The Celebration Sessions

The Irish have have left their imprint on the history of Argentina and for this episode we turn our attention to Mayo born William 'Guillermo' Brown; Father Fahy; Alfie Lamb; and Camila O'Gorman. I'm joined by tour guide Victoria Catta who shares stories of military heroes, religious leaders, and a tragic love story of legendary proportions. A huge thank you to Victoria for sharing her time and joining me on the podcast. While this is not an ad and there are no affiliations, I'd love to mention that Victoria is a wonderful guide with Buenos Aires Free Walks and being apart of her tour was really super.I loved learning about these iconic Argentinians and I hope you enjoy the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am on board Hurtigruten's MS Roald Amundsen after a wonderful expedition cruise across Antarctica. The ship is named after the fist person to reach the South Pole. So, of course it was so fitting to sit down and chat with one of the fantastic expedition team on board, Luciano Matías.Luciano shares his journey from Chile to life as an Antarctic expedition guide; the pioneering explorers who inspired him; and the beauty of wedding ceremonies in the Antarctic.A huge thank you and lots of gratitude to Luciano who took time out of his time off on board to join me. Its important to say that this episode is not affiliated with Hurtigruten in any way; it is not an advertisement; and Luciano joined me in his own capacity. Muchos gracias Luciano.Enjoy the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Brian Doyle from Jennings Funeral Home to explore the role of the Funeral Director; how they arrive into your life; and how the funeral landscape is looking in Ireland at the moment. As we unpack this episode, hopefully we'll demystify the person behind the role of the Funeral professional, and perhaps pay homage to the wonderful work they do every day with bereaved families. A huge thank you to Brian Doyle for sharing his time with me on this episode. To get in touch with Brian and his colleagues, they're online at jenningsfuneralhomes.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode we turn our attention to Islam as we talk about celebrations in the holy Islamic calendar such as Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, and the holy month of Ramadan. I'm joined by Tasneem Filaih to talk about ritual, community, and the best knafeh in Dublin!Sincere thanks to Tasneem for joining me for this episode. I really enjoyed learning about Eid, Ramadan and my favourite subject, food! While Tasneem joined me on this podcast in an independent capacity, I met Tasneem while at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. Chester Beatty is a wonderful museum in Dublin sharing beautiful artefacts and insights into world cultures from across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia; so I'd love to share this link to the Chester Beatty Library and encourage listeners to check out this beautiful and fascinating treasure trove in Dublin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

March 31 marks International Transgender Day of Visibility. It's a day when we can celebrate our trans and non-binary friends and acknowledge the journeys and the struggles of our trans friends.In this episode, activist and founding member of Under the Rainbow Philippa Ryder joins me as we chat about where we're at in Ireland in the quest for trans visibility, equality, representation, inclusion; and what the cisgender community can do to support our trans friends.Under The Rainbow is an award winning inclusive Social Enterprise advocating for human rights, equality, and a world where people can be their true selves. You can find out more about Philippa and Under the Rainbow online at www.undertherainbow.iePhilippa's wonderful memoir is available in all good book shops and also through Mercier Press online here Its a powerful book in which Philippa offers answers to many questions people ask, genuinely, to understand what it means to be transgender.We also mention TENI who do wonderful work creating a world where all people, regardless of gender identity or expression, enjoy full acceptance, equality and human rights. You can find out more about TENI at teni.ie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, I'm joined by Sudhansh Verma of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre of Ireland to explore the festival of Holi, also known as the festival of love, the Festival of Colours and indeed the festival of spring. A celebration which has different meanings, Holi is a wonderfully joyous occasion, marked with family, food, and fun. A heartfelt thank you to Sudhansh Verma for chatting with me. You can find out more about the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre of Ireland in Ballymount, and their Holi events, online at hindu.ie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Talking about death over cake and coffee may not sound like everyone's cup of tea, but Death Cafes have been growing in popularity and they provide a wonderful space to get people talking about a subject which is still a very taboo topic. I'm joined by Chairperson of the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society Yvonne Cassidy who facilitates Death Cafes, and Celebrant Derbhile Graham to discuss this interesting phenomenon, and the beauty that can come from talking about death. In this episode we unpack the 'what, when, and why' of Death Cafes, cultural differences in the funeral landscape, and final song choices!Thank you so much to Derbhile and Yvonne for joining me for this lovely chat.You can find out more about Derbhile online at celebrantderv.ie, through Instagram here, and on Facebook here.If you'd like to get in touch with Yvonne Cassidy, you can head online to yvonnecassidyweddings.com, through Instagram here, and through Facebook here.And for more information about the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society, all you need to know is on their website hereEnjoy the episode and do let me know your thoughts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Words have the power to take you to a different place, and this time around we turn our attention to the literature of grief. I'm joined by Caroline McNamara of Serendipity Celebrants as we explore some poems, passages and readings which speak to grief and loss. We share some passages that might offer comfort or solace, or even advice.A big thank you to Caroline for joining me, and if you want to find out more about Caroline and Serendipity Celebrants you can check out their website here. You can also keep up to date with Serendipity Celebrants on Instagram here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Japan is a country rich in ceremony and ritual so in this episode I'm joined by Kyoto based writer Karen Lee Tawarayama to find out more about some of the milestone occasions in Japanese culture and how they're celebrated. We're chatting about Okuizome, a celebration of a child's first meal; Shichi-Go-San which celebrates children at the ages of three, five, and seven; and Seijin no Hi which marks coming of age into Japanese adulthood. Its a lovely episode which looks at family, food, and ritual.A heartfelt thank you and arigato to Karen Lee Tawarayama for joining me for this episode. You can find out more about Karen and the wonderful team of Kyoto based writers who make up 'Writers in Kyoto' online at https://www.writersinkyoto.com/For anyone who would like explore their creative side, Writers in Kyoto are running their seventh Annual Kyoto Writing Competition. Its open to entrants from all over the world with some fantastic prizes up for grabs. You can get information about the competition here Its an opportunity not to be missed.Also, Writers in Kyoto published an anthology called Structures of Kyoto which explores the physical, spiritual, and artistic elements of Japan's ancient capital and beckons one to “step through the gate” to interact with them. Its available through Amazon but you can find out more about it here.Enjoy this episode and, as always, don't forget to rate and review the podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm joined by writer, broadcaster, and radio presenter Claire Murrihy to chat about Christmas traditions around the world. From Japan to South America, we discuss chicken from a bucket, drunken interruptions at midnight mass, and Venezuelan Egg-nog. We also share our Christmas traditions which make the holidays even more special. What really becomes clear however is the fact that so many traditions around the globe centre around family, friends, and food.A huge thank you to Claire Murrihy for joining me for this episode. You can find Claire on Instagram here.Wherever you're listening to this from, enjoy this last episode of The Celebration Sessions for 2021. Have a happy, safe, and healthy Christmas. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Its a gastronomic episode this time around as I'm joined by Lisa Goldberg from The Monday Morning Cooking Club to explore Hanukkah and how food is the cornerstone of Jewish celebration. Expect some mouth watering chats as we learn more about the miracle of Hanukkah, the best potatoes to use to make Latkes, and some delicious ingredients that can go into your doughnuts. A massive thank you to Lisa Goldberg for joining me from Australia and sharing some top tips for the best Latkes, Sufganiyot and Challah bread. #gratitudeMake sure to check out The Monday Morning Club on Instagram here. You can check out their books on their website where they also have lots of other wonderful resources, classes and cook-alongs. And you can keep up to date with the MMCC news on their Twitter page here.Enjoy the episode and don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and review the podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society begins new ceremonies celebrating children of various ages, I'm joined by fellow Ethical Celebrants Clara Malone of Coastal Ceremonies, and Dermott Langan of lovecelebrant.ie to discuss Stepping Stones Ceremonies, and Coming of Age Ceremonies.These ceremonies focus primarily on children who may not be participating in First Communion or Confirmation ceremonies, and in this episode we explore the choice available to parents and families; the benefits of involving the children in the occasions; and the importance of celebrating and encouraging children who many not want to take part in religious rites.You can get in touch with Clara on the Coastal Ceremonies Instagram page, or through their website. You can contact Dermott through his website lovecelebrant.ieAnd indeed the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society have celebrants all over the country, so you can check out your nearest celebrant offering these ceremonies here.As always, I want to hear from you. You can get in touch with the Celebration Sessions Podcast via Instagram here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode explores some interesting ways in which occasions are marked across India. I'm joined by Katie and Luke, travel vloggers known as The Ungraceful Guide as they share their experiences of enjoying and participating in various celebrations and occasions across India.We hear about Katie and Luke's adventures through the Holi festival, also known as the Festival of colour in Hampi; the ‘passionate' and elaborate border closing ceremony between India and Pakistan; and the nightly ceremony in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the spiritual home of Sikhism, in which their holy book is ‘put to bed' and tucked in.All of Ungracefulguide's stories and experiences are still on their Instagram as highlights so make sure to check out their Instagram here. And their website is www.theungracefulguide.comIt was so lovely to record this episode. I really enjoyed our chats. Thank you so much to Katie and Luke for sharing their wonderful travel stories and adventures.I'm looking forward to hearing from listeners so please do get involved in the conversation over at Instagram. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This gorgeous episode is a love letter from actor, TV presenter, and national treasure Simon Delaney to his wonderful wife Lisa. To celebrate their wedding anniversary, Simon shares how he first met Lisa, how she always encourages him to follow his professional path, and how they ALMOST didn't get engaged on a romantic trip to New York.Simon is quite 'the romantic', and his love story includes musical theatre, synchronicity, support and friendship, and 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'A massive thank you to Simon for joining me for this episode and sharing his and Lisa's love story. You can keep up to date with Simon and his latest projects on Twitter here and on Instagram here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What happens your 'digital remains' when you die? The data and information we share through social media, google searches, emails and correspondence, will have profound ramifications for how we'll be remembered, who will write our story, and what might 'big tech' companies be able to do with our information when we're gone. Psychologist and author Elaine Kasket joins me for this episode to share her wisdom on the potential issues that we're walking into, and what we might be able to do to live a healthier online life.Elaine's wonderful book 'All the ghosts in the machine' is available widely through independent book shops in Ireland and around the world, and for UK listeners the book can be picked up through bookshop.org here.For more information on Elaine's podcast Still Spoken, you can check out Elaine on Twitter here, or through her website here. As always, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this episode. You can get in touch through The Celebration Sessions Podcast Instagram page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm joined by writer, script editor, story consultant and improv expert John Dawson to talk about the magic that can happen in life when we say 'Yes... and...'Life can be such a strange rollercoaster that takes us into situations that we may never have imagined we'd be in, but there are some mind blowing life skills that can come from exploring the world of improv. If you've ever seen Whose Line Is It Anyway, you'll know its all about making it up as you go along. In improv, when you're on stage with a scene partner, there's one golden rule... you always say 'Yes And'. Applying that rule to your every day life can have a profound effect on your life. Not only can it provide the mental agility to alleviate stresses and anxieties, it can bring you to exciting places you may never have thought you'd be; especially if you feel that life may not be going your way.Enjoy this episode and the opportunity to learn form John and his wisdom.You can find out more about John and his creative services on johndawsonwrites.comCheck out his Twitter page here, and he's on Linkedin here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode celebrates the importance of ritual, and the part that rituals play in how we celebrate occasions. There is plenty of wedding ceremony inspiration as I'm joined by fellow celebrants Clara Malone of Coastal Ceremonies, and Michael Grace to discuss some of our favourite wedding rituals. We discuss the Celtic roots of the 'handfasting', the many choices of a 'wine box ceremony', and what can potentially go wrong with a 'sand ceremony' when the sand isn't dry. A big thank you to Clara and Michael for joining me for this episode. Make sure to check out Clara and Coastal Ceremonies through their Instagram here, and they have lots of wedding inspiration on their website here.You can get to know Michael through his Instagram here, and you can get in touch with Michael via his website here. And for more information about the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society and the ceremonies they offer, you can find their website here and you can keep up to date with IECS news on their Insta hereEnjoy the episode, and make sure to rate and review on your podcast platform. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Irelands first Hindu Priest Sudhansh Verma joins me to share his insights and knowledge on the funeral customs and rituals of the Hindu faith. We discuss the cycles of the soul, the ideas of karma and reincarnation, and the ritual of cremation. Its been so interesting to learn about Hindu traditions of caring for the body, returning the body back to nature, and the significance of saying goodbye in the Hindu faith. A big thank you to Sudhansh Verma who is also co-founder of Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland, the first Hindu temple in Ireland. You can find out more about VHCCI at www.hindu.ie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author and Meditation Teacher Conor Creighton shares his wisdom and thoughts around accepting that this is it; this is the only moment you can have control over. We talk about how the meditation industry is marketed; men and mindfulness; and his wonderful new book 'This Is It'You can find out more about Conor and his teachings on his website meditatingwithconor.comHe shares wonderful content on his Instagram page hereConor's book This Is It is published by Gill Books, and its available through your local independent book shop, or also Easons, Dubray, and The Book Depository.As always, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Life coach, celebrant and columnist Ariana Dunne shares her wisdom on how to make meaningful love connections. We're talking dating through the pandemic, showing yourself some self-love, and the pros and cons of ordering chicken wings on a first date; PLUS we have some listeners Q&As.You can find out more about Ariana through her website here. Check out her Instagram here, and not forgetting the Irish Country Magazine if you want to check out her column. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm joined by Caroline McNamara of Serendipity Celebrants, and funeral celebrant Pat Fenlon to discuss how we can adapt to a new landscape for funerals and memorials, and how we might grieve in a post Covid Ireland.In a fascinating chat, we weigh up changing rituals, making the effort to 'be there' for grieving friends, and finding closure while we're still in lockdown. A big thank you to Pat and Caroline for joining me. You can get in touch with Caroline through the Serendipity Celebrants website, or through their Instagram page.Indeed, if you are grieving in these already difficult times, there are many resources available to reach out to online, one of which we discussed off air; The Hospice Foundation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 13 is about what happens when Jewish boys turn 13 years of age. The Bar Mitzvah is much talked about in TV and movies, and in this episode I learn more about this Jewish coming of age ceremony.I'm joined by Hilary Abrahamson who is Chair of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum, and Chair of Rites and Practices with the Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation. We had a great chat about the history of Bar Mitzvah, how it is celebrated, and just how good Challah bread tastes!!To find out more about Jewish history in Dublin you can check out The Irish Jewish Museum here. And you can stay up to date with the museum through their Twitter page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're talking about the literature of love this time around and I'm joined by Bob Johnston of the Gutter Bookshop in Dalkey and Temple Bar to talk through the greatest literary lovers, some wedding ceremony inspiration, and why we love a tragic love story. Bob and The Gutter Bookshop team have been keeping the show on the road through lockdown with deliveries so you can check out the wonderful books available to keep you entertained here and make sure to keep up to date with the Gutter Bookshop on their Twitter page, and their Instagram page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

End of Life Companion and Doula Tanya Bryan joins me in this episode to discuss the role of a Death Doula; how we deal with the idea of 'ending'; and the preciousness of life. You can find out more about Tanya Bryan at atimetogather.ie and I encourage listeners to visit her site to read her beautiful and fascinating lamentations. During this episode we discuss different aspects of the journey to acceptance, and in the course of the conversation we mention Death Cafes which you can find out more about through deathcafe.org. And Tanya is also part of a doula collective, the website for which is in the process of being built but it will be accessible through deathdoula.iePlease do check out those links and enjoy the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Broadcaster, hotelier, wellness and motivational speaker, Bibi Baskin shares her story of embracing change through her life; recognising synchro destiny; and finding a peaceful pace to life. Bibi's gorgeous book 'The Happy Book' is available on her website. You can also find out more information about Bibi's Facebook group here. Two lovely websites worth checking out. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Gordon and Joel share their gorgeous love story; how absence and makes the heart grow fonder; and despite eloping to where they thought nobody knew either of them, how they found out it really is a small world. Its worth noting that this episode was recorded before level 5 restrictions, within the then guidelines, and we were kept caffeinated by the gorgeous coffee from the team at Container Coffee on Thomas Street in Dublin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Memorial tattoos can be such a unique and personal way to remember someone special who is no longer with us. A tattoo can help keep memories alive long after someone has gone.In this episode, Dr John Troyer shares his knowledge on the history of the memorial tattoo, his advice to anyone thinking about getting one, and we discuss the language and icons of the memorial tattoo. Dr Troyer is director of the Centre for Death and Society, an RCUK Research Fellow, and Lecturer in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences at the University of Bath. John's book, The Technologies of the Human Corpse is available online across many book retailers through https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/technologies-human-corpse See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, I'm joined by 12 year old Laragh Byrne who has big dreams to represent Ireland in the Olympics when she's older. We hear what motivates her to train, who her heroes are, and can she see herself on the podium accepting the gold for Ireland? Joined by her mum Sonya, Larah is an inspiration and her ambition is infectious. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In such a changing landscape regarding weddings, I'm joined by Yvonne Cassidy of the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society in this episode to talk about embracing choice, putting the couple at the centre of the wedding ceremony, and the best secret locations for a gorgeous wedding ceremony.You can find out more about Yvonne and her wedding services on her website yvonnecassidyweddings.comIndeed, for more info about the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society, and to search through their directory of wonderful celebrants, you can check out their website See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode well known TV personality, radio presenter, best selling author, and Bethany bereavement counsellor Andrea Hayes, shares her thoughts on the importance of being conscious of our emotions as we go through grief, the rituals that may help us shift the lens through which we experience our grief, and the profound possibility of the 'pause'.You can find out more about Andrea, her meditations, and her wonderful books on her website andreahayes.ie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Self care is something that gets thrown around so much, but there is so often a fine line between self care, and self destruction. Aoibheann Cooke joins me in this episode to explore how best to take care of your self emotionally and physically. Aoibheann defines beautifully what self care is exactly, and we chat about the best ways to show yourself some love. You can find out more about Aoibheann and Get up and Glow on Instagram at @getupandglow2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Ireland we're susceptible to the weather. Sometimes the Child of Prague doesn't work and in this episode I chat to Sarah and Cormac who had the most magical ceremony in a beautiful location, despite the rain. Sarah and Cormac share their love story and how they feel looking back on their amazing day. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Irish wake is a much talked about phenomenon, and the Irish are often lauded for 'doing death well', but just how true is it?In this episode, I talk to fellow Funeral Celebrant Pat Fenlon as we pick through this topic to discover, how do the Irish embrace the finality of death. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Celebration Sessions. This is my journey, learning more about what makes us tick; how we celebrate, how we embrace joy, and how we face the bad times. In the first episode I spoke to the wonderful Barbara Scully about the positive things happing in the word right now, despite the 'circus of horrors' that was 2020. As we settle into 2021, there is so much hope. To catch Barbara and her Twitter series 'How to stay sane during a pandemic', you can find Barbara on Twitter at @barbarascully See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.