apartment in Ballymun and later became the Peter McVerry Trust which grew to include hostels, apartments, a detox centre and other services for people affected by addiction and homelessness. It is now one of the largest and most important organisations of its kind in Ireland. Fr McVerry has consistently been one of the most outspoken critics of government policy on housing and homelessness and is one of Ireland’s most respected campaigners and activists, a man who is very much walking his talk. It was great to get the time with Peter over Zoom and you can see the video version of this episode over on the Love and Courage YouTube channel or on my Facebook page, just look up Ruairi McKiernan – Hitching for Hope.

Bronagh Gallagher is one of Ireland’s best-known actors and musicians. Originally from Derry city, she famously starred in the classic Irish movie the Commitments and has had roles in films such as Pulp Fiction, Star Wars and Sherlock Holmes, in numerous TV shows including Holby City and Moone Boy, and in stage in productions such as War Horse. A prolific singer, songwriter and musician, she has several albums to her name and has collaborated with the likes of Brian Eno. Thanks to all Love and Courage podcast patrons for supporting this episode. You can support over at www.loveandcourage.org. Please share this episode if you like it.

John Connell is an award-winning Irish author, playwright, journalist, and film producer. A native of County Longford in the midlands, John is from a rural farming background, something that has greatly influenced his work and thinking, as you'll hear in this conversation. John spent several years living and working in Australia where he was a university lecturer, the founder of a media production company, and an investigative journalist. His last book, the Cow Book (called the Farmers Son in the US) was a number 1 bestseller and spent over 6 months in the charts. At the time of speaking to him John was busy working on his first TV drama, featuring BAFTA winner Stephen Rae, while preparing for the release of his new book The Running Book, which you're about to hear more about. 

Easkey Britton is a scientist, surfer, writer, artist and film-maker with a PhD in Environment and Society. Her work explores the relationship between people and nature, especially the sea. A life-long surfer, her parents taught her to surf when she was four years old and she channels her passion for surfing and the sea into social change. Her work is deeply influenced by the ocean and the lessons learned pioneering women’s big-wave surfing in Ireland and introducing the sport of surfing to women in Iran, which led her to be invited to give an inspiring TEDx talk:  Just Add Surf.  Passionate about facilitating creative & collaborative processes, she founded Like Water, a platform to explore innovative ways to reconnect people and nature, especially through water and she also designs and organizes a variety of leadership retreats, summits and programmes, including the annual wavemaker retreat in Portugal.  Easkey currently lives in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland and is working on her next book after just finishing her memoir, which we talk about in this conversation.

Ibrahim Halawa is a 25-year-old law student from Tallaght in Dublin, Ireland. Between the ages of 17 and 21 he was wrongfully imprisoned in an Egyptian prison after being arrested during a visit to Cairo in 2013. The trip coincided with pro-democracy protests which had swept the country and led to hundreds of civilians being killed by the forces of the military-led government of General el-Sisi. I was involved in campaigning to free Ibrahim from prison and it was great to finally get the chance to talk with him about his experiences, his insights, and his incredible story. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Ibrahim Halawa.

Mary Reynolds is an Irish author, former landscape designer and nature activist, known for being the youngest contestant to win a gold medal at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. She became highly sought after in the world of garden design but later gave it up to explore new ways of looking at life and work in relation to ecology. A film inspired by her story was released in 2015 and in 2016 her book The Garden Awakening was published. Her work has attracted praise by Jane Goodall and other major figures. More recently Mary is the founder of the We Are The Ark movement which promotes rewilding land by returning gardens to nature in order to increase biodiversity. 

Ruairí McKiernan interview with Dave Fanning on RTÉ 2fm 

Andrew Boyd is an American author, humorist and veteran of creative campaigns for social change. He led the decade-long satirical media campaign Billionaires for Bush. He co-founded Agit-Pop Communications, an award-winning “subvertising” agency, as well as the netroots social justice movement The Other 98%. He's the author of four books: Beautiful Trouble, Daily Afflictions, Life’s Little Deconstruction Book and the Activist Cookbook, and the forthcoming I Want a Better Catastrophe: Hope, Hopelessness and Climate Reality. He lives in New York City.

A short interviewed with podcast host Ruairí McKiernan recorded on the Today FM Last Word show with Matt Cooper. Discussing community, connection, resilience and hope in the context of the release of Ruairí's book Hitching for Hope - a Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland. www.hitchingforhope.com 

Joe Farrell on the Love and Courage podcast. Joe Farrell was born in an Irish mother and baby home in Ireland in 1960 where he lived with his mother who had been sent there as an unmarried mother. He lived there for the first 2 years of his life before being adopted by an Irish American family and brought to the United States. This is the remarkable story of his life and his quest for identity, understanding, and peace. Joe is a writer who supports his work by working in the New York city restaurant business. His forthcoming play is about his time as a student in an all-boys Jesuit High School. It is titled ‘Now, and At The Hour’. He also has another upcoming stage play titled ‘The Original’ about his search for an original photo of his birth mother and subsequent discovery and meeting of her surviving nephews and nieces in County Clare and London.  

Limerick man Tom Prendergast is an artist, a DJ, a former record store owner, former successful record label co-founder, a passionate community volunteer and so much more.

A few words of reflection followed by a special song. Find links to the song and video by Susan Quirke, newsletter links, donation info etc. via this link: http://linktr.ee/ruairi

Love and Courage podcast with Ruairí McKiernan. Originally from County Cork, Dearbhla Glynn is a multi-award winning documentary filmmaker, photo-journalist, artist, writer and yoga teacher. Her films explore themes of culture, human rights and conflict and have seen her travel to conflict zones around the world including Palestine, DR Congo, Iraq, and Haiti and she has also made films based around the Burning Man festival in Nevada and the Festival in the Desert in Malai. In recent times she has been focusing more on her work as an advanced yoga teacher although at the time of recording this podcast she wasn’t long home from a trip to the Greek island of Lesbos, where people from Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere remain stranded in search of sanctuary. Our conversation explores Dearbhla’s fascinating life journey and I found it really insightful and inspiring to hear how she first found her path and has stayed true to it since. I do want to mention that part of Dearbhla’s work has involved looking at the theme of trauma and in the part of our conversation about Eastern Congo she talks about the devastating reality surrounding sexual violence there. Overall Dearbhla’s story is one of shining a light on the darkness and it’s one I hope many people get to hear.

Originally from Sligo in the north-west of Ireland, Mari is an organisational wellbeing and leadership consultant, an integral facilitator, a mindfulness and meditation teacher, a social entrepreneur, a yoga teacher, and I might add she’s quite a stunning singer too. Mari has worked with former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, with leading companies such as Microsoft and Ernst And Young, and more recently she launched the Celtic Wheel – Radical Wisdom for Contemporary Women, a year-long online programme that has attracted huge interest from women from around the world. www.thecelticwheel.com 

Luka Bloom is one of Ireland’s best known and most respected contemporary folk artists. Originally from County Kildare, Luka Bloom has been singing and performing since the age of 14. He released his debut album Treaty Stone in 1978 and soon after moved to the Netherlands, where he remains hugely popular. He also previously lived in Washington DC and in New York, where he was signed by Reprise records, the iconic label that signed Tom Petty, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and so many other greats. Over 20 albums on, Luka Bloom is living not to far from me on the west coast of County Clare while continuing to tour the world. His brother is the folk musician and previous guest of this podcast Christy Moore and his sister Anne Rynne is also a singer, songwriter and musician. I’ve seen Luka perform a number of times now and have always been struck by his unique sound and a real sense of social and ecological consciousness that ripples through his songs.

At the time of this interview, the 84-year-old folk singer is still songwriting, touring, entertaining, informing, educating and inspiring as part of the great folk tradition that she embodies so well. Born in 1935 to a folklorist and musicologist father and a mother who was an accomplished composer and music scholar, Peggy has lived her life surrounded by music and the great folk tradition. She learned to transcribe music at just 11 years old and the likes of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly were visitors to her childhood home in Washington DC. Her brother was the world-renowned singer and activist Pete Seeger who was famously attacked under the 1950s era of McCarthyism that fostered the so-called ‘red scare’ by the U.S government of the time. Peggy has been on the road from a young age, hitchhiking around Europe at age 20, and being invited to perform in places like Russia, China and Denmark in her youth. In 1956 London, at the age of 21, she met her future husband, the legendary folk musician Ewan MacColl and they played a leading role in the British folk revival. The classic song The First Time Ever I saw Your Face was written by Ewan for Peggy.The pair remained together for over 30 years, until MacColl’s death in 1989.  In the period that followed, Peggy found love again and formed a civil partnership with Belfast-born New Zealand based singer Irene Pyper Scott and they have been a couple ever since. Peggy plays 5-string banjo, guitar, Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp, English concertina and piano. She has written several hundred songs, covering everything from drugs, to war, hormones, politicians, unions, women, love and ecology.  Perhaps her best-known songs include Gonna Be an Engineer  (which has become one of the anthems of the women's' movement) and The Ballad of Springhill (about the 1958 Springhill, Nova Scotia, mining disaster, a song famously sung here in Ireland by Luke Kelly. 149 of her songs appear in her songbook, The Peggy Seeger Songbook, Warts and All. Overall, Peggy has made 24 solo records and collaborated with Ewan MacColl and others on countless more. She tells her fascinating life story in her award-winning memoir ‘First Time Ever’ published by Faber and Faber. Peggy is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 9. Now 84, she is still living in England, writing songs and performing. She often plays alongside one of her two sons, Neill and Calum MacColl, who have been playing music with her since their teens. Her daughter Kitty, a graphic designer creates the artwork for her albums. Her daughter-in-law, co-founder of Red Grape Music, Kerry Harvey-Piper, is her manager. Her other daughter-in-law is the musician and member of Dream Academy, Kate St. John, with whom she co-wrote a track on her most recent album, ‘Everything Changes’.  

Live public interview with the legendary Hugh O’Brien, or ‘Hugh Barney’ as he’s often known. It was recorded in the Darly School Hall as part of a full house at the Cootehill Arts Festival in my hometown of Cootehill Co. Cavan. Hugh Barney is a 79-year-old historian, educator, actor and community activist. He taught me history and English at secondary school and left a lasting impression on me, as he did so many others.   Topics Hugh discusses in this conversation include his childhood and upbringing, his 39 years as a teacher, his views on education, history, politics, religion, spirituality, alcohol, community involvement, and his love for cinema and drama.   This is a man who has clearly lived a full life and as you’re about to hear, he continues to do so. Hugh has inspired countless people to think differently and to believe in themselves and so it’s great to be able to share this voice with more people through this podcast, especially international listeners and Cootehill people living and listening all over the world, including my brother Sean Og in China. As well as being the author of 3 books and 3 booklets, Hugh is an accomplished actor, appearing in countless theatre productions, in the acclaimed TV show Fr Ted, and in several movies and documentaries including The Escapist, Ordinary Decent Criminal, Korea, and the Run of the Country. It’s amazing that the one thing we never really got around to talking about was Hugh’s visual impairment. In recent years he has lost his eyesight but that hasn’t held him back. He now uses a stick to get around and he has also mastered phone and computer technology that allows him to stay connected and to keep up with his various projects. Hugh’s wife Noeleen was also an amazing person and she passed away in 2012. I’m a big advocate of listening to and learning from our elders and it was a real privilege to have been chosen by Hugh Barney as his interviewer for this event, which attracted rave reviews. I want to say I feel particularly fortunate that Hugh is in good health and was able to do this interview given that back in 2017 he spent several months in hospital, including a few weeks in intensive care. Hugh was on flying form on the night of the interview and as you’ll hear shortly, it was a real rollercoaster ride that was peppered with some questions from the audience. There was also an interval on the night and I have edited that out. There’s no shortage of laughs throughout the interview and there’s also a good few swear words, particularly in the first part, so keep that in mind if there are sensitive ears listening. It was particularly inspiring to learn more about Hugh’s role in the setting up of Drumlin House. Established by a group of volunteers in 1982, Drumlin House is a pioneering training centre that provides opportunities for young people with special needs to enhance their rights and aspirations. As well as being a training centre for dozens of young people, Drumlin House also includes a theatre and social enterprises including a garden centre and a print shop. We didn’t discuss it in too much detail in the interview but I thought it deserved a special mention here as it’s such a great example of community strength in action. Hugh had told me in a previous conversation that the founding of the centre was a real community effort, and made possible because of the generous donations and support from Cootehill Coop, who through its Manager Sean McDonnell helped secure the original premises, and also through a fundraising gig by country music legend Big Tom. In total Hugh served as voluntary Chair of Drumlin House for 32 years and remains an active and involved supporter to this day, as well as being a champion for social inclusion in so many other ways. Someone described the interview to me as a Love Letter From Hugh To Cootehill, although it is also the story of a remarkable life journey and themes that are relevant to people everywhere. You may find that some of the content is a bit more specific to Cootehill in particular, especially the short segment discussing buildings and shops in the town, but overall there’s something in this interview for everyone.  Just for those of you who don’t know Cootehill. It’s a small town in County Cavan of fewer than 2000 people. It is situated at the border of County Monaghan, and about 20 kilometres south of the northern border. In many ways, it’s not dissimilar to life in other small towns throughout Ireland and indeed throughout the world.

Originally from County Kilkenny in the South East of Ireland, Vicky is a Limerick based married mother of two who has been at the forefront of exposing the Cervical Check screening scandal in Ireland after being told that she had been given incorrect smear test results. In early 2019 she settled a high profile case with no admission of liability on the part of the laboratory or the health services involved but refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement that sought to silence her. The scandal has affected hundreds of woman and many of those who have been affected have died. This is, without doubt, one of the greatest scandals of modern Irish history and a tragic case study into truth, transparency, power and healthcare. At the time of doing this interview with Vicky, recorded in Doonbeg, Co. Clare on the west coast of Ireland, she had just recovered from a particularly difficult period of bad health but was very much still in treatment and facing a very challenging future. Despite this she took time out to share her life story in the hope that it will lead to much-needed change in the health services and in wider society. The first half of this interview focuses on Vicky’s early life which will give you much deeper insight into her courageous campaigning efforts in the face of huge adversity.   Vicky really is a true beacon of love and courage as you’re about to hear in this interview.

David Jan Jurasek is a former child refugee from the former Czechoslovakia. His family escaped the regime there and eventually ended up in Canada where he grew up struggling to make sense of loss and trauma. He eventually turned to creative expression and martial arts to help him channel his emotions before later training as a child and family therapist. He has since become a husband, a father, and co-author of a series of children’s books, and he has helped developed a therapeutic martial arts program called Young Warriors that has been expanding into more than 15 schools. As if that wasn’t enough he also runs an improve company called Inspired Playback Theatre, which focuses on reflecting back, with compassion and empathy, the true stories of diverse audience members who are often not listened to. Recently, David also had a brush with cancer, which he says he has thankfully healed from but it helped him to see more clearly what his life is all about.  www.powerfulandloving.com

Rare and revealing interview with legendary Irish folk musician Christy Moore exploring his personal life, his music and his politics. Published on Ruairí McKiernan's Love and Courage podcast. ---------- I grew up listening to Christy Moore, as did many Irish people, and indeed people all over the world. He’s a folk singer and musician in the tradition of Woodie Guthrie and so many other greats who write, collect and interpret songs that capture and communicate the struggles and emotions that many of us face. Christy’s songs gave me an education and an insight into areas of life and events in history that I otherwise may not have known about. He also brings great warmth, depth and fun to the mix, offered with a real sense of humanity and connection with the listener. Christy Moore has been singing and performing now for over 5 decades. Think about that, over 50 years making and sharing music. Christy has been named Ireland’s greatest living musician and has recorded almost 30 solo albums and as well as many others as a founder member of legendary groups Planxty and Moving Hearts. Never shying away from the issues of the day, he has had songs banned and faced criticism along the way, but he continues to speak out and stand in solidarity with people, issues and causes that need support. Christy was my number 1 choice of guest when I first started this podcast. He rarely gives interview or discusses his personal life but he nonetheless generously agreed to do an interview with me. As with all of my interviews, this was totally unscripted. I didn’t prepare any questions in advance, preferring to take the approach of this being a conversation based on presence and connection in the moment so what you’re about to hear is very much a free flowing conversation. It was so free flowing that the interview started slightly unexpectedly with Christy announcing to me that he was going to sing a song straight away. I was slightly taken aback as I hadn’t my microphones full set-up and was searching in my bag for something but the moment just took off and pulled me in to the most incredible experience to have Christy sitting there in front of me singing accapella. The song was such a powerful one that you’ll hear by my reaction that I was literally lost for words for a few seconds. This is a really rare and special interview and I hope you enjoy it. I put a lot of work into these podcasts so if you enjoy it please be sure to rate and review the Love and Courage podcast, subscribe to it if you haven’t already, donate if you can, and please please spread the word of this great episode far and wide including on social media where you can tag me. Just search for my name, Ruairi McKiernan, on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc.