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Irish Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Ten Mins With...Leo Moran
LEO MORAN, guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of The Saw Doctors, was born in Tuam, County Galway. In 1986, he co-founded The Saw Doctors with Davy Carton, blending rock with Irish storytelling and humour. Known for hits like I Useta Lover and N17 , Moran's jangly guitar style and stage presence helped define the band's energetic sound. The Saw Doctors will be playing at the Páirc Summers Series on the big Bank Holiday weekend at the end of this month. The event takes place on August 23 & 24 at the King's Heath Irish Centre, Birmingham. Ahead of the festival, Moran took time out to talk to the Irish Post... The Saw Doctors' Leo Moran is on the line up for this month's Páirc Summers Series Which piece of music always sends a shiver down your spine? That Summer Feeling by Jonathan Richman. Somehow he's able to create an atmosphere and images that go beyond the words and music he uses, like many other great songs, that touch something within our subconscious. My favourite tune is Ar Éireann Ní Neosainn Cé Hí. I love loads of Irish slow airs with their beautifully evocative melodies but this one is my favourite. Which musician or singer has most influenced you? Probably Bruce Springsteen. He's got it all – powerful songwriting and arranging, committed, emotional singing and exceptionally entertaining performance skills. We've borrowed a good few bits from him along the way. What's on your smartphone playlist at the minute? Audiobooks. I must've been in the humour for some crime because one was The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob and the other was The Cocaine Diaries: A Venezuelan Prison Nightmare. The last song I just played there was Pray For Me Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now) by Jason And The Scorchers, great favourites of ours when we were getting The Saw Doctors together. I've been listening quite a bit to Carsie Blanton – I think she's got the best songs of our current era and we were delighted to get to play a few gigs with her and her band last year and this year. What are your favourite lyrics? Depends on the day and the mood. Off the top of my head though here's one I love: 'Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge / Drinking warm beer in the soft Summer rain' from Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen What is your favourite place in Ireland? I love all the West coast of course, Inis Oírr is my favourite island and I would love to explore Donegal a bit more, so beautiful and unspoiled with so many pristine beaches. But I could go on…… What music did you listen to growing up? The albums are still in the sitting room. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Songs For Little Cowboy', Abba, The Bay City Rollers, Christmas albums. What has been your favourite venue? In Britain you can't beat The Hammersmith Apollo, The Manchester Apollo, The Glasgow Barrowland to name but three. Dublin's Olympia is another and the venues we just played last week in the US were exceptional. We're very lucky. I also love the German rock clubs we played in the last couple of Summers. For atmosphere and energy they're as good as anywhere. All that said, you can have an exceptional night in a less expected place. What are you looking forward to about coming to Páirc Summer Series 2025? I've heard great things about the festival and I'm sure we'll see and meet plenty of familiar and friendly faces of people who have come to see us in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and beyond, over the years. It's always great to get out on a stage in front of people who haven't seen you before as well and I expect there's be a good few of them and I'd imagine there'll be a good percentage of younger music fans at the Páirc. And it's also another chance to get to see one of our great influences over the years, The Undertones. The Páirc Summer Series 2025 takes place on August 23 & 24 at the Kings Heath Irish Centre, 205 Wheelers Lane, King's Heath, Birmingham B13 0ST. For tickets click here. See More: Birmingham, Leo Moran, Páirc Summers Series, The Saw Doctors
Irish Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Writer Cónal Creedon named ‘hero storyteller' at Irish festival which only happens every seven years
WRITER Cónal Creedon is among a group of Irish icons who were named cultural 'heroes' at a Cork festival which is only held every seven years. The novelist, playwright and filmmaker, who hails from Cork, was honoured as one of the 'laoch reacaire' or 'hero storytellers', at Féile na Laoch 2025, which translates as the 'festival of heroes'. Every seven years, Féile na Laoch is hosted in Cúil Aodha, in the Múscraí Gaeltacht in county Cork. Cónal Creedon, newly named Laoch Reacaire, gives a reading at Féile na Laoch 2025 This year's event, which ran from July 31 to August 3, saw Creedon's London-based niece also in attendance. 'It's a soulful engagement and a homecoming for me,' Creedon told the Irish Post. 'My father's people come from these hills and so it has special personal significance that my six-year-old grandniece Edith Blake was here from London, such a wonderful opportunity to connect with her Irish heritage,' he added. Cónal Creedon pictured (l-r) with his niece Roisin McAvinney, grandniece Edith Blake, Fiona O'Toole and niece Asha Kearney O'Toole holding Murphy the dog 'Total immersion in Irish language, culture, the arts – the soul of Ireland is laid bare at Féile na Laoch.' Inspired by the creative legacy of the iconic Irish composer Sean O'Riada, the event honours the cultural contribution of artists across seven creative disciplines – namely literature, music, dance, art, performance, poetry and song. The Cork festival only takes place every seven years Other artists celebrated this month included Liam Ó Maonlaí of the Hot House Flowers, Altan's Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, singer Celine Byrne, sculptor John Behan, artist Maria Simonds-Gooding, musician Martin Hayes, actor Stephen Rae and the poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin. The event is formally opened with a dusk to dawn performance combining music, dance, story and poetry, which is known as An Aeríocht, It begins at 6.30pm with a parade of fire after which live performances continue until sunrise the following morning. 'It's such a personal honour to be appointed one of the Laoch 2025, connecting directly with the life-blood, pulse and soul of such a very special place,' Creedon said. 'The parade of the Laochs was a very special experience - marching with the elements of fire and water, and arriving en masse, on foot, led by a piper created such a profound sense of passion and pageantry.' See More: Cork, Cónal Creedon, Festival, Féile Na Laoch, Laoch Reacaire
Irish Post
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Ten Mins With…Gerard Byrne
IRISH artist Gerard Byrne is heading Stateside. The Dubliner will exhibit his work at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair in Southampton, New York from July 10 – 13. This week he took time out to talk to the Irish Post about his plans... Dublin artist Gerard Byrne What are you up to right now? I'm knee-deep in paint and packing canvases, preparing for the Hamptons Fine Art Fair in New York this July. It's a big moment - my first major US exhibition since the '90s. Gerard Byrne Studio, Home of Modern Irish Impressionism, is proud to be the only gallery from Ireland exhibiting. We will be showcasing an exclusive preview of my New York collection in a Solo Artist Booth, Pollock Pavilion, Main Avenue, Booth 418. Moreover, on Sunday, July 13, from 1 – 4pm, I will be performing a live painting demonstration—a unique opportunity for fair-goers to see a piece come to life in real time. In the meantime, I'm working on a few new artworks that capture Georgian Dublin's elusive summer light before I head off. The weather here keeps you humble, and quick— long evenings are a gift to any plein-air painter. Summer is here, what do you have planned for the season? Aside from sweating through linen in New York, the highlight is definitely the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, where I'lll be exhibiting sixteen works - some from my two-month painting trip to NYC last autumn and a few new large-scale figurative pieces completed in my Dublin studio. I also plan to do some plein-air painting while I'm in the Hamptons, soaking up that East Coast light. Afterwards, I'm hoping for a well-earned break. Gerard Byrne's Rooftop Reverie is among the artworks which will be on display at this month's Hamptons Fine Art fair What are your goals for 2025? To keep going. I've been at this for over 35 years and there's still so much more to paint (I still haven't painted my masterpiece yet). I want to remind people that looking – really looking – is still a radical act. We're drowning in images, but there is a difference between scrolling and seeing. My goal is to create work that slows people down, even for a moment. That's a kind of resistance, in a world that wants us to move faster and feel less. Who are your heroes? I've always admired people who live by instinct. From an early age, I was drawn to the Masters—Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh. When I lived in London, David Hockney's '60 Years of Work' retrospective at Tate Britain really inspired me. His joyful take on figurative works and simple landscapes sparked a real synergy with my own work. It's great to see Hockney, a living artist, being celebrated at such a large-scale in Britain. Personally, I feel that painters aren't as recognised in Ireland, but I quietly aspire for a retrospective one day. Meanwhile, I keep working hard. Beyond the art world, I admire anyone brave enough to start over. I trained as an electrician and worked on lighthouses before picking up a brush. My real heroes are the ones who take risks and let life surprise them. What is your favourite piece of art? It's hard to pick just one favourite piece, but I believe Joaquín Sorolla's Sewing the Sail truly earns him the title 'Master of Light'. The way he captures light and texture is incredible. It feels intimate and alive, like a moment suspended in time. My recent discovery of Sir John Lavery's Sunbathers (1936) from 'Lavery. On Location' at the National Gallery of Ireland, also impressed me. Which artist influenced you most? Monet influenced the way I see colour and movement. The same with Hopper's treatment of light, and in the last decade, David Hockney has had a huge influence on my work—his ability to capture everyday scenes with such vibrancy and joy really resonates with me. He knows what he likes and continues to reinvent it. But if I'm honest, the world itself has been my greatest teacher. I didn't study art in college, I'm a self-taught artist. My art has always been influenced by my surroundings and experiences. I learned by observing, again and again, until I found the small details—the way light hits the corner of a building, or the drifting gaze of a barman as he pours someone a drink. The artist, hard at work What is your favourite place in Ireland? Since the '90s, I've been going to Dingle—painting the town and its landscapes. Out of the Blue, my favourite seafood restaurant, has become a kind of Gerard Byrne shrine, and I've built a strong following in that part of the country. More recently, I've been rediscovering West Cork—finding myself drawn back to its soft light, tranquility and the kind of quiet moments that remind you why you fell in love with painting in the first place. Of course, as a Dubliner, the city will always hold a special place in my heart. What is the best lesson life has taught you? Life will always pull you toward what you're meant to do. It's never too late to become who you are. I didn't come through art school. I came through the trades, through hard work and long roads, but something kept drawing me back to painting. You've got to trust your instincts, because your path doesn't need to be straight to be true. Also, protect your time, and your eyes. Don't take anything for granted. And never trust a brush that looks too clean. Byrne's Jazz on the Rocks piece What do you believe in? I'm a firm believer in destiny and serendipity. Over the years, I've found myself in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people—often without planning it. Some of the most important turns in my life and career began with a small decision or a passing moment that ended up meaning a lot. You still have to put in the work, but sometimes life opens a door you didn't even know you were walking toward. Where do your Irish roots lie? 100% Dublin. My great-grandmother came from Mayo, and so did my grandfather on my father's side - but everyone else is from Dublin. I was born and raised here, in Finglas. Solid, working-class Dublin. The Ireland I grew up in was tough, funny, and poetic - full of characters. That humour and sharpness shaped how I see the world. You learn early how to observe, and certainly how to laugh. Where do you live now and what are the best and worst things about that place? I live in Ranelagh, Dublin, with my wife Agata, and we run Gerard Byrne Studio together. Best thing? It's a sought-after postcode—posh and affluent, with the iconic red-bricks. I like how close it is to the city and the airport, and that I can spend the day painting, then step out for a pint in O'Brien's or a walk in Green or Herbert Park. Worst thing? You don't really get to know your neighbours here, unlike in Dalkey for example, where I lived before. And I'm a people's person through and through. What is your ultimate guilty pleasure? A cold pint of Guinness after a long day of painting under the hot summer sun.
Irish Post
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
‘Special day' as Irish running group connecting refugees with locals launches in Britain
AN Irish running group which brings refugees together with locals in the areas they now call home has launched in Britain. Founded in Cork in 2018, Sanctuary Runners uses running, jogging and walking to bring together asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants with local residents to promote 'solidarity-through-sports'. The brainchild of former Irish Post sports editor Graham Clifford, the initiative has experienced huge success since its foundation. There are now 42 running groups in place across Ireland and its first UK launched in Brighton yesterday (June 18). Mr Clifford, who is Sanctuary Runners' Head of International Development, will lead Sanctuary Runners GB until a wider team, based in Britain, is in place, he confirmed this week. "Since our very earliest days in Cork we were determined to develop the Sanctuary Runners model internationally,' he said. 'Today is a very special day for us as we know how impactful Sanctuary Runners can be to bring communities together, to build bridges in society and to cut through all the misinformation and hate we see in the modern world,' he added. 'At the core of Sanctuary Runners GB will be a proud central belief that everyone, no matter their nationality, ethnicity, legal status, skin colour, age, gender or sexual orientation deserves to be treated with respect. 'In recent times when we have seen race rioting in different parts of the UK its clear initiatives such as this are needed here. 'We can't wait to roll up our sleeves to start building that wave of solidarity, friendship and respect across Britain as we have done in Ireland." At last night's launch in Brighton, the film Solidarity in Motion, which was commissioned by London Marathon Events - a partner organisation of Sanctuary Runners GB, premiered at the Duke of York theatre. It tells the story of the Brighton Sanctuary Runners Academy - a group of 50 people, made up of 15 different nationalities which included locals, refugees and asylum seekers, who all ran in the Brighton marathon on April 6. Nick Bitel, Chief Executive of the London Marathon Group, helped launch Sanctuary Runners GB in Brighton last night. The organisation plans to launch groups in East London, Merseyside, the North East of England, Coventry and Cardiff in the months ahead. See More: Brighton, Launch, Sanctuary Runners, UK
Irish Post
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
'Peace, not war' - Bernie Sanders tells Cork on Irish visit
Irish Post commentator PETER KELLY went walkabout with former US presidential hopeful in Ireland's 'Second City' From Cork City Hall to Connolly Hall SIPTU union event with Lord Mayor Dan Boyle IT'S not every day that a US presidential hopeful is seen on walkabout in Ireland's second city. At the end of May Senator Bernie Sanders prompted many a second glance among Cork's residents as he strode through its small streets. The man who vied for the US Democratic Party's presidential nomination both in 2016 and 2020 was on an Irish visit to promote the benefits of union labour, its heritage and to encourage world peace. He gave speeches at union buildings in both Dublin then Cork, and was the keynote speaker at the capital's Tressell Festival, then to a sell-out public audience in the renowned Vicar Street Theatre near the Guinness Brewery. Senator Sanders with wife Dr Jane O'Meara Sanders beneath Shandon Bells Church The 83-year-old veteran US Senator was earlier afforded an audience with 84-year old Irish President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park. Their fond interaction went viral on social media and Mr Sanders signed the distinguished visitors book in what is known as the Irish White House. The Vermont native had met President Higgins in 2018 at Dublin's Dalkey Book Festival and this year was joined by his Irish-American wife, Dr Jane O'Meara Sanders. Sláinte! Celebrating labour union icon Mary 'Mother' Jones' legacy However, it was in Ireland's second city that Mr Sanders made the most memorable impression. From cordial fellow train passengers en route to Cork, to the city's lord mayor, TDs and the pro-union audience in its offices, it was a surreal sight seeing Bernie Sanders traverse the small city and streets of the inner city, as locals looked on bemused. The ironic apex of his visit was surely the butchers' shop-stop, where local union labour historians regaled him of tales of Mother Jones, the locally-born union activist who organised workers in the US in the late 1800s is celebrated. The sight of Senator Sanders in historic Cork lanes, behind the counter, flanked by carnivorous staff in aprons prompted his comment that "I've been to many openings and events, and let me tell you this, it's the first time ever that me and Jane have ever been to a butcher's shop,' he joked. 'Thank you, Cork.' Bernie Sanders arrives from Dublin at Cork's Kent Station With an Irish whiskey toast Sanders departed with well-worn wisdom for local Lee-siders, advice to honour long established Irish-American ties. "It's imperative" he said, "that we all stand together to remember our common humanity, and that all the children in the world have a right to live with food, with education, with security. And that we strive for a world of peace and not war." Peter Kelly See More: Cork, Senator Sanders, US Politics
