Desert Island Dress

In this episode of Desert Island Dress, hosts Dee Duffy and Katriona Flynn sit down with Gwen Cunningham, an advocate for the deeper meaning behind the clothes we wear and keep. Gwen shares the stories of four treasured items from her wardrobe, each piece connected to pivotal moments, relationships, and phases in her life. From a memorable Superman T-shirt to an intricately embroidered childhood cloak, Gwen’s choices reveal how clothing can carry layers of identity, memory, and meaning. As the conversation unfolds, Gwen reflects on her enduring passion for secondhand items, the significance of textile repair, and the intangible power clothing holds in preserving personal and cultural narratives. Through laughter, nostalgia, and poignant moments, Gwen, Dee, and Katriona explore the emotional resonance found in garments that remain long after the trends fade. In this Episode, We Explore: Gwen’s Superman T-shirt and its link to a life-changing night in her teens The imaginative cloak that symbolized freedom and identity in her childhood A communal wardrobe in Kerry, rich with shared history and family connections The therapeutic act of repairing garments and its role in emotional recovery Reflections on how clothes preserve memory, shaping who we are and how we see ourselves Join us for an intimate discussion on how garments become much more than just clothes, carrying with them stories, relationships, and legacies that span generations. Share Your Story:What item of clothing holds a special place in your life? Share with us on Instagram @desert_island_dress—we’d love to hear the stories behind your most treasured pieces.

In this episode of Desert Island Dress, your hosts consider the world of branding, exploring whether it’s all just marketing spin or if there's something genuinely meaningful behind it. Following their thought-provoking conversation with fashion powerhouse Brendan Courtney, they reflect on some of his insights and the broader implications of branding in the fashion industry. From high-end labels to accessible favourites, they ask: What makes a brand feel authentic? Are we as consumers just buying into cleverly crafted stories? Or is there a real, lasting value in the stories brands tell? The hosts share personal anecdotes and explore themes of identity, loyalty, and the fine line between meaningful connections and consumer manipulation. Key points covered include: Brendan Courtney's take on fashion’s “four pillars” of trust, relevance, newness, and seasonal updates. The concept of “serious” brands vs. “loveable characters”—and why fashion often has to choose between them. The psychology of consumer loyalty and how branding strategies tap into emotional resonance. Real talk on the value of luxury vs. everyday brands and the meaning behind what we choose to wear. Listener Takeaway: Whether you’re a brand loyalist, a fashion skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode will have you questioning what makes a brand truly valuable—and whether we’re all just falling for a good story. Connect with Us: Follow Desert Island Dress on Instagram to share your thoughts on today’s episode and tell us which brands you connect with the most (or not at all)! Don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on upcoming episodes in this season.

Hello and welcome back to the second series of the Desert Island Dress podcast with your hosts, Dee Duffy and Katriona Flynn.   To kick off the series, we are thrilled to welcome Brendan Courtney, beloved Irish TV presenter and fashion designer, as he takes us on a personal journey through his love for fashion, sharing how clothes have shaped his identity from a young age.   Brendan knows the power of style as a form of self-expression, recalling his teenage years of reinvention with his iconic red leather biker jacket and bleached hair, which helped him transform from a bullied kid to a confident and creative force.   As someone who is usually the one exploring other people’s homes and memories on his hit TV series, Keys to My Life, it was special to have Brendan with us this time to share his most cherished pieces.   Join us, as we head down memory lane with Brendan Courtney, through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell.       This is the Desert Island Dress podcast.    

Join Dee & Katriona as they unpack last week's Desert Island Dress podcast episode.

Hello and welcome to the Desert Island Dress podcast with myself, Dee Duffy and herself, Katriona Flynn. This week we are joined by ...  stylist, creative director and consultant, Aisling Farinella.  Aisling works across fashion and cultural platforms with her styling featured in prominent Irish and international editorial and advertising campaigns. If you were to explore who Aisling has worked with, it would probably be easier to start with who she hasn’t worked with!   She acts as an industry mentor for the Design & Crafts Council Ireland, has judged numerous design industry awards, and is a commentator on Irish fashion to publications including The Times Style, i-D and Irish Arts Review,   Aisling guest lectures at the National College of Art & Design and Limerick School of Art & Design and has been a keynote speaker at design conferences including Offset and The Future.   When Aisling joined us as a guest for Desert Island Dress, we wanted to explore her own attachments to garments and pieces. In exploring Aisling's work and throughout the interview that passion for creative talent and nurturing that talent was so evident.  But also, the importance of key relationships and friendships, as well as the themes of motherhood and womanhood, were so wonderfully explored and presented. The significance of provenance was deeply rooted in the context of these stories, from Sicily to Dublin to Connemara - we thoroughly enjoyed being transported to these locations, item by item.  And if we were being cast away to a Desert Island, we might ask for the archive of Thread Magazine as our luxury item! Thread was a ground-breaking fashion publication co-edited by Aisling, beautifully documenting Irish creative talent at home & abroad.   Join us, as we head down memory lane with Aisling Farinella, through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell.   This is the Desert Island Dress podcast. 

Join Dee & Katriona as they unpack last week's Desert Island Dress podcast episode.

This week's guest is Perry Ogden, the visionary fashion photographer whose work has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion and beyond. His photographs have appeared in countless magazines worldwide including Italian Vogue, Luomo Vogue, British Vogue, W, the Face and Arena, and he has shot advertising campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Chloe and Calvin Klein. Renowned for his unique ability to capture the essence of his subjects, Perry's photographs tell compelling stories that transcend the superficiality often associated with fashion imagery.  In the unlikely case that our fondness and awe for Perry's work didn't translate through the sound waves, we urge you to take a look at some of his commercial, but in particular more personal projects for yourself - from his PONY KIDS photography series, his book PADDY & LIAM, to his feature film Pavee Lackeen, Perry captures an intriguing essence of identity and beauty in the ordinary and somehow becoming extraordinary.  And what of his Desert Island choices and the man himself?! just as perhaps his dealings with his subjects in his work, his choices were thoughtful and considered, stories of hope in sometimes, unexpected places, and beautiful connections with people. It seems as though Perry is all about people and place, but with a real sense of respect for people in place.  Join us, as we head down memory lane with Perry Ogden, through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell.   This is the Desert Island Dress podcast. 

Join Dee & Katriona as they unpack last week's Desert Island Dress podcast episode.

This week we were thrilled to sit down and chat with Deirdre McQuillan - a freelance feature writer, author, and the esteemed Fashion Editor of the Irish Times newspaper. Deirdre has been at the forefront of the fashion industry for decades, offering her keen insights and expert commentary on the ever-evolving world of style. Her journey through the fashion landscape has seen her influence trends, champion emerging designers, and provide a voice on the cultural significance of fashion in Ireland and beyond. So whilst we may have felt Deirdre to be an obvious choice to discuss matters relating to fashion, and to have an easy time selecting her four items, Deirdre took us on many surprises through her choices, not alone, her own, perhaps, unintentional entry into the world of fashion writing and discourse. We honestly could have chatted for far longer, as we were both captivated by Deirdre’s storytelling around matters so important to her, including the historical and present-day rights of women globally, which resonates deeply. Please do join us, as we head down memory lane with Deirdre McQuillan, through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell.   This is the Desert Island Dress podcast. 

Join Dee & Katriona as they unpack last week's Desert Island Dress podcast episode.

Hello and welcome to the Desert Island Dress podcast with myself, Dee Duffy and herself, Katriona Flynn. This week we are joined by ...  Master goldsmith and High Jewellery Designer, Nigel O’Reilly  This is our first on-location recording, visiting Nigel at his beautiful showroom and studio in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. While we missed the pragmatic soundproofed walls of our usual recording studio, we were quite happy to be at the hub of creativity, surrounded by an exquisite jewellery collection.   The craftsmanship of Nigel’s work is so intricate, and the paucity of materials so evident that there is something very special about witnessing this kind of a maker and product in a small town in the west of Ireland, and yet perhaps that is in ways the mystic, integrity and magic behind the brand. Indeed, even referring to Nigel O'Reilly's makings as products or indeed the namesake as a brand feels futile because the craftmanship and outcomes are much more like beautiful art, unique and timeless.   And what about the item choices for the Desert Island Dress podcast? were they equally opulent and extravagant? They were wonderfully emotional connections to the key figures of the craftsman Nigel O'Reilly, grounded in the simplicities of everyday family life which lives side by side with the escapism of the creations being dreamt up by the Mayo native.   We were so grateful for the insight into these two parallel worlds, if you haven't seen Nigel's work, once you do you will never be able to forget it.  Join us, as we head down memory lane with Nigel O’Reilly, through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell.   This is the Desert Island Dress podcast. 

Join Dee & Katriona as they unpack last week's Desert Island Dress podcast episode.

Hello and welcome to the Desert Island Dress podcast with myself, Dee Duffy and herself, Katriona Flynn. This week we are joined by ...  Niamh Fitzpatrick is a psychologist specialising in mental health and performance psychology.   You might notice Niamh mentions our persistence in inviting her as a guest on Desert Island Dress, and she tells no lies, we have been persistent! We have been aware of Niamh's work for many years, from her former Agony Aunt days on Today FM, to her role as Irish Olympic Headquarters Psychologist.    Niamh has been described as warm, insightful, creative and enthusiastic and we can confirm that she is all these things, and so much more. She is a wonderful storyteller, her four garment choices, from wellies to Wexford jerseys transported us from beautiful childhood memories to unimaginable moments of loss and tragedy.   Niamh's openness and integrity in memories and love of her family and friends will have a long-lasting impression on you, there is such clarity and calmness in her conversation and dialogue. We are thoroughly grateful to Niamh for joining us, for giving so openly her memories and stories, and for forgiving our persistence. We have no regrets!  And if you enjoy the episode, Niamh's book ‘Tell me the Truth about Loss’, is a beautiful and hopeful book which continues some of the themes discussed throughout the recording.  Join us, as we accompany Niamh Fitzpatrick down memory lane, through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell.   This is the Desert Island Dress podcast. 

Join Dee & Katriona as they unpack last week's Desert Island Dress podcast episode.

This week we are joined by Irish fashion journalist Ruth O’Connor. Ruth is an experienced journalist, specialising in design, craft, trends, sustainability and business, her ability to create a headline moment is evident and left us wanting to know more about her clubbing days and a famous or what should be famous, 'coat'. More of that later.   In other moments Ruth shared more emotional relationships and connections as she recalled the important people in her life, and the stems of her passions and advocacy for sustainability, heritage skills, innovation and Irish design became so evident.   Ruth's intrigue and support of Irish talent and creativity, and even just her kindness and support for this podcast show the true sentimentalist she is, and how she finds great resonance in what we choose to wear.  Do check out Ruth's musings in her weekly lifestyle column Desire Lines, in the Irish Examiner newspaper, along with her frequent contributions to Image magazine, Galway Now, The Gloss, and the Sunday Times. Ruth has also written for the Irish Times, Irish Country Magazine, The Business Post, and The Currency, and has been a mentor and a judge with the Design & Craft Council Ireland and the Institute of Designers in Ireland.   Safe to say, she is a highly respected voice in the Irish fashion scene, and we thoroughly enjoyed heading down memory lane with Ruth through the medium of clothes and the stories they tell. This is the Desert Island Dress podcast.