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

20 year old Aoife Byrne from County Laois has never let her Down Syndrome get in the way of her life. As a volunteer for the Irish Red Cross, and now studying with National Learning Network, she tells Ann Marie of her many hopes, among them, her dream of living independently in the country.

The Open Door - Aoife Byrne

Famed Gardener and Writer Lilly Champ from Portarlington guides us through her garden full of buzzing bees, vegetables and blossoming flowers while sharing her thoughts on country living, finding peace and why cows don't cause climate change.

The Open Door - Lily Champ

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

Do you love the Outdoors? 
When Birdman Ricky Whelan got leukaemia he started the Irish Wildlife Trust. 
On our walk through Abbeyleix Bog we discover a lot more than Robins and butterflies. 
His passion for Nature is inspiring.

The Open Door - Ricky Whelan

I would have gone insane without it! Jim Keller kept himself busy over the last 6 months by finishing a Model Village of Portlaoise. 
Not going to the Men's Shed meant he had to do it alone. 
Hear Jim's story on keeping busy on this episode of The Open Door.

The Open Door - Jim Keller

Dolores Keaveny has just self published her 14th book Dee the Bee. 
Ann Marie and Dolores chat about bees, staying positive and embracing change.

The Open Door - Dee The Bee

Surviving Lockdown: Two teens from Monasterevan, Brendan McGlynn and Billy Sinnott taught themselves music production during lockdown as a means of getting through it. 
Hear their uplifting story of strength in the face of adversity and the resuts of their efforts in the form of new song "Defeat" on this episode of The Open Door.
The future is bright.

The Open Door - Music Production

Joe Kerr started his new business 'Joe's Eggs' during lockdown and it has not only helped him get through having no Gym, and no access to facilities but it has made him happy. 
Ann Marie Kelly brings her very eggcited girls to visit Joe's new business!

The Open Door - Joe's Eggs

Birr Military Cemetery & Barracks: 
Over 200 years ago Crinkle was a military hub. 
Akin to Templemore, the Barracks was destroyed by Anti-Treaty forces in 1922. 
Stephen Callaghan has spent the last 10 years uncovering up to 200 names of unknown people buried in Offaly's only military graveyard. On this episode of the Open Door, Stephen takes us through the area with stories of the children buried there, how an officer shot his Sergeant when he was pushed too far and how did the Clock Tower end up in Australia?

The Open Door - Birr Military Cemetery & Barracks

A Westmeath father Aidan O'Rourke talks about the birth of his daughter Alison with Down Syndorme and how it completely tranformed his world.

The Open Door - Aidan O'Rourke

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.

The Open Door - Tractor Run, remembering Michael McCormack

Midlands 103

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