Episode 117 brings Fender Jackson face to face with Paul Connolly in this second part as he talks through his career taking him from West Belfast to working alongside Piers Morgan on Uncensored which has amassed 3.37 million subscribers (October 2024)and 863 million total views (October 2024).

Conversation includes: fun and frolics with King Charles and Queen Camilla in Clarence House; Icarus; renting a penthouse in Bristol; being a number on a spreadsheet; Rule Britannia and Tugs of War; leading a really good team in BBC in Belfast as an Executive Producer; living like a king in the back bedroom and George Best Airport; curfews both sides of the Irish Sea; producing 60 episodes of ‘Cash In The Attic’; becoming associate editor for ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’; what the Associate Editor does; how much does Paul talk with the presenter; Paul’s current enjoyment; cryogenics; working for someone younger than him; Piers Morgan Uncensored moving from TV to online; an overview of the TV industry today; the Baby Reindeer interview with Fiona Harvey; the secret of the success of Piers Morgan Uncensored; working with Kieron to find Fiona; advice to young people who want to go into TV today as well as other topics.

Face to face recording in London at 4.08pm on Wednesday 18th September 2024.

Art Collage by Arif Mahood. Design by Fender Jackson.

Relevant Links

https://www.facebook.com/paul.connolly.3954

Episode 113. Paul Connolly: TV Producer - Part 1

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Episode 116 has Fender Jackson excited as he converses with the Book Of Kells Visitor Services Manager, Anne-Marie Diffley. When Fender started up The Ireland Podcast the Book Of Kells was one of the first interviews on his list; this chat does not disappoint!

Conversation includes: introductions; what is the Book Of Kells; its history; who made it; the tools and techniques used to craft it; ownership; Iona; Henry Jones; Saint Columbcille; the reasons for its enduring popularity; being the jewell of Ireland; the impact of the book; preservation and conservation practices; the Old Library Redevelopment Project; decanting books; the Book Of Kells Experience; visitor numbers; suggested time for visitors; Trinity Trails; the 1916 Proclamation; the Brian Born Harp; Gaia by Luke Jerram; women in Trinity; Linda Doyle, Trinity’s first female Provost; Helen Shenton, Trinity’s first female librarian; facilities for disabled visitors; feedback from visitors; the most popular questions asked; the library building; foreign dignitaries; Queen Elizabeth II; Siobhan Armstrong; Mrs Obama; Joe Biden; Al Pacino; Bruce Springsteen; film shoots; Educating Rita and the Samual Beckett Theatre; Ek Tha Tiger as well as other topics.

Face to face recording in Trinity College, Dublin at 11.38am on Tues 1st October 2024.

This episode closes with Mrs. Costelloe by Turlough O'Carolan as performed by Elaine Hogan. Special thanks to Elaine for providing this beautiful piece.

Relevant Links

https://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/collections/ks65hc20t?locale=en

https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells-experience/

Additional Links

https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells/gaia/

https://www.visittrinity.ie/trinity-trails-tour/

https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/events/

https://elainehoganharp.com/

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Episode 115 is a conversation between Fender Jackson and Liam Flynn of Conor McGregor's The Black Forge Inn. It provides a fantastic insight into the behind the scenes of one of the world's most famous bars from the the Front Of House Manager. As Conor says, Liam is doing the job he was born to do!

Conversation includes: introductions; timeline of the history of the Black Forge Inn; McCann’s Bar; the Michael Nolan, the Nolan family and The Bentley; how the name came about; what a forge is; Alex Higgins; original design of the pub; watching Conor McGregor turning from a young local lad into the global megastar he is; Albert Quinn; doing posters to promote Conor’s fights; Crumlin & Drimnagh; Philip Sutcliffe and Crumlin Boxing Club; Conor’s interaction with the clientele; the redesign by Millimetre Design; why Liam sold the bar to Conor; tourists flocking to Drimnagh and the Black Forge Inn; the pictures in the bar; Conor’s loyalty to the staff; Conor the barman; Conor’s 145 Belt; Ed Raethorne the executive chef; the pressures faced by the hospitality trade and a message to policy makers; Proper 12; Conor the businessman; Forged Irish Stout; pep talks; Conor’s generosity; Table 15; The Billionaire Room; The Marble Arch in Drimnagh; The Waterside in Howth; the types of clients in The Black Forge Inn; Conor and America; VIP guests; Kevin Hart; James Arthur; Ian Wright; Katie Price; the similarities between Dana White and Conor; Victoria Maguire; the journey involved in recuperating costs; the appreciation of Conor in the area and beyond; Liam’s plans for the future; the plans for the future of The Black Forge; Liam’s message to the staff; Liam’s message to Conor; Liam’s verdict on whether or not Conor will return to the ring; how Liam would like to be remembered as well as other topics.

Relevant Link

https://www.theblackforgeinn.com/

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