Show Notes
This week's episode is with artist, actor, peace activist, playwright and pirate radio queen, Margaretta D'Arcy. Margaretta has campaigned for decades on issues related to global peace and civil liberties. In 2014, Margaretta, then aged 80, served two prison sentences resulting from her opposition to the use of Shannon Airport by the US military. Over the years, her activism has taken many forms. She was a member of Bertrand Russell's Committee of 100 group. She participated in anti-nuclear demonstrations at Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, and took part in the H-Block women's protests in Armagh. Broadcasting from her kitchen in Galway, she operated a long-running women's pirate radio station, which served to give a platform to lesser-heard and marginalised voices in the community. She wrote and devised a large body of 'Loose' theatre, often working in collaboration with her late-partner, the radical playwright John Arden. Together, they created the much-celebrated The Non-Stop Connolly Show, the story of James Connolly told in six parts over 24 hours. In this episode of the podcast, Margaretta talks to us about how she was arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Belfast on International Women's Day 1979, which lead to her taking part in the no-wash protests in Armagh Gaol. She describes the brutality and humiliation of invasive strip searches by male prison guards on women prisoners, and asks questions of whether women are given their proper dues when it comes to acknowledging the place of profound feminist resistance within our complex history of revolutionary struggle. We look at artistic censorship, political complacency, our complicity in war, and our inability to empathise with strangers in other lands. Is imagination enough to fight back against neoliberal Ireland? And just how is Margaretta D'Arcy still finding ways to resist during these lockdown times?
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On this week's episode we speak to Mary O'Hagan from the Save Lough Neagh campaign that is fighting to save the biggest body of water in Ireland from ecological disaster. The Lough is suffering from the spread of a green algae that is destroying wildlife, the natural beauty of the Lough and its surrounding areas, and is having a devastating effect on the local communities. Lough Neagh also supplies 40% of the drinking water in the north of Ireland. This is an issue of capital and profit being put before people and the environment, and is something that should concern everyone in Ireland deeply. If you enjoyed this episode please help us keep the show on the road and to build Rebel Matters into a valuable independent media platform by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/rebelmatters. If you live in the 6 counties, click here to find out where your drinking water comes from : https://www.niwater.com/about-your-water/bga Follow the Save Lough Neagh campaign on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saveloughneagh/ Follow Save Lough Neagh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saveloughneagh/?locale=en_GB Follow Rebel Matters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebel_matters Subscribe to Rebel Matters Substack: https://substack.com/@rebelmatters Without the support of our wonderful Patrons the Rebel Matters Podcast would not be possible. Go raibh míle maith agaibh a chairde!
This week I chatted with Rebecca O Keefe who is an ex-international basketball player and who is involved with Irish Sport for Palestine and the Stop The Game Campaign, calling on the FAI and Irish soccer governing bodies to boycott the scheduled international fixture against Israel later this year. Link to full video episode here: https://www.youtube.com/@rebelmatters Help us to build a radical independent media platform here www.patreon.com/rebelmatters
Before the end of 2025 we stopped publishing the show to Spotify because of the links between its then CEO Daniel Ek and arms manufacturers. Spotify has also censored pro-Palestine voices and is known for its exploitation of artists when it comes to remuneration for the use of their art. As part of our process to move away from the platform, we spoke to Kelly Early who co-hosts the For Tech's Sake podcast to discuss the sinister connections between the streaming platform and weapons of war, and potential alternatives for artists and listeners. We wanted to get this episode out way sooner but we have been working through a bit of a backlog of work, so we are very happy to finally have it out there. Huge thanks to Kelly for being a guest on the show and to our loyal supporters over on Patreon who are truly helping us to build the Rebel Matters into an independent media platform bringing perspectives you might not otherwise get on important issues. Full video episode out on YouTube and audio only on many of the usual platforms with the exception of the aforementioned. Please like and subscribe and enjoy the show! Get early access, exclusive content, and help us to build a radical independent media platform by becoming a Patron. www.patreon.com/rebelmatters
Our guests for this episode are Niamh Ní Bhrian, Fionn Wallace, and Rory Rowan. This conversation was recorded in December 2025 after our guests had presented the Neutrality Roadshow in the Cultúalnn here in West Belfast. During this chat we discussed the current threats to Irish neutrality, the prospect of a united Ireland and what that might look like in terms of Irish neutrality, and the seemingly threats to Irish sovereignty through an intentional remilitarization of the country both north and south by the British government. Subscribe on YouTube @rebelmatters Follow us on Instagram @rebel_matters Follow us on UpScrolled @rebel_matters Follow us on TikTok @rebel_matters The Rebel Matters Podcast is a completely independent show produced in Belfast, and 100% supported by our Patrons. To join our community, support our work and get early access to episodes visit www.patreon.com/rebelmatters