Mai has a really interesting job as a theatre maker and translator, working on incredible productions like Waiting for Godot in Japan, but it’s not this that fascinates me today on our walk.

Mai has a truly gentle and beautifully curious character. She introduces me to the birds in the gardens that she has named. They’re her friends and confidants, visiting almost daily, a ritual that began in the pandemic. Mai moved to Ireland from Japan 6 years ago (after falling in love with an Irish man, a story we’ll probably hear quite a few times in this project).

As we walk around spotting birds, Mai explains to me some of the cultural differences between her home in Japan and how we do things here.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca is a new Mum to Dara (and a dog Mum to Lola). We meet her in the afternoon in her suburban home and it’s just like every family home with a 1 year old. The floor is covered in toys within 4 seconds of Dara waking from her nap.

Rebecca makes me laugh, she’s witty, warm, and just casually hilarious. She describes motherhood to me with such honesty and humour, not denying how hard it is, but also being able to laugh at all the silliness it brings (I’ll let her tell the snail story).

She seems like a grafter, a hustler of sorts, who has made herself a good career as an actor on TV (you can see her in Fair City) but she trudged her way to this dream career, moonlighting along the way as a barber, a fitness instructor, nail technician, she has tried her hand at it all.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x Ruth

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric and I did a podcast swap. He invited me onto his hilarious Joe.ie podcast “You Must Be Joking” which I was terrified about (I’m not funny) and in turn, I invited him into this project. I’ve left a certain amount of room in the 365 spaces to include interesting folk I meet along the way.

I’ve known Eric for a good few years but as acquaintances mainly, I don’t think I’ve ever just sat down and chatted to him. Our paths have crossed at festivals where I'd be sent to photograph his comedy shows and he was one of the first to appear in my last big project during Covid, Twilight Together (as he lives within my 2km).

We talk about risk taking, leaving behind cushy jobs with unreal perks, for a life of comedy and all the worry and laughs that brings with it.

Come back tomorrow for another podcast/story/portrait.

x R

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.