Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Topics covered : Tragic death, complex grief, severe injuries, PTSD.

This is my conversation with the incredible Zoe Holohan from March 2021.

On the 23rd of July 2018, Zoe and her husband Brian were on their honeymoon when disaster struck. Wildfires swept through the seaside town of Mati in Greece where they were staying and claimed the lives of 102 people. She miraculously survived despite her extensive injuries, while Brian, unfortunately didn’t.

In this conversation we hear how she and Brian met, what a wonderful man he was, their beautiful wedding day and how her life changed forever just a few days later, on their honeymoon.
She also speaks about her Dad and the close friendship they had, and how his death 3 weeks after that terrible day in Greece was yet another trauma to have to come to terms with.

This was by far one of the most moving conversations I’ve ever had, and I am in awe of Zoe’s courage, strength and resilience.

Her book :
‘As the smoke clears : The inspirational true story of surviving Greece’s deadly wildfires, overcoming devastating loss and discovering a path to renewal.’
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​Topics covered : Vulnerability, heritage, organic farming, biodiversity, food waste, value, climate, connection.

This week's guest is Kenneth Keavey, co-founder of Green Earth Organics, one of Ireland's best-known organic farms.
Kenneth holds a degree in science and a PhD in chemistry, and spent years working in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry before making a life-changing decision over twenty years ago. Together with his wife Jenny, he returned home to Galway to take over the family farm and build what has become Green Earth Organics​; an organic farming enterprise that today employs more than 45 people and delivers fresh produce to homes all over Ireland.

​Last week Kenneth ​posted a heartfelt video on social media.​..at the height of the growing season, he spoke openly about the realities of running an organic farm, the challenges of producing healthy food in today's world and the uncertainty that so many Irish growers face​.​ And the response to th​e video has been extraordinary. Green Earth Organics experienced its biggest week ever. While that's wonderful news, as Kenneth explains in this episode, one successful week isn't the answer. The bigger conversation is about creating a food system where local growers can thrive sustainably all year round.

​He shares his journey from Cambridge-trained chemist to organic farmer, explaining why he walked away from a successful science career to return to the land that had been in his family for generations.

​This conversation is an invitation to slow down, become more conscious consumers, and remember that every meal has a story behind it.

To learn more about Kenneth, Jenny and the team, visit:
Website: https://www.greenearthorganics.ie⁠
You can order their organic fruit and vegetable boxes, browse their produce and find out more about how they farm.
​Their farm shop is open every Saturday from 10am–5pm​ and they're also hosting their Sustainability Festival on Saturday, 12th September, celebrating sustainable food, farming and community.

A note from me:
​This episode is not an ad for Green Earth Organics.
I simply wanted to share a conversation that I believe raises important questions about food, farming, health and the future we are creating​.
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No electricity. No hot water. The best sleep of her life.

In this week's Real Take, taken from my recent conversation with public historian and author Lesley Bond, we explore what it was really like to spend six months living on the Great Blasket Island.

Back in 2019, Lesley and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Gordon left their busy lives behind to become seasonal caretakers of the island. Together, they welcomed visitors, ran the island café, looked after the guest cottages and embraced a way of life shaped entirely by nature and the rhythms of the Atlantic.

In this short excerpt, Lesley reflects on life without electricity or hot water, how the island dictated every decision they made, and why she slept more deeply than ever before. It's a beautiful reminder of what can happen when we slow down and reconnect with the world around us.

Lesley's wonderful book, Blasket Bound: Memoirs of an Island Caretaker, tells the full story of their unforgettable six months on the island and is well worth a read.

If you enjoy this snippet, I'd really encourage you to listen to the full conversation with Lesley, where we delve into the history of the Great Blasket, the practical realities of island life, heritage, community and the lasting impact those six months have had on her life.
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Topics covered: island life, ​living without modern comforts, heritage, community, ​postnatal depression, writing and healing.

This week, I’m joined by public historian and author Lesley Bond.
In 2019, Lesley and her then-boyfriend, ​(now husband​) Gordon, left their busy lives behind to spend six months as caretakers on the Great Blasket Island, off the coast of Kerry.
With no electricity or hot water, their days were shaped by the rhythms of the island and the unpredictability of the Atlantic. Together, they welcomed visitors from all over the world, ran the island café, looked after the guest cottages and became part of a small but special seasonal community.
The Great Blasket was once home to a thriving Irish-speaking community and became renowned for its extraordinary literary tradition. The final residents left the island in 1953, but its stories, language and heritage live on.
Lesley brings us behind the scenes of life as an island caretaker​...from the practical realities of running a café without electricity and carrying out​ the daily housekeeping, to wild weather​ and the unexpected joy of sleeping more deeply than she ever had before.
She also reflects on what it felt like to step away from the constant noise and distraction of modern life, how time seemed to move differently on the island and the lessons she carried home with her.
Now living in Kildare with Gordon and their almost two-year-old son, Naoise, Lesley also speaks openly about experiencing postnatal depression and how revisiting her memories of the Great Blasket through writing became a source of comfort​ and escape during a difficult time.
T​​his is a​n immersive conversation about slowing down, connecting with nature and the places that stay with us long after we leave them​ and her beautiful book,​ ​'Blasket Bound: Memoirs of an Island Caretaker​', captures the magic, challenges and everyday realities of those extraordinary six months and is well worth a read.
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​Topics covered : her upbringing, her late husband, grief, mourning, rebuilding her life, fostering, community, belonging and public service.

This week, I'm joined by Helen Ogbu​ - Labour councillor, the newly elected Mayor of Galway, foster carer, life coach and PhD student.
Helen made history this year by becoming Galway's first Mayor from a migrant background. But long before politics, her life had already taken her on an extraordinary journey.
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Helen was one of eight children in a home where kindness, generosity and caring for others were simply part of everyday life. Those early experiences would later inspire her to become a foster carer, opening her home in Ireland to around 30 children over the years.
Helen also shares the deeply personal story of meeting her late husband, Sunny Orji-Ogbu, a principled Nigerian politician who believed passionately that his country deserved honest, accountable leadership. As political tensions intensified, Helen became increasingly fearful for his safety. She moved to Ireland with their young daughter, ChiChi, hoping he would follow. Tragically, in 2010, Sunny was assassinated while returning home from a political meeting. Helen speaks with extraordinary honesty about navigating unimaginable grief, raising her daughter as a young widow, and slowly rebuilding her life in Galway.
Today, alongside her work in public service, Helen holds a Master's degree in History and Diplomacy, is currently completing a PhD, and continues to champion community, inclusion and belonging in everything she does​.

​C​onnect with Helen:
Instagram: ​Helen Ogbu (@iamhelenogbu) • Instagram photos and videos
Labour Party profile: Helen Ogbu
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