The Curiosity Series with Maeve Higgins: Episode 1 - Geraldine O'Reilly and Mary O'Donnell

The Curiosity Series is an Arts Council podcast commissioned as part of the Council’s 70th anniversary celebrations hosted by writer, comedian and podcaster Maeve Higgins.

In each episode, you’ll hear artists involved in music, dance, poetry, literature, visual arts and theatre in conversation with Maeve as they get curious about each other’s work, explore the integral role that creativity has played in their lives, and discuss the broader issues and themes that connect their art.

In episode one of The Curiosity Series, host Maeve Higgins is joined by visual artist and printmaker Geraldine O’Reilly and writer Mary O’Donnell. They talk about Unlegendary Heroes, a work by Geraldine O’Reilly based on a collection of poetry of the same name by Mary O'Donnell, currently being exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition.

Geraldine and Mary speak to Maeve about the elusive nature of creative inspiration, about working together on Unlegendary Heroes and about the themes of womanhood that permeate this work. You’ll also hear some of the poems that form part of the exhibition, as well as more about current and forthcoming work from both artists, including Mary’s latest novel, Mother, Dear Vampire. Geraldine and Mary discuss their lives as artists with honesty and humour, offering insight into their respective creative processes as well as the themes and issues that matter to them in their art.

Production: Milestone Inventive and bigO Audio engineering: Scimitar Sound Title music: ‘Ag Oscailt’ by Gareth Quinn Redmond

Links: Information on Unlegendary Heroes at the RHA: https://rhagallery.viewingrooms.com/artworks/951-geraldine-o-reilly-unlegendary-heroes/

Geraldine O’Reilly’s website: http://www.geraldineoreilly.net/home

The Family Album project, Geraldine O’Reilly: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/event/the-family-album-project-for-parish-of-killu can/

Mary O’Donnell’s website: http://www.maryodonnell.com