What's the Story, Dublin?

Country music star Sandy Kelly joins us on the What’s the Story, Dublin? Podcast today to talk about her impressive career and this weekend’s Dublin City Council Ceol Country event.Sandy tells us about how music was always a family affairand about the highs and lows of performing in Eurovision, representing Ireland in the year 1982 as a member of the band The Duskeys.We also talk about her friendship with the iconic JohnnyCash, and about the current scene of country music and music more generally. She tells us about all the artists she is looking forward to seeing perform in this year’s Dublin City Council Ceol Country.Limited tickets are still available for Dublin City Council Ceol Country and can be booked on https://bookings.scopetickets.com/event/14170 The event takes place in Merrion Square Park, Dublin 2, from 12-6pm on Saturday 29th August and Sunday 30th August. This episode was recorded on 20 August 2025.Graphics are by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers –https://www.silvermansound.com

We speak to Andrew Devonport on the role our City Architects office in creating liveability and an attractive and sustainable built environment.City Architects is a Division within the Housing and Community Services Department, providing architectural,urban design and conservation services on a cross-departmental basis.The Team also provide strategic architectural advice in relation to the Council’s vision for the future of Dublin. City Architects has particular expertise in housing design, sustainable building construction, urban design and architectural conservation. The Division also includes the Dangerous Buildings section. Greening spaces and accessibility are also priorities for City Architects.This podcast was recorded in May 2026.Graphics are by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com

Cities are complex places with many stakeholders required to create a thriving and vibrant urban environment. Dublin's city co-ordination office helps to align the various businesses and organisations vested in the city's success.On today’s episode, we talk to the Head of the City Co-Ordination Office, Karl Mitchell, about what his work entails. City co-ordination is a relatively new office that emerged during the pandemic to encourage the public to come outside and engage with Dublin city again. City co-ordination brings together communities and workforces in emergency services hospitality, commercial areas and more. We discuss safety in Dublin and upcoming changes and developments to different streets and regions that will have a revitalising impact on the city centre. The Taoiseach’sTaskforce also gets a look in.This podcast was recorded in May 2026.Graphics are by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com

What’s beneath Dublin’s streets? More than you think…In the latest episode of What’s the Story? Dublin, host Michael Ryan speaks with City Archaeologist Ruth Johnston about uncovering the hidden history of our city — from Viking settlements to medieval treasures.One standout moment? The discovery of a Viking burial — the first uncovered in Dublin in over 70 years — found just metres from where people walk every day. From protecting archaeology during modern development to revealing how Dublin’s past shapes its future, this episode offers a fascinating look at the stories beneath our feet.This podcast was recorded in April 2026.Graphics are by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?, brought to you by Dublin City Council, we sit down with John Stack from the Nature-Based Surface Water Projects Unit to explore how the city is working to improve the health of its rivers. John explains the impact of the EU Water Framework Directive and outlines the challenges facing seven of Dublin’s key waterways — including the Liffey and Dodder — which are currently experiencing poor water quality.He discusses the main pressures on urban rivers, from polluted runoff to plumbing misconnections, and highlights the innovative Rainscapes project in the Santry catchment. Using nature-based solutions like swales and rain gardens, the project is helping to capture and clean rainwater while reducing flood risk. It’s a conversation about sustainable urban design, shared responsibility, and how collaboration across communities, businesses, and public bodies can help restore Dublin’s rivers for the future.Recorded in April 2026. Graphics by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers ⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠For updates from Dublin City Council, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter, or visit dublincity.ie.

In this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?, brought to you by Dublin City Council, we sit down with Ray Yeates, Dublin’s City Arts Officer, to explore how the arts shape the life of the city. Ray talks about the role of the Arts Office as “an opportunity maker… a developmental job” and explains how Dublin supports practitioners, participants and audiences across every art form — from theatre and visual arts to circus, film and dance.He reflects on his 30‑year theatre background, the growth of Culture Night, the challenge of creating new audiences, and major cultural projects transforming the city — including new artist studios, public art, and emerging creative spaces. It’s a conversation about why creativity matters, how it builds community, and what’s coming next for Dublin’s cultural landscape.Recorded in April 2026.Graphics by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers — https://www.silvermansound.comFor updates from Dublin City Council, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter, or visit dublincity.ie.

In this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?, host Michael Ryan, Press Officer with Dublin City Council, is joined by Dr. Sabrina Dekker, Regional Climate Action Coordinator with the Dublin Metropolitan Climate Action Regional Office (CARO).Sabrina explains why Climate Action Regional Offices were established, how the Dublin Metropolitan CARO supports the four Dublin local authorities, and how climate action planning works across issues such as flooding, urban heat, transport, buildings, biodiversity and resource management. The discussion explores Ireland’s climate targets, the balance between climate mitigation and adaptation, and the importance of just and fair transitions for communities.The conversation also looks at what’s working well — from active travel and retrofitting to creative climate action — alongside the real challenges around energy, finance and policy. Sabrina shares her own path into climate policy and offers practical, everyday actions individuals can take, from reducing food waste to rethinking how we move around the city.An informative and accessible discussion on how local government, communities and individuals can work together to build a more climate‑resilient Dublin.This podcast was recorded in April 2026.Graphics are by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?, we speak to Sean Larkin from Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Services about the massive operation behind the annual St Patrick’s Festival clean‑up.Sean explains how preparations begin months in advance, the logistics of managing the parade route, and the coordination required across multiple teams and partner agencies.We discuss the challenges of cleaning a city hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors, the pride staff take in their work, and how Dublin is brought back to full operation just hours after the celebrations end.Sean also reflects on his decades‑long career in waste management, the changing face of the city, and the family legacy that shaped his path.This podcast was recorded in March 2026.Graphics are by John Stone.Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?, we speak to Reuben Hambakachere about his role as Integration Support Coordinator in Dublin City Council and the career path that led him there.The Local Authority Integration Team, or LAIT, works with refugees and others seeking international protection to help them integrate into communities and signposts them to additional means of support.Reuben explains how and why LAITs became a priority for DCC and other local authorities. We discuss the challenges of the work, including combatting misinformation, and its fulfilling aspects.This podcast was recorded on 16 December 2025. Graphics are by John Stone. Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Tá an-áthas orainn fáilte a chur roimh triúr ball foirne ón Aonad Forbartha Gaeilge i gComhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath sa chlár seo de What’s the Story, Dublin?Tá comhrá idir an tOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge agus beirt intéirneach ó scoil Fiontar in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath atá ag obair léi sa Chomhairle. Pléann siad a gcaidreamh leis an nGaeilge, a gcúlraí oibre agus ollscoile agus an obair a dhéantar san Aonad Forbartha Gaeilge.Rinneadh taifeadadh ar an bpodchraoladh seo ar an 18 Samhain 2025. Rinne John Stone na grafaicí. Ceol: ‘The Right Direction’ de chuid Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.comWe are delighted to welcome three staff members from the Irish Development Unit in DCC on this episode of What’s the Story, Dublin?The Irish Development Officer and two interns from the Fiontar school in Dublin City University who are working in the Council have a chat. They talk about their connection with the Irish language, their professional and academic backgrounds and the work they do in the Irish Development Unit.This podcast was recorded on 18 November 2025. Graphics are by John Stone. Music: ‘The Right Direction’ by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com