Tubridy Show Archive - October 2009

Thursday 29th October

Liam Clancy: With a fruitful career that spanned decades, Liam Clancy of Waterford is one of Ireland's best known traditional musicians. Today Ryan talked to Alan Gilensan about Liam, his life and a documentary made in his honour: The Yellow Bittern. Watch the documentary tonight at 22.45 on RTE 1.

Paula Flynn: Ryan also talked to Paula Flynn. Think Ballygowan, think that wonderful cover of David Bowie's 'Let's Dance.' That was three years ago and Paula is back with her own album, Miss Paula Flynn and she talked to Ryan about life post Ballygowan and her nomination on the Best Solo Female category of the Irish Music Video Awards.

Duos: Eoin Sweeney joined Ryan in studio today to discuss duos. Ant and Dec, Bros, Ike and Tina Turner....what would one be without the other? It's like green eggs without the ham... And then of course there are Jon and Edward of Jedward mania which seems to be sweeping right across Ireland and Britain.

Book Club: Don't forget, tomorrow is book club day and Ryan will be discussing The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code.

Wednesday 28th October

Graffiti: Some consider it nothing more than pure vandalism, an eye sore defacing every available surface, a signature for the poverty stricken areas of society. And some consider it to be an art form in itself. Today Con was joined by the Arts Officer for Waterford City Council: Conor Nolan, Richard Guiney from Dublin City Business Improvement and graffiti artist Lewis Quinn to discuss the issue and its repercussions. Image left from The Curious Ear documentary, The Neighbours At 52. See more...

Famous Irish People: Also on the show today Con talked to Colin Murphy, author of the book: Famous Irish People You've Never Heard Of (O'Brien Press) €12.99.

Tuesday 27th October

Alcohol: Did you ever find yourself wanting a drink when you really shouldn't have one? Did you ever will the weekend to get here so you could go drink yourself into submission? And did you ever wake up the next day with a pounding hangover, regretting the whole thing? Well, today Con was joined by Brian O'Connell, a man who has been there, done that and put it all behind him. The author of Wasted: A Sober Journey Through Drunken Ireland, took us through his journey of sobriety and what his life was like before and after he decided to quit alcohol. He talked about why he drank and why he gave it up.

Sporting Outcomes: Also in studio today Con talked to Paul Howard and Jacqui Hurley about sporting events of yesteryear and the unfair outcomes they held...remember Sonia OSullivan didn't get that gold medal in Sydney?

Monday 26th October

Movie Villains: They may not be the warm little centre of our favourite films - but more often than not, the villains get the best lines, the best outfits and in fairness the best weaponry. This morning Ryan was joined by film maker Brian Reddin and our very own Tubridy film buff, Taragh Loughrey Grant to discuss movie villains.

Vanishing Ireland: Ryan is joined by author Turtle Bunbury, who attempts to capture through images and words disappearing traditions of Irish life in his book Vanishing Ireland: Further Chronicles of a Disappearing World (Hachette Books Ireland).

Children's Books: Trio of authors John Connolly, Benji Bennett and Gail Seekamp discuss their favourite books for children and young adults.

Robert Harris: He's just published Lustrum, the second in his trilogy of novels about Ancient Rome based on the life of the great statesman Cicero. It's a great political story about violence, backstabbing and the struggle for power and he joins Ryan this morning.

Friday 23rd October

Revenge of the Geeks: The things that were once the preserve of the quiet intelligent souls are now the most popular things in the world. This morning Ryan was joined by 3 self confessed geeks software aficionado Stephen Griffin, journalist Margaret E Ward and 2FM DJ Rick O'Shea (left) to explain this phenomenon.

Mood Music: Interior Designer Denise Ryan and music journalist Tony Clayton Lea have joined forces to design soundtracks for the spaces we live in and join Ryan this morning.

Black Magic Competition: Congratulations to our winner Jacinta Shinnick who will be jetting off to Beverley Hills courtesy of Black Magic, the classic choice of chocolate.

Thursday 22nd October

Financial Secrets: When people are facing financial ruin what is the best policy - admit it to everyone or keep it to yourself? Novelist Catherine Dunne, Events Manager Catherine Crawford and Organisational Psychologist Ken McKenzie join Ryan this morning.

Down Syndrome: This morning Ryan was joined by mum of two Aisling McEniff who shared her story about her four year old son Jack who has Down Syndrome.

Wednesday 21st October

Running: It's the 30th anniversary of the Dublin City marathon this year. That's all well and good, but what has made these crazy people run 26.2 miles for 30 years? Marathon veterans Bob Manson and Shane O'Donoghue join Ryan this morning to explain.

School Phobic: Ryan is joined by parents Mairead Byrne and Joyce Doyle whose children have been diagnosed as school phobic. If you need information on home schooling for your children please visit www.iscoil.ie or call 01-4509406.

Tuesday 20th October

Dónal Óg Cusack: Ryan is joined by former GAA president and FG MEP Séan Kelly to discuss Cork goalie, Dónal Óg Cusack's recent announcement about his sexuality.

Student Travel: It's fifty years this year since USIT was founded. Ryan is joined by Michael Collins, Mary Banotti and USIT founder Gordon Colleary who reminisce about their travels as fresh faced youngsters.

The Queen of Manhattan: Ryan is joined Cindy Gallop, Founder and CEO of 'If We Ran The World', a company she founded to turn good intentions into action. www.ifwerantheworld.com

(Photo by Phil Knott)

Monday 19th October

Networking: You don't drink, you hate golf and you don't give a monkeys about rugby. So how do Irish people network if they don't conform to the clichés? This morning Ryan was joined by journalist John O'Keeffe and business owners Regina Mangan and Michael Cox to discuss how best to network.

Good Mood Food: Ryan chats to young Irish chef Donal Skehan (left) about his new cook book Good Mood Food, Simply Healthy Homecooking (Published by Mercier). For more information have a look at Donal's blog www.thegoodmoodfoodblog.com

Friday 16th October

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: Author Eoin Colfer (left) has picked up were Douglas Adams left off and has written the sixth book in the Hitchhikers series and joins Ryan along with The Blizzards frontman Niall Breslin who has released a song called And Another Thing for the launch of the book which is also called And Another Thing (Penguin/Michael Joseph). Eoin will be signing copies of the book in Easons, O'Connell St, Dublin on Saturday 17th at 12 noon.

Fun Size Oscars: Ryan chats to Mark Candon, the principle of St Lawrence O'Tooles CBS in Sheriff St about his students short Film Helping Hands which has been nominated for an award in the FIS Film Festival. For information visit www.fis.ie

Where's the Funny? Comedians regularly find themselves in hot water making jokes about subjects that most of us most of just don't find funny, but still they persist. To discuss if there a line and where that line might be, Ryan was joined by comedians Keith Farnan and Sonya Kelly.

Thursday 15th October

Family Tree: The urge to dig into our own family history seems irresistible at the moment but it takes some serious leg work. Genealogist Helen Kelly, history fan Conor Dodd and Diplomatic Historian Michael Kennedy join Ryan this morning. For information on tracing your roots take a look at The Royal Irish Academy website www.ria.ie, www.askaboutireland.ie, www.irish-roots.ie or The National Archives www.nationalarchives.ie.

Maths Week: This week is Maths Week (10th - 17th Oct) which aims to make maths fun for all. Ryan is joined this morning by maths teacher and comedian Matt Parker (left).

Tour Guides: Ryan is joined by three Irish tour guides Aine Caffrey, Steve McPhilmey and Tony Kirby who share some interesting stories about their jobs.

Wednesday 14th October

Living Library: The County Library in Tallaght are loaning out people, living books that will have a chat with you. This morning Ryan was joined by South County Dublin Librarian Georgina Byrne and Living Books school phobic Sam Doyle and gay man John Duffy. The event takes place tomorrow, Thursday October 15th at The County Library Tallaght between 6pm and 9pm.

John Irving: Ryan is joined by successful author John Irving for a chat about his latest novel Last Night in Twisted River (Bloomsbury).

Recemigrants: Following on from yesterday's chat about Ireland's brain drain Ryan chats to Elva Tarpey and Paul Welch, two people who have just returned to Ireland after years living abroad.

Tuesday 13th October

Irish Emigrants: As the Irish brain drain continues Ryan speaks to some of those who have left the Emerald Isle in the past year to find out if the grass is greener on the other side. This morning he spoke to Kevin Egan in Chicago, Sinead White in Sydney, Grainne King in Canada and Ann Grogan who plans to up sticks with her husband and kids to Qatar.

Irish Fashion: Fashion designer Peter O'Brien joins Ryan to speak about his last collection with Awear which launches this evening along with the winner of RTÉ TV's The Model Agent, Carrie Anne Burton.

Monday 12th October

Hairy Baby: Irish entrepreneur and owner of Hairy Baby T-Shirt company Darragh Murphy joined Ryan this morning and offered the chance for Tubridy listeners to come up with a catchphrase for our Tubridy T-Shirt. The slogans that were picked are.

'Did you turn off the immersion?'
'Grand Soft Day'
'What's Your Milk Quota?'

Dragon's Den: RTE's Dragon's Den will be back on our screens very shortly and this morning Ryan was joined by two of RTÉ's finest fire breathers Sean Gallagher and Bobby Kerr (left). If you want to take part in the next series of Dragon's Den visit www.rte.ie/dragonsden for information on how to apply.

Friday 9th October

Playtweet: Entrepreneur Brian Fallon chats to Ryan about his latest project, turning Dublin's Liberty Hall Building into a giant art canvas and are offering you the chance to put your own message on the building through the power of Twitter. To do so simply just add the hashtag #playtweet to your tweets.

Audrey Niffenegger: Ryan chats to The Time Traveller's Wife author, Audrey Niffenegger about her new book Her Fearful Symmetry (Jonathan Cape).

The Lost Symbol: The Lost Symbol (Transworld) publisher Larry Finlay discusses the success of Dan Brown's latest novel.

Fairytales: Daragh O'Connell from Brown Bag Films, journalist Jane Ruffino and Living Lightly star Laura Murray McArdle join Ryan for a chat about fairytales and how they've been sanitised over the years.

Thursday 8th October

Diarmuid Gavin: Gardening Superstar Diarmuid Gavin joined Ryan for a chat about his experience on RTÉ's 'Who Do You Think You Are' and his latest publication Planting by Diarmuid Gavin and Terence Conran (Octopus Publishing Group). Diarmuid is giving a lecture tonight in the Dundrum Cinema at 8pm and in Avoca, Kilmacanogue on Wednesday October 28th

Did We Do The Right Thing? Over the years what decisions have been made that were supposed to impact on our children's children. Diarmuid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD and former Minister for Education Gemma Hussey discuss did we always do the right thing?

Wednesday 7th October

Quarter Life Crisis: Three recent graduates Conor Behan, Louise Dredge and Niamh Kernan chat to Ryan about job hunting during the recession and whether they are now experiencing a quarter life crisis. Louise Dredge does some part time work for the Irish Architecture Foundation. For places of architectural interest open to the public visit www.architecturefoundation.ie

Roberta Kray: Reggie Kray's widow Roberta Kray joins Ryan for a chat about her latest book Strong Women (Left) Published by Little Brown

Tuesday 6th October

Forgiving Celebrity: Richard Delevan from McConnells Ad Agency and Jennifer O'Connell from the Sunday Business Post discuss whether we're more willing to forgive a celebrity over a mere mortal.

Dyslexia Awareness Month: Jo Gannon, National President of the Dyslexia Association, Author Don Mullan and Human Rights Campaigner Bernard Kilmurray discuss Dyslexia Awareness Month. For more information www.dyslexia.ie or call 01-6790276.

Monday 5th October

Media Moguls & Politicians: Journalists Susan O'Keeffe and Shane Coleman discuss examples of newspapers trying to get political parties or candidates elected.

Bill Bailey: Comedian Bill Bailey joins Ryan this morning. You can catch Bill live in Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra on Saturday 21st November at The O2 Dublin and Sunday 22nd November at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast.

RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Competition Winners: The Lucky winners of our competition Julie Brannigan, Jim Cleary and Elaine Leddy join Ryan to tell him about their night out courtesy of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.

Friday 2nd October

Jim Kerr: Ryan chats to Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr who is in town to take part in the Hot Press Music Show at the RDS. Simple Minds are performing in the O2 on December 9th.

At Your Service: Hoteliers John and Francis Brennan (left) pop into studio for a chat about their Sunday night RTÉ television show 'At Your Service'.

Product Placement: Siobhan O'Connell from Business Plus Magazine and TV Producer Bill Hughes discuss blatant examples of product placement in the movies.

Saoirse Ronan: Oscar nominated Irish actress Saoirse Ronan chats to Ryan about her upcoming interview in Novembers edition of Vanity Fair.

Thursday 1st October

Cowboys: Filmmaker Brian Reddin, cowboy boot aficionado Daithi O'Se and Ron Weisz of Drumcoura City, Co.Leitrim (www.drumcoura.ie) discuss all things cowboy this morning. You can catch a 7 part series on cowboys on TG4 starting October 10th at 8.30pm.

Martin Bell: Former BBC war correspondent and independent MP Martin Bell joins Ryan to discuss his book A Very British Revolution.