M1 Podcast

‘Say Nothing’, a troubles era colloquialism in the North, is the title of a 9 part drama series following the lives of young people growing up in Belfast in the early years of the troubles. In particular, there is focus on Dolours and Marian Price, Brendan Hughes and Gerry Adams. The series is an adaptation of the 2018 book of same name by Patrick Radden Keefe. Keefe began researching and writing the book on learning of the death of Dolours Price. Among those he came into contact with was Anthony McIntyre. I spoke with Anthony and my first questions were about his feelings for the programme. I asked his reflection on the drama series on Disney, of which he says he is pleased that: ‘The manner in which IRA volunteers such as Dolours Price and Brendan Hughes have been recast in more favourable light’. He said he found it absorbing but not enjoyable. I did not enjoy it. I don’t want to attach enjoyment to something so harrowing, particularly for the families of the disappeared. Pictured: Anthony McIntyre, former IRA and later lead researcher for Boston College Belfast Project Pictured: Actor Seamus O’ Hara, who plays Anthony Mc Intyre in ‘Say Nothing’ Anthony features in the drama series, played by actor Seamus O’ Hara, as the interviewer of those giving testimony to create an oral history of the troubles. He became lead researcher in the Boston College Belfast Project, which involved recorded interviews with numerous key participants in both republican and loyalist groups. It was understood that the interviews would not be used until after the participants had died. However, the project was jeopardised when the PSNI sought to obtain the tapes held by Boston College because of their testimonials of former participants as to their role in paramilitary violence from various sides. As to why the troubles emerged in such a violent manner, Anthony says: “The violence was not necessarily the result of the presence of the British in Ireland, but the behaviour of the British in Ireland. Had unionists not been so violent towards civil rights protesters, things might have been different, for Dolours and Marian Price, they certainly would have been different”. ‘Geeky Gerry Adams’ We discussed how early in the programme, how Dolours and Marian Price initially came across Gerry Adams on a soap box with a loud hailer giving orders at a barricade. They wondered ‘how did geeky Gerry Adams get in there’. I asked did Gerry Adams really refer to peers as ‘child’, even if he was only a year older, and the answer is yes and it was condescending to them. He interviewed Dolours Price, who features as the central character in the drama series. Dolores Price was the Operational IRA commander for the London bombings of the Old Bailey Courthouse, which saw over 200 injured. She spoke to Anthony as part of the Boston College Testimonial tapes project he was involved in with journalist Ed Moloney. Old Bailey bombings to protest border poll The Old Bailey bombings were seen as a protest against the border poll in Northern Ireland, due on the same day. The border poll was a referendum in Northern Ireland to determine, whether to stay in the United Kingdom or not. Ironically, Sinn Fein today see a border poll as their primary target in the medium term future . ChoiceVotes% Do you want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom?591,82098.90Do you want Northern Ireland to be joined with the Republic of Ireland outside the United Kingdom?6,4231.10Valid votes598,28399.01Invalid or blank votes5,9730.99Total votes604,256100.00Registered voters/turnout1,030,08458.66 Unknowns and Disappeared In her testimonial, Dolours Price also spoke of her involvement in a group call the ‘Unknowns’, set up allegedly by Gerry Adams, to carry out special projects. The ‘Unknowns’ operated outside the IRA command structure and was suspected involved in the disappearance of widow of ten Jean Mc Conville as well as Joe Lynskey. The murder of Jean McConville is perhaps one of the most heartbreaking incidents of the troubles. Not only was she a young widow of ten children, her children never knew what happened to her. She was one of the ‘disappeared’. The drama series ‘Say Nothing’ has in fact attracted criticism from her son Michael, who described it as ‘horrendous, cruel and another telling of the story of our mother, our family have to endure’. Former Belfast Officer in Command of the IRA Brendan Hughes alleged in his interview with Anthony Mc Intyre for the Boston College tapes said that former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was involved in overseeing the ‘Unknowns’ group. Gerry Adams has said this is a lie and denied being involved in the IRA. While the cases of the ‘disappeared’ were heartbreaking for their loved ones, Anthony Mc Intryre adds that the nature of such activity was pointless too. The disappearance of ‘touts’ had no deterrent effect. It was simply he says: “a war crime”. Marian Price has this week initiated a legal case, in which she intends to sue Disney for its portrayal in ‘Say nothing’ which depicts her as the one who carried out the murder of Jean McConville. In my interview with Anthony, now resident in Drogheda, we discussed the programme, its impact and what it was like growing up in the early years of the troubles. Reflecting on his own views, he says that ‘violence didn’t erupt in Northern Ireland because of the British presence, but rather the way they behaved’. His story Anthony Mc Intyre was 15 years old in 1972. A product of his time, he listed names off his tongue, of those who were killed. This violence led him, he admits, to have a sectarian mindset. By the age of 17, he was sentenced for IRA membership. By his 20th birthday, he was in jail for life for murder in 1977. While in prison, he was involved in protests including the dirty protest and hunger strikes. He was in prison for 18 years and whilst in prison, he completed a International Politics degree at the Open University, which was followed by a PHD upon his release in 1992. Mc Intyre became a critic of Sinn Fein and the peace process. A collection of his journalism was published as a book in 2008 ‘Good Friday- the death of Irish Republicanism’. He came to be seen as a ‘thought criminal’ in the early 1990s because of his criticisms of Sinn Fein. He was critical of the peace process but rejected militarism. Garda questions In March 2014, having obtained transcripts of the interviews, held by Boston College, after subpoenae, the Garda called to his house at the request of the PSNI to question McIntyre over newly released Belfast Project recordings, specifically in reference to the alleged role of Gerry Adams in the kidnapping and murder of Jean McConville, to which he gave a no comment interview. This podcast interview deals with a lot of reflection, questions about loss and regret. Had the IRA concluded what it now knows, so many lives would have been saved. By 1972, most of the aims of the civil rights movement had been achieved. About the individuals, he says people like Brendan Hughes were not naturally violent and he was haunted by the loss of life. That was compounded by the political opportunism of some of the people, who were his superiors and who gave him gave him and others directions, which led to the loss of life. Belfast to Drogheda– ‘What’s a Protestant?’ About his leaving Belfast, he says: ‘In 2000, after I wrote an article critiquing the Provisional IRA for the murder of Joe O’ Connor, a 26 year old father of four and member of the Real IRA, there were Sinn Fein led pickets on my house. My wife was six months pregnant. I was prepared to stay but I couldn’t get work. I was on social welfare’. The first place my wife came to when she came to Ireland was Drogheda and that is why we chose to move here. His wife is from Los Angelas in the United States. Living in Belfast is still a challenge. ‘ I remember my daughter was 5 or 6 years old and she came home from school and said she doesn’t like Protestants- says they would shoot you. So I took her on the bus and we went to the Loyalist David Adams house. I chatted with Davy for three hours, while my daughter played with his mother in law. After we left, I asked her what she thought of them. She loved them. After a few years living down here (in Drogheda) she came home from school one day and asked: ‘what’s a Protestant’ and to me- that was success’. About life in Drogheda, he says he loves it here. He became involved in the Old Drogheda Society and has been editor of its yearly journal and is an avid supporter of Drogheda United FC. What I love about down here is that people do not judge you because of your religion. Left not Woke About politics today, ‘I don’t like woke politics. I am left, not woke. I support the same causes, but I believe freedom of thought should be a very important part of left wing politics. I don’t like identity politics. Irish identity, we are multiplicity of identities. We cannot be suppressing people’s thoughts and ideas’. Should young people get involved in politics or steer a different course in life? His advice for young people today on getting involved in politics: ‘Get involved in all the good positive campaigns. Energy is finite. Identify causes that are dear to your heart. The right to Ukraine not to be invaded, the rights of those in Gaza, climate change. Identify the party or network, who you think can inch these things forward. Don’t become dogmatic or doctrinaire. Be open to all ideas’. Pictured: The day after my interview with Anthony, he was headed to The Lark, Balbriggan for ‘An evening with Graeme Souness’ (I presume he is a Liverpool fan, not a Rangers fan ) Anthony is editor of The Pensive Quill https://www.thepensivequill.com/

In this episode, we discuss with former Cllr Killian Forde the election coming this Friday and what we can expect in the M1 constituencies. Podcast will be uploaded before Wednesday. We have forecasts for Fingal East, Fingal West, Meath East and Louth. Listen in for the discussion and why these are my tips for the M1 constituencies for #Election2024. We discuss the campaign and the mood of the electorate and positioning of parties and independents and we discuss with particular regards to the four M1 constituencies. Having studied the form, we concluded that elections favour the incumbent and by and large, we should expect no change this election. Expect sitting TD’s standing for election to get re- elected. The Greens will suffer for their role as the smaller party in government. Participation in party politics has declined over the years and this year we see lacklustre campaigns. Candidates have been slow to get their posters up and big canvass teams are not being seen out and about. With low level activity, expect low level turnout and in terms of government, expect more of the same. This Saturday, watch out for the performances of Aontu and Labour. Peadar Tobin TD has been an impressive communicator and has 43 candidates around the country. Aontu are trying to do what the Socialist Party did previously with just a party of on TD Joe Higgins. From 1997, Joe Higgins was the Socialist Party TD and they aimed to grow a party to the left of Labour. Can Peadar Tobin build something more durable than what the Socialist Party managed to achieve with the tenure of Joe Higgins TD? The Socialist Party actually created 6 TDs over time but they are in different factions. Clare Daly joined Joe in the Dail in 2011 but left the Socialist Party in 2012. Joan Collins TD was a Socialist Party member for 20 years prior to being elected as an Independent Cllr in 2004. Paul Murphy TD was elected for the Socialist Party in 2014 but defected to being Independent and then People Before Profit, while Mick Barry and Ruth Coppinger were decades with the Militant and Socialist Party. Peadar Tobin is trying to replicate his base with a wider party base with other TDs for Aontu. Killian suggests Labour is a dying brand and has lost its focus and could in fact face wipe out. Social Democrats may hold what they have and while expected to pick up seats, it is unclear where that could happen. One possibility is Cork East with Liam Quaid and in that case, it would be Soc Dems gain at Labour expense. The government vote will hold up where in Meath East, we can expect Fine Gael to go from one to two seats and in Louth, it might be that, given the Senator John Mc Gahon punch up story, that Fianna Fail will win two seats. In Fingal East, the third seat is a toss up with Duncan Smith, Joan Hopkins and Dean Mulligan in the mix, while in Fingal West, we perceive Sinn Fein’s Louise O’ Reilly as being more certain and that time in the Seanad and full time politics will stand to Lorraine Clifford Lee perhaps, over Grace Boland of Fine Gael family dynasty. In terms of watching out for Aontu, Meath East is a bell weather constituency. Peadar Tobin’s wife Emer Tobin is their candidate and if they can’t win here, they will struggle elsewhere. Here’s our tips. – Fingal East; Garrett’s Tip Darragh O Brien (FF), Alan Farrell (FG) and one of Duncan Smith (Lab), Joan Hopkins (Soc Dem) or Dean Mulligan (Ind) Killian’s tip- Darragh O’ Brien, Alan Farrell and Dean Mulligan (15 candidates) – Fingal West; Garrett’s tip- Lorraine Clifford Lee (FF), Louise O Reilly (SF), Rob O Donoghoe (Lab) Killian’s tip- Lorraine Clifford Lee, Grace Boland, Louise O’ Reilly (12 candidates) – Meath Wast; Tip Darren O’ Rourke (SF), Helen Mc Entee (FG), Thomas Byrne (FG), Sharon Tolan (FG) Killian’s tip- Darren O’ Rourke, Helen Mc Entee, Thomas Byrne and Emer Tobin (Aontu) (18 candidates) – Louth: 3/5 current TDs are retiring Fergus O Dowd (FG), Imelda Munster (SF), Peter Fitzpatrick (Ind) Tip: Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Ged Nash (Lab), Kevin Callan (Ind), Erin Mc Geehan (FF), Alison Comyn (FF) Killian’s tip- Ruairí Ó Murchú, Erin Mc Geehan, Ged Nash, Kevin Callan, Paula Butterly (FG) (24 candidates)

Olga Popova and her husband moved to Ireland in 2021 before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They settled in Santry on the northside of Dublin. Her husband was involved in activities protesting against the Russian government and they were prompted to flee after he spent a night in police custody. ‘I was at home with our child, because in Russia, if you go protests you need to be able to run fast’. Now Olga has her own business here and is co-ordinator of Free Russians Ireland and has developed her Tiktok profile, which has 50,000 followers. Free Russians Ireland have organised protests at the Russian embassy in Dublin and elsewhere to mobilise support for ex-pats who are like minded. They also work together to show solidarity with some of the thousands of political prisoners in Russia, writing letters to them and campaigning for their release. Many people wonder about Russian attitudes to the war. Olga says that ‘while surveys show that 80% Russians support war, this is based on a surveys where 95% refuse to participate in surveys’. She says she hopes for Russia to lose the war because Russia became more autocratic after its victories in war, for example against Napolean in 1812 and later against the Germany in the Second World War. On the other hand, Russia became more free after the Crimean War in the 1850s. Olga hopes for the war to end and for her home country to become more free in the future. Olga’s view is that the war can continue for some time because it is comfortable for the regime but the Free Russians Ireland group have ideas about what can make it uncomfortable. She argues sanctions should be refocused to impact the regime, not the people. Olga’s Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@ollanicko Open Mind Wind is Olga’s marketing business –Success Stories Free Russians Ireland- Facebook Free Russians Ireland- https://www.instagram.com/freerussians.ireland?igsh=MThoZDJwcGVvNm1raw==

In this episode, we look at what’s on along the M1 both cultural and other events in your locality but also what’s on the box. The M1 podcast is joined by Julieanne Doyle, Editor of Ireland AM at Virgin Media events, which is 25 years on air to discuss what’s on in your locality and what’s on the box. We look at the following venues: The Lark Balbriggan, Millbank Theatre Rush, TLT theatre Drogheda, Seamus Ennis Centre in Naul. We cover some of the interesting and amazing events on at all of these venues from horror movie nights and the play ‘How the other half lives’ in Rush and Kneecap in the Seamus Ennis Centre, as well as theatre, comedy events and talks about serial killers at The Lark. Then at the edge of Drogheda and down a cul de sac at the end of an industrial estate is the TLT, where upcoming here you can see Lyra, Deirdre O’ Kane, Neil Delamere and Gavin James. Check out the links below. This is by no means a comprehensive guide to what’s on up and down the M1, but it does offer a glimpse and we are sure there is something to entice and interest you. So whatever it is whether it is scary movies in the Millbank Theatre or talks about Serial Killers in The Lark or comedy nights in the TLT and Seamus Ennis Centre, there is something for you go out to coming up soon and plenty on free player apps as well as TV to keep you entertained. Home – The Lark https://www.tseac.ie https://www.millbanktheatre.ie/ The TLT venue and Skerries has not only its own weekly newspaper, but it has the Rockabill Film Society Buy tickets – Rockabill Film Society (tickettailor.com) as well as its theatre Skerries Theatre Group

In this episode, I speak with Adam Jazi who grew up in Damascus and lived there until 2015, when he fled the Syrian civil war. We talk culture, politics and life in Syria and his journey from Damascus to Drogheda. In the last episode, I discussed the role of the Gormanston Army Camp. It is to have a future has the induction centre for all defence forces recruits. For decades, there has been Irish troops on peace keeping missions in Lebanon , with 389 currently in place. In this episode, I open the discussion with Adam to reflect on the current situation in Lebanon, as it is so close to Syria. In fact, in Lebanon, there are over 1million Syrian refugees. On coming to Ireland, Adam has built a life for himself and his family and he has a dream to establish an arts cafe in the Drogheda area. He has also worked to assist other Syrians to resettle in Ireland. We discuss this work its impact and the circumstances for Syrian refugees in Ireland. We also reflect on what has happened since 2011, with the emergence of the Arab Spring protest movement, the regime response and descent into civil war and the Russian intervention and we discuss how Syrians are getting on in Ireland. While most Syrians wanted to go to Germany, he chose to come to Ireland. He had heard about Ireland through watching the news of the conflict in Ireland in the 1980s and says Syrians identify with Ireland. We discuss the extreme challenges Syrian refugees have living in Ireland. Adam says ‘the people of Ireland are the kindest people of Europe. I have had a very good experience living here’. We know the road to Damascus has an important place in the history of Christianity. Today, we talk about the road from Damascus and the road to Drogheda, in particular. I discuss with Adam Jazi his journey as a refugee from Syria and the experience for Syrians in Ireland. However, we start out discussion reflecting on what is going on in Lebanon. In the last episode, we talked of the future role of Gormanston Army Camp as the induction centre for all defence forces recruits. Currently there are 389 Irish soldiers based in Lebanon. And in discussing the road from Damascus and Syria more generally, it is important to discuss the situation there as well because Syria neighbours both Israel and Lebanon and Iraq on the other. We cover a lot of ground from the current situation in Lebanon and its history and the perspective of what might be, and it looks like what might be is more war and conflict. We explore what happened in Syria from the hopes and early democratic years following WW2 to the takeover by military through to the dictatorship of Assad and further explored what happened in the Arab Spring and afterwards. I hope you found it of interest. I certainly did. If you like what we do at the M1 podcast, please do like and subscribe.

Just off exit 7 on the M1 is the Gormanston Army Camp. What goes on here? What is the history? I spoke to three people who told me more. I discussed with Lt Col John Kirke (Retired), the history of the camp, from its set up as a training base for the British air force, what was to become the RAF, from 1917 during World War 1 through its use as a training base for the Auxilleries (black & tans) and his own experience training and flying with the Irish Air Corp from the 1970s onwards. Lt Col Ronan Curtis is Officer in Command at Gormanston Army Camp today tells me that the camp is at a new phase and will be a centre of increased importance for the Irish Defence Forces. It is to be the induction base for all new recruits to the Irish army. Gormanston College today is a base for refugees seeking international protection, but from 1970, extraordinary numbers came through Gormanston Army Camp from the early years of troubles in the north. Brian Hanley (Assistant Professor Trinity College Dublin) is author of The Impact of the Troubles on the Republic of Ireland. I discussed with Brian the use of Gormanston Army Camp as a refugee camp and explore the reactions of the time. The episode finishes with an RTE from 1970 with Rodney Rice interviewing the social worker Mairead Murphy supporting residents at Gormanston at the time talking about her work. RTÉ Archives | War and Conflict | Fleeing From The North (rte.ie) Captured German plane 1945 Gormanston Airbase 1918 Dr Brian Hanley Lt Col John Kirke (Retired) and Lr Col Ronan Curtis

In this episode, we team up with the Irish History Show Podcast to do a historical drive down the M1. Motorways typically are not the most interesting of places. They are roads to and from one place and another. We look at places of historical interest along the road. Battle of the Boyne site Irish Military War Museum Newgrange Swords Castle We start our drive on from the Cooley Peninsula just north of Dundalk and discuss the legend of Chu Chulainn, driving down the M1, we turn off to the Irish Military Museum just outside Collon. We can learn so much about history by looking around us from studying books to visiting Drogheda and learn about the impact of the Siege of Drogheda. Learn why the Newgrange site is not only an important tourist site, but an important historical site. Places come to prominence at different times and for Balbriggan, the Sack of Balbriggan received international attention. This was recognised as a brutal collective punishment on the part of British forces. We discuss the under recognised figure of Thomas Ashe and appreciate his lasting legacy on the area of Lusk. We also discuss Portrane Psychiatric Hospital, now the centre for the national Forensic Mental Health Service. We recognise important efforts at preserving historic sites and developing them here we tell the story of Swords Castle. There are many aspects of history that we could look at up and down the M1, but perhaps this is enough to whet your appetite and know more. What should we have covered? Home – Irish Military Museum & Park Millmount Museum & Martello Tower | Drogheda.ie Newgrange World Heritage Site : Boyne Valley, Ireland  battleoftheboyne.ie Carrying a cross for Ireland: Thomas Ashe in profile | Century Ireland (rte.ie)

It has been compared to a youth club for adults.  That’s a fair comparison, as there is even a table tennis table in the Warehouse Balbriggan.  The Warehouse has been the home of the Sceal arts collective.  It was a vacant building with no water, no toilets, not much of a roof acquired by Fingal Council and handed over to the group to facilitate the creative arts. Brigg Bus audience Message of Sceal Arts Memory Swans Sunset Mosaic Sceal arts brings local creatives together to meet and exchange ideas.  Since founding just two years ago, dozens of projects have emerged.  In fact, this very podcast is a product of the Sceal Collective.  I put a call out for collaboration on making a local interest podcast series and I received a reply from just the right person – David West, sound engineer.  What I think is great about Sceal is that it is open to anyone, who can come down on a Wednesday evening or whenever something is one and find out, be open and possibly being involved.  I failed art in the Intercert but even I feel comfortable in this space.   I spoke to some of the key people involved to find out more.  Among those I spoke to were Akville Sims and Violeta Savickiene, two artists involved.  Unfortunately the sound quality of my recording was so bad I could not use, but among their art works are Akville’s mosaics at Balbriggan beach and on Quay street made out of recycled materials.  This work involved 60 people.  Violeta teaches children art at the Combined Clubs and in Flemington Community Centre and one of her public works of art is the Swans memory mural at the back of the Combined Clubs, because at this location at one stage there was a lake with swans and some locals will even remember it. In this episode, I spoke to Anita Doolin, David Newton and Alison O Grady about their involvement with Sceal Arts Collective.

In the aftermath of the Dublin riots and more riots in Coolock and dozens of arson attacks on refugee accommodation centres, many people will be thinking Gardai have lost control. Added to a general perception of many, with the level of drug use that our city centres are not safe, there is increased anxiety about how safe we are in our society. I ask former Assistant Garda Commissioner Jack Nolan the following questions: Was the Minister for Justice right in stating that Dublin was generally safe, last year? Is crime going up, down or staying the same? The protests are out of control- will Gardai get on top of the situation? How to combat misinformation? How is Garda morale? Why is drug crime increasing? Is there a case for decriminalisation or legalisation of drugs in Ireland? Do we have enough prison spaces? Have Gardai lost control of anti immigrant protests? Can people have confidence in the Gardai to respond to crime?

If you live in Balbriggan, you live on land that was once owned by just one family- the Hamiltons. Their home was Hampton Hall, which has achieved fame for different reasons. I went to speak to the current owner and custodian of Hampton Hall, David Pratt about how he came to own this building and discuss its history and his current and future plans. This is a building with extraordinary history and I also discussed with Historian Gerry Mullins as regards ‘that photo’ and with Cathy Mullan about the Gaeltacht experience in the 1970s. Cathy Mullan Gerry Mullins George Hamilton (1732-93) was an MP for Belfast but was chiefly known for developing the town of Balbriggan. His grandson George Alexander Hamilton (1802-71) was also an MP but was known for a reputation as a landlord where no tenant died during the famine. As Chairman of the company that developed the Dublin to Belfast rail line, he also famously negotiated the building of a private family train station, just for his family, as the location at what is known as Lady’s Stairs at the coastal entrance to Ardgillan. Hampton Hall is dated from 1758 but there was a previous building at this site called Straw Hall dating back to the 1400s. George Hamilton MP (1732–1793) Straw Hall marking- dating back for 1500s

Last month, Dublin City Council listed new houses as affordable at €475,000 on Oscar Traynor Road. The ‘market’ price is even higher. This is a discounted price, which is meant to be affordable, but €475,000 is not affordable for most of us. There is another housing scheme introduced in 2020 which seeks to address the crisis in affordability. The ‘cost rental’ housing which is increasing since that time find its inspiration from the so called ‘Vienna’ model. That is, housing rented out at no profit. The rent pays for the cost of the house and maintenance. When activists were advocating this game changing solution in the period 2015-2020, they envisioned if introduced at scale, rents would become affordable at say €700-800 per unit. By the time the scheme was introduced, its first units were renting out at €1200 per month on the southside of Dublin for 2 bed houses and the first cost rented units at €1200 in Balbriggan for 3 bed houses. Cost rental housing is administered through Approved Housing Bodies and others including the Land Development Agency. If we had cost rental housing over decades, the model would have served us, as a state, very well because housing rent would not only pay for itself but would also generate income at the end of loan terms. In terms of sustainability, it is a preferred method to social housing rent, which is housing that is rented based on the household income. In Dublin City Council, this is 15% and in Fingal this is 12% of net income. There are people in older social housing developments who say the rent they have paid has more than paid for their housing. This is true, if they have been renting since the 1970s, when the average house price was less than €10,000. Today though, houses and apartments are being acquired by AHBs and local councils at a cost of €400,000 and €500,000 each. They are then rented out at social housing rents (15% and 12% in the case of Dublin City and Fingal) which is at an average of €280 per month. Of course, it is vital that social housing is provided at an increased level because we are in a situation where we have 14,000 or more homeless. Cost rental housing has not unfortunately delivered affordable rents to the ‘squeezed middle’. The cost rents have risen significantly since 2020 because the cost of buying houses has increased significantly. Recent cost rents advertised in Fingal list 3 bed houses renting out at €1600 and €1700 a month. This is more than most recent mortgages. So affordable houses are listed at €475,000 and affordable rents are €1700 a month and we have more people in housing need than ever before, what policy is going to address the situation of a crisis in housing affordability. Last year, it was announced the government has commenced the construction of up to 2,000 modular housing units at a cost of €145,000 each. They were built to provide accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. First look inside Cork’s modular homes as Mahon prepares to welcome Ukrainian families (irishexaminer.com) People may remember modular housing was presented as a solution as far back as 2014, after the death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie. It was presented as a rapid build low cost solution to a growing crisis in housing and homelessness. One year on from Jonathan Corrie’s death, we’re still relying on short-term solutions (thejournal.ie) Dublin may be getting five modular housing sites – here’s where they’ll be (thejournal.ie) However, between regulations and objections to the notion of ‘flat pack’ housing, modular housing did not feature in the delivery of social housing over the years. Having walked by one of the newer build ‘estates’ in Sligo built for Ukrainians, I was very impressed with their presentation. They do look different from standard housing, but they do look great. They are small at 45 sqm for a two bed house, but small is what you get for €145,000. With the roll out of these schemes around the country, it led me to think, why not provide small low cost rapid build modular housing for anyone who wants it. At a cost of €145,000, this would lead to a cost rent of €500 per month. The nature of cost rent administration is that it would be provided to people who choose it, not simply forced there. Surely it could be provided to people on social housing lists too, particularly through the Choice Based Lettings schemes. More and more I think about it and although I tried to raise it as a solution in various arenas, I thought I would use this podcast to delve deeper into the topic. I warmly welcome your feedback. As well as my two guests, I spoke to representatives of three other modular building companies. These are companies already getting busy in providing housing on a one off basis sometimes in back gardens but sometimes also as one off housing. I spoke to Ciaran Byrne, Marketing Co-ordinator of The Pod Factory and to Housing Finance Commentator Karl Deeter to discuss more. Have a look at the website of The Pod Factory and see what they do The Pod Factory | Bespoke Affordable Homes and here are some images of the modular builds being delivered currently OPW Ukrainian Modular Housing | COADY Architects Some of the Rapid Build Homes for housing Ukranians at Mahon, Cork. Picture: David Keane Examiner News 09.06.2023

I have long wondered about this question, particularly as I have moved from Howth to Balbriggan. No cricket between Howth and Clontarf but then as soon as you pass Malahide, which has a club, every town in Fingal is blessed with a club. There is a cricket club in Malahide, Portrane, Rusk, Lusk, Skerries, Ring Commons, Balrothery, Balbriggan, Ongar, Tyrellstown and possibly a few other places. Nowhere in Ireland has such a strong cricket profile- here we find out why. In this episode, I discuss with Jim Bennett, former President of Leinster Cricket and Chair of the Hills Cricket Club in Skerries this question, because he has written the book The story of cricket in Fingal. The discussion has left me wanting more. Cricket is the sport which generates the best writing and commentary, Jim contends. He recommends CLR James Beyond a Boundary, which I will surely follow up on. CLR James was a great writer and I have one of his other books, which is The Black Jacobin- the story of the slave uprising in Haiti 1789. CLR James chronicles the only successful slave revolt in history and provides a critical portrait of their leader, Toussaint L’Ouverture, ‘one of the most remarkable men of a period rich in remarkable men’. James was also even an acquaintance of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, but I digress. This podcast is about cricket and there is nothing that says Summer like cricket. I have even included the BBC cricket theme tune music. The grounds in The Hills are impressive, as they are in the North County club. As I look at both clubs, I have a niggling feeling, these clubs would really benefit from cycle paths to give children direct access to their facilities. If I had stood once again for local election, I would have made that an issue. These are great facilities and they should be opened up to all who wish to access. My discussion with Jim, brings great insights into the sport and the culture within the game from the story of the relationships which laid the basis for clubs formation to more recent trends of young people from places like Afghanistan finding their home in playing cricket in Fingal. I hope you enjoy this episode. If you do, please comment below. If you don’t, please also comment below. Please review, share and like on spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It all helps to build profile for this podcast, which I hope to help to make a home for local and regional audio content.

Ireland’s Stephen Roche of the time in 1896, a Balbriggan local came to prominence when he won the World Championship in cycling in Copenhagen. I spoke to Brian Howley, Chairperson of the Balbriggan Historical Society about Harry Reynolds, his life in Balbriggan and beyond. The Historical Society also had a display about Harry Reynolds on exhibition during their pop-up museum at the Summerfest. I also spoke to Hugh Devlin of HD Bike and Sport at the Balbriggan Retail Park. Hugh’s father set up a bike shop in 1984 at the back of Quinnsworth, later Tesco, off High Street in Balbriggan. With the end of their lease, Hugh Junior made the move to their impressive new facility at the retail park. I spoke to Hugh about cycling trends then and now.

Election day is fast approaching and in this episode, we start with news updates. Caio Benicio was a Deliveroo cyclist who intervened to stop the knife attacker on Parnell Square in Dublin back in November and now is he is a Fianna Fail candidate in the local elections. Marion Agrios was a candidate for Fine Gael for Drogheda Rural but had to step down after On the Ditch revealed she had received a pay off from a developer who wanted her to withdraw an objection to housing near her Termonfeckin home. We discussed the far right prospects in the elections and also how they are featuring in the media. Alan Fagan, regarded as a foul mouthed internet troll, was interviewed on LMFM this week and was asked if he was a suitable candidate due to his criminal past when he was in the throes of addiction. We feel it was unfair to focus on behaviour while he was addicted and believe his call for a residential centre for addiction in Drogheda is very worthy. However we do feel he should be challenged on his posts, as outline in this article Foul-mouthed internet troll to stand in election for Irish Freedom Party – SundayWorld.com Should there be a voter licence? In order to drive, you have to demonstrate knowledge, in order to pass a test. Should it be that in order to vote, you need to show knowledge about what you are voting for? We discuss this question. I was also joined by Cllr Emma Coffee (Fianna Fail, Dundalk South), Cllr Emma Cutlip (Labour, Drogheda Urban) and candidate Maria White (Sinn Fein, Laytown Bettystown) where we discussed the campaigns and issues they are raising and the challenges of representing constituents. We would love to hear your feedback. Please do send a comment and share the links and add to your favourites.

In this episode, we discuss with Ex Cllr Killian Forde and Sam Tranum (Deputy Editor Dublin Inquirer) prospects for the upcoming local elections due on Friday June 7th. The Dublin Inquirer has just produced the Dublin Voter Guide. The guide is a very comprehensive guide to the local elections. The Dublin Inquirer wrote to every candidate in Dublin City and Fingal wards they could identify and asked them questions on issues their readers wanted to raise. We discussed further aspects of the councillor role and what should be expected. Should councillors be full time, how can we make our towns and cities better? Sam talks us through aspects of the guide and then with Killian, we drilled down further into details of wards in Fingal on the M1- namely Balbriggan, Rush Lusk Donabate and Swords. Please add this podcast to your favourites on wherever you get your podcasts.

If you didn’t want to listen to RTE Radio 1 or 2 up to the end of the 1980s, the only option you had was to listen to the pirate radio stations. Pictured: Brian Greene, host of Pirate.ie and the famous Radio Caroline ship, which was launched from the port of Greenore by Ronan O’ Rahilly in 1964 and changed the radio landscape for decades in both UK and Ireland. The most famous of these stations was Radio Caroline. The station broadcast to the UK from 1964 and was seen as core to the swinging 60s counter cultural movement in promoting music that engaged young people. The station itself launched many mainstream broadcasting careers. Based on ships off the coast in the north sea, Radio Caroline actually launched by an Irishman from the port of Greenore. There were many other pirate radio stations and some broadcast to locations up and down the M1. To discuss this, I am joined by Brian Greene, radio enthusiast and domain host of radio.ie We start off the episode with the sounds of pirate radio stations which existed between Dublin and Louth in the 1980s (along the M1)- Telstar, Sunsine, Community Radio Fingal and Boyneside.

Yes, we vary the topics here and in this episode we discuss with north county Dublin resident news reporter for the Irish Independent Laura Lynott her career in journalism and with former journalist Dundalk resident and Head of Communications at Fingal County Council Gerry Mc Dermott, the future of print media. Gerry tells us about the role and impact of print media at a local level and what brought him to his career in journalism from commentating his childhood playtime and writing match reports for his grandfather, journalism was his career from just after school onwards. He went on to work with the Donegal Democrat, local radio and the Irish Independent before moving over to the role of Communications Head at the FAI before starting with Fingal County Council back in 2016. Laura tells how she got her start in the Salford Advertiser before moving to Donegal with her mother and working at the Derry Journal and later her work with the Irish Independent. Newspapers used to be the main way people got their news alongside television. While still in print, many have stopped buying and go online for their information. Laura still writes because she believes journalism can be a force for good and believes print media must survive. She tells us that she believes there is a future for print newspapers. With the advent of radio, in the past, it was said that would make print obsolete, then they said television would make both radio and print obsolete and it does sometimes seem possible that the internet will make all previous media obsolete. However, Laura says that as well as the challenge of online misinformation and social media, we also have the challenge of AI, where content can be manipulated. In this case, written, edited and press council regulated paper will have an ongoing role in the media landscape. She also tells us what she likes about living in north county Dublin.

I spoke to some women living in Balbriggan having fled the war in Ukraine. All were grateful for the response both by the Irish state but also the Irish people for their support in helping people to find safety in Ireland. I spoke to Nadia and her daughter Ivana who fled Bucha just as the Russians arrived by air to invade Hostomel Airport. Nadia has lived in Ireland for 22 years and went to Bucha to see her daughter Ivanna and grandchildren for a holiday. They saw the Russian helicopters and troops, just as they fled. Slightly larger than Balbriggan, Bucha was a town of 30,000 on the edge of Kyiv was occupied by Russian troops for just over a month. Just over 700 were killed during the occupation. Only when the Russians left did the reality become clear with dead bodies on the streets and mass graves in the woods. The town became known throughout the world as a result of this war crime. Since then, many more crimes have been committed. Olesia has been living in Ireland for 21 years after working as an English and French teacher in Sumy. She moved to Ireland to work with a logistics company working in both English and French markets. In February 2022, she was joined by her sister Viktoria and two children who fled Ukraine upon the invasion by Russia. They discuss their integration and observations. Before the war, Kharkiv had a population of 1.5 million. In the first months of the war, only 300 thousand remained. People left the city en masse. Julia who also lives in Balbriggan and is now working with Bank of Ireland, came from Ukraine. She was reluctant to leave her home city of Kharkiv. She was resolute in the first days of the war that she would say and help rebuild the country, but like so many, she changed her mind. I discuss with her what changed to make her leave.

With Marks & Spencer pulling out, the D Hotel changing use, in addition to the fact that there are over 100 vacant properties in Drogheda town centre, we look at whether it is possible to rebuild the town with a vibrant centre at its core. In these discussions, we explore solutions that might help regenerate Drogheda including pedestrian status, co working hubs, vacant sites levies and more. First we speak to Ged Nash TD, who believes city status will help drive development in Drogheda. I spoke to journalist with the Drogheda Independent Alison Comyn for her perspective on what has happened to the town over recent decades. Alison with lots of contacts locally has her finger on the pulse of the town. The Mill Drogheda is quite a unique development and while it is on the edge of town, the offer of the Mill is coworking space, which is something that could be developed even more in the town centre bringing people into the town.

Rush based comedian Steve Cummins discusses his career in comedy and the night time economy. In this episode, we interview Comedian and MC at the Laughter Lounge Steve Cummins. As someone who has been making his living from the night time economy, we get Steve’s take on how things are. In 2000, there were over 500 night clubs in Ireland and today there are less than 80, while the number of pubs has dropped off in the number of thousands. Social habits have changed with people drinking less and going out less. The Irish pub is renowned around the world, yet it closing its doors in Ireland. The Sale of Alcohol Bill, if passed this year, will mean pubs staying open later and night clubs possibly staying open till 6am. There is opposition to this proposal with some believing that it will lead to law and order problems or that it will encourage alcoholism. Can our towns, cities and villages be re imagined with both regeneration during the day but also with a vibrant night time economy? Listen in to our discussion.

Local elections can be important but many people aren’t aware of what their local council does and what difference local elections make. In this episode, we discuss with Ex Sinn Fein and Labour Councillor Killian Forde the role of a councillor, councils and what to expect in the campaign in the run up to election day on 7th June. We will be discussing the possibilities for all parties in the three council areas of Louth, Meath and Fingal. This is essential listening if you want a broad overview as to these areas.

Dublin , Ireland – 30 June 2017; Conan Byrne of St Patrick’s Athletic celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between St Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United at Richmond Park in Dublin. (Photo By David Maher/Sportsfile via Getty Images) In this episode, we are joined by Conan Byrne, former Professional footballer, stellar League of Ireland legend, who had stints at UCD, Sporting Fingal, St Patricks Athletic, Shelbourne and Glenavon in the Irish League. Conan lives in Swords and is now a school teacher in Rush. Last week, saw a record 10,000 fans at Tallaght Stadium for the Shamrock Rovers Vs Bohemians derby and in November, over 40,000 attended the FAI Cup Final between Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic. We took the opportunity to discuss the growing attendances at games, why that is and what is the match day experience at clubs, particularly clubs in and around the M1- Shelbourne, Bohemian, Drogheda United and Dundalk.

For the past number of years, we have been impacted by what is commonly referred to as the Cost of Living crisis. Food, rent, mortgages, energy costs have all increased so much, yet our incomes haven’t risen to match. In this episode, we are joined by Food writer and Irish Examiner Balbriggan resident Caitriona Redmond what you can do about managing costs and coping with increased cost of living.

Today, it is a school like any other but not so long ago in a bygone era, it was the Franciscan boarding school for boys. By 2015, when the school transferred to the public sector, there were 250 pupils left – mostly day pupils and they included boys and girls. In 1991, there were 600 boys only and of this number 550 were 7 day boarders. What was it like? Credit: Jim Fitzpatrick (yes, the same Jim who painted the iconic Che Guevara image. Jim is an ex pupil)

In this episode, we discuss with Teacher Kevin Curran what it is like to teach in Balbriggan. The town with Ireland’s youngest and most diverse population has been subject to much attention. From discourse about gangs to the Newstalk 3 part feature on youth in Balbriggan, the M1 Podcast figures it an opportune time to discuss with Kevin Curran his book Youth.