Podcast Corner: Family tales of the Irish contribution to Manchester through the years
The podcast series revolves around stories, scenes, and memories from the Irish diaspora in Manchester and the impact of its legacy on the present day. With original music composed and arranged by Michael McGoldrick, Donelon talked to 35 people over the course of just a month about their varied lives. Why Manchester in particular? Donelon explains: 'For two centuries and more, Manchester's story has been tied to Ireland. Since the city began its transformation into an industrial metropolis, the Irish have come, the large majority, to find work and have been enriching Mancunian cultural and social life in the process. The period of emigration we're looking at in this series is from around 1945 to 1975.'
She says the Oral History Project in the UK promotes the idea that historical documents and books can't tell us everything about our past as often, they concentrate on famous people and big events and tend to miss out ordinary people talking about everyday life. Donelon gives us a whole cast of 'ordinary' voices in this story, including turf cutters hailing from Tyrone ('we could cut turf practically in the front garden') and men who studied engineering at UCC.
The series is told in chronological order, beginning with what rural life in Ireland was like pre-emigration, following them to noisy Manchester, stepping into their social customs with them at dancehalls and céilí. Traditional Irish music (the ballad Skibbereen is sung on the second episode), dancing, and indeed storytelling are all recurring themes across the eight episodes, the last of which was released on Sunday.
We could pick out any number of snippets from Donelon's characters to highlight, but Tommy on the second episode is a highlight, talking about how he made the journey to the UK from the west of Ireland in July 1952 at age 21: 'And believe it or not, which I can hardly believe myself, I came to Manchester by plane. I'd never even seen a plane in the sky. I don't think there was ever a plane flew over Mayo in those years. I remember hares running round. When I got on the plane, there was hares running round outside. And I used to hunt hares in Ireland with a greyhound and I thought, oh if that was in Mayo your life'd be in danger!'
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Jason Manford on his Irish roots, and how humour kept him out of trouble in Manchester
Jason Manford likely got the performing bug from his mother's side of the family. His maternal grandparents, a folk-singing duo called The Peates, emigrated from Dublin to Manchester in the 1950s. Later, they jumped on the showband wagon. As a kid, Manford, now 44, remembers his grandmother, Nora, playing in Irish bars on Sunday afternoons in the 1980s. 'My memory of those afternoons is sitting under the pool table with me brothers eating crisps hearing my nana singing, Grace or The Fields of Athenry. At some point, my parents worked out that I was able to sing. Nana took a shine to me because of that. As soon as I was able to sing, I'd get up and sing a few songs with her. 'I think, always, I had an idea of what might be funny. From an early age, maybe eight, I used to sing In the Ghetto by Elvis, which is not a funny song, but obviously it's funny because an eight-year-old is singing it. I would try and do a bit of an Elvis impression – the karate kick, a lip curl and shaking the hips. I remember it used to make people laugh. 'My Uncle Michael, the eldest, probably the only one of my uncles and aunties born in Ireland, and the only one with an Irish accent, was hilarious. I loved watching him because he was such a funny performer. He was talented. He did everything – he sang, he played the guitar. He could properly yodel, which is such a funny thing to do. That classic Irish thing where almost the talking between the songs is as entertaining as the songs.' During summer months, Manford came over to Ireland for a couple of weeks' holidays, running amok with his cousins around Templeogue, Dublin. His father is 'very English', so religion wasn't a big part of their lives growing up. He was shocked by how long mass lasted in a Catholic church. 'In C of E, you're in and out,' he says. 'In 25 minutes, he's said his thing. Off you go. In Dublin, it was a case of, 'Are we still here?' It felt like everything in Ireland was a little bit stricter because of the religious element. There were a lot more rules – 'You can't do that,' 'you can't say that' kind of thing. Back in Manchester, things felt a bit more feral.' Jason Manford grew up in Moss Side, near Manchester City's old Maine Road stadium. (Photo by) He adds: 'It's funny, in the UK when I'm on tour, a cousin somewhere or an uncle will occasionally get in touch, and go, 'Oh, Jason, I know you're in Preston this week. I wondered if it's possible to get two tickets. I don't mind paying.' Then I come to Dublin, and I get a phone call from some cousin I've seen three times in me life: 'Jason, can I get 40 tickets?' They ask for all sorts. 'Can you do a meet-and-greet with my girlfriend?' They're not shy about coming forward in Ireland.' Manford grew up on Moss Side, part of inner-city Manchester, home to Manchester City's old stadium, Maine Road. It was a tough neighbourhood, notoriously dubbed 'The Triangle of Death' because of gang violence. Many of Manford's classmates are either dead or in prison. He used his knack for humour as a survival tool. 'Humour was massive for me during my childhood – learning to have a laugh,' he says. 'Learning to laugh at yourself is the most important thing you can learn as a human being. If you don't take things seriously, you're not quick to snap if someone says something provocative. You've always got a way of getting out of things with words rather than actions or being physical. 'If you're funny at school, you can have a laugh with everybody, whether it's the nerds or the bullies. You can get away with things. Bullies didn't pick on me necessarily because I always had something to say, I might be a bit mouthy. Generally, bullies are not good with their words so they wouldn't go toe to toe with you when it comes to arguments, certainly in front of other people or girls. 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He hasn't yodelled on stage yet, like his Uncle Michael, but his quick-fire comedy chops are always on hand to get him out of a jam if needed. He recalls an incident on stage in Northern Ireland a few years after a 1996 Provisional IRA bombing of city-centre Manchester, close to a shopping centre. 'I remember one of my very early gigs was in Belfast,' he says. 'Belfast now is very different to Belfast around the time coming out of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. We were one of the first sets of English comics to go over and play in the centre of Belfast. There was a guy on, from London before me, and the audience ruined him. I went on, and I said, 'I'm from Manchester.' A guy made a heckle, 'Did you enjoy the bomb?' The whole crowd were like, 'Ooh, that's too far.' I said, 'Well, nobody died, and we got a new NEXT.' That helped to diffuse the situation.' Jason Manford is on a nationwide tour, including Cork's The Everyman, Friday, July 25. See: Jason Manford – Five of his jokes 'Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass of water.' 'I spent two years in therapy for my Phil Collins addiction, but I did it. Against all odds. Just take a look at me now.' 'Me and my wife decided we don't want kids. So, if anyone wants them, we can drop them off tomorrow.' 'I don't hate ginger people. Don't get me wrong, I like ginger people. They were the only people who stopped me from getting bullied at school.' ''Do not touch' must be the worst thing to read in braille.'
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
I was only meant to be on Fair City for a month – Matthew O'Brien on daughter's epic reaction & surprise side hustle
HE might play one of Carrigstown's most slippery characters, but Matthew O'Brien says he's just as shocked by James Rafferty's twists and turns as the rest of us. The 4 Matthew O'Brien plays James Rafferty on RTE's Fair City 4 Matthew has been acting since he was a teen And if there's one thing Matthew has learned from his time playing the notorious Carrigstown character, it's how to keep everyone guessing — including himself. The 40-year-old told the Irish Sun: "It's a bit of a rollercoaster, I try as best I can not to read too far ahead. "We usually get scripts a week or two in advance, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. I just take it as it comes." For O'Brien, that spontaneity is part of what makes the role so electrifying, with his character James currently wrapped up in a daddy dilemma after old flame Holly arrived in Carrigstown claiming he was the father of her six-year-old child Milo. The The actor, who joined Fair City during the Matthew said: "James was only meant to be in the show for about one or two months, but five years later, I'm still here. It's a wonderful evolution and the writing's been very good for me." Despite the thrill of playing one of Carrigstown's most unpredictable characters, there are moments when fiction bleeds awkwardly into real life. When it comes to being noticed by viewers of the soap in public, O'Brien joked: "It's a lot of expletives. The charming terms of endearment that only Irish people can do. "I get an awful lot of, excuse the language, 'little b****cks' on the street." But O'Brien isn't fazed, adding: "He is a villain, but the way they've written him is quite good. "He's a cheeky fecker as well. There are so many layers to him. He's so much craic to play. I describe James as traffic that just veers into oncoming traffic." That chaotic energy contrasts with O'Brien's home life in Dublin, where he raises six-year-old daughter Luna and son Lucas who's four. He says they're still figuring out what it means to see their dad on screen. He explained: "My daughter, Luna, is really into it. She'll ask, 'Is that real? Did they really do that?' She doesn't know the difference between reality and fiction yet. "When my character got married on the show, she made me re-watch it nine times. Then she asked, 'That's not really your wife daddy, is it?'" 4 Matthew was originally predicted to stay on Fair City for a 'couple of months' O'Brien says Luna has already shown signs of following in his footsteps, saying "she's taken a huge interest in acting lately" though he jokes he was secretly hoping for a more traditional path like "a dentist or a doctor". 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"It was just really nice because he could see that I was looking for that little bit of reassurance." He gushed: "What makes him such a great actor is his depth of character and his ability to access his flaws, which I think is lovely. I think he's a very open person." Another surprising brush with fame came when Matthew worked on Sally Rooney's TV adapted series Conversations With Friends with actor He said: "I was in a scene with Joe and he was talking to me all day and I was chatting away to him. I had no idea Joe Alwyn went out with Taylor Swift. "And I was there busy talking about my girlfriend at the time. I was like, 'Oh yeah, are you seeing anyone?' and he goes, 'Oh yeah, I'm seeing someone. She's a singer'." He laughed: "In my head, I was like, 'Oh, grand. She's like a bar singer', but it transpired that he was going out with Taylor f****ng Swift." 'NO GUARANTEE' Despite the occasional celebrity run-in, O'Brien remains grounded in the fast-paced world of Irish television. He added: "Every director is different. Every set is different. What I love about Fair City is the speed. "We get stuck into it. Otherwise, it's a long day of doing nothing — you get paid to wait around, not just act." As for his future on the soap, O'Brien is happy where he is but can't promise he will be sticking around in the long run. Matthew said: "I'm not being facetious — I don't think there are any guarantees in any line of work these days. I have no idea. I take it as it comes. "I'm grateful for what I have. That's pretty much how I approach it." And while he's rubbing shoulders with A-listers like Colin Farrell and unknowingly swapping love-life stories with Taylor Swift's ex, Matthew says he's happiest mucking in on set — or making dollhouses at home. Whether he's dodging plot twists or bear traps, one thing's for sure — O'Brien's not taking a second of it for granted. He said: 'I'm just grateful to be here." He added: "I've no idea what's coming next — but that's half the fun." 4 Matthew still remains as a leading character on the hit show
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Urgent casting call for major Hollywood movie set to shoot in Ireland as flick needs 1k extras – here's how to apply
A MAJOR Hollywood movie will begin filming in Ireland later this summer - and production bosses are on the hunt for extras to be in the flick. The production will be carrying out some on-location shooting in Skibbereen, Co Cork in the near future. Advertisement 2 There is a biopic of Hollywood legend James Stewart in the works Credit: Getty Images 2 Filming is set to start soon in the area Credit: Getty Images - Getty The film is a World War II biopic inspired by the life of West Cork Film Studios, a movie firm based in Skibbereen, have issued a massive casting call for extras on behalf of the production. The project is set to become the biggest production filmed in Ireland over the coming months. West Cork Film Studios are looking for in excess of 1,000 extras for the picture, which is operating under the working title Jimmy. Advertisement read more on movies The project was first conceived two years ago - then going by the title of A Truly Wonderful Life. Pennsylvania-born Stewart famously put his film career on hold in 1940 to serve with the He became the first major The film, inspired by his army experience, is to be shot in the Skibbereen area. Advertisement Most read in Celebrity West Cork Film Studios have issued a public appeal for cast members for the production along with Extra Extra. A range of roles are required to be filled, including speaking roles and featured extras roles. NO RE-USE Erika Christensen: From 'Traffic' Star to Hollywood Mainstay They said in a statement: 'Extra Extra is currently casting for a major feature film shooting in west Cork. 'We are looking for talented background actors to bring scenes to life. This is a costume period film – all extras will be paid and provided with a fitted costume.' Advertisement The advertisement for the production said extras were being sought to play roles including swing dancers, ballet dancers, Hollywood Oscar party attendees, brass bands, Glenn Miller Orchestra players, town people, airbase crew, bomber pilots, army officers and medics. BIG STAR West Cork has a strong tie to the Irish film industry with other movies such as The Wind That Shakes The Barley, As it currently stands, the Hollywood epic will revolve around Jimmy Stewart's wartime service – and his refusal to be confined to a safe role in uniform in the US. The actor insisted on enlisting because of his family's long connection with the US military. Advertisement His two grandfathers had served in the US Civil War, and his father served during the Spanish-American War and The roles can be applied for online through the website.
