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

podcasts from the past

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

The Pillage by Vulture Capitalist in Private Equity Who Make Profit Plundering Companies They Buy

In this installment of Sound Advice, the trailblazing electronic duo Maribou State take a break from tour rehearsals to share insight on how they adapt their studio sound for the road, and finding inspiration in early influences like Massive Attack and Prodigy. Members Liam Ivory and Chris Davids also talk about their technique to push the limits of vintage gear and how they created the sounds shaping their album, ‘Hallucinating Love.’ Plus, hear the story behind how they originally connected with frequent collaborator North Downs on SoundCloud.

Episode Show Notes: https://soundcloud.com/stories/post/sound-advice-maribou-state
Follow SoundCloud Stories: @soundcloud-stories
Follow Maribou State: @mariboustate
Get Started With Artist and Artist Pro: https://artists.soundcloud.com

Sound Advice: Maribou State

‘Nine Thousand Years Along The Atlantic Way’ Part 1/12.
The series is presented by Michael Moylan, field archaeologist. Michael’s key Expert contributor for each programme is renowned Connemara based archaeologist, Michael Gibbons. Sound supervision & editor Pat Coyne. Connemara Community Radio.

Ballinakill

This week's Down Memory Lane podcast looks back at the breakthrough Laois senior hurling success of Clough-Ballacolla in 2009, when they ended an incredible 91-year wait since their last county final win. 

Though a parish steeped in hurling history, they hadn't conquered Laois since the glory days of the Ballygeehan club and it was the first final to be contested under the Clough-Ballacolla name.

Indeed a team from the area hadn't even been in the final since St Canice's in 1965. 

But in 2009, following a number of minor and U-21 glory days throughout the earlier part of the decade, their talented group of young players came of age at senior level. 

On this week's Down Memory Lane podcast, presenter Steven Miller is joined by the captain of that team Michael McEvoy as well as goalkeeper Danny Hanlon and full-back Darren Maher. 

Over the course of a very enjoyable discussion, they look back on their gradual progress over the previous decade, beginning with intermediate success in 1998, flirting with relegation in the early part of the 2000s and consecutive semi-final losses to Portlaoise in 2007 and 2008. 

In 2009, they survived a scare in the quarter-final against Mountrath before advancing after a replay and then beating Ballinakill in the semi-final. 

With 2007 champions Camross and 2008 winners Rathdowney-Errill both knocked out in the quarter-finals, Portlaoise were odds on favourites in the decider - in what was their third final appearance in a row. 

But under the guidance of former Tipperary player Raymie Ryan - who only linked up with them mid-summer - Ballacolla would blitz Portlaoise early on and run out relatively comfortable winners. 

Cue wild scenes of celebration and a couple of magic days in Ballacolla. "It was like being in Ibiza for two or three days," joked Darren Maher.

"There was no work done in the parish. The pubs made enough money that week to last them until Christmas." 

The lads also touched on the work Raymie Ryan did with them in the lead up to the final and describe a powerful moment when they all crammed into the tiny Clough-Ballacolla dressing rooms to listen to a motivational song before heading to O'Moore Park on county final day. 

And as well as looking back on that breakthrough success in 2009, they also chat about their wins in 2011 and 2015 and their disappointing final losses in 2012 and 2017.

Down Memory Lane with LaoisToday - Clough-Ballacolla claim breakthrough win in 2009

On June 13th, 2013 Sebastian and Chris were live on Real Jamaican Radio (RJR) the very first time! You can listen to a long interview including two new acoustic songs from the upcoming album. (Sorry for the poor audio quality ...) We are very happy, that all this happens!

Peace & Love

Live on Real Jamaican Radio RJR

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.