Enda McNulty : Born to lead

No electricity. No hot water. The best sleep of her life. In this week's Real Take, taken from my recent conversation with public historian and author Lesley Bond, we explore what it was really like to spend six months living on the Great Blasket Island. Back in 2019, Lesley and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Gordon left their busy lives behind to become seasonal caretakers of the island. Together, they welcomed visitors, ran the island café, looked after the guest cottages and embraced a way of life shaped entirely by nature and the rhythms of the Atlantic. In this short excerpt, Lesley reflects on life without electricity or hot water, how the island dictated every decision they made, and why she slept more deeply than ever before. It's a beautiful reminder of what can happen when we slow down and reconnect with the world around us. Lesley's wonderful book, Blasket Bound: Memoirs of an Island Caretaker, tells the full story of their unforgettable six months on the island and is well worth a read. If you enjoy this snippet, I'd really encourage you to listen to the full conversation with Lesley, where we delve into the history of the Great Blasket, the practical realities of island life, heritage, community and the lasting impact those six months have had on her life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered: island life, ​living without modern comforts, heritage, community, ​postnatal depression, writing and healing. This week, I’m joined by public historian and author Lesley Bond. In 2019, Lesley and her then-boyfriend, ​(now husband​) Gordon, left their busy lives behind to spend six months as caretakers on the Great Blasket Island, off the coast of Kerry. With no electricity or hot water, their days were shaped by the rhythms of the island and the unpredictability of the Atlantic. Together, they welcomed visitors from all over the world, ran the island café, looked after the guest cottages and became part of a small but special seasonal community. The Great Blasket was once home to a thriving Irish-speaking community and became renowned for its extraordinary literary tradition. The final residents left the island in 1953, but its stories, language and heritage live on. Lesley brings us behind the scenes of life as an island caretaker​...from the practical realities of running a café without electricity and carrying out​ the daily housekeeping, to wild weather​ and the unexpected joy of sleeping more deeply than she ever had before. She also reflects on what it felt like to step away from the constant noise and distraction of modern life, how time seemed to move differently on the island and the lessons she carried home with her. Now living in Kildare with Gordon and their almost two-year-old son, Naoise, Lesley also speaks openly about experiencing postnatal depression and how revisiting her memories of the Great Blasket through writing became a source of comfort​ and escape during a difficult time. T​​his is a​n immersive conversation about slowing down, connecting with nature and the places that stay with us long after we leave them​ and her beautiful book,​ ​'Blasket Bound: Memoirs of an Island Caretaker​', captures the magic, challenges and everyday realities of those extraordinary six months and is well worth a read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Topics covered : her upbringing, her late husband, grief, mourning, rebuilding her life, fostering, community, belonging and public service.  This week, I'm joined by Helen Ogbu​ - Labour councillor, the newly elected Mayor of Galway, foster carer, life coach and PhD student. Helen made history this year by becoming Galway's first Mayor from a migrant background. But long before politics, her life had already taken her on an extraordinary journey. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Helen was one of eight children in a home where kindness, generosity and caring for others were simply part of everyday life. Those early experiences would later inspire her to become a foster carer, opening her home in Ireland to around 30 children over the years. Helen also shares the deeply personal story of meeting her late husband, Sunny Orji-Ogbu, a principled Nigerian politician who believed passionately that his country deserved honest, accountable leadership. As political tensions intensified, Helen became increasingly fearful for his safety. She moved to Ireland with their young daughter, ChiChi, hoping he would follow. Tragically, in 2010, Sunny was assassinated while returning home from a political meeting. Helen speaks with extraordinary honesty about navigating unimaginable grief, raising her daughter as a young widow, and slowly rebuilding her life in Galway. Today, alongside her work in public service, Helen holds a Master's degree in History and Diplomacy, is currently completing a PhD, and continues to champion community, inclusion and belonging in everything she does​. ​C​onnect with Helen: Instagram: ​Helen Ogbu (@iamhelenogbu) • Instagram photos and videos Labour Party profile: Helen Ogbu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks Real Take from my conversation with musician, performer and storyteller Aindrias de Staic...he talks about the ancient Irish bardic storytelling tradition and why play is so good for our mental health. If you enjoyed this conversation, I'd really encourage you to listen to the full episode, where Aindrias speaks openly about his childhood, his relationship with his father, addiction and recovery, receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, reconnecting with nature and finding his way back to himself. Find Aindrias Website: https://www.aindrias.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smalltownseanchai By the Light of the Silvery Moon tours Ireland from August.  For tour dates and tickets, visit Aindrias' website or reach out to him on Instagram. If you're enjoying Ready to be Real, I'd be so grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who might enjoy it too...it really helps the podcast reach more people. Go raibh míle! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : ADHD, addiction, recovery, nature, bardic storytelling, performing. My guest this week is musician, performer and storyteller Aindrias de Staic, who many of you will know online as 'Smalltown Seanchaí'. The son of the late writer and folklorist Eddie Stack, Aindrias grew up immersed in stories. But this conversation isn't simply about where he comes from, it's about the life he's lived. We talk about his childhood, his parents' separation, his struggles with alcohol and addiction, and what it has taken to reach 20 years of sobriety. He speaks openly about receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, his mental health, and how gardening, growing his own food and reconnecting with nature have become central to his wellbeing. And along the way, we explore the ancient Irish bardic storytelling tradition, the importance of play, creativity and finding flow. Please note: This episode contains personal experiences and opinions relating to ADHD, mental health, addiction and recovery. Any discussion around medication, herbs or other approaches reflects Aindrias' personal experience and should not be taken as medical advice. To connect with Aindrias : Aindrias de Staic | Ireland's Musical Storyteller And on Instagram : Aindrias de Staic (@smalltownseanchai) • Instagram photos and videos Support : If anything discussed in this episode has affected you, or if you're struggling with your mental health or addiction, support is available. Ireland • Samaritans – Call 116 123 (free, 24 hours a day) or visit www.samaritans.ie • Pieta – Call 1800 247 247, text HELP to 51444, or visit www.pieta.ie • Alcoholics Anonymous Ireland – www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie • HSE Mental Health Services – www.yourmentalhealth.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.