309/365: Grace Cotter, Co. Monaghan

Michelle swapped a career in sales, to one where she gets to live her dream. Losing her father made her re-evaluate her life and the legacy she was going to leave behind. She took a risk and with a whole load of confidence, invested in herself. She set up a gallery and began painting full time. RxSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eamon is a very good pal of mine. He's one of the most honest, dependable, stand up people I know. Funny, compassionate and always rocking a 10/10 fit. Beoga, the Irish trad band, has been his baby for decades, along with Niamh, Séan Óg, Damian and Liam. Eamon is a founding member of the charitable coalition, Irish Artists for Palestine, which began not long after Oct 7th. Leaping into action, hosting gigs and fundraisers across Ireland. I witnessed him pouring his heart, soul and every penny into raising awareness and vital funds for Palestine.When Ed Sheeran made his decision to exclude Macklemore from his tour, my first thoughts went to Beoga. They were Ed's touring band, accompanying him around the world, locked into a comfortable contract. Eamon considers Ed a friend. They have collaborated on tracks for over 10 years. Beoga were a small enough Irish trad band, who were now playing massive stadiums across the world. They were suddenly thrown into the spotlight and forced to make a very public and difficult decision. Thankfully, they made the right one. But it can't have been easy. Sin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As soon as I met Grace it felt like I had known her for years. She’s incredibly warm and friendly. She signed up to this project back in April, when she was living a nightmare. She had just gone through the horrendous ordeal of losing a much wanted pregnancy. The reason she reached out to me was to share her story. She figured it might either comfort someone who is going through it, or inform anyone that might be facing it. When Grace began miscarrying, she was frightened. She felt underprepared for what came and wished that people would speak more openly about the reality of going through a miscarriage. RxSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny is 26 and utterly wise beyond her years. She teaches History and Politics to secondary school students. As a “peace baby” herself, she’s keen to make sure the next generation understands the importance of studying the past. In the very little spare time she has (when she’s not coaching sports at school and running marathons), she paints. She sets herself challenges in her practice and creates her own versions of politically charged scenes of the North, as well as some very trippy abstracts. RxSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Juliane’s story in Ireland started when a colleague offered her a place to stay in Boyle. She was in Berlin at the time and did what any broke, twenty-something year old would do, she cycled to Ireland to avail of the offer. After 7 weeks on the road she arrived to a bit of a shock in Boyle. The cottage was small, cold and damp, but it didn’t deter her. She fell in love with Ireland, and decided to stay. She raised her family, went on a varied career journey, and fell madly in love just shortly after her 50th birthday. xRSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I walked into the exhibition space in the Digital Hub I was met by a team of people, all scurrying around, carrying cushions and bowls of peculiar items. It's the day before AlanJames' exhibition launch and huge preparations are underway to make sure it's ready. "Unmasking Nature" is a neurodiverse sanctuary and playground, where showing your stims is encouraged and you're invited to touch the artwork. AlanJames has AUDHD (much like myself) and through his art highlights the connection between neurodiversity and nature. Sin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darragh has embraced the (almost) lost art of sign painting. He might be new to the artform, but since finding it, he’s never felt more at ease with his decisions in life. If you walk around Dublin, or any city, look up and you’ll begin to notice the beauty that is hand painting signage, and also wonder why doesn’t every business have a gloriously enticing piece of art out front. xRSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lera will always say she's "from Russia" as opposed to just "Russian" as an ancestry test revealed she's a wonderful mix of so many places. She came to Dublin 10 years ago on a bit of whim, mainly inspired by the band Little Green Cars. She fell in love with Ireland and by hook or by crook got herself back here to stay. During the day she works in a bar but in her free time she makes beautiful stained glass pieces, most of which she sells for charitable causes. Sin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham has done the impossible. He has just recently managed to buy himself a wee two bed apartment in Dublin town. It was hard won, he double jobbed most days. In the day he works in tech (and fears he’ll soon be replaced by AI) and then at night he’s an amazing DJ. Although his new home offers him an additional sense of security that renting wouldn’t, he’s still concerned about the precarious nature of both his jobs and the rising cost of living. RxSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suzanne was part of the Mothers Against Genocide group who were arrested outside the Dail last year. It was a traumatic experience, one she was not expecting when the vigil began. It has changed her perspective about the Irish government and the Garda, but not about the genocide that’s still raging in Palestine today. RxSin Scéal Eile is a Poddle Audio production.Host & Creator: Ruth MedjberExecutive Producer, Editor & Sound Designer: Dee ReddyOn-Field Audio Recording: Ronan LallyOriginal Theme & Score: Elaine MaiFollow our daily journey on Instagram @SinScealEile and at sinscealeile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.