#46 There Was Once A Dream....

San Eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le turas siúil i mBonn agus leis an stair Rómhánach atá fós le feiceáil timpeall na cathrach. Ón áit sin, téim siar go dtí mo chéad spéis sa Róimh agus sa tréimhse chorraitheach idir deireadh na Poblachta agus tús na hImpireachta – ó Rubicon agus Rome go dtí mo chuairt ar an gcathair féin.Ach cén fáth a bhfuil an oiread sin spéise againn fós sna Rómhánaigh? Cad iad na scéalta a tháinig anuas chugainn, agus cé na scéalta a cailleadh? Agus mé ag smaoineamh ar thionchar na Róimhe ar an domhan timpeall orainn, tagaim ar smaointe faoi stair, cuimhne agus na scéalta a roghnaímid a thabhairt linn.__________________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of GTL, I start with a walking tour in Bonn and the Roman history that is still visible around the city. From there, I go back to my own fascination with Rome and the turbulent period between the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire – from Rubicon and HBO's Rome to my own visit to the city.But why are we still so fascinated by the Romans? Which stories have survived, and whose stories have been lost? As I explore Rome's influence on the world around us, I find myself thinking about history, memory and the stories we choose to remember. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of GTL, I start with James Bond and the gadgets that seemed so amazing to me when I was younger. From there, I take a journey through childhood memories, the PlayStation, the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence.A few different threads, then, as I reflect on technology, how our relationship with it changes over time, and life in 2026.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________San eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le James Bond agus na gadgets a bhí chomh hiontach sin dom nuair a bhí mé óg. Ón áit sin, téim ar thuras trí chuimhní ó m’óige, an PlayStation, an t-idirlíon, na meáin shóisialta agus an intleacht shaorga.Cúpla snáithe éagsúla, mar sin, agus mé ag machnamh ar an teicneolaíocht, ar an gcaoi a n-athraíonn ár gcaidreamh léi le himeacht ama, agus ar an saol sa bhliain 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le James Bond agus na gadgets a bhí chomh hiontach sin dom nuair a bhí mé óg. Ón áit sin, téim ar thuras trí chuimhní ó m’óige, an PlayStation, an t-idirlíon, na meáin shóisialta agus an intleacht shaorga.Cúpla snáithe éagsúla, mar sin, agus mé ag machnamh ar an teicneolaíocht, ar an gcaoi a n-athraíonn ár gcaidreamh léi le himeacht ama, agus ar an saol sa bhliain 2026.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of GTL, I start with James Bond and the gadgets that seemed so amazing to me when I was younger. From there, I take a journey through childhood memories, the PlayStation, the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence.A few different threads, then, as I reflect on technology, how our relationship with it changes over time, and life in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of GTL, I start with The Opium War by Julia Lovell, a book about the first Opium War between Britain and China. From there, I take a slightly strange journey through Erasmus, football, memories from childhood, crisp sandwiches, and, eventually, something called “die Eingewöhnung” in Germany - the process a child goes through when starting nursery.A few different threads, then, as I think about how we learn about other people and places - and how much we don't understand until we find ourselves on the other side.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________San Eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le The Opium War, leabhar faoi chogadh idir an Bhreatain agus an tSín. Ón áit sin, téim ar aistear beagáinín aisteach trí Erasmus, sacar, cuimhní ó m’óige, ceapairí criospaí agus, ar deireadh, rud ar a dtugtar “die Eingewöhnung” sa Ghearmáin - an próiseas a théann páiste tríd agus é nó í ag tosú i naíonra.Cúpla snáithe éagsúla, mar sin, agus mé ag smaoineamh ar an gcaoi a bhfoghlaimímid faoi dhaoine agus faoi áiteanna eile - agus ar an méid nach dtuigimid go dtí go mbímid féin ar an taobh eile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San Eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le The Opium War, leabhar faoi chogadh idir an Bhreatain agus an tSín. Ón áit sin, téim ar aistear beagáinín aisteach trí Erasmus, sacar, cuimhní ó m’óige, ceapairí criospaí agus, ar deireadh, rud ar a dtugtar “die Eingewöhnung” sa Ghearmáin - an próiseas a théann páiste tríd agus é nó í ag tosú i naíonra.Cúpla snáithe éagsúla, mar sin, agus mé ag smaoineamh ar an gcaoi a bhfoghlaimímid faoi dhaoine agus faoi áiteanna eile - agus ar an méid nach dtuigimid go dtí go mbímid féin ar an taobh eile._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of GTL, I start with The Opium War by Julia Lovell, a book about the first Opium War between Britain and China. From there, I take a slightly strange journey through Erasmus, football, memories from childhood, crisp sandwiches, and, eventually, something called “die Eingewöhnung” in Germany - the process a child goes through when starting nursery.A few different threads, then, as I think about how we learn about other people and places - and how much we don't understand until we find ourselves on the other side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of GTL, I start with The Odyssey, the new film by Christopher Nolan - a story about coming home, which I saw just after making my own journey home. But something was missing.From there, I think about coming home, memory, and the places and people we leave behind - and the new memories we are creating now.An episode about coming home, about the person you were and the person you are now, and about the question every odyssey, great or small, leaves behind: what changes, and what stays the same, along the way?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________San Eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le The Odyssey, an scannán nua le Christopher Nolan - scéal faoi theacht abhaile, a chonaic mé díreach tar éis dom mo bhealach féin a dhéanamh abhaile. Ach bhí rud éigin in easnamh.Ón áit sin, smaoiním ar theacht abhaile, ar chuimhne, agus ar na háiteanna agus na daoine a fhágann muid inár ndiaidh - agus ar na cuimhní nua atá á gcruthú againn anois.Eagrán faoi theacht abhaile, faoin duine a bhí tú agus faoin duine atá tú anois, agus faoin gceist a fhágann gach odaisé, mór nó beag, ina diaidh: cad a athraíonn, agus cad a fhanann mar an gcéanna, i rith an turais? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

San Eagrán seo de GTL, tosaím le The Odyssey, an scannán nua le Christopher Nolan - scéal faoi theacht abhaile, a chonaic mé díreach tar éis dom mo bhealach féin a dhéanamh abhaile. Ach bhí rud éigin in easnamh.Ón áit sin, smaoiním ar theacht abhaile, ar chuimhne, agus ar na háiteanna agus na daoine a fhágann muid inár ndiaidh - agus ar na cuimhní nua atá á gcruthú againn anois.Eagrán faoi theacht abhaile, faoin duine a bhí tú agus faoin duine atá tú anois, agus faoin gceist a fhágann gach odaisé, mór nó beag, ina diaidh: cad a athraíonn, agus cad a fhanann mar an gcéanna, i rith an turais?_____________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode of GTL, I start with The Odyssey, the new film by Christopher Nolan - a story about coming home, which I saw just after making my own journey home. But something was missing.From there, I think about coming home, memory, and the places and people we leave behind - and the new memories we are creating now.An episode about coming home, about the person you were and the person you are now, and about the question every odyssey, great or small, leaves behind: what changes, and what stays the same, along the way? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part Two, we arrive at the end - and at the verdict.It is April 2019, and I have just moved to Bonn. Season Eight is airing week by week, and every Monday, while my girlfriend is at work, I am on the sofa with my NowTV pass, going back to Westeros one last time. What I thought of what I found there - and why - is what this episode is about.We talk about Season Eight, about where it went wrong, and when the cracks actually started. About rewatchability, about what a bad ending does to everything that came before it. And about what made GOT genuinely unique - a collective experience that only happens once, and that no amount of disappointment can fully undo.This episode was originally released in Irish in May. I had the script ready, and as I am taking a summer break, I thought it was a good opportunity to release the bilingual version for anyone who enjoys a little English alongside the Irish. I am hoping to be back in September with new episodes.In the meantime, grab a cup of tea and come along for the final chapter.___________________________________________________________________________________________________Sa dara cuid seo, tagaimid go dtí an deireadh - agus go dtí an bhreithiúnas.Tá sé Aibreán 2019 agus táim díreach tar éis bogadh go Bonn. Tá séasúr 8 ag teacht amach seachtain ar sheachtain, agus gach Luan agus mo chailín ag an obair, bím ar an tolg le mo NowTV pass, ag filleadh ar Westeros den uair dheireanach. Cad a cheap mé de cad a fuair mé ann - agus cén fáth - sin an méid atá san eagrán seo.Labhraímid faoi shéasúr 8, faoi cá ndeachaigh sé mícheart agus cathain a thosaigh na cracks i ndáiríre. Faoin rewatchability, faoi cad a dhéanann deireadh olc le gach rud a tháinig roimhe. Agus faoin rud a rinne GOT uathúil i ndáiríre - eispéireas comhchoiteann nach dtarlaíonn ach uair amháin, agus nach féidir le díomá ar bith a chur ar ceal go hiomlán.Eisíodh an eagrán seo as Gaeilge amháin i mí na Bealtaine. Bhí an script réidh agam agus, ós rud é go bhfuil sos samhraidh á ghlacadh agam, shíl mé gur deis mhaith a bheadh ann an leagan dátheangach a chur amach dóibh siúd ar maith leo beagán Béarla fite fuaite leis an nGaeilge. Tá súil agam a bheith ar ais i mí Mheán Fómhair le heagrán nua. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven years after the end of Game of Thrones, I'm revisiting this essay - this time as a Níos Éasca bilingual (Irish-English) episode.I'm currently spending some time back home in Ireland with my family, and it felt like a good opportunity to share this bilingual version with new listeners and with anyone who enjoys having a little English alongside the Irish.In Part One, I return to where it all began — from the first books I read in Cork to the television series that became a defining part of my twenties. It's a personal reflection on the world of Westeros and the characters that shaped conversations, friendships, and different chapters of life.So, grab a cup of tea, take the dog for a walk, and come along for the journey.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Seacht mbliana tar éis deireadh Game of Thrones, filleann mé ar an aiste seo arís — an uair seo mar eipeasóid Níos Éasca (Gaeilge agus Béarla).Táim ar saoire sa bhaile in Éirinn le mo chlann faoi láthair, agus shíl mé gur deis mhaith a bheadh ann an leagan dátheangach seo a roinnt le héisteoirí nua, nó leo siúd ar fearr leo beagán Béarla fite fuaite leis an nGaeilge.Sa chéad chuid seo, téim siar go dtí an tús — ó na chéad leabhair a léigh mé i gCorcaigh, go dtí an tsraith teilifíse a tháinig chun bheith ina cuid mhór de mo shaol sna fichidí. Seo machnamh pearsanta ar dhomhan Westeros agus ar na carachtair a mhúnlaigh comhráite, cairdis agus tréimhsí éagsúla den saol.Mar sin, faigh cupán tae, téigh amach ag siúl, agus tar liom ar an turas seo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does "greatness" mean? The answer is not as simple as you might think. In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I follow one thread from the All-Ireland Championship... through the World Cup... to the Tour de France... from Joe Canning to Tadej Pogacar... and eventually to a question with no simple answer. An episode about memory, about time, and about the person you were when you witnessed greatness. About why it is objective and subjective and everything in between — and about the uncomfortable questions that sometimes come with it.Post-Production NotesThis episode falls in a weird space where the story came to me and was then developed (pulled at) at the start of July and then written down over a couple of days... the episode itself took a while to record - again over maybe three or four days - so yes, this easily could have explored "Mayo 4 Sam", Limerick hurlers in more detail, more on the World Cup, and more with Tadej and the Tour. Those are the difficulties when writing and responding to "current" events, while also "bulk recording"...The idea with Tadej is that he has been truly exceptional - a bolt from the blue - since the very start of his career, whereas typically in the history of cheats they take some time to fall into that pattern - riders have said it takes "1000 days of losing" before you resort to the "dark arts" - so three years - in comparison, Pogacar won his first Tour in 2020 in his second professional season as a 21 year old... Furthermore, he races and wins everything throughout the year - from February to October - typically dopers would have downtime to get their blood bags, etc., organised - he does not follow that pattern. I do not think I outlined it all that well when I listened back to the pod, so hopefully this explainer makes it a bit clearer.Aspects of this could have been improved and explained better - the thread is not perfect - but I thought it was better to get it out there rather than endless rewrites.... so it is not perfect, but sure what is?Anyway, I hope ye enjoy this one.________________________________________________________________________________________________Cad is brí le "greatness"? Ní hé an freagra atá chomh simplí agus a cheapfá. San eagrán seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, lean mé snáth amháin ó Chraobh na hÉireann... tríd an gCorn na Domhanda... go dtí an Tour de France... ó Joe Canning go dtí Tadej Pogacar... agus ar deireadh go dtí ceist nach bhfuil freagra simplí uirthi. Is eagrán é faoi chuimhne, faoin am, agus faoin duine a bhí tú nuair a chonaic tú greatness. Faoin difríocht idir í a fheiceáil agus í a mhothú — agus nach ionann an dá rud i gcónaí. Agus faoi na ceisteanna crua a thagann léi uaireanta.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.