First Thought

Vinyl Hours with Brian Kerr

On this episode, former Republic of Ireland football manager Brian Kerr sits down with Tiernan Henry for a Vinyl Hours session. Listen to Brian's playlist on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page.

Vinyl Hours with Sinéad Burke

Diversity advocate, writer, and fashion influencer Sinéad Burke joins host Tiernan Henry to share the soundtrack of her life, from Spice Girls to Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Diana Ross, The Cranberries, Denise Chaila and more. Listen to Sinéad's playlist on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page.

Vinyl Hours with Caitríona McLaughlin

Vinyl Hours host Tiernan Henry is joined by our August guest, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre Caitríona McLaughlin. In the episode, Caitríona shares the "soundtrack of his life" (available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page).

Vinyl Hours is Galway International Arts Festival's music discussion series which takes place live at the festival and here on the First Thought podcast. 

Vinyl Hours with Stephen Murtagh

Vinyl Hours host Tiernan Henry is joined by our July guest, Stephen Murtagh of the Academic. In the episode, Stephen shares the "soundtrack of his life" (available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page):
We Used to Wait by Arcade Fire
Penny Lane by The Beatles
I Say a Little Prayer by Dionne Warwick
This Must Be the Place by Talking Heads
Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne
Hounds of Love by Kate Bush
Falling by Julee Cruise 

 

Vinyl Hours is Galway International Arts Festival's music discussion series which takes place live at the festival and here on the First Thought podcast. 

Vinyl Hours with Maureen Kennelly

Our summer Vinyl Hours podcast series continues with an interview with Maureen Kennelly, director of the Arts Council Ireland. Maureen joins host Tiernan Henry to talk about the music that shaped her, the concerts she'll never forget, and the new generation of Irish artists inspiring her today. Maureen Kennelly's full Vinyl Hours playlist is available to enjoy on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page.

Join us Wednesday 28 July for the next edition of Vinyl Hours. 

Vinyl Hours with Steve Wall

Our summer series of Vinyl Hours music interviews kicks off with an interview with Steve Wall, the renowned actor and singer-songwriter who delighted audiences in The Stunning and wrote songs that defined, and are part of the DNA of, a whole generation of Irish people. Join us Wednesday 30 June for the next edition of Vinyl Hours. 

Vinyl Hours is hosted by Tiernan Henry. Galway International Arts Festival 2021 will take place 28 August-18 September. The Stunning play the Heineken Big Top Sunday 17 July 2022 (tickets on giaf.ie)

Hughie O‘Donoghue at GIAF 2020

In this episode, recorded in September 2020 at the Galway International Arts Festival Gallery, acclaimed painter Hughie O’Donoghue and GIAF Artistic Director Paul Fahy discuss Hughie's long association with Galway International Arts Festival, including his latest exhibition, Night Cargo. 

Dael Orlandersmith: Theatre and the Personal

In this episode, Pulitizer Prize nominee Dael Orlandersmith, writer, performer and theatre maker, discusses the experiences and ideas which inform much–praised works like Forever, Beauty’s Daughter and Yellowman. She is interviewed by Professor Patrick Lonergan, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies, NUI Galway.

Dael Orlandersmith's First Thought Talk was recorded in front of a live audience during the 2019 Galway International Arts Festival.

Mary Robinson: What Can We Do About Climate Change?

In this episode, Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and now head of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, will talk about possibly the single most important issue facing humanity. 

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience in July 2019 at NUI Galway. 

Vinyl Hours with Liz Nugent

In this week's Vinyl Hours episode, host Tiernan Henry talks to Liz Nugent, the bestselling author of Unravelling Oliver, Lying In Wait, Skin Deep, and
Our Little Cruelties. Please note that song excerpts have been edited out of the podcast for copyright reasons. You can listen to Liz's full Vinyl Hours playlist on Galway International Arts Festival's Spotify page: http://spoti.fi/2OwJhHz

This episode was recorded in September 2020 in front of a socially distanced audience at the King's Head, Galway.