The Emerald Connection : Recent Episodes
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Fans of F1 thrive on the statistics that we hear during commentaries on races, practice runs and qualifying. A man called Sean Kelly is the man behind most of the stats we are given on various broadcasts across America and Europe. The son of Irish parents he grew up in Britain and is now living … More Meet The Statman – Sean Kelly
On 10th September 2022 the 420th anniversary of the death of Red Hugh O’Donnell occurs. Red Hugh died in Simancas and was buried a few miles away in Valladolid. For generations the final resting place of Red Hugh was sought and through persistence from people in both Donegal (where Red Hugh is from) and Vallodolid … More Red Hugh O’Donnell 420
Martin Hayes has travelled the world with his fiddle. His performances and recordings expose his audiences to his personal interpretation of the traditional Irish music that has been handed down from generation to generation. Nights by the fire at home in East Clare as a boy listening to traditional music and playing with the Tulla … More Martin Hayes chats with Ger Sweeney
A few days before St. Patrick’s Day Ger Sweeney visited the Irish Embassy in Madrid. Ambassador Frank Smyth took up his position in Madrid in September and Ger wanted to find out how it was all going. The conversation covered a lot of ground and it offers an insight into the work of the Embassy, … More Irish Ambassador to Spain talks to Ger Sweeney
During the “great famine” as Irish people were dying of hunger and millions of people emigrated to the four corners of the world, assistance came from the Choctaw Nation. For his Irish radio programme, Live on Eire, which is broadcast on Talk Radio Europe, Ger Sweeney spoke to Deanna Byrd of the Choctaw Nation about … More Deanna Byrd of the Choctaw Nation on “That Donation to Ireland in 1847”
The Irish Embassy in Madrid has compiled a list of activities happening across Spain to mark St. Patrick’s Day The infromation is below along with details of where further information is available. To add to this please email info@emeraldconnection.net and your event in Spain can be added here. Ger Sweeney will be promoting these events … More St. Patrick’s Day in Spain 2022
The story of Colm Flynn from Ennis, Co. Clare. Colm and Ger Sweeney worked together for a few years in Clare FM and have remained friends as the years (and decades) passed. A chance comment one evening on Ger’s Irish radio programme on Spain’s Talk Radio Europe gave Ger the idea to contact Colm to … More Have Mic and Camera – Will Travel
It was a very progressive step – the establishment of the Irish Arts Council in 1951. The first meeting took place in January 1952 so in January of this year the 70th anniversary of that meeting was marked. The current Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly, spoke to Ger Sweeney recently for his Irish … More The Irish Arts Council Turns 70
Acclaimed Irish author James Lawless spoke to Ger Sweeney about his works. The conversation was broadcast on Ger’s weekly Irish radio programme that is broadcast on Talk Radio Europe. It was appropriate that the conversation started with a focus on the Spanish element of many of James’ novels – including one that has yet to … More Acclaimed Irish Author James Lawless
The world will be marking the 100th anniversary of the publication of James Joyces’ Ulysses for the remainder of the year but on the anniversary Ger Sweeney spoke to Joycean Roger Cummiskey. Roger has been contributing to Ger’s Irish radio programme on Spain-based Talk Radio Europe for a number of years now and he gave … More Ulysses at 100
The 1st of February is St. Brigid’s Day and in Ireland we have recognised it as the feast day of our “other” patron saint. St. Brigid is the female patron saint of Ireland. We learned this going to school and we even made our St. Brigid’s crosses to mark it. Our female patron saint has … More The Feast of St. Brigid – But who is she?
The Old Irish Goat is Ireland’s indigenous breed and is now critically endangered. Found only in remote mountain ranges roaming in feral herds there is a need to protect it. A campaign is now under way by the Old Irish Goat Society, based in Mulranny, Co. Mayo, to give legal protection to the Old Irish … More The Old Irish Goat
Bríd O’Riordan is from Cill na Martra, a beautiful village in the Muskerry Gaeltacht in West Cork and is now living in West Clare. Scáthán mo Shaoil is the title of her debut album which was produced by Philip Begley and features a host of luminaries from the music world such as Paul Brady, Kevin … More Bríd O’Riordan Powerful Debut Album
Described as a Folk/Americana trio, The Raines, comprising Ruth Dillon, Julianna Erkkonen and Yvonne Tiernan are based in Galway. Each is an experienced and talented folk musician so since joining forces in 2019 it is fair to say that they have been making beautiful music that has caught the attention of audiences far and wide. Ger Sweeney spoke to The Raines in December 2021 and this is how the conversation went.
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It is never easy being discovered and as Christie Hennessy said many years ago on The Late Late Show it took him about 40 years to become an overnight success. CallyAnna, a hugely talented Mayo-based singer songwriter told me all about her musical journey as she prepares to launch her second studio album. She’s very talented, very hardworking and very enthusiastic. Hear her story here
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It’s the first G2 of 2021 – Now that there is something to chat about George Lee and Ger Sweeney get together for a chat about the news. Cyber attacks, cuckoo funds, the re-opening of the economy and what about the 99s? are among the topics discussed.
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It was during the Covid restrictions so the meeting between Camilla Griehsel and Ger Sweeney was via Zoom but the ensuing conversation flowed as freely as if they were sharing a coffee overlooking the sea in beautiful West Cork.
Camilla is Swedish and has been singing since she was five years old. Her journey to her home in West Cork has taken her via Britain, the United States and South America. She sings in many languages and has been an important part of the Irish music scene for many years. Camilla spoke to Ger for his Irish radio programme on Spain-based Talk Radio Europe. Listen below.
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On 3rd February 1959 the death was announced of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and JP Richardson (the Big Bopper). The stars died when the plane they were travelling incrash outside Clear Water, Iowa. The crash also took the life of pilot Roger Peterson. Irish Music producer and author PJ Curtis was a still in secondary school at that time but, as a music fan was shaken by the terrible news. His reponse to the tragedy was to write a short story. He called this story “The Day the Music Died” and he sent it to Ger Sweeney on this, the 62nd anniversary of the tragic crash.
Here, Ger narrates the story
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