How to be Irish

• How we used to live, Irish social history and heritage with Deirdre O'Neill

  "We walk past remnants of our past every day without noticing." Our ancestors left echoes of themselves all around us, if we only know where to look and how to interpret the signs. These remnants lie all over Ireland, telling us of the lives they once touched and understanding their story roots our knowledge in the foundations of our society and the customs that have shaped the Irish people over centuries.This week’s guest is Deirdre O’Neill, author and creator of the hugely successful online project of the same name, ‘Remnants of Our Past’. Her work tells the story of Irish people, their memories preserved in these forgotten places.Join me in hearing about the pattern, the holy wells, the funeral traditions, faction fighting, the farming methods and the ancient saunas which were part of our ancestors' lives long ago.You can find Deirdre and her original content on Irish heritage on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. Her book 'Remnants of Our Past' is available now, online and in shops.

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• Writing women into Irish history with Clodagh Finn

  Have you ever heard of Clothilde Graves? What about Sister Concepta? Roesia de Verdun? Or how about Lady Ranelagh?These are just some of the Irish women that journalist and bestselling author Clodagh Finn has written about. In this episode of 'How to Be Irish,' Clodagh shares the stories of significant Irish women throughout Irish history, from the early medieval period to the last century.Clodagh’s books:Through Her Eyes: A History of Ireland in 21 WomenA Time to Risk All (biography of Mary Elms, the Irish Oskar Schindler)Her Keys to the CityIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, rate the podcast five stars and follow so you never miss an episode!You can find How to be Irish on Instagram too.

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• Reviving Irish historical stone lifting with Andy Downes

  In the last four years, a quiet revival has been taking place: the revival of Irish stonelifting. Andy Downes is one of those who has helped to bring back this lost Irish tradition.In this first episode of Season 2 of How to be Irish, I speak with Andy of Irish Historic Stonelifting, who explains how he and others have rediscovered 47 stones in the last four years. Through analysis of the Dúchas archives and verification with local sources, they have managed to unearth a tradition that died out during famine times.You can find Andy on TikTok: @irishstonelifting; Instagram: @handmedownes; YouTube: @irishstonelifting

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• Can we decolonise the Irish language through music? with singer-songwriter Amano Miura

  In this episode of How to be Irish, I sit down with Amano Miura—a multidisciplinary artist, songwriter, and sean-nós singer from Killarney, Co. Kerry. Born in Kyūshū, Japan, and raised in Ireland, Amano explores the thresholds where cultures divide or dissolve, weaving Irish and Japanese folk traditions with contemporary sounds across folk, pop, sean-nós, and spoken word. We dive into: Her journey into sean-nós singing and how she blends tradition with innovation. How Irish traditional music and Japanese traditional music compare and differ. The Irish language as an instrument in music and the future of Irish in pop culture. Cultural identity as a mixed-race Irish artist and navigating diversity in the arts. The inspiration behind her poem Kerry, Let’s Talk About Racism. Her groundbreaking work with Nós Nua to tackle imposter syndrome around the Irish language. The evolution of modern Irish music and where it’s headed next. Why is our role as Irish people the dream? Amano’s latest release, THREAD, is a collaboration with producer Kalabanx, featuring the single HEART with Liam Ó Maonlaí. She is currently in post-production on new solo alt/indie music, set for release in February 2025. Listen now for a powerful conversation on music, language, and identity in modern Ireland. Follow Amano: Instagram: @AmanoAnseo, her Website Follow How to be Irish Instagram: @howtobeirish. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate the podcast five stars and share it with a friend! That’s all for Season 1 of How to be Irish. Thank you for tuning in.  Irish music, sean-nós singing, Amano Miura, Amano Anseo, Irish language music, folk music Ireland, Irish-Japanese identity, Nós Nua workshop, Irish music industry, traditional Irish music, modern Irish artists, cultural fluidity, bilingual songwriting, imposter syndrome in language learning, Irish arts diversity, spoken word Ireland, Irish music podcast, learning sean-nós, future of Irish music, Gaeilge in pop culture

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• How recession reshaped Ireland’s culinary identity, with food writer Sian Conway

  This week, I’m chatting with Sian Conway, an award-winning Dublin-based food writer, TikTok creator, and freelance content queen. Sian brings her unique perspective on Irish culture, modern food trends, and life as a neurodivergent creator to this conversation. We chat about: Navigating Irish identity and building an authentic online presence. The role of TikTok in self-expression, learning, and discovery in the digital age. How social media has transformed conversations around Irish culture and current affairs. Sian’s journey to freelance life and creating Meet Your Maker, her upcoming YouTube series. The evolution of modern Irish food culture: innovation, challenges, and the best food spots in Dublin. A candid discussion about her journey with anorexia, orthorexia, and the role veganism played. What it’s like to be a food writer with a history of eating disorders. Favourite Dublin food gems and what Ireland’s food scene needs next. What it truly means to be Irish in today’s world. If you’re curious about how Irish culture, food, and social media intersect—or if you want to hear from one of Ireland’s freshest creative voices—this episode offers insight, laughs, and plenty of inspiration. Follow or subscribe to How to be Irish for weekly episodes. Leave a review to help more people discover the podcast. Support the podcast on Patreon by donating the price of a coffee—just search How to be Irish. Social media links: How to be Irish on Instagram. Find Sian on Instagram, and TikTok. Slán go fóill, and I’ll chat to ye next week! ------- Irish food cultureTikTok food trendsmodern Irish identityfreelance content creation IrelandDublin food writerSian Conway food writerIrish food scene evolutionIrish culinary identitysocial media and Irish culturebest food spots in Dublin 2025Irish creators on TikTokneurodivergent content creatorIrish food and drink recommendationseating disorder recovery storyveganism to omnivore journeyfreelance life in IrelandMeet Your Maker YouTube seriesIrish influencers online presencenavigating Irish identityinnovations in Irish food scene

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