Culture That Made Me: Paula MacSweeney of Today FM picks her touchstones
In 2022, she began hosting the radio station's evening show, 7pm-10pm, Monday to Thursday. She also presents a Sunday night rock music show on Today FM. See: www.todayfm.com.
A Woman's Heart
I remember my mam bought A Woman's Heart. Every household had a copy of it in 1992. As a family, we used to hop in the car – eight of us going on holiday with my granddad, so nine of us in a car; you wouldn't be allowed to do it now – and we used to drive to France, children literally hanging out the windows. We had that album on tape. I remember listening to it constantly. I knew every word from those holidays. Even though it wasn't meant for a six-year-old girl, it had a real impact on me. I loved it. I rediscovered it on Spotify a couple of years ago, and it's just beautiful.
Take That
I was a huge Take That fan. My first ever album was Take That & Party. Santy brought it for me – that's how young I was. I was about seven. I absolutely loved it, and I loved Take That throughout the Nineties.
There was a Take That vs. Boyzone rivalry; I was always Take That. I loved the five-piece. Now that Robbie has left, and I think they're down to about three, I've kinda lost interest a little bit!
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais.
I'm a huge Ricky Gervais fan. I know he's not for everyone. Some people find him too much. People love to give out about him online. With his observations, sometimes I even find myself going, 'He's gone too far, he's gone too far,' but I still love it because dark humour is something I find very funny. Comedy's gone a bit dull, so I love when Ricky Gervais goes for it. I love the way he uses satire to critique societal norms, politics, celebrity culture. Nobody is safe. He's witty. He's clever. I love him.
Britney Spears
As I grew a bit older, into my teenage years, I loved Britney Spears. She came out when I was about 13 so throughout my whole teenage years – like a lot of girls who were into pop at that age – I was obsessed with Britney. Because we didn't have social media at the time – and she was being absolutely harassed by paparazzi – I was one of those buying the magazines to see what she was up to. I owned every album. I knew every word. I love her.
Lily Allen
I'm an enormous Lily Allen fan. I've loved her since 2004-2005 – when she was young and very new. She hasn't released music since 2018. It's been quite a while, and she only has four albums. I went to see her when she was on at Electric Picnic in 2014. I'll never forget it. She was on early in the day. It was Sunday, maybe about 6pm, so it was bright. I was waiting for her set all year. I was so excited to go and see her. She was promoting her album, Sheezus, which probably is her worst album. I'll never forget standing there with a cup of warm beer, in a field, it had been raining, and I felt the happiest I'd ever been. I'd finally got to see her live on stage, and it was magnificent.
Gavin & Stacey
Gavin & Stacey.
I'm very passionate about Gavin & Stacey. The word play in it is clever. James Corden and Ruth Jones are phenomenal writers. The characters are so clever, so well-developed. I love the character arc as well from when they started 20 years ago to that amazing Christmas special finish. Their finale made my Christmas. Every line was perfect. It's like a warm hug on the TV. It's my go-to whenever I need a little pick-me-up. It's gorgeous TV.
The Sopranos
My favourite TV box set of all time is The Sopranos. It's perfect – the characters, the storylines are amazing. There are unexpected twists. Nobody was safe in that show. It explores the American dream, and what it takes to obtain that. There's nuanced exploration of stuff like identity, loyalty, the human condition. Tony Soprano is so multidimensional. He's flawed. He's brilliant. He's funny. I've probably watched it from start to finish at least 10 times in my life. Every time I watch it, I find something new that I hadn't seen or heard before. It's so entertaining.
The Pillars of the Earth
The best book I've read is Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth. He's an extraordinary writer. It's set in the twelfth century, in England during a time of political turmoil, religious strife, and the construction of a magnificent cathedral. He travelled around Europe years before writing his book to understand architecture and how these cathedrals were built. That side of the book is very detailed. Even though I didn't find that bit particularly interesting, it's so powerful. The drama is gripping. It has complex characters. It's a rich tapestry of human experience, with insight into human ambition, and the power of the church. It's brilliant historical fiction. The book had a profound effect on me. I remember finishing it thinking I want to restart it.
Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey.
I loved Ian Dempsey on RTÉ 2fm. I remember, in my teens, the moment when Today FM announced, 'Look who we've poached for breakfast' and he moved to Today FM. It was such a big deal. It was huge news. Everybody was talking about it. I was a huge fan. All I ever wanted to do was work with Ian Dempsey. It was a life goal. It's funny because we've worked together now for, like, 13-14 years. He's the greatest of the greatest, and he's only getting better. There's no slowing down.
Then She Was Gone
I read seven Lisa Jewell books in a month about six months ago because of this book of hers, Then She Was Gone. Some of her books are better than others. Then She Was Gone is full of suspense and mystery. I couldn't put it down. It is sad, I have to say. It's a hard read at some points – because some of the best things are – but it's brilliant. The book has it all. It has amazing twists, a real page turner.
The Baby Tribe
I have three children aged six, four, and two. I've come out of my era of listening constantly to parenting podcasts, but The Baby Tribe is a podcast I listened to religiously for about two years. It's hosted by Professor Afif El-Khuffash, a neonatologist in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, and his wife, Dr Anne Doherty, who is an anaesthesiologist. It's evidence-based fun, and ways to learn about stuff. There's no opinion. It's all 'according to research', which is so reassuring. They have some good guests on it as well. It's very good.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘It's a serious risk' – All Together Now bosses issue strong warning after being hounded with messages from music fans
ALL Together Now bosses have issued a strong warning after being hounded with messages from fans. In just under a week, 30,000 people will be journeying to Curraghmore Estate in Co for an unforgettable weekend of music, art, food and wellness. Advertisement 2 All Together Now takes place next weekend Credit: POD & Aiken Promotions 2 Music fans have been trying to get their hands on re-sale tickets Credit: Instagram The bumper-packed festival will take place from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3. A number of exciting Irish and international artists are set to hit the stage at All Together Now, including Many people all over the country are attempting to get their hands on re-sale tickets for the highly-anticipated festival - and ATN promoters, POD & Aiken Promotions, have said there's a "serious risk" doing this. They said: "Festival goers are strongly advised to avoid purchasing tickets or campervan passes from unauthorised sellers. Advertisement read more on all together now "We have received a significant number of messages from people who have been scammed when trying to buy tickets through unofficial channels, particularly through a Facebook group claiming to resell tickets for our events. "ATN will never sell or resell tickets via Facebook groups, social media pages, or private messages. "These scammers are professional and convincing. If you choose to buy tickets from unverified sources, you are taking a serious risk, and we cannot help recover any lost money or guarantee entry to the event." The festival bosses "strongly urged" fans to only buy tickets through official channels listed on their website. Advertisement Most read in Showbiz They also said to "avoid social media ticket resales altogether" and to "report any suspicious pages or posts to Facebook". And for those who have been lucky enough to nab some tickets, here's Kellie Harrington beams during crowd-pleasing cameo at The Wolfe Tones' Electric Picnic performance ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Every weekend pass purchased for All Together Now will now gain early entry on Thursday, July 31 with gates opening at 4pm. Early entry is encouraged to beat the rush. Advertisement Campervan, Boutique and Pre-Pitched Camping will all be ready and waiting for early arrivals. There will be live entertainment to get the celebrations started, with music on the Bandstand and other surprises around the site. There will be no re-entry between the campsite and the car park after 2am each night for wristband holders and last entry is strictly 10pm. All Together Now is also strictly over 21s, however children between the ages of 12 and under can attend free of charge, accompanied by a parent with a family ticket. Advertisement GETTING THERE The festival chiefs have also asked those travelling to the event "not to use Google Maps as "it will not get you all the way to the festival site". Instead, punters are asked to follow directions to the festival listed on their . Travelling by road between 9am - 1pm is one of the quietest times to travel to the festival. ALCOHOL POLICY It has been stated that alcohol can be brought onto the site at the time of first entry only. There is no re-entry with alcohol once wristbanded. Advertisement Each person on a weekend camping ticket is allowed to bring one of either 24 cans or 1 litre of Spirits OR 1.5 litre of Wine for personal consumption subject to initial entry only. No glass bottles are allowed. Those buying food or drink at the festival must be aware that the festival's bars and traders will be cashless and accept cards and contactless payments only. FESTI-RULES There will be phone charging facilities on site, however festival-goers are advised to ensure their phones are fully charged before going the festival. Advertisement For the safety and well-being of attendees, stringent searches will be conducted upon entry to the festival. Anyone found carrying illicit items will have them confiscated and may be removed from the festival and passed over to the Garda as a result. Prohibited items include; fireworks, chinese Lanterns, flares and high power torches. Illicit drugs, glass bottles and knives or anything considered an offensive weapon is not allowed. Advertisement Wax candles or any type of candles or incense are also prohibited, as well as BBQs and disposable vapes.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Bernard O'Shea: Five things I've learned to pretend about in my 40s
1. I pretend I know how to fix things around the house In your 40s, you're expected to have this mystical ability to fix things. Dripping tap? No problem. Wobbly table? I'll just wedge something under it and call it 'stabilising'. Truth is, I have a toolbox that exists purely to intimidate daddy long leg spiders who I'm fairly sure have opened a gym under the stairs. Culturally, Irish dads are supposed to be part-man, part-shed. But I missed that apprenticeship. We all had fathers who could take apart a lawnmower blindfolded using only two spoons and some spit. I once tried to change a light fitting and we ended up in darkness for a few hours. I also once put up a shelf in the bathroom — of which I was massively proud — but my wife keep telling me anyone within earshot: 'He actually said it will be fine — just don't put anything on it!' A recent study (done by someone handier than me) says that self-perceived competence in DIY peaks at age 38 and then plummets sharply — probably around the time you realise there's a very fine line between 'tightening' and 'stripping the screw entirely'. 2. I pretend I still know what music is cool Spotify recently informed me I had streamed Sigur Ros 483 times in one month. That wasn't even a sad month. That was just... a Tuesday. There comes a point in your 40s where all new music sounds like someone trying to sell you protein bars while shouting over a tumble dryer. You nod along when someone mentions Doja Cat, but deep down you're thinking 'Wasn't she in The Animals of Farthing Wood?' In my 20s, I prided myself on my music taste. I had opinions about B-sides. Now I just want something I can hum while I unload the dishwasher. Historically, every generation reaches a musical cutoff. For me, it's somewhere between Arctic Monkeys and whatever the hell hyperpop is. Psychologists refer to this as 'reminiscence bump' — we emotionally bond most with the music from our teens and early 20s. Which is why I nearly wept the last time Teenage Dirtbag came on in a petrol station. 3. I pretend my back is fine There's a specific moment in a man's life — usually just after he's bent down to tie his shoe or retrieve a rogue Lego — when his entire body goes 'No'. I threw my back out recently reaching for a grape. Not a box of grapes. One. Single. Grape. I made a noise like a fax machine being punched (I'm complete aware that anyone under the age of 35 won't know what a 'fax' is) But when asked 'Are you okay?' the only acceptable answer (as a man in his 40s) is: 'Ah yeah, just a bit stiff. Grand though.' Bernard O'Shea: "Culturally, Irish dads are supposed to be part-man, part-shed. But I missed that apprenticeship. We all had fathers who could take apart a lawnmower blindfolded using only two spoons and some spit. I once tried to change a light fitting and we ended up in darkness for a few hours." We lie through gritted teeth while walking like John Wayne in wet corduroy. Historically, men haven't been great at acknowledging pain. Our ancestors fought wolves and famine. I got winded bringing the shopping in. Medically, back pain becomes increasingly common after 40 due to something called 'disc degeneration' — which sounds like a bad DJ name but is actually just ageing bones throwing in the towel. To overcome the pain I just say to myself. 'I'm not old. I'm just… compression sensitive.' 4. I pretend I know what my kids are talking about Modern parenting is like being dropped into a video game you didn't know you downloaded. There are words, abbreviations, trends — and somehow, I'm always the villain. I try to stay up to speed. I read the odd TikTok trend breakdown. I ask careful questions like 'Is Riz good or bad?' But mostly I just smile, nod, and hope someone doesn't point and roar 'He hasn't a clue!' Historically, parents have always been uncool. It's practically our job. But in this age of memes and livestreams, the speed at which you become irrelevant is faster than a teenager slamming a door. According to one study, kids think their parents are officially 'cringe' from age 12 onward. Which is deeply unfair, because that's exactly when I got good at wordplay. 5. I pretend I'm in control of money On the outside, I look composed. Inside, I'm three receipts away from yelling 'WHY DID I SPEND €6 ON KOMBUCHA?' Knowing full well that it isn't going to solve my 'bloating'. (It's possible my large stomach is caused by repeated ingestion of salted caramel ice-cream. However without more scientific study this cannot be 100% proven.) In your 40s, people assume you have a grip on money. You nod at mortgage rates, you say things like 'we'll revisit that in Q3', and you pretend your pension is something other than a shoebox with old Bus Éireann vouchers. Financial adulthood is just constant juggling. Kids, bills, petrol, insurance. Your life essentially becomes a series of direct debits. You're always 'just after paying something off'. As a self-employed person for most of my life I'm still trying to get my head around invoicing. Culturally, Irish people were never raised to talk about money. We were raised to say things like 'Ah, sure we'll make do' while sweating through a budget spreadsheet written on the pack of a till receipt. According to behavioural economists, money shame is real — especially in midlife when you're expected to have it all sorted. But guess what? No one really does. Even your man with the campervan and the laser-cut grass. He's stressed too.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I run Ireland's best kept secret festival with stacked line-up in tiny village of 300 – it's worlds away from my day job
THE boss of Forest Fest has revealed how he has turned down mega-buck deals from corporate sponsors because he does not want his event to become over-commercialised. Some 20,000 punters are expected in Emo, Co Advertisement 5 Philip Meagher was working behind the scenes at Electric Picnic for years 5 The festival will take place in the small town of Emo, Co Laois But it's the middle-aged attendees who the sponsors are more interested in - many of whom have kids who have grown up so they have lots of disposable income to spend. Philip Meagher told 'We have missed out on a lot of Advertisement 'But we want to run a true Philip, a well-known solicitor in Portlaoise, told how he shares similar views on how festivals should be run with his late friend John Reynolds - the founder of the Philip said: 'I think John is smiling down on Forest Fest this weekend, telling me how mad I am to do it. 'Because I was part of the original Electric Picnic team for the first five years, doing all the legals. 'It was one hell of a carnival ride so I got to know John very well. Advertisement 'He was an absolute visionary and genuinely loved in the industry. 'He could persuade you into doing anything, not because he was forceful but because he was a very nice man that people wanted to help. The pint-sized Glastonbury with healing area and kid's zone "Like John, I'm a great believer in being decent and kind to people.' The weather gods seem to be smiling down on Forest Fest along with John Reynolds, as the forecast for the festival this weekend is both warm and dry. Philip said: 'It's a great forecast for the rest of the week, dry and up to twenty degrees. Advertisement "But best of all no rain, and no wind which is great from a production point of view. 'Friday in particular is a cracker of a day with Saturday just as good. SELL OUT GIG "There might be a bit of cloud on Sunday but we're delighted with the news.' Amid the Philip said: 'The Advertisement 'We have missed out on a lot of money from sponsors who want to have a presence down here because our punters are older and have more disposable income than the kids who attend younger festivals." Philip Meagher Over a thousand Some 20,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event, swelling the village of Emo which has a population of 300. Philip said: 'The people attending take over Emo and the surrounding areas. This is the biggest Forest Fest we have ever done.' BIGGER AND BETTER Forest Fest organisers maintain they are 'deliberately prioritising atmosphere and experience over commerciality'. Philip said: 'We've got bigger and bigger from word of mouth. But if people come on a promise, and the staging is crap, they won't come back. Advertisement "But we've connected, not just to the punters, but to the acts as well. "That's why the names playing have gotten better and better each year.' JACK OF ALL TRADES Other well-known acts playing over the four stages include Orbital, The Stranglers, Billy Bragg, Peter Hook & The Light, Reef, Kula Shaker, Therapy?, Teenage Fanclub, The Farm, and Pillow Queens. Some big Irish acts including Hermitage Green, Something Happens, and The Riptide Movement. But festival boss Philip won't have time to see them all. Advertisement Like pal John Reynolds, who was once spotted trying to fix a gate during the Electric Picnic, Philip is not afraid to take any job that needs doing at his event. He said: 'I was on site this morning from half seven but I had to go into the village to buy a tin of paint. "There's something that needs a good coat and I'll be painting it.' To find about more about the event visit 5 Forest Fest is a weekend dedicated to arts and music 5 20,000 festivalgoers are expected to attend this weekend Advertisement 5 Philip said he turned down huge money from sponsors so the festival would remain 'pure'
