Sin Scéal Eile

Dave has found his calling as a musician, and thankfully left his old life as a software programmer behind. He used his lucky winnings on the Basic Income for the Arts scheme to write and record his second album. His music, like most art, is a processing tool. He turned to it in a big way after a severe tragedy in his life, and he has never looked back. Just to flag - today's episode tells a story some listener may find distressing. Please take care while listening. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandie is a full time psychic medium. Today, she took us up to the Rock of Cashel to see her great grandfather’s resting place and talk me through her job (though it seems like more of a calling really). Sandie comes from a long line of psychic mediums including tea leaf readers, palm readers, tarot cards and even bones and stones. She can feel, see and even communicate with the spirits that surround us. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren took us on a tour of the Eco Village in Cloughjordan, something I've always been fascinated with. It's an incredible community of wildly different people who all share a similar ethos. They have each built sustainable homes, decorated the parks and trails with edible plants, and have an amphitheater, enterprise center (with 3D printers and laser wood cutting facilities) and even allotments on site. Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve met Matt before today, but only through a screen. I was his mentor for a few sessions and was tasked with providing him with guidance with his photography. Really though, he didn’t need it. Matt’s work is stunning and incredibly unique. He uses his photography to access his community and connect with his queerness. He photographs male, nude models, but has also found liberation in becoming a life model himself. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miceál has been given a second and third chance at life. He is the recipient of two kidney transplants, one when he was 14 and another just last year. The donors? His own brother and sister. He is, of course, incredibly grateful to them, and does not take a single moment in life for granted. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avery introduced me to the wonderful world of ceramics. In Dublin 8 there’s a fantastic community ceramics studio called Throwing Shapes where you can pay a membership fee and throw down some clay. Avery has found his joy teaching classes, making lovely wee mugs and even a bespoke piece for his Nana’s urn!xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sian is a woman’s woman. With each success she puts the ladder back down to help others come up. We met in her new home in Cork that’s surrounded by rubble as she renovates it.  We cover so many topics, from her numerous pilates studios, plus size athleisure wear, her huge successes in business, and being a busy, fulfilled, childfree woman who goes out of her way to help other Female Founders. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robyn is a beautiful young woman, full of the joys of life. She’s in a relationship, living away from home in Cork city where she goes to college. This normal, happy life wasn’t always on the cards for Robyn and she feels so lucky to be where she is now. Robyn has been chronically ill her whole life. She was diagnosed with POTS at a young age and since then has battled with lots of different symptoms and other diagnoses along the way. She’s 20 now, and with physio, medication and hard work she has started to see a light at the end of the tunnel, and a chance to start living a more carefree life. xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We met Caroline at her family home, and she gave us the grand tour (in the hopes that we might be prospective buyers). Caroline is grabbing life by the horns and living the best life she possibly can, like she always has done. She’s determined and strong willed. At the age of 4, after seeing news coverage on TV, she decided she wanted to become a nurse and help children in Africa. Her undiagnosed dyslexia didn’t make it an easy career path to follow, but she did it nonetheless . She went on to travel the world, raise a family, build a beautiful home and become an artist. She may be in her 60s, but Caroline is showing no signs of slowing down. (It was her badass idea to be photographed on the ride-on mower!)RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan has the coolest job. He makes title animations for TV & film, something that I find truly fascinating as it sets the scene for the whole show. Of late, he has entered the world of fine art, selling pieces in the RHA annual show and gaining the confidence to perhaps pursue it a little more seriously than ever before. This segway is something he can only do now that his kids are a little older and the risks are a little lower.With his wife, Cara, they made the decision to move back to his home town of Ballydehob to raise their kids. Their home is idyllic and feels like we’re sitting in the french countryside under a sun-dappled vineyard, his little dachshund chilling at our feet and Cara making dinner inside. If this is West Cork, then I’m in. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 20 years old, Cork native Lavie Olupona is no stranger to the spotlight. Through her work as a spoken word poet she has performed at Electric Picnic and Misléor. Today, I met Lavie in her local park in Clonakilty, Cork, where she wanted to show me a very special bench. It’s a bench that is dedicated to her grandfather Michael Foley, commissioned by her Mam, aunty and grandmother. Lavie’s Mam, Mary, sadly passed away from cancer in February this year, but left Lavie with plenty to remind her of her presence.  “My mam was actually a poet as well. She left a journal with all that she wanted and letters to us. She had everything prepared. Every day I see little signs around me that let me know she’s here. I saw a feather on my way to meet you today, and she said she'd come back as a crow with a fag in her mouth. She had a very specific humour, very dark but hilarious.” Lavie’s Mam was a proud Irish Traveller and instilled that sense of pride and heritage in her daughter. “I'm very honoured that my Nana passed down a lot of stories from her life to me and my Mam. I try to incorporate that in my poetry where possible. And my Mam was a very proud Traveller woman, so I try to carry the culture and history with me and honour her that way.”While Lavie’s Mam is Irish, her Dad is Nigerian, which is a beautifully unique mix. “A lot of people tell me it's really interesting or that it’s like I have two identities. But for me, I think it's one together, combined, that's just how I was raised.”Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donncha is a dark horse. He’s been a dairy farmer all his life (as was his father, and his father’s father). He dotes on his herd and loves to see them so calm and curious and you can easily tell that they dote on him too, they crowd around him to take a photo together. But Donncha is a man of many talents, not just milking. He’s tread the boards of local stages and even tried his hand at salsa dancing. Like most farmers, Donncha works relentlessly on the farm, rarely taking holidays, worrying about diseases and never giving much thought to retirement (much to his wife, Teresa’s disappointment).Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valerie is a busy woman. She’s a single Mam to three kids from ages 28 down to four (one with additional needs), she works as a lecturer in TUS and is also studying for her PHD. Valerie is tasked with finding out what kids need in order to thrive in education. She recognises that not everyone learns in the same way, but that everyone deserves the chance to excel. Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Richard in a scout den, which made no sense at first but becomes clear once we chat. He’s an academic, a researcher and a geographer. He’s fascinated with holy wells, pilgrimages and how the spaces we inhabit affect us (and how we in turn affect the spaces).xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan describes himself as having a “cranky” face, but I don’t see it. We had summer evening cans out his back garden in Limerick and he told us all about his career as an air traffic controller, moonlighting as a rugby commentator and the latest book he’s working on. His voice is calm and reassuring, exactly what’s needed as an ATC!xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sahar is young, free and very much in love, not just with her boyfriend, but with life, the music scene and Cork! Originally from New Delhi, life in Cork can be quite different at times from what she’s used to, but she’s acclimatising well and her family come to visit. The first thing she did when she moved over was throw herself into the indie scene and snap up Arctic Monkeys tickets, something she’s been dreaming of doing since she was a teenager. xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna had a revelation later in life thanks to amazing doctors in her local menopause clinic. Her kids were on their way to being raised and she just wasn’t feeling right. She hopped on the HRT and credits that for the freedom she found to follow her dream of becoming an artist. She now makes these beautiful thread creations from her home studio. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eleanor is a beautiful soul with a huge heart and the best of intentions. Through her work in the trans community in Limerick, she regularly offers peer support to others who are following a similar journey to her own. Eleanor describes Limerick as having a great artistic, queer community that she’s very proud to be a part of. Together we chat about family acceptance, trans healthcare in Ireland (or lack of it) and just living a happy, normal life. xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane is not what I expected at all. He was nominated by his wife Kate who told me that Shane is an Ultra Cyclist who does 2,500kms with not a bother on him. Obviously I turned up expecting to see a man in lycra who wants to chat about bikes. What I got was a man with many thrash metal t-shirts, who told me lots of hilarious stories, like when he was 20mins away from death and how he made friends with the priest who tried (and failed) to give him his last rites. Oh and he has the best laugh I’ve ever heard. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know the feeling you get when you meet someone who is really sound, but also destined for great things? That’s how I feel about Mary. It’s hard to explain her work (and do it justice). She's an incredibly talented designer who works in textiles, but while also creating her own prints and patterns. She makes gorgeous drawings, the Limerick City one being particularly divine (the mayor even wore it as a waistcoat). Go check her out! xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle takes us on a French themed trip around the world, there’s love, heartbreak, excitement, a best friend who knows exactly what to do in every crisis and a bit of murder mystery too. She’s a natural born story teller with a rollercoaster of a life. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharon has had a very full life, but not one without its ups and downs. She’s proud of the fact that when she was a very young woman she got “justice” (air quotes added by herself) against her child sexual abuser, but she knows that many others can’t go down that route and may never have the relief that she felt when the verdict came through. Now, she cherishes every single day and says ‘yes’ to every invitation, because she knows too well that life can be cut short in an instant.Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy is a cheery, happy soul. She has recently emigrated to Ireland from the United States after 30 years of choosing it as her preferred holiday destination. She packed in her job and ran away with her savings. She now lives a much slower and much more community centred life, with some whiskey tastings and gigs along the way. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Gaël in a Saturday market a few years back. He has a little van from which he made the most amazing crepes. Today, we sat in his very quaint wee house, surrounded by art and plants, and we were treated to vegan cookies. It’s Gaël’s dream to open a community space in the area. Somewhere kids can hang out, listen to live music and a place where locals can host a market. The biggest challenge to realising his dreams, is space. With new hotels and apartments popping up everywhere around him, there is a complete lack of community spaces. Something we’re all very familiar with and frustrated with.Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enda has been busy this week on the lead up to Irish Aids Day (June 15th) and meets us today utterly exhausted. Enda is an incredible queer icon, known also as drag queen, Veda who has played stages across the world, released albums, starred in movies, hosts a podcast but today we’re talking specifically about his activism. Enda went public with his own HIV diagnosis back in 2019 and has since launched ‘You, Me and HIV' — a nationwide campaign to address misconceptions around HIV and help reduce the stigma for those living with it.Some of the topics discussed today might be distressing for some listeners - so mind yourself and always ask for help when you need it.RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Éanna is mad about emo music. It’s something he came to later in life after leading what he describes as a “sheltered” life. He has found his passion and his tribe and now runs emo clubs around the country where he plays an awful lot of My Chemical Romance!Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here is a woman who has found her passion. Johanne lives by Samba, it’s her be all and end all. It’s her community and her joy. What’s most amazing is the connection she feels to her sadly departed Dad whenever she’s playing with her bloco. We found Johanne buzzing around the festival, in her self described smurf outfit, banging her drum, having the time of her life. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead exudes art in everything she does. In her professional capacity she endeavors to create spaces that people can be in awe of. This weekend at the festival she’s inviting people to her loveball, where she’ll hand out love letters and spread a little joy while DJ-ing under the very fitting moniker of minikimono.Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re down at Beyond the Pale this weekend doing the day job (photography) and so we thought we’d interview some of the lovely folk around us, like Michal. Michal is the brains behind the amazing queer collective, Rathaus, who take to the stage tonight. They’re an inclusive queer collective of DJs, performers and all round incredible people. xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Val makes us a cuppa in her lovely home and we fall instantly into the rhythm of a very quick Irish conversation. Val has lived in more counties than I’ve traveled to, but now resides in Dublin (although Cork seems to be vying for her attention too). Together we talk a mile a minute and cover topics like why Lesbos is called Lesbos, the importance of community and if we had another hour, we’d be able to fix all of Ireland’s problems too. Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jill is a trailblazer, even though she would probably never describe herself as one. Jill has been swimming in Sandycove for nearly 50 years. In 1974, she was one of the first women to ever swim in the 40 foot. Fed up with having little space or depth to swim in Sandycove at the time, she defied the gender ban and swam with the men. Jill worked for RTE, but when she got married had to give up her job and stay home. However, she feels that the marriage bar (a ban on employing married women) wasn’t such an awful thing as she got to spend time with her children and focus on creating a home for them, which she cherished. Jill still swims in Sandycove, sometimes twice a day. Today, she defiantly ignores the red flag that’s just gone up. There’s still a bit of rebel in her it seems. xRSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barry left Dublin for Cavan, and is living a lot of people’s dream. During the pandemic things got a little noisy in their apartment in Portobello. Yvonne, Barry’s wife, lost her mum, and she felt the need to live a little closer to where she came from, Cavan. They now have all the space in the world, not to mention peace and quiet. Ever keen to keep busy and integrate into his new community, Barry has transformed a derelict old creamery into a workshop for his fledgling business. Inside, he restores old furniture and creates new bespoke pieces. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stevie is a new Dad and is taking stock on all that means and how his life and perspective has changed. While also taking us on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey with a story about his own Dad. What we leave with is a story of hope…and Star Wars. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve never met a woman like Doris before. She’s full of the chats and leads quite the adventurous life. She whipped around Mondello in a Ferrari in her 80s, and plans to abseil down Ireland’s tallest building to celebrate her 90th. She ran a B&B, a pub and worked as a nurse in England for the longest time (getting up to all sorts of antics). Her creativity comes through in her glamour, her make up is divine and she recently trained as a nail technician and home is her very own gallery, with lots of her artworks adorning the walls. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Naomhán is a dapper gent, sporting a brand new hat for this occasion. When I go to meet him down in Sandycove, he’s surrounded by friends of every generation, all having a great aul chat. He comes here every day for a swim. He’s been swimming all of his life, taking after his Mam who also swam every day right up until her 80s. Naomhán has led a full life, with children and grandchildren, moves to Wales and London and back again, but I feel he’s being quite modest when we talk about his career achievements. He’ll barely mention that he was the one responsible for bringing the gas pipeline to Dublin! He says he can hardly remember these things now, but I bet if we had a cup of tea and a cosy afternoon he’d tell me it all. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daragh was lucky enough to have a relationship with all of his four grandparents growing up and I think that could be the reason why he’s got such a mature head on his shoulders. At just 31, he seems to have life sussed. He’s grounded, rooted and sound. His poetry and writing is centred around the need for connection, representation and the human experience. Daragh is also the current “Cork Person of the Month”.RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor describes himself as “ordinary and normal”, and he is, and it’s so lovely. He has 3 kids which he dotes on. He has all the usual anxieties that I imagine most parents have. He works hard during the week so that he can provide nice things for his family. He keeps an allotment down the road which he tends to with his kids, harvesting pumpkins at Halloween and brussel sprouts at Christmas. Conor opted for the normal life, he went with all the options that felt naturally right, like marrying his childhood sweetheart and settling down with a family. He’s not one to take any of this for granted, he counts his blessings and knows from experience that life can be too short at times. He’s eager to make each day count. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruth has been through the wars and out the other side. Just over 2 years ago she developed a neurological disorder which left her paralysed. A fatigue and pins and needles feeling that she put down to covid, rapidly turned into her worst nightmare. It took away her ability to walk, to use her arms and feed herself. She was completely reliant on help from her family and friends. She found herself in a hospital bed for months, not even able to turn the page of a book and read (which is what she loves most in life). Remarkably, Ruth has re-learned to do all the things that the disorder took from her, she likens it to a toddler, learning how to walk and so on. What’s more remarkable is that she’s also since published her first novel, Shorelines. A very unique story for a YA audience, a retelling of sorts of the Little Mermaid, one that will no doubt inspire and comfort a whole host of young readers and make them a little more accepting of each other and themselves. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approached Imelda’s driveway, we ran into a bit of an issue. There was no way we were getting our very tall campervan under her very gorgeous, but very low hanging trees. I thought it to be a completely fitting entrance to a woodturner's home. Imelda isn’t just any woodturner, she is the Chair of The Irish Woodturners' Guild (which is the oldest woodturning association in the world).I hold my hands up and admit that I have no clue what woodturning is and Imelda graciously explains the practice to me in beautiful detail. What I take away from it is that if you love being creative, working with your hands, using machines that could take your eye out and the odd go of a chainsaw, you’ll love woodturning. Have a listen to our chat and find out how to get involved, I’m currently pricing up campervan sized lathes. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinéad didn’t always know what she wanted to do in life. She studied and moved and kept her mind wide open to opportunities. Eventually she found something that really suited her, something her father also used to do. Sinéad is a tour guide with a twist. She brings tourists and locals around to sample the culinary delights of Waterford, and yes, that of course includes the famous blaa! RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m going to preface this by saying I love trains and I love miniature models of anything. Meeting Eugene in his garage was a dream. He has converted the whole space into both a workshop and a miniature version of Waterford train station as it appeared in the 80s. The whole thing is a wonder to behold. He has handmade so many little models, including the train carriages and engines, the buildings, the construction cranes, a graveyard, the tiny people and even a whole load of seagulls. If you look close enough, there’s even a tiny 80s version of himself and his son Trevor. Eugene can’t comprehend why I’ve chosen to come and chat with him. He doesn't often show his trains to people outside of the community. I think he may be underestimating the amazing job he’s done on them. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hit the road to Kilkenny this week to meet Mick, the mechanic. Out the back of his “home home” is where he works away, he only just started this business in January and the phone hasn’t stopped since. He has an engineering brain and a romantic heart. He tells me that his wife, whom he married just in October gone, persuaded him to come out of his comfort zone and do this project. He credits his wife Áine for a lot in his life. The two of them are mad about rally driving, even using their own rally cars for the wedding. It might be an expensive hobby, some may even consider it dangerous, but it’s the reason these two found each other and that’s worth every penny. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s amazing about Sophia is her honesty but also her incredibly sharp sense of humour. She’s intelligent and strong, you need to be when you’re a female comedian. Together we eat snacks and talk about her upcoming show at the Edinburgh Fringe and setting a great example for her daughter. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I stumbled upon a really interesting cafe in the woods a while back and approached the woman behind the wooden till to find out more. When I say stumbled, I really do mean it. You wouldn’t notice it was there, it blends so wonderfully into its environment in the Moore Abbey woods in Monasterevin.Woodstack cafe is the result of an amazing amount of effort by Dee Ryan, her husband Dave and their teenage kids, a true family business in its infancy. I first thought the name Woodstack was a nod to how the place is designed, with stacks of wood all around making up the furniture and a massive archway that you pass under to enter, but the more I chat to Dee, the more I think it may also be a wee nod to the festival Woodstock, as it’s got a proper festival spirit to it. Dee and Dave were childhood sweethearts who met in secondary school. It’s out the back of his parent’s house that they’ve created this eco-friendly, festival spirited, community focused cafe. “Dave grew up in this forest, adventuring, climbing trees and I grew up just out the road. We were very conscious about what we were going to put here. We didn’t want to just put a horsebox trailer that would kind of stick out. We needed it to blend in with the land, and to feel like it’s always been here.”The entire space is made from reclaimed wood, glass, tables and chairs. Everything is upcycled and given a second life. The Glasshouse is the little circular shack that complements the cafe. It was added on when Dee recognised the need for a community space. Somewhere people can shelter from the rain and cold in the winter after their walks, but also a place where they can program movie nights for kids and families, and every Sunday host gigs by local buskers. Dee is very community minded. Yes, she needs to make a living from this business venture but she does it without compromising the ethos of the space. “You can’t be afraid of a bit of hard work and you have to be open to chopping and changing where you need to, to fit with your customer's needs and their wants. We get involved with so many different groups within the community and a lot of the local clubs would come here to meet. We try to tailor what we do specifically to what is needed in the area, that comes before all else.”Like anyone you talk to who runs a hospitality business these days, Dee doesn’t downplay the hard work element. It’s tough to break even, but entering into their third year now, things seem to have settled for Dee and Dave, and they’re still focused on doing things the right way. “We started from scratch. We needed to do it cheaply, but still make it nice and inviting. We also were aware that the coffee industry isn’t exactly eco-friendly and that we wanted to offset that and make it as ethical as we could, usually by using as much locally sourced material as possible. We use Woodland coffee, and they plant a tree for every box of coffee sold. It’s not some abstract tree in a far away land, it’s on a plantation down in Limerick and that matters.”What’s glaringly obvious at Woodstack is that what Dee has created is an extremely unique family business, full of passion, good vibes, quirky ideas and true community spirit. Dee’s teenage children can usually be found working away at the cafe when they’re not at school, either behind the till, or dressed up in costume for the Halloween, Christmas and Easter events she hosts. Their presence is absent from the cafe today as they prepare for their leaving cert exams. She says that “they're both hoping to study furniture design and wood technology.” It seems that they didn’t lick it off the stones.               RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was Johno’s daughter who nominated him to be in this project. She describes her dad with great affection and admires his passion for life. Johno is many things, he owns the Laois Angling Club, he’s an avid hunter and farmer (though he says his 200 sheep is nothing to the thousands he used to keep when the industry was in a better place). Faced with the decline in farming, Johno and his wife Edna decided to open an angling centre on their land. At the bottom of the hill behind their house you’ll find 4 lakes that they stock regularly with fish. People come from all over Ireland to cast their lines and take home their catch of the day!Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kasandra wants to remind us just how common bowel cancer is, but also how disruptive to your life it can be. Guided by a gut instinct, she knew the doctor was going to give her that particular diagnosis. It’s been her gut that has guided her throughout her entire life. She’s in the middle of an amazing career as an archivist (dream job!) and was head of the Irish Film Archive in Temple Bar until her illness made her pause for a bit. Her house is her very own archive of delights. She has surrounded herself with eclectic trinkets and beautifully unique pieces of art, and of course, her 3 gorgeous pups. RxSin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Debbie answers the door of her studio she’s flustered, wearing a paint encrusted apron and brandishing a painting tool around. She says “I just need to finish one more bit” and scurries back upstairs to layer on more paint. Debbie is a very successful and well established painter. We could talk about anything, but what she wants to chat most about is her Mother, Ruby. It’s Ruby’s tools and paints that she’s using today. Ruby introduced Debbie to painting on a whim when she was a teenager. Since then, the paintbrush has rarely left her hand. It’s a beautiful story of what can happen when you encourage talent and expression in young people. Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suad is a dote. She’s welcoming, warm and so so friendly. She’s originally from Syria but has been living in Ireland for many years, and if you’ve read her multi-award winning book “I Don't Want To Talk About Home” you’ll know her life story. You’ll know the arduous path she took to leave Syria, and if you follow her online, you’ll know the joy she felt when she could finally return home too. When I sit and chat with Suad, discussing our similarities in life (we’re both 40 with ADHD) I feel like she could be my sister, or maybe she’s the version of me who has gotten their life together! Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Naomi had a high-powered career in finance at a young age. She felt it was destined for her, since it was the path that most educated Indian people took. She worked across the globe, from London to Hong Kong, but the lifestyle wasn’t to last. She burnt out in a big way but took the opportunity to completely reset her career. She now practices, studies and lives by Ayurveda, a 5000 year old Indian holistic, medical science. It may sound complex, and on many accounts is, but it can also be as simple as walking her dog (Fred).Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This project is amazing for lots of reasons, my favourite being human connection. We’re all hearing little snapshots of other people’s lives and it brings us all closer. I love nothing more when people reach out to me, asking if I can put them in touch with a podcast guest after being moved by their story. Imagine my delight when a name I hadn’t heard in 25 years popped up in my inbox. Colum McNamee and I were friends when we were teens and then sadly lost touch. He saw my project online and decided to volunteer. I’m thrilled to see he still has music in his life. He was an avid piano player back when we were kids, and now he teaches music in the absolutely stunning Castleknock college. Like everyone's, his life has ebbed and flowed. From representing Cambridge in poker tournaments, to coming back to teach in the school where he was once a student. Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.