Sunday with Miriam

Mark O’Meara is President of the Garda Representative Association,. Today he shared his very personal story about being a gay man in the force, and what that meant for his family, and explains why he’s decided that now is the right time to talk about it publiclySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best-selling historical fiction writer explains why leaving the corporate world behind was the right thing to do. Her 12th book has just been published - ‘Before Dorothy’ creates a back story for Dorothy and Aunty Em, before ‘The Wizard of Oz’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A dementia ambassador and advocate for Alzheimer’s services, Helen has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past thirteen years. After the recent Prime Time Investigates exposé on two nursing homes, she feels compelled to speak out when so many people in her position would prefer to stay in their own home with state supportsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former journalist explains how she first met and started volunteering with Dr Anne Merriman, a Liverpool-born, Irish-educated doctor who founded Hospice Africa Uganda. Dr Anne died last month, shortly after her ninetieth birthday, and she is to be honoured tomorrow by Uganda’s President Museveni for her work thereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The actor, a graduate of the Lir Academy, chats about his play ‘The Black Wolfe Tone’. A co-production with FishambleTheatre, it is based on his own personal story of father/son relationships and teenage mental health issues Project Arts Centre, Dublin / Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray / Cork Midsummer FestivalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A wide-ranging conversation with the couple about Paddy’s wrongful conviction for the Guildford pub bombings, release after 15 years in prison and the effect his experiences had on their life. His story is told in the Mary Elaine Tynan play ‘Paddy: The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong’ Full details: www.lifeandtimesofpaddy.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chat with the two musicians about their legendary band Horslips, the early days of a band that was put together in an ad-hoc way. They have just launched a new box set ‘Horslips at the BBC' and Eamon's book 'Pure Gold: Memorable Conversations with Remarkable People' is out nowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chat with the Mullingar singer/songwriter about combining family life with a music career and his new album ‘All the World Is Running On A Mystic Code Official website: www.peterdoran.com (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garden designer Leonie Cornelius and nursery owner Jo McGarry are working together for this year’s Bloom, taking place next weekend in the Phoenix Park. They explain why their garden ‘Nourish’ is a very personal project for them both Full details: www.bordbiabloom.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The best-selling author chats about her childhood in Cahir, Tipperary, co-writing thrillers with her husband, writing scripts for Hallmark movies, working with Reese Witherspoon and her latest novel ‘Only in New York’ (published by HQ)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.