A CLARE-based podcast is attracting a growing international listenership with inspiring contributions from artists of various disciplines who are living in or originally from this county.

‘The Creative Souls of Clare’ podcast is hosted by Lahinch author and social innovator Ruairí McKiernan.

Since its launch just over a year ago, the podcast has been making waves, boasting listeners in over 27 countries, including Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Qatar, Iran, the Philippines, Finland, Portugal, and Mexico.

The podcast first came about following the cancellation of the launch for Hitching for Hope, Ruairí’s hugely popular book documenting his travels around Ireland in the wake of the economic crash.

The pandemic forced him to cancel all events, including his planned ‘World tour of Clare’.

This was to involve events in various County Clare libraries as part of an initiative by Creative Ireland to promote creativity in the community.

Ruairí’s response to the enforced cancellations might be considered to be an act of creativity in itself.

He started thinking about how he might launch an alternative project while doing something to inspire people to be more creative during the pandemic.

The Cavan native said he also wanted to do something to contribute to and celebrate his adopted county.

“I love living in Clare, and there’s no shortage of fascinating creative people here,” he said.

“I particularly admire people who have something interesting to say, people with ideas, energy and vision. Artists often fit that bill, whether they be musicians or songwriters, poets, writers, actors, dancers, painters, or sculptors.

“I find that artists are often thinking differently, standing back a bit from society and considering different ways of looking at things and creating work that helps us understand ourselves and our world in ways that are healing, enlightening, challenging or liberating.

“In a way, I see art as food for the soul, something that we can’t go without.”

Ruairí already had plenty of experience in the field of podcasting and it made sense that another series might be a way forward for him.

He had been hosting the chart-topping ‘Love and Courage’ podcast for about three years and was able to transition some of his skills over to the new venture.

“The whole project came together very smoothly, and the team at Creative Ireland Clare were very supportive in helping me get it off the ground and promote it,” he said.

“Clare County Council and the Arts Office have also been helpful. Most of all, it has been a word-of-mouth thing, people recommending it to each other, and it seems to be spreading and growing that way.

“About half the listeners are in Ireland, almost 20% are in the United States, and there’s a lot in Britain, with the rest spread around the world.

“It’s amazing to see the podcast travel and reach so many people in different places and to imagine listeners in their cars or kitchens tuning in from New York, or Cape Town or Hanoi, I find that remarkable.”

‘Creative Souls of Clare’ is available to download or stream for free as a video or audio version through YouTube, Facebook, Spotify, Apple and all the main podcast platforms.

There are now almost 20 episodes available, and guests include East Clare storyteller and crafter Ruth Marshall, Miltown-Malbay songwriters Anne Rynne and Shona Blake, Ennis documentary filmmaker Ken O’Sullivan, poet Anne Casey, folk singer Katie Theasby, musician Tommy Hayes, actor and playwright Jacinta Sheerin, and writer and actor Mark O’Halloran.

Ruairí is hoping to further develop the podcast in the year ahead and says he is happy to be promoting Clare on the world stage.

“While I might not be a Banner native, I feel very blessed to be living here and to be connecting with so many talented people,” he said.

“To bring their voices to the world in this way is a privilege. It’s also important that their message is heard, that art and creativity belong to us all. Numerous podcast guests have said that, and I agree with them.

“Creativity is something we can each access in different ways, whether it be learning a song or trying our hand at poetry, there are endless ways to be creative.

“I think creativity can be very healing and transformative, and that’s so important during these testing and turbulent times.”

by Fiona McGarry