Ravings of a Mad Irishman
Out the Gap
Canoeing, wool spinning, turf wars, farming, politics and more! Meet wool spinner, Séamus Kirwan on a Summer's evening and join myself and Séamus as we chat about his life and his passion for his craft. In a beautiful part of Galway on the west coast of Ireland I hear all about this intricate art of working with wool and find out about the hours of work that go into each piece. I was also lucky enough to be let have a go on a spinning wheel under the guidance of the man himself, whilst we were recording. As the listeners will hear, Séamus is a very engaging individual and shares many...
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A Millionaire in Other Ways
Out the Gap
Farming in the shadow of the 'Devil's Bit'. Join Tipperary beef farmer, Catherine Guest as we walk and chat on her beautiful farm in north Tipperary. Catherine has a very evident deep love for the land, her area and the animals in her care. We hear about the generations before her who worked this farm and how in her everyday work she feels many of the features on her property such as the hedgerows provide a ''link to the past''. We discuss the many challenges facing the agricultural industry in general and what the future might have in store on Catherine's own farm. Email; Twitter;...
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The Long Draw
Out the Gap
The Long Draw-life as an agricultural contractor. On a lovely Summer's day Noel catches up with John Drennan of 'Drennan Agri' as himself and his crew are harvesting grass in the midlands of Ireland. It is obvious from our chat that despite many challenges John loves what he does. John has been immersed in contracting for decades, providing a variety of services to farmers in his region. We hear how he started out as well as how things have changed and also of the many challenges facing agri contractors currently. We also chat to Karol Duignan, president of the FTMTA(Farm Tractor and Machinery...
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Selling the Land
Out the Gap
What does it mean to sell the family farm? Hear Denis Cahalan's story of his upbringing on a mixed farm and of life in a school system where violence was commonplace. Find out about his inspiring story of going back to education in his mid fifties and of his decision to change his life and sell the family farm, all the while whilst living with Sarcoidosis disease. It was a pleasure to spend time with Denis and to hear his personal tale. GET IN TOUCH! Email; Twitter; @OuttheGapPodca1 FB; Out the Gap podcast page Insta; @outthegappodcast
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Life in the Furrows
Out the Gap
Life in the Furrows-a day spent turning the sod. On a hardy Winter's day join us for a day meeting competitors from around the country as they compete in a ploughing competition on the Tipperary/Offaly border. We meet male and female competitors aswell as some of the vountary organisers that run the whole thing and find out a bit more about this hobby which for some is bordering on being an obsession. As I found out over the course of the day, competition ploughing is an art in itself and requires great skill and precision. From vintage machinery enthusiasts to horse drawn participants, we...
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The Hills have Eyes
Out the Gap
A dog's life in the uplands. On a beautiful Winter's day in the Glenasmole valley we meet Donie Anderson and his trusted team of Border Collies. Hear about how life in the Dublin hills. Meet the hardy sheep and the even hardier people who have shaped this landscape. We find out from Donie how farmers in this region are working together to re-populate some areas of Broadleaf trees and implementing other measures as part of modern environmental schemes. We also get a great insight into the real stars of the show, his team of dogs and of their importance to managing sheep in this vast terrain....
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The Big Scoop-from Cow to Cone
Out the Gap
From Cow to Cone! The story of Muckross Creamery. On a Winter's day in county Kerry in the southwest of Ireland, hear all about the Fleming family and their wonderful ice cream. We visit the cows themselves and chat amongst them and we check out the milking facilities aswell as the creamery where the end product is produced. Hear all about the beautiful area in which the farm is situated, nestled right at the edge of Killarney National Park. We find out about the family history and why John's own immediate family 'took the plunge' and decided to start producing and marketing this beautiful...
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Best in Show
Out the Gap
It's a family affair! What makes the rural agricultural shows such an institution? Why it's the people of course! Join Noel on a day spent at Dualla showgrounds for the annual Dualla Show. We meet many of the people who make these events so special, from children showing livestock, to their parents aswell as the judges and volunteers that ensure that these types of rural shows will continue into the future. We speak to many of the participants to get a flavour of the day's action. Feel free to download or subscribe. Email; [email protected] Twitter: @OuttheGapPodca1 Insta; @outthegappodcast...
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From Ballyduff to the Nile
Out the Gap
Born to a farm in the midlands of Ireland in 1936, Séamus Dooley had to grow up fast. His father passed away when he was only twelve, leaving his mother and a young family behind. Hear about his mother and what a strong and determined woman she was. We get a glimpse into the varied life so far which Séamus has had, from farming and contract shearing and then graduating to purchasing and exporting wool. He also chats about the rural characters he has met and worked with as well as the world travels he got to partake in during his later years. We also find out why he is as he says himself, "a...
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The Wind that Shakes the Barley
Out the Gap
According to this farmer tillage farming is a bit like playing Roulette! On a beautiful Summer's day join myself and farmer, Patrick Kehoe on his lovely mixed farm in county Wexford in the southeast of the country. Hear about the science involved in growing crops such as Barley and Beans. We delve into his use of Winter cover crops and also chat Romney sheep, Aubrac cattle, family farming and why Patrick always wanted to eventually come home to farm in this corner of Ireland. Email; Twitter: @OuttheGapPodca1 FB; Out the Gap Insta; outthegappodcast
info_outlineLocal marriages, horses, the large cattle and pig Fairs, 'tanglers', the advent of farm mechanisation, the harvest and threshing, hand milking and the War of Independence and Irish Civil War connection. It's all here in episode 9. In the days of "no waste" hear what it was like to grow up in rural Ireland in the years after the second World War. Find out from the horse's mouth about the days of 'Woodbine's, rural electrification and ration books, why good neighbours were indispensable and why the humble cow is still as important now as she was then. Recorded in a cow byre in county Tipperary with Tom Clancy.
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