Cows, Peelers, and Soapboxes

Available for 29 days

The Balmoral Show takes place this weekend, the annual festival that brings people from all over Ireland, to a site outside Lisburn to look at machinery, cattle, sheep, horses, and plenty of food. John went up to have his annual 'nosey' around, taking in the sights, sounds and good conversation. Following huge success from his memoir 'Did Ye Hear Mammy Died', writer and Irish Times and Observer columnist Seamas O'Reilly, chats about his new novel. John is also joined by Northern Irish illustrator and picture-book maker Coleen Larmour. Coleen has been shortlisted for an award for her work on her acclaimed picture book ‘This That What', telling the story of Kiki Dime and her wonderfully busy brain, capturing the lively, and at times overwhelming experience of living with ADHD through playful rhyme and vibrant, expressive artwork. John also chats to businesswoman and performer Juliet Cooke, following years of ill-health, alopecia, paralysis and a diagnosis of ADHD, Juliet has channelled her experience into a driving passion for a new way of doing healthcare and helping others through her business The Arzen Collective... Plus, Mr. Cinnamond, Mr. Martin and Mr. Reid from the Engineering/Tech department in Ashfield Boys School in East Belfast, are taking part in the Red Bull Soapbox Derby in Stormont this weekend. Their soapbox, a combination of the Titanic and H&W cranes, is ready for action, and John takes it on a test run ahead of the competition. There’s live music in the studio from Peter McAuley, who performs his track Until The Lights Dim', the theme tune for popular BBC NI show 'Peelers'. And in the kitchen, Paula McIntyre prepares a delicious strawberry meringue parfait.