The Galway Podcast

Episode 45 is a very in-depth conversation with Katharine Mac Mághnuis from the Athenry Music School where she discusses her background, the birth of Athenry Music School, the philosophy of Suzuki Education, the lessons available, her suggestions for how much practise a child should do, the school regulations, awards and partnerships, upcoming events as well as other topics. Photo by Brad Anderson.

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Episode 43. This episode was initially scheduled to be published on The Galway Podcast but we published it on The Ireland Podcast first. Now we are publishing it here. Apologies to those who are subscribed to both channels. If you are not subscribed to The Ireland Podcast, please do! 

This episode brings you Nicole Schwabacher, a teacher turned author at the start of her literary career where she discusses her first novel: Inyo's R...

Episode 42. The first episode of 2024 is a recording from the Galway Bay Cycling Club's Christmas Party in December 2023 featuring Liam Moran, Seán Hernon and Oonagh McArdle.

Liam and Oonagh talk about a wide range of topics including the Galway Bay Cycling Club, its members, how to become a member, why you should consider becoming a member, the club's achievements, the barriers to entry, the future for the club, the need for someo...

Episode 41. An end of the year special brings you a conversation straight from the Christmas party of the Galway Bay Cycling Club between two people who have broken the record for cycling from Mizen to Malin. 

Sean Hernon who knocked 15mins off the male record in 2021 with a time of around 17h 20m interviews this year's female record holder Karen Cassidy. 

Sean actually held back on asking Karen any questions in advance of this con...

Episode 40. Discussion with Niamh Ryan who is a sex, love & relationship coach. a mentor as well as other things. Niamh empowers women to come home to their womb space. She has had a very personal health journey which she shares on this episode.

Along with being a mentor Niamh even runs Sunrise Social Galway which is a coffee/swim/hiking group. She has a studio in Liosban and discusses that too. Nia...

Episode 39. This weeks guests are John Cunningham and Amelia Walker. They are here to talk about a new book released this year which is called Hardiman and Beyond. Hardiman and Beyond was edited by John along with Ciaran McDonough and it is the follow up to a famous publication released in 1820 called ‘History of the Town and County of the Town of Galway’. So Hardiman and Beyond is basically a recap of Galway since then. And excell...

Clíona Standun talks about how, with her sister Laragh, they run Standún in the heart of Connemara. Included in the conversation is how their grandparents met, the first shop, a long cycle, the Connemara bus, selling sweaters and bicycles etc., 700 knitters around the country, sending sweaters to Nordstrom, assembling the different parts of the sweaters, being the first company to export the Aran sweater, dealing with mail orders, ...

Episode 37. Conversation with our two youngest guests where they discuss what it takes to become All Ireland champions. A truly inspirational conversation covering the early inspiration which motivated the girls getting into football,, life in England, Salthill Knocknacarra GAA, Roisín's grandfather Michael Duignan who used to play with Saint Michael’s GAA, the great O’Donnell football family, becoming All Ireland Winners, playing ...

Episode 36. Sinéad McKiernan in conversation talking about services offered, Yoga’s popularity in Galway and the world, Mysore, India, anxiety attacks, being true to oneself, panic disorders, agoraphobia, the health benefits of yoga, which yoga style suits which people, the pressures put upon the body by overstimulation of the brain, karma, Hinduism, intentions vs. gratitudes, Catholicism, Buddhism, Sam Harris, tuning...

Episode 35. A celebration of one of the gems of Galway City, arguably the biggest gem: Saint Nicholas Collegiate Church. Walking us through the discussion is Ireland's first Heritage Officer, Jim O'hUiginn (Higgins) from Galway City Council. 

In Episode 2 Jim cited this church as one of his favourite buildings in Galway and here he discusses why as well as the urgent reparation work which is currently being undertaken. Jim also men...

Episode 34. Collette discusses how she got interested in sailing, her travels to Antartica, her scary experiences at sea and dealing with those crises moments, the epiphany moment when she realised that she could sail in Galway, the history of the club and its connection with Nicky Dolan, the amount of members and how amazing they are, the courses available, the different roles within the club, the iconography of the hookers, the “...

Episode 33. A wide ranging interview with the Tournament Director of Galway Bridge Club: Gay Keaveney. 

Gay discusses his achievements in competitive bridge, his role as tournament director, the challenges and achievements, how bridge is misrepresented as an older people's sport, how and why people of all ages could and should get involved in bridge, the history of the bridge centre and the ingenious way in which they acquired the ...

Episode 32. A wide ranging interview with the General Manager of Galway Golf Club: Niall McGahon. Discussion includes how Niall got the position, his mentor Michael Moss, peer assists, the club’s size, managing the wishes of 1400 adult members, Justin Rose, modernising a golf club with so much history, Niall's first gold club aged 4, Sammy Hempel, Alan Hunter, the mid-Atlantic accent, Ricky Elliott, the different stag...

Second half of a conversation with Sharon Shannon covering all manners of things, most of which centre around Galway including performing for ‘The Hostage’ by Brendan Behan in the Druid Theatre in Galway and beyond, Alec Finn, Frankie Gavin, Seán Smyth, The Quays, Brendan Regan, Kevin Hough, composing, Steve Earle, Gerry Hanley, life in Doolin, life in Cork, Páraic Mac Donnchadha, Andrew McNamara, The Tulla Céilí Band...

The second half of a conversation with Donegal's James Gallagher who has been living in Galway for quite a few years. James talks us through what it is like to make a living as a musician, straddling the world of busking as well as playing in one of Ireland's most popular tribute bands: The Dubliners Experience. See if you can spot the difference in James' singing voice and that of Luke Kelly!

For more information please visit th...

A conversation with Donegal's James Gallagher who has been living in Galway for quite a few years. James talks us through what it is like to make a living as a musician, straddling the world of busking as well as playing in one of Ireland's most popular tribute bands: The Dubliners Experience. See if you can spot the difference in James' singing voice and that of Luke Kelly!

For more information please visit their website:  www.the...

Episode 27. Second half of a highly amusing conversation with Bam Artiste, who can often be seen on Shop Street selling his paintings or playing his drum and singing and entertaining the passers-by.

Bam has been a fixture on the streets of Galway for almost 20 years. He tells his story of how he came from Jamaica where he received his education in engineering, to travelling to Scotland and then to Ireland. Hear how he is methodical...