The Celebration Sessions

Think Halloween began in America? Think again! Long before pumpkins and party shops, Samhain was Ireland’s new year; a liminal night of fire, ancestry, and the thin veil.In this unmissable episode, Dublin tour guide and storyteller Helena Murphy brings the Irish roots of Halloween vividly to life; from the Wheel of the Year and sacred fires on the Hill of Ward to divination, extra places set at the table, and the genuinely creepy turnip 'Jack o’ Lanterns'. We hear how dressing up began as a way to fool wandering spirits; why Irish hospitality extends to the dead; and how these traditions still pulse through modern festivals.It's a lovely episode, full of surprises; you will never look at Halloween the same way again.If you would like to know more about Helena’s tours, visit Original Dublin here and you can check out Helena on Instagram here; and if you would like details on the Púca Festival, head to pucafestival.comA huge thank you to Helena for joining me for this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Dublin man once stole the show at the opening of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, by cutting the ribbon himself!! That’s just one of the extraordinary tales I explore with historian and author Warren Farrell.In our conversation, Warren also shares the story of the woman who “died twice”, a forgotten Wimbledon champion, and a soldier who carried a musket ball from Waterloo in his chest for 34 years.These are the lesser-known legacies brought to life in his acclaimed book So Once Was I: Forgotten Tales from Glasnevin Cemetery.So Once Was I is a wonderful record of some of the many interesting stories and its a must for anyone who has an interest in Dublin, in Ireland, or simply in the stories that connect us all. The book is available through Merrion Press here or indeed if you'd like to support an independent bookshop who have been a huge encouragement to Warren, you can check out the book at thebookshop.ie hereSo Once was I is also available at Chapters Bookstore here and also at Books Upstairs here too.A huge thank you to Warren for joining me on this episode for a chat full of history, intrigue, and humanity, one that might just change how you see cemeteries, and the remarkable lives remembered within them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo reflection, I share thoughts on what a celebrant-led funeral really looks like. For many, the only funerals they’ve known have been in a church setting, so the idea of a personalised, civil, or independent ceremony can feel unfamiliar.But in truth, these ceremonies are built around stories, memories, and meaning. They’re about creating space for love, comfort, and connection, in a way that feels right for the person at the centre of it all.This episode is a look at the choices families have, the rituals that matter, and why the ‘good funeral’ is about more than tradition.Make sure to let me know your thoughts. Feel free to get in touch with me on Instagram @conorclearcelebrant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Celebration Sessions, I sit down with Ambassador Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid at the Embassy of Palestine in Dublin for a powerful and really lovely conversation.With so much darkness in the world right now, it can be easy to lose sight of hope. But this episode is a reminder of the strength that lives in culture; in memory, in food, in music, in story. Together, we explore Palestinian traditions around weddings, food, and family; from the joyful energy of the zaffa, to the slow-cooked idra shared at celebrations, to the regional variations of kanafa.We also talk about hakawati, the tradition of storytelling that keeps history alive, and how it finds resonance with the Irish seanchaí.Throughout the conversation, there’s a lovely resilience in every story shared; a sense of holding onto identity, even in the face of immense challenge.This episode is about more than celebration. It’s about connection. It’s about spirit.The sincerest thank you to everyone at the Embassy of Palestine for being so welcoming. Shukran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the year's end, it can be a time for reflection and anticipation. As a funeral celebrant, I've had the privilege of honouring lives that have left behind beautiful legacies for their families and the concept of 'legacy' has lingered with me, urging me to explore it further. In this episode, I’m joined by end-of-life planner and founder of Living Legacy, Jennifer McConnell to discuss the idea of leaving a lasting legacy. I’m delighted that Jennifer has joined me for this episode as she is a guiding force in helping people navigate this profound journey, ensuring that their values, stories, and dreams endure with grace and purpose. You can find out more about Jennifer and Living Legacy online on livinglegacy.ie; and on Instagram here. You can also connect with Living Legacy on Threads too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seosamh Ó'Broin was a historian, Irish language advocate, and member of the community in Inchicore. His impact on Inchicore is far reaching, from campaigning to save and redevelop Kilmainham Gaol, to building a local cultural centre in the heart of the village, to recording the fascinating history of the area in his wonderful book, "Inchicore, Kilmainham and District".Seosamh sadly passed away on 30th October 2022, and this episode of the podcast celebrates the wonderful legacy Seosamh has left for the people of Inchicore and beyond. I'm joined by Michael Flanagan, Deirdre Farrell, Áine Dé Cleir, and Gerri English to pay tribute to Seosamh and celebrate his impact on the area. The Halla Conradh Na Gaeilge in Inchicore continues to be a big part of the community and you can keep up to date with their events on Twitter / X here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is slightly different as it is Conor on his own, sharing his thoughts about the recent headlines from the Vatican regarding the blessing of same sex unions.The language the Vatican uses when talking about LGBTQI+ people can often be so upsetting and hurtful, and this episode discusses a way forward for people of faith who are made feel 'less than' by the Church. Hopefully the main takeaway from this episode for anyone who has a faith and who feels excluded from the Church, is that they know there is a wonderful community of Celebrants across Ireland and further afield who want to celebrate them while also including their faith and beliefs. If you want to get involved in the conversation you can get in touch via The Celebration Sessions on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are wedding bells in the air for this episode as the countdown is on to The Wedding and Honeymoon Show at the RDS.I'm joined by writer broadcaster and presenter Andrea Hayes, and award winning wedding expert Sara Kennedy as they share some of the highlights we can expect at Ireland's largest wedding show, this September at the RDS.Make sure to keep up to date with the latest on the show on socials @weddub You can check out Instagram here and Tik Tok here.A huge thank to the organisers for sharing a discount code so when you're booking your tickets, use code CONOR20 And finally make sure to check out Sara on irishweddingblog.ie and Sara's super podcast Real Weddings with SaraEnjoy the episode and more importantly, get yourself to the RDS this September 2nd and 3rd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish have have left their imprint on the history of Argentina and for this episode we turn our attention to Mayo born William 'Guillermo' Brown; Father Fahy; Alfie Lamb; and Camila O'Gorman. I'm joined by tour guide Victoria Catta who shares stories of military heroes, religious leaders, and a tragic love story of legendary proportions. A huge thank you to Victoria for sharing her time and joining me on the podcast. While this is not an ad and there are no affiliations, I'd love to mention that Victoria is a wonderful guide with Buenos Aires Free Walks and being apart of her tour was really super.I loved learning about these iconic Argentinians and I hope you enjoy the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am on board Hurtigruten's MS Roald Amundsen after a wonderful expedition cruise across Antarctica. The ship is named after the fist person to reach the South Pole. So, of course it was so fitting to sit down and chat with one of the fantastic expedition team on board, Luciano Matías.Luciano shares his journey from Chile to life as an Antarctic expedition guide; the pioneering explorers who inspired him; and the beauty of wedding ceremonies in the Antarctic.A huge thank you and lots of gratitude to Luciano who took time out of his time off on board to join me. Its important to say that this episode is not affiliated with Hurtigruten in any way; it is not an advertisement; and Luciano joined me in his own capacity. Muchos gracias Luciano.Enjoy the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Brian Doyle from Jennings Funeral Home to explore the role of the Funeral Director; how they arrive into your life; and how the funeral landscape is looking in Ireland at the moment. As we unpack this episode, hopefully we’ll demystify the person behind the role of the Funeral professional, and perhaps pay homage to the wonderful work they do every day with bereaved families. A huge thank you to Brian Doyle for sharing his time with me on this episode. To get in touch with Brian and his colleagues, they're online at jenningsfuneralhomes.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode we turn our attention to Islam as we talk about celebrations in the holy Islamic calendar such as Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, and the holy month of Ramadan. I'm joined by Tasneem Filaih to talk about ritual, community, and the best knafeh in Dublin!Sincere thanks to Tasneem for joining me for this episode. I really enjoyed learning about Eid, Ramadan and my favourite subject, food! While Tasneem joined me on this podcast in an independent capacity, I met Tasneem while at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. Chester Beatty is a wonderful museum in Dublin sharing beautiful artefacts and insights into world cultures from across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia; so I'd love to share this link to the Chester Beatty Library and encourage listeners to check out this beautiful and fascinating treasure trove in Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 31 marks International Transgender Day of Visibility. It’s a day when we can celebrate our trans and non-binary friends and acknowledge the journeys and the struggles of our trans friends.In this episode, activist and founding member of Under the Rainbow Philippa Ryder joins me as we chat about where we're at in Ireland in the quest for trans visibility, equality, representation, inclusion; and what the cisgender community can do to support our trans friends.Under The Rainbow is an award winning inclusive Social Enterprise advocating for human rights, equality, and a world where people can be their true selves. You can find out more about Philippa and Under the Rainbow online at www.undertherainbow.iePhilippa's wonderful memoir is available in all good book shops and also through Mercier Press online here Its a powerful book in which Philippa offers answers to many questions people ask, genuinely, to understand what it means to be transgender.We also mention TENI who do wonderful work creating a world where all people, regardless of gender identity or expression, enjoy full acceptance, equality and human rights. You can find out more about TENI at teni.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm joined by Sudhansh Verma of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre of Ireland to explore the festival of Holi, also known as the festival of love, the Festival of Colours and indeed the festival of spring. A celebration which has different meanings, Holi is a wonderfully joyous occasion, marked with family, food, and fun. A heartfelt thank you to Sudhansh Verma for chatting with me. You can find out more about the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre of Ireland in Ballymount, and their Holi events, online at hindu.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking about death over cake and coffee may not sound like everyone's cup of tea, but Death Cafes have been growing in popularity and they provide a wonderful space to get people talking about a subject which is still a very taboo topic. I'm joined by Chairperson of the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society Yvonne Cassidy who facilitates Death Cafes, and Celebrant Derbhile Graham to discuss this interesting phenomenon, and the beauty that can come from talking about death. In this episode we unpack the 'what, when, and why' of Death Cafes, cultural differences in the funeral landscape, and final song choices!Thank you so much to Derbhile and Yvonne for joining me for this lovely chat.You can find out more about Derbhile online at celebrantderv.ie, through Instagram here, and on Facebook here.If you'd like to get in touch with Yvonne Cassidy, you can head online to yvonnecassidyweddings.com, through Instagram here, and through Facebook here.And for more information about the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society, all you need to know is on their website hereEnjoy the episode and do let me know your thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Words have the power to take you to a different place, and this time around we turn our attention to the literature of grief. I'm joined by Caroline McNamara of Serendipity Celebrants as we explore some poems, passages and readings which speak to grief and loss. We share some passages that might offer comfort or solace, or even advice.A big thank you to Caroline for joining me, and if you want to find out more about Caroline and Serendipity Celebrants you can check out their website here. You can also keep up to date with Serendipity Celebrants on Instagram here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan is a country rich in ceremony and ritual so in this episode I'm joined by Kyoto based writer Karen Lee Tawarayama to find out more about some of the milestone occasions in Japanese culture and how they're celebrated. We're chatting about Okuizome, a celebration of a child's first meal; Shichi-Go-San which celebrates children at the ages of three, five, and seven; and Seijin no Hi which marks coming of age into Japanese adulthood. Its a lovely episode which looks at family, food, and ritual.A heartfelt thank you and arigato to Karen Lee Tawarayama for joining me for this episode. You can find out more about Karen and the wonderful team of Kyoto based writers who make up 'Writers in Kyoto' online at https://www.writersinkyoto.com/For anyone who would like explore their creative side, Writers in Kyoto are running their seventh Annual Kyoto Writing Competition. Its open to entrants from all over the world with some fantastic prizes up for grabs. You can get information about the competition here Its an opportunity not to be missed.Also, Writers in Kyoto published an anthology called Structures of Kyoto which explores the physical, spiritual, and artistic elements of Japan’s ancient capital and beckons one to “step through the gate” to interact with them. Its available through Amazon but you can find out more about it here.Enjoy this episode and, as always, don't forget to rate and review the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by writer, broadcaster, and radio presenter Claire Murrihy to chat about Christmas traditions around the world. From Japan to South America, we discuss chicken from a bucket, drunken interruptions at midnight mass, and Venezuelan Egg-nog. We also share our Christmas traditions which make the holidays even more special. What really becomes clear however is the fact that so many traditions around the globe centre around family, friends, and food.A huge thank you to Claire Murrihy for joining me for this episode. You can find Claire on Instagram here.Wherever you're listening to this from, enjoy this last episode of The Celebration Sessions for 2021. Have a happy, safe, and healthy Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Its a gastronomic episode this time around as I'm joined by Lisa Goldberg from The Monday Morning Cooking Club to explore Hanukkah and how food is the cornerstone of Jewish celebration. Expect some mouth watering chats as we learn more about the miracle of Hanukkah, the best potatoes to use to make Latkes, and some delicious ingredients that can go into your doughnuts. A massive thank you to Lisa Goldberg for joining me from Australia and sharing some top tips for the best Latkes, Sufganiyot and Challah bread. #gratitudeMake sure to check out The Monday Morning Club on Instagram here. You can check out their books on their website where they also have lots of other wonderful resources, classes and cook-alongs. And you can keep up to date with the MMCC news on their Twitter page here.Enjoy the episode and don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society begins new ceremonies celebrating children of various ages, I'm joined by fellow Ethical Celebrants Clara Malone of Coastal Ceremonies, and Dermott Langan of lovecelebrant.ie to discuss Stepping Stones Ceremonies, and Coming of Age Ceremonies.These ceremonies focus primarily on children who may not be participating in First Communion or Confirmation ceremonies, and in this episode we explore the choice available to parents and families; the benefits of involving the children in the occasions; and the importance of celebrating and encouraging children who many not want to take part in religious rites.You can get in touch with Clara on the Coastal Ceremonies Instagram page, or through their website. You can contact Dermott through his website lovecelebrant.ieAnd indeed the Irish Ethical Celebrants Society have celebrants all over the country, so you can check out your nearest celebrant offering these ceremonies here.As always, I want to hear from you. You can get in touch with the Celebration Sessions Podcast via Instagram here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.