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Willie Joe Meally from Clough

Invited me for a big steak cooked on his big open fire , served with mystical magic and stories of The Deerpark Coalminers in Kilkenny…..

Willie Joe Meally , Poet and Author. A dear friend.

Colliery Boy which was written through a Mothers eyes, where the inevitable day comes when she sees her young son following in the footsteps of so many others as he goes underground at The Deerpark Mine. Song written and sung by Joseph Kavanagh.

The ” Balford” Comwerford
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    The Story of Spike Island.

    Tom O’ Neill who once was a Prison Officer on Spike Island shares with us his historical account of the goings on , on the small island off Cobh.

    • Inside the prison.
    • Spike Island National School.
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    Childhood Memories.

    This is a charming recollection of Seamus Kings journeys to school through fields, over bridges and stiles in 1942 , to Redwood National School, Lorrha, Co Tipperary.

    Redwood National School in the snow.
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    Moore Street – The fruit of all Battlefields

    Saturday morning 1986
    This is the memorial to mark how five of the seven signatories of the Irish Proclamation of Independence. Padraig Pearse, James Connolly, Thomas Clarke, Joseph Plunkett and Sean MacDermot were all arrested at 16 Moore Street. Shocking….
    Save Moore Street from Demolition , only for this group of people Moore Street would have lost the battle.
    • Moore Street today…
    Saturday morning Moore Street 10.30am 2020.
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    Found a Tenor in Bushy Park today.

    Gary has been cycling to Bushy Park during the Lockdown to practice his Amateur Tenor skills. Escaping from my home and strolling through Bushy Park was great for my head. But nothing greater than to hear the sound of Italian Opera erupting from the bandstand. Rising up through the trees on a summers day. People completely gobsmacked…..

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    Don Mullan ” The Derry Lad “

    Bloody Sunday Massacre 30th January 1972 in Derry.

    From scrap books to writing vital records of eyewitness reports on “The Bloody Sunday Massacre ” or “The Bogside Massacre” in 1972. Don Mullans shares his story with us. He also talks about his hero Gordon Banks , and the beautiful friendship that unfolded.

    Unveiling of The Gordon Banks Statue at Stokes City Stadium. This statue was a present from Don Mullans. Bishop Tutu , Gordon Banks and Pele pictured here. Great to see three amazing happy people and all leaders in their own field.
    Gordon Banks save against Pele in the 1966 World Cup.

    I would like to dedicate this recording to 3 amazing goalkeepers, Gordon Banks , Don Mullan and Martin Cuffe…..

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    Tailteann Games

    Pierce O’Callaghan chatted to me about what he knew about The Tailteann Games.

    Pauline Crist is so incredibly proud of her Mother “Lily Barry Ne Phelan”. Lilly competed in The Tailteann Games in 1924 and won a Silver Medal for Irish Dancing. Lily also received a certificate from the 50th Anniversary of the games. Pauline wrote ” It was a wonderful day for all living medal holders who were flown in from all over the world to attend”.