Mary Kennedy has released the first couple of her podcasts with Senior Times, featuring eight of Ireland’s leading women writers. To date, she’s spoken with Patricia Scanlan and Christine Dwyer Hickey, whose novel, Tatty, is currently being honoured by Dublin City Council’s One City One Book campaign.

“For me, this is a new departure into an area which I love and which inspires me,” says Mary. “It will feature podcast interviews with a range of Irish women writers as diverse as Patricia Scanlan, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Sheila O’Flanagan, Liz Nugent and Cathy Kelly. Other interesting and innovative writers include Mary McAleese, Roisin Meaney and Rachael English, who have had hugely accomplished careers in other fields.

“The quality of these women’s work and the themes that they have written about – the struggle of women for equality in Ireland, their journeys to becoming successful writers, and the insight and wit that has sustained them throughout their careers – will, I hope, make for a fascinating series of podcasts.”

The series of eight podcasts will run until December 1, with a new podcast released each week.

“These are strong, often brilliant women whose company it was a pleasure to share,” said Mary.

“It was a relaxed and easy forum in which to discuss the course of their lives and careers. They represent a changed and changing Ireland and one which I find fascinating to present to a wider audience in these podcasts with Senior Times.”

The podcasts are available from the Senior Times website www.seniortimes.ie and all major podcast platforms.

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