Podcast reviews: New ways of living and dying, and Miriam Margolyes' very frank father
While a niche cohort of filthy rich spend millions on cryonics and the likes, most mortals put thought into 'dying well' rather than living forever. The Art of Dying Well (Apple, Spotify), presented by James Abbott, puts emphasis on the time we have left, and how best to support ailing loved ones. Palliative care has become a key part of political debate in recent years but Abbott's poignant episode Caring for Pa is a personal story of Matt Parkes whose father Jeff – suffering with a rare neurodegenerative palsy – was actively suicidal, which came into conflict with Matt's Catholic faith. The series has comparatively lighter moments too, such as the Art and the Afterlife episode in which historian Lynne Hanley, ex Sotheby's auctioneer and priest Father Patrick van der Vorst, and baroness Sheila Hollins, explore how art and culture – such as memento mori – have helped and shaped societies' views on death.
Many admire actress Miriam Margolyes (83) for her unbridled candour. Many find her uncouth. She's certainly a gift from the gods for Dr Oscar Duke, author of How to Be a Dad, on the inaugural episode of Bedside Manners (Apple, Spotify) in which she attributes her corporeal openness to her GP father who normalised the likes of flatulence and ear wax ('I want to fart first, let me lift a buttock,' are her first words to Dr Duke). Margolyes's health challenges have been well documented on various TV series, including The Real Marigold Hotel and Miriam's Big Fat Adventure but the aural intimacy of a podcast adds more nuance as she describes her knee replacement and heart surgery, late-life fitness ('I've been greedy and lazy, and the body takes it revenge,' she says here), and the often overlooked importance of maintaining a social life in older age ('the way to keep going is interaction, it's as important as drinking water and not eating too much'). In contrast is an interview with Strictly professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, the very picture of health – but is blighted with chronic psoriasis.
Opposition voices of biotech worry it could create 'designer babies', biological weapons and other Frankenstein-like scenarios – but it appears to be too late to return the genie to the bottle. In its latest episode, The Next Five (Acast, Apple, Spotify), which analyses trends in healthcare and business, discusses the wide potential and pitfalls of biotech in improving our future quality of life.
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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Book review: Duffy returns for more Ulster noir
There is a certain juncture in every Sean Duffy novel when your mind starts to wander. You picture the troubled detective checking beneath his BMW for a tilt bomb, part of his daily ritual, then gunning the car through inevitably rainy Carrickfergus. He's on the way toward the RUC barracks, his every turn backgrounded by the plaintive soundtrack of his beloved Avro Pärt. Then, you wonder for the umpteenth time why nobody in Britain or Ireland has yet seen fit to turn these books into a television show — as big a mystery as any he has tried to solve himself and Hang on St Christopher, the latest, is the eighth instalment in this enthralling series. For the uninitiated, Duffy is a Liverpool-supporting, weed-smoking, poetry-loving, whiskey-chugging Catholic detective serving in an almost exclusively Protestant police force at the height of The Troubles. There's even some GAA in his background. His colourful career intersects with some of the most infamous characters and significant moments in the turbulent history of the violence in the North. Adrian McKinty's genius is how deftly he places his roguish hero at the centre of storylines involving episodes like the Kincora Boys scandal, the De Lorean car farrago, and the double-dealing of Freddie 'Stakeknife' Scappaticci. Having mined some of the darkest chapters in the province to excellent effect, McKinty and Duffy have moved on to the 1990s. Unbeknownst to those still suffering the Sturm und Drang of paramilitary warfare, the place is ebbing towards the cusp of a kind of peace. So too is our hero, by now cast in a state of semi-retirement as an RUC reservist commuting to work from the home he has made in Scotland with his partner Beth and their daughter Emma. Of course, any sort of domestic peace and superannuation doesn't quite suit his restless spirit and, in the way of all great cop dramas, he gets sucked into investigating one more murder. Not just any homicide, either. Turns out that the deceased portrait painter is also an IRA assassin, and his demise has the potential to derail those attempting to bring an end to the fighting. Trying to unravel the various threads from there is a complicated business that takes McKinty into unfamiliar territory, as far afield as the United States, Iceland, and Dundalk. Thankfully, the wit and sarcasm that sustained him through his various brushes with death all along the way remain resolutely intact. Especially when meeting with the IRA honcho in his border town lair. With every book, Duffy has evolved and those of us who have made the journey with him through all the novels have inevitably grown terribly fond of his imperfect character and tolerant of his foibles. Yet, when he almost, but not quite, strays on his partner in this outing, this long-term reader — and I presume others — shared the haughty disdain evinced by DC John McCrabban, his long-suffering partner. 'Crabbie' is a part-time farmer, full-time straight man, and the perfect Presbyterian counterpoint to Duffy's maverick approach to solving crimes and everything else. Like so much about these books, their relationship is perfectly drawn. I am truly envious of those yet to meet Duffy and 'Crabbie', jealous because these people have eight of these treasures waiting to be delved into. Hang on St Christopher, named like all the others for a Tom Waits song, is as good any of them but they should be read in sequence. Aside from creating a charismatic detective, McKinty has woven his intricate way through Ulster's recent, tawdry history. And made from that entertaining and compelling noir fiction, even for those of us who lived through it just down the road. Some achievement.
The 42
4 days ago
- The 42
'I do believe somebody was looking down on us that day and I can honestly say it was Aisling'
GIVEN IT WAS a familiar stomping ground during her inter-county playing career, Mayo's Marcella Heffernan was only too delighted to be back in Croke Park for a special celebration a couple of weeks ago. First introduced to the set-up as a 15-year-old in 1993, Heffernan was a key figure on the Mayo side that secured a maiden TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship title at the expense of Waterford in 1999 before defending their title against the same opposition 12 months later. Along with members of the Déise County who featured in those back-to-back showpiece meetings, Heffernan and the Mayo squad from those seasons were honoured as the Jubilee team by the LGFA on All-Ireland finals day at GAA HQ on 3 August. Before being presented to the crowd at half-time in the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate decider between Tyrone and Laois, Heffernan and her former Mayo colleagues enjoyed a sit-down meal to commemorate their on-field achievements over that memorable two-year stretch. 'It was a lovely, lovely reunion and, from start to finish, you felt like royalty really. It was lovely, it really was. I never thought I'd say it, but I was in a room with a load of legends because that's what they all were. Both Mayo and Waterford. It was just a great day,' Heffernan said. 'Since we found out that we were going to be doing this, the WhatsApp was hopping. There was just different pictures being shared and the craic was lovely. Yvonne Byrne, who we called 'Crazy' at the time, did a Spotify list of all the songs that we used to play when we were travelling on the buses and heading into Croke Park. It was lovely.' Marcella Heffernan on the pitch as the Mayo 1999 and 2000 All-Ireland winning squads are honoured on LGFA Finals day at Croke Park. Seb Daly / Sportsfile. Seb Daly / Sportsfile. / Sportsfile. While Mayo went on to firmly establish themselves as one of the dominant forces of ladies football in the early part of the 21st century, they were very much considered underdogs heading into their All-Ireland final showdown with Waterford at Croke Park on 3 October, 1999. The previous year had seen their Munster counterparts collecting the Brendan Martin Cup for the fifth time in just eight seasons and Mayo had suffered a setback a week before the final when their teenage sensation Cora Staunton broke her collarbone in training. Advertisement The management team of Finbar Egan, John Mullin and his son Jonathan opted to start the Carnacon ace for the game, in advance of substituting her in the opening minute of the action. Yet in spite of Staunton's absence, Mayo upset the odds to claim a breakthrough All-Ireland success with Heffernan's older sister Christina helping herself to four points in a 0-12 to 0-8 triumph. 'Nobody gave us hope at all, which we didn't mind. We liked the tag. We were quietly confident. We were knocking on the door for a while and we knew we could do it. We really trained hard that year as well and we were playing well in the games. 'I don't know what it was, but we didn't fear Waterford and maybe that was it. We had nothing to lose and especially after Cora getting injured as well, we were just saying, 'Come on, let's just throw the kitchen sink at them'.' Cora Staunton and Diane O'Hora in 2000. Tom Honan / INPHO Tom Honan / INPHO / INPHO Despite missing out on a third successive All-Ireland SFC title by the slenderest of margins (2-14 to 1-16) to Laois in 2001, Mayo returned to the top table a year later with a one-point success of their own against Monaghan. The Connacht side were becoming regular fixtures on All-Ireland finals day and they returned to Croke Park once again on 5 October, 2003 for a fifth senior decider on the bounce. Current All-Ireland champions Dublin were searching for a breakthrough victory on that day, but a late goal from Diane O'Hora squeezed Mayo over the line in a low-scoring affair (1-4 to 0-5). This game was highly emotional for Heffernan and her team-mates following the tragic death of Aisling McGing in a car accident less than three months earlier. A panellist for their All-Ireland success in the previous year, Aisling's sisters Michelle and Sharon were starters when Mayo defeated Dublin in the 2003 final, while her cousin Caroline was also part of the squad. 'The McGings, they were such a big part of the Mayo set-up down through the years. When their sister Aisling passed away, it was heartbreaking. I think the football was the saving grace to them. We minded them. I'd say it was a good distraction for the girls as well and Aisling wouldn't want it any other way,' Heffernan acknowledged. 'I know Diane got the goal, but I do believe somebody was looking down on us that day and I can honestly say it was Aisling. Because the game nearly went from us and thankfully when Cora was kicking the ball in it dropped short and it fell into the right hands of Diane O'Hora. It was nothing more than the McGings deserved, to get that All-Ireland medal.' New Mayo manager Diane O'Hora. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Despite collecting their fourth title in the space of five years, that 2003 victory is Mayo's most recent TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship success to date. The inter-county scene was becoming far more competitive and even though Heffernan returned to an All-Ireland final with Mayo in 2007, a Cork side that had already won two top-tier crowns in succession got the better of them. Heffernan brought her county career to a close in 2008 and it was another nine years before the Green and Red qualified for another Brendan Martin Cup decider. Dublin had the measure of them on that occasion and while they have reached four All-Ireland SFC semi-finals since then, this year saw Mayo having to come through a relegation play-off encounter with Leitrim in order to retain their senior championship status. However, they would have had another opportunity to survive if they lost that game and in spite of their recent difficulties, Heffernan remains optimistic that a bright future could lie ahead for Mayo. Her former team-mate O'Hora was appointed manager this week, while the county has enjoyed success at underage level recently. 'I do think they will come back to the surface again. There's a new generation of players coming up. If they stick together and work on it, it's surprising how well they will do. I'd like to think there will be good days again ahead for Mayo.' *****
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Marcella Heffernan: 'I'd like to think there will be good days again ahead for Mayo'
Given it was a familiar stomping ground during her inter-county playing career, Mayo's Marcella Heffernan was only too delighted to be back in Croke Park for a special celebration a couple of weeks ago. First introduced to the set-up as a 15-year-old in 1993, Heffernan was a key figure on the Mayo side that secured a maiden TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship title at the expense of Waterford in 1999 before defending their title against the same opposition 12 months later. Along with members of the Deise County who featured in those back-to-back showpiece meetings, Heffernan and the Mayo squad from those seasons were honoured as the Jubilee team by the LGFA on All-Ireland finals day at GAA HQ on August 3. Before being presented to the crowd at half-time in the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate decider between Tyrone and Laois, Heffernan and her former Mayo colleagues enjoyed a sit down meal to commemorate their on-field achievements over that memorable two-year stretch. 'It was a lovely, lovely reunion and, from start to finish, you felt like royalty really. It was lovely, it really was. I never thought I'd say it, but I was in a room with a load of legends because that's what they all were. Both Mayo and Waterford. It was just a great day,' Heffernan said. 'Since we found out that we were going to be doing this, the WhatsApp was hopping. There was just different pictures being shared and the craic was lovely. "Yvonne Byrne, who we called 'Crazy' at the time, did a Spotify list of all the songs that we used to play when we were travelling on the buses and heading into Croke Park. It was lovely.' While Mayo went on to firmly establish themselves as one of the dominant forces of ladies football in the early part of the 21st century, they were very much considered underdogs heading into their All-Ireland final showdown with Waterford at Croke Park on October 3, 1999. The previous year had seen their Munster counterparts collecting the Brendan Martin Cup for the fifth time in just eight seasons and Mayo had suffered a set-back a week before the final when their teenage sensation Cora Staunton broke her collarbone in training. The management team of Finbar Egan, John Mullin and his son Jonathan opted to start the Carnacon ace for the game, in advance of substituting her in the opening minute of the action. Marcella Heffernan on the pitch as the Mayo 1999 and 2000 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship winning squads are honoured on LGFA Finals day. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Yet in spite of Staunton's absence, Mayo upset the odds to claim a breakthrough All-Ireland success with Heffernan's older sister Christina helping herself to four points in a 0-12 to 0-8 triumph. 'Nobody gave us hope at all, which we didn't mind. We liked the tag. We were quietly confident. We were knocking on the door for a while and we knew we could do it. We really trained hard that year as well and we were playing well in the games. 'I don't know what it was, but we didn't fear Waterford and maybe that was it. We had nothing to lose and especially after Cora getting injured as well, we were just saying 'come on, let's just throw the kitchen sink at them'.' Despite missing out on a third successive All-Ireland SFC title by the slenderest of margins (2-14 to 1-16) to Laois in 2001, Mayo returned to the top table a year later with a one-point success of their own against Monaghan. The Connacht side were becoming regular fixtures on All-Ireland finals day and they returned to Croke Park once again on October 5, 2003 for a fifth senior decider on the bounce. Current All-Ireland champions Dublin were searching for a breakthrough victory on that day, but a late goal from Diane O'Hora squeezed Mayo over the line in a low-scoring affair (1-4 to 0-5). This game was highly emotional for Heffernan and her team-mates following the tragic death of Aisling McGing in a car accident less than three months earlier. A panellist for their All-Ireland success in the previous year, Aisling's sisters Michelle and Sharon were starters when Mayo defeated Dublin in the 2003 final, while her cousin Caroline was also part of the squad. 'The McGings, they were such a big part of the Mayo set-up down through the years. When their sister Aisling passed away, it was heartbreaking. I think the football was the saving grace to them. We minded them. I'd say it was a good distraction for the girls as well and Aisling wouldn't want it any other way,' Heffernan acknowledged. 'I know Diane got the goal, but I do believe somebody was looking down on us that day and I can honestly say it was Aisling. Because the game nearly went from us and thankfully when Cora was kicking the ball in it dropped short and it fell into the right hands of Diane O'Hora. It was nothing more than the McGings deserved, to get that All-Ireland medal.' Despite collecting their fourth title in the space of five years, that 2003 victory is Mayo's most recent TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship success to date. The inter-county scene was becoming far more competitive and even though Heffernan returned to an All-Ireland final with Mayo in 2007, a Cork side that had already won two top-tier crowns in succession got the better of them. Heffernan brought her county career to a close in 2008 and it was another nine years before the green and red qualified for another Brendan Martin Cup decider. Dublin had the measure of them on that occasion and while they have reached four All-Ireland SFC semi-finals since then, this year saw Mayo having to come through a relegation play-off encounter with Leitrim in order to retain their senior championship status. However, they would have had another opportunity to survive if they lost that game and in spite of their recent difficulties, Heffernan remains optimistic that a bright future could lie ahead for Mayo. 'I do think they will come back to the surface again. There's a new generation of players coming up. If they stick together and work on it, it's surprising how well they will do. I'd like to think there will be good days again ahead for Mayo,' Heffernan added.
