Join us for the first stop on Day 2 of our Lost in Belfast Road Trip as we visit the magnificent City Hall to meet Lord Mayor Micky Murray.

The city’s youngest and first openly gay Lord Mayor shares refreshing new perspectives on his changing city, saying “Where Belfast is now and where we're going is a lot more exciting than what's happened over the last 50 years.”
The Lord Mayor talks about his political journey, Alliance Party affiliation, priorities in office, LGBTQ+ community efforts, and favored social justice initiatives such as addressing homelessness through the innovative Complex Lives strategy.

The conversation highlights his city's growth, increasing diversity, and the exciting future he envisions for Belfast’s people.

Given that the Lord Mayor serves just one year, every hour is precious, so we much appreciate the hour he spent with us…and now with you.

Links

• Belfast City Council Page
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X

Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 5; Total Episode Count: 109

The third stop on our “Lost in Belfast” series is the city’s oldest cultural organization, The Linen Hall Library, located in an 18th-century building across the street from City Hall and a reminder of Belfast’s days as “Linenopolis” when it dominated the global linen trade.

Our conversation with director Julie Andrews delves into the library's rich history since its establishment in 1788, its role as a neutral space for political and cultural dialogue, and its extensive collections, including its signature Northern Ireland Political Collection of ephemera and artifacts gathered during The Troubles. “Politically, we show no allegiance. There’s something in our collection to offend everyone,” Julie says.

She shares insights into the library's innovative projects, ongoing initiatives to ensure the organization stays relevant, challenges inherent in operating a not-for-profit institution, the library's community engagement, its diverse events, and potential future expansions.

Join us at a beacon of Belfast history, The Linen Hall Library!

Links
The Linen Hall

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• X/Twitter

Julie Andrews

• LinkedIn

Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 5; Total Episode Count: 108

For the 2nd year in a row, Irish Stew hosts Maedhbh Mc Cullagh, the director of the Capital Irish Film Festival, who discusses the festival's offerings, the audience's response, and the challenges and rewards of organizing such an event in Washington, D.C.

Eva Birthistle joins John Lee and Martin Nutty to discuss her directorial debut, Kathleen Is Here, a gripping psychological thriller. The conversation explores the ideas behind the film, along with Eva's move to the other side of the camera.

The episode continues with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mary Robinson's story is brought to life in Mrs Robinson and will be the feature presentation on the first night of the film festival. Martin explores the former president's early background and her current efforts to address the climate crisis through Project Dandelion.

Film Links

• 19th Capital Irish Film Festival - (Feb 27 - Mar 2, 2025)
  
  
• Mrs Robinson
  
  
• Kathleen Is Here Preview
  
  

Mary Robinson Links

• Project Dandelion
  
  
• The Elders
  
  
• Wikipedia

Eva Birthistle Links

• Wikipedia Profile
  
  
• IMDB

Episode Details: Season 7, Episode 4; Total Episode Count: 107