Ann Marie Kelly’s weekly program “The Open Door” (IMRO AWARD WINNER 2018 Best Magazine Show - Mondays 7-8pm Midlands 103) ventures out amongst the community to reveal the hidden stories and characters of the Midlands.  
Ann Marie’s commitment to take the show away from the sterile confines of the studio, leads her to heart of where the story comes from.

The Open Door Podcasts

SHAUN THE SHEEP & the brand new Ron's Gone Wrong film are just 2 projects that the Emmy award winning Laois Animator, Seamús Malone has worked on. On Monday's 'Open Door', 7 Yr old Mollie and Ann Marie ask plenty of questions to the Animator now living in London. Like, why has the farmer no eyes in Shaun the Sheep, is Aardman's Chicken Run 2 coming soon and is drawing on paper easier than on a screen.

The Open Door - Laois Animator, Seamús Malone & Shaun The Sheep

Santa Reindeers in Killeigh! Have a look at Anthony's Wooden Crafts Reindeer factory as things are getting very busy before Christmas, he has big news to tell Ann Marie on Monday's Open Door tomorrow evening. It's even keeping 16 year old Anthony out of a school for a short time. Also find out the big surprise he gave his Dad Philip for Christmas last year.

See below and tune in Monday 7pm

Facebook Video:
https://www.facebook.com/Midlands103/videos/4336887709767494

Anthony Wooden Crafts Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Anthonyswoodencrafts/

The Open Door - Santa Reindeers In Killeigh

'Teaching kids how to cook is a life skill' according to Catherine Foxall from Ballymaddock Cookery Club. Catherine moved back from London where she ran a bakery and is now teaching kids how to bake and cook, a skill that's also very important for 'their well being'. 
On Monday's Open Door, Ann Marie visits her cookery school to meet Catherine and the kids who are busy baking. Have a look at them in action in the video.

Facebook video:https://www.facebook.com/Midlands103/videos/653080125682584

Ballymaddock Cookery Club - Catherine Foxall:
https://www.facebook.com/kidscookballymaddock/

The Open Door - Cookery School for Kids

On Monday's Open Door Ann Marie shines a light on the workers in an industry that never stopped working during Covid 19. Along with the multicultural staff at Sherpa Kids Ireland Portlaoise, we meet their brand new employee Katie Flanagan who "brings joy and happiness to the children". Katie in turn says she "loves being able to work" alongside colleagues she has grown to love

The Open Door - Childcare Workers

After the passing of one of the legendary pillars of the community of Mountmellick, Bill devoted his life to the place 'he couldn't leave'. 'A walking history book', Bill passed away at the age of 94. Ann Marie plays excerpts from his chat with her, his dancehall days, his complicated love story and his days in Laois Community Radio, where you can hear him talk to Big Ed as the station closes in 1988.

The Open Door - Remembering 'true blue' Bill Lawlor

Meet Ann Lawlor now living happily in Multifarnham County Westmeath.

Safe home Ireland are the "magical people" Ann describes as the ones who brought her back to Ireland after many years spent in the UK. Hear her story on Monday's Open Door and how Safe home Ireland was set up to work with people of all ages and circumstances who want to come back to live again in Ireland.

The Open Door - Safe Home Ireland

Colm McNamee believes that our education system is failing us. Growing up with autism and ADHD he was put in 'the slow corner' of the class. As an exceptional learner, with an IQ of 134, Colm works for multinational company Salesforce, which donates millions of euro towards education development. 

On Monday's Open Door, he tells Ann Marie how he broke through the system and shares his ideas to radically change the Leaving Cert model, with more focus on critical thinking and equality of opportunity.

The Open Door - Our Education System Can Be Better

During lockdown, some got fit, others binged watch TV, but for the Portlaoise Men's Shed they took up the Ukulele.

Freddy Harte and his son David Harte introduced the men, who range in age from 18 to 80, to the little guitar which they practise every Friday. For some of the men, it means a lot more for them than just learning a new instrument. Have a listen to them cover Johnny Cash

The Open Door - Portlaoise Men's Shed Play Ukulele

"When my brother Ray died suddenly in July, he saved my life"

When Dom Dunne received the dreadful phone call that his brother Ray died suddenly while working in July this year, alarm bells went off and he had his own heart checked.

Dom speaks to Ann Marie on his love for his older brother, nicknamed 'Ripley' and how his life changed forever when he had a triple by-pass.

The Open Door - His Brother's Passing Saved His Life

"I learned how to speak English in a Thai restaurant!"

Lukasz Gdowski moved to Portlaoise from Poland 7 years ago. After finding no support group for the Polish community the former Professional footballer set up the POLaois Support Group. Now with their own 6 a side soccer team, organising tournaments from all over Ireland, he believes all nationalities can work together to build a better community.

The Open Door - POLaois Support Group

When 3 psychiatrists wrote a short story collection they realised it was a brilliant way to not only share what it was like to experience mental illness but what it was like to support mental illness.

Portlaoise based psychiatrist Professor Henry O Connell reads from the collection including the story of the last witch burned in Ireland but was she really a witch?

The Open Door - Human Stories - The Book by 3 Psychiatrists

Vicky Phelan's triptych painting has finally returned to her hometown of Mooncoin, County Kilkenny.

Painted by Offaly artist Vincent Devine, he tells Ann Marie Kelly on Monday's Open Door that if he can do something socially active with his art, that's all that matters to him now. He respects that his friend Vicky Phelan's time is limited and he believes 'the only thing left is to honour the time we have'.

The Open Door - The Painting of Vicky Phelan

Clonaslee Basketball Club members don't let their inabilities hold them back. 

From '5 a sides' to training every Monday evening they travel from all corners of the midlands to gather. Recently they received Bank of Ireland Beginning Together funding for specialist wheelchairs to play their sport. Ann Marie Kelly talk to members about adapting their lives after serious accidents and paralyses

The Open Door - Clonaslee Wheelchair Basketball Club

"He told me my child should be kept at home. He blocked my exit from the supermarket.' 
When Aer Lingus worker Audrey Weldon brought her little boy Evan to Aldi Portlaoise to get a toy that wasn't there, it caused her son, who has autism, to have a meltdown. A male customer reacted in anger when he saw the child and refused to let them exit the supermarket, roaring abuse at the mother and child. In response, a young female employee acted quickly and asked the man to leave. Find out how customer and staff support helped a mother through a terrifying experience on Monday's Open Door .

The Open Door - Audrey Weldon

21 year old Michael McCormack from Rosemount County Westmeath took his own life last year. In December the community of Rosemount held a massive Tractor Run in his honour. Aiming to raise money for Aware and Jigsaw this is the last week to reach their goal of €30,000. His sister Emma speaks to Ann Marie on Monday's Open Door on the overwhelming amount of love and support they have recieved since his shocking death.

The Open Door - Tractor Run, remembering Michael McCormack

A Laois mother wants to raise awareness and kindness around her son's autism. Paula Beach from Ballacolla has started an instagram page leons_autistic_adventure to highlight the progress of her 4 year old son Leon. She tells Ann Marie the highs and lows surrounding his diagnosis and trying to find a new school for him.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leons_autistic_adventure/

The Open Door - Leon's Autistic Adventure

"It's all about doing things that make you feel uncomfortable"

What makes a Rosemount dairy farmer Skydive out of aeroplanes in Cairo! Padraig Browne who first jumped out of a plane in Clonbollogue in County Offaly, now trains people to Skydive. His motto is dream big!

The Open Door - The Skydiving Rosemount Dairy Farmer

Old Phrases Listener special - On Breakfast with Ann Marie last week, have a listen back to listener's getting involved in keeping old phrases alive and why we use them.

The Open Door - "Shut Your Mouth And Ate Your Dinner"

Ann Marie looks back as she looks forward, reliving some of the most memorable moments since The Open Door first aired.

The Open Door - Looking Back

"If you had said to me 15 years ago that I'd be writing and illustrating books at 73, I would say that you were crazy" 
Westmeath writer and illustrator Dolores Keaveney self published her first book ‘If I were a bee’ aged 60 and has just finished her 17th book at the age of 73. She strongly believes that you don't have to have a string of letters after your name to write and publish.

The Open Door - The 73 Year Old, World Wide, Self Publishing Writer

Midlands 103 is the independent local radio station serving counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath. All audio on this page is pre-July 2022.

To hear the latest Midlands 103 Podcast content please visit https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/ or find your favourite talk show on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.