A narrow defeat in our first game means it's all to play for against Canada, a team riven by strife with their FA and whose talismanic player missed a penalty in a scoreless draw with Nigeria. But who are the Canadians and how do they play? Harjeet Johal joins me to give us the lowdown ahead of Wednesday's Women's World Cup clash between Ireland and Canada!
Jul 22, 2023•37 min
The moment is almost upon us - on Thursday Ireland take on hosts Australia in the opening game of the FIFA Women's World Cup, and to set the scene I spoke to former Matilda Joey Peters about her career and what this World Cup means, and journalist Isobel Cootes, who gave me the lowdown on the players and tactics that Ireland will face in front of a sold-out crowd!
Jul 18, 2023•52 min
An internship when she was at Warwick University taught Nic Keaney one valuable lesson - no matter how much money it paid, she didn't want an "ordinary" job, so she went into journalism instead. Her readiness to go anywhere in the world at a moment's notice and her ability to come back with the story no matter what saw her quickly rise to the top of the profession. A pivot to the worlds of tech and data followed and she ended up at the cutting edge of Twitter's attempt to k...
Jul 15, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Semester?! What semester?! A jam-packed episode this week with news of two Swedish-Irish weddings and an open call for young architects, followed by a dinger of a chat with the wonderful Anthony Morrissey about moving his family to Gothenburg and how he is gradually making his mark in both business and the community there. For more info on the Trading Spaces architecture open call, visit their website: https://architecturefoundation.ie/news/trading-spaces-open-call/
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 15 min
This week, we kick off the Global Gael's Women's World Cup coverage with Ireland international Rianna Jarrett, who talks about her playing career in the U.S. and England, playing for Vera Pauw and what we can expect from the Girls In Green as Ireland appear at their first major finals against Australia, Canada and Nigeria.
Jul 08, 2023•58 min
He may have started out as a lowly stable hand in County Meath, but Paddy Looney's sharp mind and huge capacity for hard work quickly saw him rise through the ranks, and he now runs a very successful horse-breeding business north of Stockholm. He talked to me about the work that went into building up his reputation and his business, the challenges he faces here, and how he works as a consultant for firms all over the world, helping them with their marketing, branding and business practices....
Jul 02, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Andrew McGarry first left Longford for Dublin, and then Ireland for Australia as his mother's career in journalism took them to the other side of the world, and despite her protestations he followed her into the trade, He has spent three decades working in Australian media, starting at the lowest level and working himself up to the heights of sport and a live Eurovision blog that is one of the high points of the media calendar there. He joined me to talk about his career, the Women's Wor...
Jul 01, 2023•58 min
This week physiotherapist Jessica Stokes Diehn joins me to talk about how her practice is now focused solely on the wellbeing of women, particularly those who are or have been pregnant. Jessica talks about how she met her Irish husband in the wonderful environs of Wirströms Pub in Gamla Stan, getting her degree in Luleå and going on to realise that women were very much under-served when it comes to medical and physical care.
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 6 min
What happens when an Irish person dies abroad? How can they be brought home, and what can families do if they can't foot the bill? The answer is the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, set up by Colin Bell and his family to remember their son Kevin, who was killed in a hit and run accident in America. The trust has helped to repatriate almost 1600 Irish people who have passed away abroad, and they provide a unique and vital service for our diaspora. To find out more about how you can help them - ...
Jun 25, 2023•56 min
This week we're joined by Eoin O'Connor to pay tribute to Aslan singer Christy Dignam, who passed away this week, with a special episode remembering their epic gig at Stockholm's Liffey pub. There's also a review of the visit of Gävle GAA to Stockholm on Saturday, and how the capital's camógs are set for a starring role in an upcoming show on TG4!
Jun 19, 2023•56 min
London-based Barry Glendenning is one of Ireland's best-known sports journalists and his live blogs and podcasting for the website of the Guardian newspaper have made him a household name among soccer and sports fans around the world. We talked about his need to get out of UCD, stand-up comedy and becoming a hugely successful journalist despite not having a plan at all.
Jun 17, 2023•57 min
Like many Irish people, Dubliner Emma Patterson only came here for a brief stay, but ended up here (almost!) permanently! She came into the studio to talk about her work with public health and nutrition, the Swedish-Irish Society, kayaking and the value of community organisations.
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr
This week we visit Ivan Keane of Keane Brewing on Lidingö to talk about running a microbrewery in Sweden, how the wrong label can stop your beer ever getting produced, and what the future might hold for how alcohol is sold in what has previously been one of the most tightly-controlled markets in the world. Make sure to follow Keane Brewing on social media and consider booking a trip there for your next social or corporate event. Insta: https://www.instagram.com/keanebrewing Facebook: https://www...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 6 min
For decades the heroics of Irish explorer Tom Crean flew beneath the radar, but in recent years tales of his exploits in the South Pole have come to the fore thanks to fans and writers like Tim Foley. Tim's dad came from the same part of Kerry as Crean, and a youthful curiosity about him turned into a campaign to have him remembered and a book describing Crean's incredible adventures. https://tomcreanbook.com/
Jun 03, 2023•51 min
Shannon Lynn was a successful pro soccer player playing in the Swedish top flight and representing Scotland at the World Cup, but deep down, she never thought she was good enough. The sudden, traumatic death of the woman she described as "the love of my life" exacerbated her mental health issues, leading her down a dark path of self-medication with alcohol that almost ruined her. But it didn't. Thanks to family and friends she started on the road to recovery, and after years of har...
Jun 01, 2023•35 min
Aoife Gallagher's new book "Web of Lies" dives deep into the subject of how easy it is to go down the rabbit hole of compelling online conspiracy theories that can lead to us becoming radicalised, particularly into far-right politics. Aoife talks about the kinds of conspiracy theories that are out there, the different ecosystems and echo chambers that exist, and how Covid changed the game, coalescing many disparate theories around the idea of increased state control, as well as wha...
May 30, 2023•44 min
Anna Sivenius Rattigan has a new book out in Swedish called "Odödlig Jord" and this week she joined me on the podcast to talk about how falling in love with a Meathman and Ireland in general has shaped her telling of this fantastic tale! You can contact Anna on Instagram for a signed copy here: https://www.instagram.com/anna_sivenius_rattigan_author Or you can order the book directly from the publisher here: https://shop.hoi.se/ododlig-jord
May 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Brian Shelley is one of the finest defenders ever to grace the League oF Ireland, but after two of the clubs he played for fell into financial difficulties and couldn't honour his contracts, he upped sticks and moved to Australia. A jump to New Zealand followed and the Dubliner and his family are now thriving on the other side of the world - and he's still in the game that brought him there. This week, he tells his story on the Global Gael.
May 27, 2023•54 min
Claire O'Halloran's new Iníoní gastro bar on Timmermansgatan is already winning rave reviews for its brilliant food and intimate atmosphere, so I dropped by to find out about Ireland's latest culinary success in the Swedish capital! For details on how to book, follow their Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/inionirestaurant/
May 22, 2023•1 hr
While travelling the world to train and learn about various different kinds of wrestling, Irishman Ruadhán McFadden discovered that Ireland had it's very own style, and he is determined to bring it back. In fact, Irish Collar & Elbow wrestling was once one of the most popular forms of the sport, and his book on the subject has re-awoken a grappling culture that had almost disappeared, and he joined me from his travels in Tokyo to tell me all about it.
May 20, 2023•1 hr
Dubliner Gavin Boland joins the podcast this week to talk about moving to Sweden and his job as global innovation manager for one of Sweden's most iconic brands - Absolut Vodka. There's also a reminder about Gary Lavelle's Three Peaks For Gearóid's Smile GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/amazing-gearoids-three-peak-challenge-sweden) and a request for support for Graham "Reggie" Reynolds, our Wicklow-born member of Sweden's international fly-fishing team: https://...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Once again Irish artists are making a splash at the Supermarket Art Fair, which this year is taking place at Stadsgårdsterminalen in Slussen. I took the chance to drop by and talk to the Irish contingent featuring Niamh Brown of Ormston House who has brought over Belfast-based painter Jennifer Trouton, and Alannah Robins, whose Interface outfit has brought over Galway-based Noel Arrigan and Ian Wieczorek from Castlebar to exhibit. The fair runs until Sunday and I'd strongly advise you get do...
May 10, 2023•48 min
This week's podcast goes behind the scenes at Landvetter Airport as Irish wheelchair user Adrian Keogh had to crawl down the steps when assistance didn't arrive in time, and the wonderful Gary Lavelle talks construction, integration and why he's hiking up three peaks in Åre at the end of May för the Gearóid's Smile charity - you can donate here and provide respite for sick children and their families: https://www.gofundme.com/f/amazing-gearoids-three-peak-challenge-sweden...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 4 min
This week Zack Elbouzedi and I paid a visit to Dan Hickey's new IMPA golf centre out in Arlandastad, and Michelle Cotter joined me to talk about her plans for camogie in the capital!
May 07, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Paul Ward was just 17 when his family moved across the Atlantic to Wisconsin, and decades later he is aiming to bring as many people back to Ireland with him as he organises a tour to the Emerald Isle. Paul never lost the love of his native land and in October he hopes to proudly show it to a group of guests who will join him on a journey with a difference - through the Ireland Paul knows and loves, with plenty of history, culture and craic along the way. Paul joined me to talk about moving to A...
May 06, 2023•1 hr 2 min
The last few years have been a remarkable success for Enterprise Ireland, and this week I'm joined by Darragh O'Carroll to talk about his work opening doors to big deals for Irish companies in the Nordic region, and how he made a life for himself here. I'm also joined by Edy Fung to talk about "Technopoesis", a performance that will feature Irish artists using sound, light, sculpture and technology over two nights in Stockholm - you can find all the details here: https://ww...
May 01, 2023•58 min
This week's podcast takes us to Brussels, where Meathman Seán Ryan is leveraging the power of social media to bring Gaelic games to a global audience. His "A Day In The Life Of A European Gaelic Footballer" video has been viewed over 200,000 times, and Seán believes that the likes of TikTok, Instagram and YouTube will be key to growing the games around the world. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_g5xlznexw
Apr 29, 2023•57 min
Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds from a wonderful day of Gaelic football at Limhamnsfältet in Malmö where the first tournament of the year took place on Saturday.
Apr 24, 2023•47 min
Back after the Easter break, and there's plenty of community news, especially from a musical and sporting perspective. There's also a long chat with the magnificent Billy Chaney, a barber-turned-artist from Dublin who is now living his best life in Stockholm, creating as he goes. The first Gaelic football tournament of the year takes place in Malmö on April 22, and there's an open session for 6-18 year-olds being organised by Stockholm Exiles on April 23 and 30 - hope to see you ther...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 15 min
As the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is celebrated with a visit from American president Joe Biden, we go behind the pomp and ceremony with Derry-born journalist Aoife Grace Moore to talk about what has really happened in the last two decades - is this peace, or just an absence of violence? How have things changed for those living there? And are we any closer to becoming "a nation once again"?
Apr 15, 2023•1 hr 1 min