This episode of the Irish Stew Podcast features a discussion with documentary filmmaker Alan Gilsenan and journalist John Walsh about their film 'The Irish Question.'

The film delves into the recent history of Ireland, the partition between North and South, and contemplates the concept of a United Ireland in the post-Brexit era. The conversation highlights the impact of Brexit, economic and cultural complexities, and the fragile peace established by the Good Friday Agreement.

The episode also touches on the importance of Truth and Reconciliation as a foundational step towards any potential unification. Recorded at the Capital Irish Film Festival in association with Solas Nua, this discussion pays homage to diverse Irish identities and urges a deeper conversation on Ireland's future.

Links

The Irish Question (Trailer)

Alan Gilsenan - Director

• Website: Yellow Asylum
• Wikipedia
• Twitter / X

John Walsh - Writer

• LinkedIn
• BlueSky

Solas Nua

• Website

Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 16; Total Episode Count: 119

Former champion boxer John Duddy from Derry and one-time construction worker Newry’s own Ciaran Byrne share their unlikely paths to acting on stage and in film in part two of our first live podcast recording for Origin Theatre’s 1st Irish Festival.

The two friends delve into how their life experiences inform their performances, personal traumas from The Troubles, and the critical role of theater in post-conflict healing and education. Sharing compelling narratives throughout, Ciaran and John underscore the significance of their Northern Irish roots and the transformative power of storytelling, but don’t stint on the Irish craic.

Massive thanks to Origin’s Theatre’s artistic director Mick Mellamphy (who we featured in this 2023 episode) for envisioning our live podcast event and curating our stellar guest list, to the Northern Ireland Bureau for their generous support, to Bill Schultz for recording and editing the episodes, and to Jimmy and the crew at Ryan’s Daughter for their above-and-beyond hospitality.

Links

Ciaran Byrne

• Website
• IMDb
• X
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

John Duddy

• IMDb
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Origin Theatre

• Website

The Northern Ireland Bureau

• Website

Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 15; Total Episode Count: 118

After Origin Theatre’s artistic director Mick Mellamphy welcomes our paying (!) audience to the 1st Irish Festival’s first live podcast event, we introduce theatre makers, Derry’s own Labhaoise Magee of Fair Play Productions and Big Telly Theatre’s Crissy O' Donovan who was raised in Dublin, worked in GB, and is now based in Northern Ireland.

Fair Play brought Sinéad O'Brien's "storytelling masterclass" No One is Coming to Origin 1st Irish this year, while Big Telly staged the immersive Granny Jackson’s Dead.

Labhaoise and Crissy talk about their theatrical journeys, how storytelling can process collective memory, how theater can promote democratic culture in post-conflict Northern Ireland, and the transformative power of dramatic arts in fostering connections and understanding.

Join us Upstairs at Ryan’s Daughter for our first live podcast recording, made possible by the support of the Northern Ireland Bureau.

Links
Labhaoise Magee

• IMDb

Fair Play Productions

• Website
• Instagram
• X

Crissy O' Donovan

• LinkedIn

Big Telly Theatre

• Website
• YouTube
• X

Origin Theatre

• Website

The Northern Ireland Bureau

• Website

Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 14; Total Episode Count: 117