Twenty Minutes With..
By pjcoogan
Award winning broadcaster, PJ Coogan asks a chosen guest for twenty minutes of their time, to look beyond what we know about them, and perhaps explore a little of what lies beneath.. New episodes drop at Midday on Saturdays.
Twenty Minutes With..Jul 03, 2021
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Episode 37 Sinéad O Riordan
She gave up a "proper job" as an engineer to pursue her first love - the stage and screen. Sinéad is an accomplished actor & producer, and operates her own independent production company. Speaking from the heart, however, she admits that what keeps many performers going and drives them on is their sheer love of the craft & the endless pursuit of that "dream" role..
Nov 13, 202123:26
Episode 36 Brónagh McAtasney
Brónagh McAtasney grew up in Newry, Co Down, just inside the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Her schooldays were also some of the most fraught days of the "Troubles", but like any other teenager of the time, Brónagh was obsessed with music, fashion and just having fun. She kept a diary, which was probably her first venture into writing. Her latest work has been published in a new book of border based authors.. and that 1980's diary.. well you'd never believe who makes an appearance!
Nov 06, 202124:08
Episode 35 Dr Chris Luke
Emergency Medicine has been Chris Luke's life. Although now "semi retired" for medical reasons, he continues to teach, lecture and campaign for change in the Health Service. He also returned to the frontline in 2020, however, when Covid-19 hit Ireland, bringing his extensive experience to the pandemic battlefield. We met as his autobiography "A Life in Trauma" was released.
Oct 30, 202125:17
Episode 34 Joe Byrne
Tipperary man, Joe Byrne runs a small hairdressing salon in the Cork suburb of Glasheen. He's also one of the best known charity suppprters in the City. Joe set up the salon after deciding to make Cork his home in the 1980's. An immensely popular character on Leeside, Joe has never revealed in public why he does so much for charity - until today - and it's a deeply personal story..
Oct 16, 202124:50
Episode 33 Dr Niall Conroy
A Dubliner, Niall Conroy leads a Public Health team, battling Covid 19 in Queensland, Australia. What I didn't know about, however, was his passion for saving the lives of the tiniest of babies. It's a passion that drove Niall to develop & open a neonatal unit in Africa. His life as a doctor has taken him to many parts of the World, but he now plans to return to Ireland in 2022.
Oct 09, 202126:26
Episode 32 Carol Rice
Carol Rice is an activist and a writer. Her second book is due soon. Carol lives with a condition called Pseudo Achondroplasia. It means that she's pretty much in constant pain, but she's determined to live life to the full, and that's exactly what she does. I spoke with Carol to mark Dwarfism Awareness Month, this October. She's passionate about teaching us that the World isn't always a comfortable place for Little People, but that the rest of us can very easily help with that..
Oct 02, 202124:06
Episode 31 Fiona Kennedy
In the 1980's, Fiona Kennedy burst onto the Irish music scene, and more than 30 years later, she's still writing, recording and doing what she loves best - playing live. Her career and her personal life have had their ups and downs, but her passion to make and play great music is still as strong as ever..
Sep 25, 202123:30
Episode 30 Mick Barry TD
I knew that Mick Barry, Solidarity TD for Cork North Central was born in America. I knew he was a lifelong socialist and activist for a long list of causes, that he's a Manchester United fan & music lover - but his punk rock background - now that was news to me!
Sep 18, 202123:16
Episode 29 Kate Durrant
She came to Cork as a 20 year old, at the start of a "World Tour".. and never left. Kate Durrant lives in Blarney and is involved in numerous charity organisations & good causes. She believes she's been dealt a very generous hand in the card game of life, and that it's her responsibility to give thanks for that... oh, and she has a very precious gift that she got from, of all people, Michael Jackson...
Sep 11, 202123:53
Episode 28 John Coleman
John "The Concierge" Coleman is at the top of his game. Recently installed as Concierge Manager at the plush 5-Star Fota Island Resort, he's also been named as "Clef d"Or" - a member of an elite group of concierges, considered to be the very best at what they do. From Killeagh, in East Cork, he's been dealing with the public since he was a schoolboy...
Sep 04, 202122:59
Episode 27 Michael McGrath TD
Michael McGrath has been a TD since 2007 & was appointed to Cabinet in June 2020. On the day after his 45th birthday we chatted about how he got into politics - how a shy young accountant became one of Irelands best known politicians - and about how at one point as a new TD he briefly thought "have I done the right thing here?.."
Aug 28, 202122:51
Episode 26 Deirdre O Shaughnessy
Deirdre O Shaughnessy is News Editor of the Examiner. Before that we worked together for almost a decade. At one point, however, such was her love of travel and learning about other cultures, that she briefly considered a life in the diplomatic services.. despite many years living in Cork she remains a proud Limerick woman .. so no divided loyalties on All-Ireland Sunday!
Aug 21, 202123:16
Episode 25 Ross Browne
Ross Browne, stand-up comic, writer, actor, resident lunatic on the Cork 96FM Breakfast Show, is celebrating a huge international breakthrough. His 2019 standup show at Cork Opera House is hitting Amazon Prime this week. Ross has (as you'd expect) strong views on comedy, cancel culture, and the changing face of entertainment - he also reveals that sometimes, he can't quite believe he's living his childhood dreams..
Aug 14, 202123:60
Episode 24 Mary Crilly
In 2023, Mary Crilly will mark forty years doing a job where she thought she wouldn't last six months. An invitation to a meeting, at a vulnerable time in her own life, led her to leave the Civil Service, and follow a path that, in the '80s, could be rocky, to say the least - but she doesn't regret a minute of it - in fact, at a time when others might think about retirement, she's far from finished yet!. While her work is known and hugely respected, however - how much do we really know about Mary herself? I had a lot to learn...
Aug 07, 202124:30
Episode 23 Paul Byrne
Paul Byrne of Virgin Media News celebrated 40 years in broadcasting this year. He's best known for his news reports - especially his coverage of crime and criminals - but there's more to him - including a television dream he'd love to fulfill, the importance of family & a love/hate relationship with his phone.
Jul 31, 202122:23
Episode 22 Dr Natasha Dromey
When I first heard of Natasha Dromey, she was being introduced on British radio as "Dr Natasha Underhill, an expert on the development of terrorism and the radicalisation of young people by terrorist organisations".. That wasn't the thing that got my attention - not particularly anyway - it was her accent - pure Cork! I had to find out more about her. After a number of years lecturing in the UK, she's now back in the Rebel County and based at UCC - but if she'd listened to one piece of advice she got as a teenager - things might have been very, very different!
Jul 24, 202124:25
Episode 21 Dave O Connor
Musician, actor, producer and "voiceover guy" Dave O Connor left Cork for the UK after he met a girl at a gig. It's true! He also landed a job as a piano player in a nightclub, even though he only knew how to play one song. That was in the 90's. Now he's a cartoon character actor on the Disney Channel, and makes TV & radio commercials for clients worldwide, from his studios in Chester. We haven't met in nearly 25 years, so cramming the story into 20 minutes was an enjoyable challenge!
Jul 17, 202123:39
Episode 20 Jess Ní Mhaoláin
Jess Ní Mhaoláin has just begun her "dream job" as a political advisor in Leinster House. Life is good - as good as it has been for a long time. At the age of just 27, Jess had a hysterectomy, after years of crippling pain from what she now realises was misdiagnosed Endometriosis. She blames a "broken" Irish Health system, for the fact that she was left with no choice but to have her surgery in the UK. Jess is working on her first book, which will tell that story in honest, searing detail..
Jul 10, 202122:57
Episode 19 Professor Gerry Killeen
The podcast returns after a lengthy "Covid-inflicted" break with one of the most outspoken Irish voices of the past 15 months. Professor Gerry Killeen is the AXA Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at UCC. That's a big title, but in simple terms, Gerry is a recognised International expert in the spread of infection. After almost two decades in Africa, he says he "needed a pandemic like a hole in the head", as he was preparing tp teach the next generation of infection control students in UCC..
Jul 03, 202123:20
Episode 18 Caitriona Twomey
Caitriona Twomey is the face and voice of Cork Penny Dinners. She's co-ordinator of the charity, leading a huge team of volunteers to provide hot food and support to those who are down on their luck. Whether it's a homeless family needing a meal & perhaps some warm clothing, or just someone who can't quite manage a dinner because they have too many bills to pay, the service is the same, free of charge and no questions asked. Caitriona talked to me about the charity, and about the work... and of course I wanted to know.. how did she become involved?
Mar 14, 202024:32
Episode 17 Don O Leary
Don O Leary is the director of the Cork Life Centre, a groundbreaking centre of education on the Northside of the City. The Life Centre takes in students who have left formal mainstream education. His remit when he was hired was to develop its profile and promote its ethos. He & his team have done that, to the point where the Cork Life Centre is now nationally recognised and respected. I wanted to focus though, on Don's own story.. and believe me, it's not what you might expect!
Mar 07, 202021:47
Episode 16 Michael Guerin
Michael Guerin is one of my favourite 'specialist' contributors on radio. In my view, his knowledge of Irelands experience with alcohol and drugs, illicit and otherwise, is without equal.. He & his team at Cuan Mhuire have put hundreds of men and women on the road to addiction recovery. I sat down with Michael to talk about that and much more, for this episode of Twenty Minutes With
Feb 29, 202025:26
Episode 15 Karen Underwood (Part 2)
(Part 2 of 2) Occasionally, a conversation with my guest of the week, gains a life of its own, and becomes two episodes. That's what happened with Karen Underwood, singer, performer, artist, musician, activist, campaigner and "adopted Corkonian". In the second part of our conversation she talks about growing up with racism, about the once special friend who helped her to see beyond that, and how it made her the person she is today..
Feb 22, 202023:57
Episode 14 Karen Underwood (Part 1)
Karen Underwood is a singer, performer & teacher of soul & gospel music.. she came to Ireland 23 years ago, settled here almost instantly, and began to forge a life for herself. The star of "Nina & Me - the Nina Simone story", she had, you'll be amazed to learn, never even heard of Nina until she came to Ireland! There's a lot more to Karen than I ever thought I knew - which is why this is the first of a two part interview...
Feb 15, 202022:59
Episode 13 Evaleen Whelton
Evaleen Whelton spoke to me on radio about Autism, after it came up on the Election campaign, when a Senator controversially said she thought the Taoiseach was Autistic. Evaleen is Autistic, and her lifes work is devoted to teaching the rest of us that there's no big mystery to it, that it's just how some people are, and all we need to do is accept and understand that.
Feb 08, 202023:37
Episode 12 Edward Bransfield
In January 1820, Edward Bransfield, from East Cork, master of a vessel called "Williams" became the first man to see, record and chart the continent we now call Antarctica. His maps and charts were later used by polar exploration legends Ernest Shackleton & Tom Crean, but Bransfields story has gone largely untold until recent years. He has now been formally recognised with a monument in his home village of Ballinacurra, near Midleton. For this episode, I went to the unveiling of the monument..
Feb 03, 202022:13
Episode 11 Ross Browne
A slightly longer episode than usual... he's got a lot to say! Ross Browne is my colleague on radio, a comedy writer, a scriptwriter on The Young Offenders, star of RTE's "The Fear", and one of Irelands foremost standup comics. He's outspoken, opinionated, razor sharp and irrepressible... Oh, and - WARNING - he swears a bit!
Jan 25, 202030:22
Episode 10 Nella
If you're into World of Warcraft, you'll be familiar with Nella, as the featured vocalist on the huge track "Canticle of Sacrifice" - but do you know the story of how all that happened? It's been a crazy few years for Nella, writing, performing & travelling - a lot of travelling! - but right now she's spending most of her time in her native Cork, where she's built a studio, to plan and work on new projects
Jan 18, 202023:30
Episode 9 Pat O Connell
It's the fish stall in The Young Offenders.. and he's the fishmonger who had Queen Elizabeth in fits of laughter during her visit to Cork... he was also a successful President of the Cork Business Association .. but there's more to Pat O Connell .. the famous stall bears the name of his mother Kathleen, at who's side he learned his trade...
Jan 11, 202022:54
Episode 8 Daragh Fleming
Daragh Fleming is a writer, blogger and Mental Health activist, passionate about the importance of allowing young people the freedom to speak up about their mental health, and the struggles in their lives. Following the death by suicide of his best friend, Daragh has devoted himself to the cause of youth mental health and depression.
Jan 04, 202025:04
Episode 7 The Cork Holly Bough
Published these days by "The Echo", the Cork Holly Bough is estimated to have more than 250,000 readers & copies are posted and carried to the four corners of the World every November & December. Englishman - and adopted Corkonian - John Dolan has been editor for the past 17 years & sat down for a chat about the history & the attraction of this unique Cork publication
Dec 21, 201923:09
Episode 6 Nicole Ryan
In 2016, a young man called Alex Ryan died after taking a drug called N-Bomb, one of an ever-changing range of highly dangerous synthetics flooding the streets and easily available all over Ireland. Since the tragedy, by gradually assembling a team of experts around her, Alex's sister Nicole has devoted herself to taking the message of drug awareness and the dangers, especially of synthetics, to young people in their classrooms. "Alex's Adventure" is now her full time career.. a career she never in her wildest dreams, expected to pursue..
Dec 14, 201923:03
Episode 5 Bibi Baskin
The first woman to host a chatshow on Irish television.. a regular on BBC Radio.. Why did she pack it all in to run a hotel... in India? Why, when her hotel was thriving, did she then leave her new home in Kerala to come to live in Cork? Now, she's also an author. What motivates, what excites her.. and what's the secret behind the constant reinvention of Bibi Baskin?
Dec 07, 201922:58
Episode 4(b) Angie Benhaffaf (Part 2)
Twin boys Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf were born conjoined, ten years ago. Their birth and subsequent separation surgery, catapulted a very private family into the media spotlight. In this special double episode, Angie remembers the boys birth, their traumatic and frightening start in life, and the people who helped and supported them.. and reveals some things she's never discussed in public before. Part 2 of 2
Nov 30, 201922:35
Episode 4(a) Angie Benhaffaf (part 1)
Twin boys Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf were born conjoined, ten years ago. Their birth and subsequent separation surgery, catapulted a very private family into the media spotlight. In this special double episode, Angie remembers the boys birth, their traumatic and frightening start in life, and the people who helped and supported them.. and reveals some things she's never discussed in public before.. Episode 1 of 2
Nov 30, 201921:25
Episode 3 Bernard O Hehir
I spent 20 minutes with Bernard, a Sligoman, living in Cork, about his activism for and on behalf of homeless people. Bernard himself was homeless for a long time & he told me his own story about how that happened, what he learned from it, the many friends he has lost through homelessness and how those of us lucky enough never to have experienced anything like that, might help, even in a small way
Nov 23, 201922:06
Episode 2 Cahal Dunne
He sang for Ireland at Eurovision, he's been living and working in the USA for 37 years, he's Jack Lynch's nephew, he's not a fan of Donald Trump, and the Happy Man is happier than ever. I spent twenty minutes with Cahal Dunne.
Nov 16, 201923:38
Episode 1 Paul Treyvaud
I spent twenty minutes with Paul Treyvaud, owner of Killarneys famous "Treyvauds" Restaurant, star of "Treyvauds Kitchen" on Virgin Media TV & "Treyvauds Travels" on Amazon Prime, chatting about food, fame.. and the cost of keeping it real
Nov 09, 201922:58