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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Make new memories at Love is a Stranger mini festival in East Cork
Festival director of Another Love Story, Emmet Condon, grew up in West Limerick with no connection to any sort of music or event world, but always loved music, which he said his mum Marianne passed on to him. After a lot of travel and some false starts at various careers in his mid-20s, Condon landed back in recession-era Dublin and started Homebeat — a series of house concerts that caught a bit of the zeitgeist of that moment. From there, he kept at it and channelled his energy into it, which is when he said good things started to happen. 'Another Love Story arrived along that winding road through a whole series of chance meetings and friendships, and 11 years later, we are still here, and growing wings,' he says. 'There is very little roadmap involved in working in the music industry, especially as an independent operator, you have to pour yourself 1000% into it, and it is not without its challenges, but I am glad to say I love it so much, and genuinely if you said to me at 20 that I would be doing what I do now, I literally would not have believed it." 'Getting to go on the road for the next two weeks with Love Is A Stranger in Cork and Another Love Story in Killyon Manor with our small, but incredible team, and to get to work with such amazing venues and incredible artists is literally the stuff of dreams.' Scale has always been a very important part of the Another Love Story experience for Condon and his team, and creating a festival at a scale that allows a sense of personality and intimacy to truly exist has always been important. Shane Johnson will feature at the Love is a Stranger glamping and music festival in east Cork. Picture: Taidgh Richards Condon intends to avoid the classic 'festival trap' where festivals become too big to avoid losing that sense of intimacy; hence, the idea to grow outwards rather than upwards. Condon describes the sister festival to Another Love Story, Love Is A Stranger, as a vehicle for him and his team to bring the sounds and feeling of Another Love Story to new and interesting locations. 'We first landed in Cork in lovely Ballymaloe, just coming out of Covid, and have since established Love Is A Stranger in stunning Juniper Barn in Sligo, and we're very delighted to return to Cork to beautiful Ballyvolane House this weekend,' he said. 'We are also very indebted to Cork County Council for their kind support in bringing the event to Cork.' Condon said luck has been on their side since day-one, with a very loyal and lovely crowd of people attending Another Love Story events, saying that keeping the festival small over the years has allowed connections to form between a core group of attendees. 'That group tends to form the cornerstone of most of our events, no matter the location, which is an incredibly lovely thing to witness. We are very lucky with the support we have and continue to get for all that we do,' he said. He said, however, that one of the things he loves most about Love Is A Stranger is seeing an influx of new people from different locations who may not have previously attended an Another Love Story event. 'That is a very real bonus of bringing the festival to new locations and audiences, and it is striking to continue to find absolute gems of people and communities of great, creative, passionate and fun people living in the different locations - festivals are nothing else if not gathering points - and one of the real joys of running a festival is being exposed to these communities through your work,' he said. He said that interacting with local artists from the local areas where Love Is A Stranger is held has been another highlight of the festival, and highlighted the array of talented artists that are set to play at Ballyvolane House this weekend. Cork art folk/electronic star Elaine Howley will perform at Love is a Stranger 2025 'It's very hard to choose highlights. I think Elaine Howley is one of the most special musicians in the country, equally the gentle sounds of David Murphy's steel guitar are a treasure, as too Dan Walsh's Fixity project or the brilliant Jar Jar Jr — but Cork's position as a bastion of underground DJ culture is really interesting, and I'm really looking forward to having people like the gem Gilbert Steele, Patfeelgood from Funksmack, Cee M Cee and of course, probably my favorite Irish Djs the Sunday Times gang along,' he said. Optimo DJs (Twitch and Wilkes) will perform in the Ballyvolane Barn for the first time 'Away from the Rebel contingency, it's hard to look past JG Wilkes of Optimo (Espacio) who is coming on the back of a very difficult few weeks as his long time dj partner JD Twitch has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, so we are incredibly thankful that Jonnie is making the trip, and I think he is going to receive a very warm and emotional welcome for the LIAS crowd on Saturday night.' Speaking about the location of this weekend's festival in East Cork, Condon described Ballyvolane House as 'an incredible setting, beautifully cared for by Justin and Jenny Greene'. 'Between the lawns and the beautifully restored barns, it provides the perfect mix of outdoor and indoor settings, and also some wonderful boutique accommodation options that is a real point of difference,' he said. Condon said that each setting chosen for Love Is A Stranger tends to have a sense of gentle grandeur and escape, but Ballyvolane has 'a very special sense of being nestled in that gorgeous, rolling East Cork countryside'.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Man makes bold career change, leaves high-paying role for a job AI can't replace or automate
Synopsis Stephen Condon left his high-paying marketing job. He wanted a more meaningful career. At 61, he became an EMT. Condon sought a role safe from AI. Tech leaders believe human skills are crucial. EMT work offers community impact. Condon enjoys improved health and a fulfilling schedule. He earns less but finds the work rewarding. iStock A marketing executive left his high-paying marketing career to become an EMT, seeking meaning and AI-proof job security. (Representational image: iStock) When Stephen Condon left his $200,000-a-year marketing career, he wasn't chasing another corner office. He was chasing meaning—and a role that no machine could replace. At 61, Condon became a full-time emergency medical technician (EMT), trading spreadsheets for stretchers and corporate strategy for crisis response. In an interview with Business Insider , Condon explained his pivot from decades in marketing to emergency medicine, a profession he calls 'low-risk' in terms of both training investment and job security in an AI-driven world. Condon's decision aligns with a growing belief among tech leaders: the most future-proof jobs aren't necessarily the most technical—they're the most human. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis recently told Wired that while AI might eventually outperform doctors in diagnosis, it will likely never replace nurses. 'There's something about the human empathy aspect that's particularly humanistic,' he said. Geoffrey Hinton, the so-called 'Godfather of AI,' has gone even further, advising people to consider hands-on roles like plumbing—jobs that demand dexterity, intuition, and emotional intelligence. EMT work, with its physical demands and high-stakes human connection, fits firmly into that category. In another case reported by Business Insider, a former Oklahoma software engineer left a thriving tech career for welding, driven by industry changes and AI automating her favorite tasks. After years in software development, a May 2025 layoff triggered her shift. Welding, a skill from her youth, offers the hands-on creativity she felt tech had lost. After years of remote marketing roles left him feeling isolated, Condon wanted a career that would put him out in the community. He didn't want to invest years in a new degree, so he opted for a 10-week EMT course, followed by a national certification exam. 'I was the oldest in my class, surrounded by 20-year-olds who genuinely cared about helping people,' he said. 'It was inspiring.' His starting wage—$18.25 an hour—was a fraction of his corporate salary, but the work felt infinitely more rewarding. Condon now works four nights a week, often lifting patients on gurneys multiple times per shift. The physical demands have improved his health, and his schedule has helped him cut out unhealthy habits. 'I swim, I work out every morning, and I go to bed earlier,' he shared. 'It's never boring—no two calls are alike.' He's even considering transitioning into an emergency department technician role or an EMT position at a retirement community once his wife retires. For Condon, the decision was about more than job security. It was about rediscovering meaning and ensuring that when his wife retires next year, he can still provide benefits without dipping into their savings. He's now considering roles like emergency department technician or EMT safety officer at a retirement community. Experts say his timing is prescient. As AI continues to take over analytical and administrative roles, jobs grounded in empathy and physical presence—like EMT work—are proving more resilient than ever. Or, as Condon put it simply: 'If you're not happy in your job, you have to take a shot at something else. At least you'll learn something—and maybe you'll find the thing AI will never take.' ( Originally published on Aug 11, 2025 )
Time of India
11-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Man makes bold career change at 61, leaves high-paying role for a job AI can't replace or automate
When Stephen Condon left his $200,000-a-year marketing career, he wasn't chasing another corner office. He was chasing meaning—and a role that no machine could replace. At 61, Condon became a full-time emergency medical technician (EMT), trading spreadsheets for stretchers and corporate strategy for crisis response. In an interview with Business Insider , Condon explained his pivot from decades in marketing to emergency medicine, a profession he calls 'low-risk' in terms of both training investment and job security in an AI-driven world. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program The AI-Proof Career Path Condon's decision aligns with a growing belief among tech leaders: the most future-proof jobs aren't necessarily the most technical—they're the most human. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis recently told Wired that while AI might eventually outperform doctors in diagnosis, it will likely never replace nurses. 'There's something about the human empathy aspect that's particularly humanistic,' he said. Geoffrey Hinton, the so-called 'Godfather of AI,' has gone even further, advising people to consider hands-on roles like plumbing—jobs that demand dexterity, intuition, and emotional intelligence. EMT work, with its physical demands and high-stakes human connection, fits firmly into that category. You Might Also Like: Is it safer to be a nurse than a doctor in the age of AI? Google DeepMind CEO shares a surprising take From Isolation to Impact After years of remote marketing roles left him feeling isolated, Condon wanted a career that would put him out in the community. He didn't want to invest years in a new degree, so he opted for a 10-week EMT course, followed by a national certification exam. 'I was the oldest in my class, surrounded by 20-year-olds who genuinely cared about helping people,' he said. 'It was inspiring.' His starting wage—$18.25 an hour—was a fraction of his corporate salary, but the work felt infinitely more rewarding. Life and Health on the Upswing Condon now works four nights a week, often lifting patients on gurneys multiple times per shift. The physical demands have improved his health, and his schedule has helped him cut out unhealthy habits. 'I swim, I work out every morning, and I go to bed earlier,' he shared. 'It's never boring—no two calls are alike.' He's even considering transitioning into an emergency department technician role or an EMT position at a retirement community once his wife retires. You Might Also Like: Think your job is safe from AI? These 4 careers are already on the chopping block For Condon, the decision was about more than job security. It was about rediscovering meaning and ensuring that when his wife retires next year, he can still provide benefits without dipping into their savings. He's now considering roles like emergency department technician or EMT safety officer at a retirement community. Experts say his timing is prescient. As AI continues to take over analytical and administrative roles, jobs grounded in empathy and physical presence—like EMT work—are proving more resilient than ever. Or, as Condon put it simply: 'If you're not happy in your job, you have to take a shot at something else. At least you'll learn something—and maybe you'll find the thing AI will never take.' You Might Also Like: Harsh Goenka predicts the 'new winners' as AI disrupts and reinvents the workplace. Weighs in on the big question: 'Will AI take my job?
Irish Examiner
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork Premier SHC: Ruthless Imokilly rack up 2-32 against Avondhu
Cork Premier SHC Divisions/Colleges semi-final: Imokilly 2-32 Avondhu 1-17 By the time the first Avondhu attempt had sailed between the posts, Imokilly were already five points to the good at Church Road. By the time the second did, they were seven clear. This was as straightforward as the scoreline suggests. Fifteen shots in the first half returned 13 white flags. Avondhu, with the aid of the breeze, had eight wides and two scores from play to show for their efforts in their Cork PSHC Divisions/Colleges section semi-final on Saturday. In typical candystripe fashion, Denis Ring's men were out of sight before Avondhu had even landed a punch. Another four unanswered scores on the restart left Imokilly 12 up with 25 minutes to play, and still 2-14 to be tacked on. Avondhu did improve, though they couldn't fare much worse. Solely for the unrelenting efforts of Stephen Condon and James Keating. Those two and Brian Lombard got on the scoresheet to leave it 1-23 to 0-10 at the end of the third quarter, while Condon and Keating added two more to leave 14 points between the teams with 15 to play. But Imokilly chipped away. They kept chipping away. Point after point after point. Mike Kelly, Imokilly in action against Sean Killeen, Avondhu. Pic: Jim Coughlan. Mike Kelly – who was on fire in the second half – responded to Condon and Keating's efforts with one of his six scores from play. Avondhu had a couple of half chances at goal. Both from Condon. The first ended prematurely, Condon denied advantage just as he had broken through on goal, with referee Simon Stokes calling it back for the free. He slipped through again 10 minutes later, this time denied smartly by Ciarán O'Brien, who blocked his effort. Avondhu did eventually get that breakthrough, after 61 minutes. A clever one-two between Condon and Keating saw the latter rifle a beauty into the top corner. But that consolation was mercilessly wiped out, as Joe Stack set up substitute Oisín Fitzgerald for a second Imokilly major in the 64th minute. Kelly and Jack Leahy had been scoring for fun up until additional time – leaving Imokilly 1-31 to 0-16 clear before Keating hit the net. It was a woeful opening period for the north Cork side. They couldn't hold onto any of their restarts, and when they did, any attempts at picking out a forward up front were fruitless. Their distribution was subpar, and they scrapped the use of Liam Cronin as a sweeper after 19 minutes. A substitution followed four minutes after. By that stage Imokilly were 0-12 to 0-4 in front. They were eight ahead still at the break. When the first green flag came for the east Cork outfit, it was after 42 minutes, and was a gift from Avondhu. Cronin had done well to win possession and he handpassed it short to goalkeeper Daniel O'Connell, but his stick pass was straight to Diarmuid Healy, who unleashed a low strike into the gaping net. At that stage it was 1-21 to 0-9. All too easy for the reigning county champions. Scorers for Imokilly: J Leahy 0-9 (0-4 f), M Kelly 0-7 (0-1 65), D Healy 1-1, O Fitzgerald 1-0, B Lawton 0-3, S Hegarty, J Stack, W Leahy, C O'Callaghan, J Cronin 0-2 each, C Cahill, C Joyce 0-1 each. Scorers for Avondhu: S Condon 0-8 (0-3 f), C O'Brien 0-5 (0-3 f), J Keating 1-2, B Lombard, E Carey 0-1 each. IMOKILLY: E Davis (St Catherine's); J McCarthy (Dungourney), T Wilk (Cobh), C O'Brien (St Ita's); C Joyce (Castlemartyr), M Russell (Aghada), J Cronin (Lisgoold); S Hegarty (Dungourney), C O'Callaghan (Dungourney); W Leahy (Aghada), D Healy (Lisgoold), B Lawton (Castlemartyr) (c); M Kelly (Castlemartyr), J Stack (Castlemartyr), J Leahy (Dungourney). Subs: C Cahill (Cloyne) for W Leahy (46), M Hegarty (Lisgoold) for Lawton (49), A Sherlock (Cloyne) for McCarthy (56), O Fitzgerald (St Catherine's) for J Leahy (57), J Griffin (Dungourney) for Cronin (58). AVONDHU: D O'Connell (Dromina); S Killeen (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), J Keating (Kildorrery), L Carey (Kilworth); E Buckley (Ballyhooly), B Curtin (Kilshannig), D O'Reilly (Ballyhooly); J O'Sullivan (Ballygiblin), E Carey (Kilworth); J Murphy (Dromina), C O'Brien (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), L Óg Hegarty (Kilworth); J Magnier (Killavullen), S Condon (Harbour Rovers), L Cronin (Killavullen) (c). Subs: J Sheehan (Kilworth) for O'Reilly (23), O O'Callaghan (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels) for Hegarty, L Keating (Kildorrery) for Magnier (both HT), B Lombard (Ballyhooly) for Murphy (34). Referee: S Stokes (Tullylease)
Irish Post
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Post
Ireland abroad in England's inner city
THE roll call in the classroom of a morning went along these lines. Condon, Daly, Egan, Horgan, Hennessy, Mahony, O'Donnell, O'Sullivan, O'Driscoll, Sheehy, Shields. I mean it was a long time ago but that's at least some of what I remember. This wasn't Ireland though. This was the inner city of England's second biggest city. This was England in the 1970s and 1980s and this was Ireland abroad. I've tried to explain to people that growing up in England my knowledge of England wasn't by any means extensive. I didn't really know any English people growing up. Our first next door neighbours were an Asian family and everyone else I knew was Irish. Everyone who came to the house, bar those neighbours, was Irish. Every kid at school came from an Irish family. The teachers were nuns or Irish or a few English Catholics who I never understood — and to this day English Catholicism remains something of a mystery to me. When I finally went away, at the late age of twenty, to do a degree in a northern English town I really didn't know where it was and anyone I asked didn't know either. This was pre the internet, you see, and the Irish people I lived amongst only really knew an English place if they'd had to go there. Outside of the tight streets of the city I grew up in I knew nothing of England. I never went to the English countryside. I was utterly flummoxed by cricket and my father used to say of it that it seems to go on all day and nothing seems to happen. I would definitely have failed Tebbit's cricket test on every level and, indeed, in ways he wouldn't have dreamed of. I knew my own city well and identified with it and spoke like it and was passionate about my local football team but England itself was as good as a foreign country to me. That did, of course, change, I went away to study, sort of anyway, and in the next decade I studied and worked in any number of big English cities. I got to know them all very, very well, and knew them easily. Birmingham, Preston, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, London, how are ya? Many aspects of English life remained foreign to me but I got to know the country well and the people of different cities and married into an English family and realised that for everything that divides us there is always far more that unites us. We are very different and we are much the same too. And that's not just okay, that's a good thing. The point is that being Irish for people like me was just a matter of fact. It wasn't a wishful thing. It wasn't an aspiration. It wasn't something negligible that was suddenly useful decades later when we wanted an Irish passport in order to beat Brexit rules. It was simply a factual recounting of who we were. I'm fairly sure, for instance, that if by some chance my parents had found some corner of England where we were the only Irish family that would have been completely different. Our house would have still been Irish but we would have had no choice but to be English outside because there would be nothing but England outside. It wasn't like that though. The Irish emigrated to the big cities because they simply went where there was most work. Thousands and thousands of them. The UK economy has relied on immigration and the labour of immigrants for decade after decade. They might resent that now but that doesn't make it any less true. We built their cities. And we made them sing and dance and echo with our lives. I haven't lived in England since 1999 and each time I go back the strangest feeling I have is of how foreign it all is. Some of that is merely the passing of time. Some of it is the nature of the immigrant existence in that it contains a certain transitory element. Where I grew up has completely changed. One wave of immigrants is replaced by another. And so it goes. Still, I can't help but notice, that the country I was born in was once like a foreign country to me, became a country whose cities I knew well and closely, and is now a foreign country to me all over again. When our parents made the decision to get on that boat who'd have thought how far the ripples would travel. See More: Birmingham, Ireland, Irish
