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Shauna Corr - What have they done to the world? 

Journalist Shauna Corr from Coalisland, campaigns passionately against the destruction and pollution of the environment, both locally and globally.

She recalls growing up in Coalisland, schooldays and how she first got involved in writing for a publication at University in Manchester. 

After taking time out and adventuring in Australia, she returned home and began her journey into local journalism, covering all sorts of news and topics.

Environment correspondent for several island of Ireland newspapers, she has penned a series of hard-hitting columns that challenges the wanton desecration and contamination of our planet.

Shauna was first to write about the horrendous state of Lough Neagh as it poisons wildlife and ruins life-long fishing traditions.

Currently she is attending the Dalradian goldmine enquiry as local lobby group 'Save Our Sperrins' and objectors, cite risks to the outstanding natural beauty close to Greencastle and potential water and air pollution, danger to wildlife, noise, and the long-term impact of a massive waste-rock facility near local homes and a school.

They also cite the potential ruination of historic sites as a result of the £21 billion gold digging project. 

These are hugely emotive issues across the county, and at the weekend campaigners marched to Stormont, many pouring bottles of pea-green toxic water from Lough Neagh onto steps in front of the building. 

A column Shauna wrote after flying over the water reflected her "disgust" and being "numbed with grief" at what has become of our beloved Lough. She discusses the causes and proposes solutions, while wondering whether the will is there to restore Lough Neagh to its former glory. 

She has also attended UN Climate Conferences, including the surreal surroundings of Baku in Azerbaijan, while outside the arena was the juxtaposition scene of huge machinery drilling for oil. 

Saving the environment from global warming is not an easy sell with climate change deniers and the likes of US President Donald Trump using the slogan: "Drill baby, drill!" Money talks.

With it all, Shauna is not pessimistic, and her love of the earth and its wildlife shines through. 

When Shauna writes, she means it!

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Coalisland Fianna - 'It's who we are!'

As exciting development plans are being  drawn up and the launch of a huge fundraising initiative 'The Fianna 400', we are joined by club stalwarts Gerard Rafferty, Gerry Galvin and Plunkett Kane.

Gerard Rafferty recalls his first days as a small boy going to MacRory Park in the early 1960s, his playing days, the many structural changes through the decades and being club secretary when the field was rededicated as Fr Peter Campbell Park.

Memories include the famous tunnel, great nights in the clubroom built on top of the existing pavilion and the ladder going up to the new scoreboard.
A new club and dressing rooms were later erected in 1995.

He also remembers the murder of local teenager Martin McShane (16) by the British army in 1971. A shrine now stands in the ground in his memory. 

Ronan Mac also a 'Fianna man' outlines important events in the club's history, including its founding in 'a dimly lit cellar' of St Patrick’s Hall in 1903.

Plunkett Kane lined out for over 20 years for the senior team and was the ninth Fianna captain to lift the senior championship cup.
We give a shout-out to the other captains who had that honour.

He talks about the increasing dedication needed by players and why the best facilities, including the gym, are so important for their development and improvement. Grass under the feet is priority.

Plunkett remembers with great fondness his dear friend and Fianna team-mate Johnny Curran who passed away in October 2020.

Development officer Gerry Galvin is delighted we have finally secured Connolly's field and ideas are flooding in on how to put it to best use. 

He also outlines massive development to the grounds in the last 20 years including the 4Gs, the new hall, stand, fence, state of the art scoreboard, levelling of the near bank... and the many activities at the grounds such as the Fianna Runners, All Stars for children with additional needs, coffee mornings, cycling group... and much more. 

These are exciting times with 19 teams (male & female), over 700 members and a multitude of activities at the club. 
It all takes time, effort and money! 

Gerard Rafferty explains the make-up of The Fianna 400 draw with big cash prizes, greater opportunities to win and the winners more likely to be local! 

There's a lot in this podcast! 
It's a big weekend with the Fianna 400 launch and big games as well. 
A big shout to our producer Oliver Corr, a patient O'Rahilly man, who knows well the uniqueness of the GAA club... it's who we are!

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Gary & Paul Coney - An O'Rahilly family winning at sport.

Brothers Gary and Paul Coney have dedicated their lives to local sport, winning top medals in club Gaelic football and soccer, national acclaim (with their mother Colette and brother Shane) in RTÉ's, Ireland's Fittest Family while Gary has won no less than four All Ireland medals with Tyrone over 40's. 

The podcast also pays tribute to their Grandmother Nellie McKee, described as 'Clonoe O'Rahillys' First Lady', who celebrated her 95th birthday last week. Generations of Neillie's decendants have lined out for Clonoe, many of them winning championship and league medals.

Gary and Paul recall their two O'Neill Cup wins in 2008 and 2013, following in the footsteps of their uncle Paddy McKee who was on the much-hailed 1991 team.

Ronan Mac (a Fianna man) is surrounded by 'Rahilly men in this podcast, as producer Oliver Corr also reminisces about those heady days, that he recorded on film.

The Coney brothers recall the players they played alongside and their managers, including the very colourful John Morrison RIP.

During their decades with Clonoe,  they also played soccer with Coalisland Athletic, a team that never trained. They talk about the difficulties participating in both sports (more so now) and, an unlikely ally in manager Damian Cassidy, who accommodated them, as long as it wasn't during the GAA club championship. 

They recall the excitement of winning the Irish Junior Cup in 2022, a win more extraordinary as the team played the first three rounds without their GAA players (which was most of them) and they didn't train until the quarter-final. 

Windsor Park was unlikely surroundings for their supporters that day, with a huge cheer before the game, when a former 'Rahilly player caught the ball in the stand! A great day was had by all!

However, just four years later Athletic has folded. They discuss the reasons why and whether the team could return again. 

There was also The Coneys being the oldest team to win the popular RTÉ show, Ireland's Fittest Family.
The O'Rahilly club was packed when the final edition was screened and their mother Colette was heroic 'hanging tough' from the beams in Croke Park (on her 60th birthday!) and being dragged through a bog by her sons!

The excitement at the end up at Hill 16 was fever pitch as Gary was hauled up to the top of the ramp while the club and all of Tyrone cheered. 

This is a podcast of two brothers and their family members who give all to their clubs and teams. It is packed with wonderful memories and great stories.

* Clarification: Danny McNulty scored a goal in the 2013 county final (as did PJ Lavery & Paul Coney).

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Dympna Heron - Talking the talk and walking the walk.

Dympna Heron, from Stewartstown, has been a busy woman in recent years, with her involvement in a range of local community initiatives. 

Currently she is flat out, as they say, helping organise the Coalisland Camino which takes place on Sunday, August 16. 

It was the brainchild of Feargal O'Donnell, the Manager of Coalisland Community Hub & Foodbank. 

Another group most connected with the walk is 'Friends 2 Talk' that meets and walks regularly in order to offer mental and physical wellbeing to participants.
The history and origin of the groups, which have many overlaps, is all explained in the podcast! 

The Coalisland Camino is based on the famous Camino de Santiago that stretches across Portugal, Spain and France and is renowned for helping bring pilgrims to a mindset of peace, oneness and spiritual awareness. 

The Coalisland Camino as well, provides wonderful booklets with explanations and depictions of local historical landmarks, mythology, wildlife... and is stamped at locations along the scenic  26.4km route.
Over 200 people from all over Ireland took part in the first walk last summer. 
 
This time there will also be booklets available in the Irish language as well as Irish speaking volunteers at the various stations and refreshment stops. 

Dympna also recalls the setting up of Friends 2 Talk in 2019 following a number of tragic deaths. 

Then came the dreadful Covid lockdown in 2020, when boxes of food and goods were delivered to those 'sheltering' and the realisation that many in the locality were struggling financially, some actually in work but unable to meet rising costs.

This eventually resulted in the Communty Hub and Foobank as it is today. Based in St Patrick’s Hall, Coalisland, it confidentiality helps struggling families and has a range of schemes including the school uniform exchange and the Christmas hamper appeal.

Oh! There's was also the fascinating 400 year enactment of the Flight of the Earls embarked on by Dympna and others in costumes of that time (1607), and we explain why Tullyhogue Fort with its most significant history is well worth a visit. 

There's a lot in this podcast!
It brings home the great community work being done and the decency of local people towards their neighbours. 
Dympna Heron - a busy woman! 

* Contacts for the various organisations are on the podcast and their Facebook pages.

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Bert Mohan - still whistling after all these years
Some thought Tyrone referee Bert Mohan and Martin Mohan were two different people. 
'They' are indeed one-and-the-same, and in this podcast, Bert explains how he attained the name.. Bert!.. it goes back to the 1970s! 
Thirty years a GAA whistler, that includes taking charge of three senior club finals, he recalls an approach on Scotch Street in Dungannon that started it all off.
That was shortly after he thought he'd hung up the boots, having won an Intermediate championship medal with Eglish.
From the Brantry his early playing days were at the Aghaloo club but they were different times and later his mother felt it safer he make the move. It was a transfer didn't please everyone at Aghaloo!
Bert gives us an insight into the world of the referee, many funny stories included, and shares his thoughts on more recent high-profile controversies. 
He also played and managed the Tyrone Crystal soccer team and Ronan Mac, a fellow employee back in the day, recalls signing the form to join the team. However on reflection, he's sure the Saturday morning games, after a night at the Clubland, might not have passed the alcohol test!
A master glass cutter, Bert toured America on behalf of the company giving demonstrations of the art. 
They remember the conman from Plumbridge, a self-made millionaire apparently, who was going to save the factory in 1980 but vanished after being wined and dined and put up in fine hotels on the company's expense.
Dungannon Co-Op saved the day and it did get another lease of life but eventually faded out of existence in 2010. A sad finish to what was a celebrated local institution and employer.
Bert would encourage younger lads to take up the whistle and recalls the fulfilment of refereeing those big games.
This is a podcast packed with memories and tributes to great local referees. 
He continues to enjoy life with his wife Kate, children and 13 grandchildren who keep him on his toes! 
Bert Mohan a hugely popular referee and character. 
* Big call! TwoMacs producer Oliver is on the hunt for an All Ireland football final ticket for his cousin Sean McAndrew based in Birmingham (with St Brendan's GAA club there).
* Sean's late father, John RIP, (Oliver's uncle) was on the last Mayo team to win the All Ireland in 1951. He later emigrated to England. 
* If anyone...