The Tommy Tiernan Show: Exploring the Arts,Life,and Legacy
Saturday night’s episode of The Tommy Tiernan Show delved into the fascinating worlds of acting,traditional irish music,and the challenges of early motherhood. A captivating lineup of guests graced the stage: renowned American actor Paul Giamatti, sean-nós singer and broadcaster Doireann Ní ghlacáin, and stand-up comedian Emma Doran.
American actor Paul Giamatti, fresh off finishing a role in a new Star Trek television show in Canada, joined Tiernan for a revealing conversation. Describing himself as drawn too “flawed people,” Giamatti shared his unique approach to acting: “My immediate instinct if I’m given a heroic person is to find out what’s not heroic about them.” He believes this ability to unearth vulnerabilities and weaknesses in any character, irrespective of their archetype, is a gift.
Giamatti’s acting journey hasn’t been without its complexities. He confesses to moments of self-doubt, admitting, “Sometimes I really question why am I still doing this? It’s compulsion. It becomes a kind of compulsion of punishment, there feels like there’s something masochistic about it.” yet, he remains driven by a simple, powerful force: “I like stories a lot. I like a good story.So, if I get something that comes to me and I keep reading it and the story draws me, and it’s great, I’ll go ‘Oh, I’m going to be in this story.’”
Reflecting on his life, Giamatti expressed regrets about past choices, notably regarding self-care. He candidly admitted, “I feel some regret about how I loved my life, in some ways. I suppose I carry some of the regret of that.It’s funny… I physically beat up on myself. My body carries a lot of what I did to myself. Not taking care of myself, literally, physically, too, you know, abusing myself physically.I wore myself out in a lot of ways.”
Despite these past struggles, Giamatti has found contentment in his present life. He previously worried about his lifespan, given the premature passing of many family members, but has learned to embrace the journey and appreciate his achievements.
Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, a gifted sean-nós singer and broadcaster and granddaughter of the legendary Seán Ó Riada, spoke passionately about the complexities of her musical tradition. Ní Ghlacáin emphasized that sean-nós singing is a deeply ingrained talent, a skill one either possesses or lacks.
In a captivating discussion on the enduring power of Irish storytelling, singer Maeve Ní Ghlacáin explored the intricacies of sean-nós, a traditional style of singing deeply rooted in Irish culture. Ní Ghlacáin, driven by a desire to demystify sean-nós for a wider audience, emphasized the accessibility of this art form, even for those who feel apprehensive about their Irish language skills.
“The whole idea of it was to open it up to audiences or to people that maybe don’t have the confidence in their language ability and it’s as it’s really intimidating,” she shared, acknowledging the unique linguistic nuances that characterize this traditional singing style. “you know, there was a language in itself, in the Irish language for poetry. So, words that you might use in a sean-nós song wouldn’t really be day-to-day speak, but incredibly nuanced, incredibly elegant tradition.”
Delving into the rich tapestry of Irish storytelling traditions, Ní Ghlacáin shed light on the fascinating gendered divide in narrative styles. While men often recounted tales of heroic battles and valiant warriors,women wove enchanting stories of fairies,using them as a vehicle to explore female experiences and unspoken anxieties.
“They were used to explain away female issues and experiences that were arduous to express in language,” Ní Ghlacáin explained, highlighting the profound role of fairy tales in articulating the complexities of womanhood within the confines of traditional Irish society.
The performance culminated with a sean-nós song about a woman grappling with unrequited love. Tiernan, visibly moved, remarked, “It’s like being lifted, isn’t it? I don’t know if you sense when you’re singing it. A pint is the only appropriate response.” Ní Ghlacáin, with a knowing smile, simply replied, “It is, it can get heavy. I’m telling you.”
The discussion then shifted to the compelling life story of comedian Emma Doran,whose book offered a candid glimpse into her journey as a young mother. Doran, known for her humor and vulnerability, shared her experiences of navigating parenthood at an unexpectedly early age, starting at 18.
Doran’s story was a poignant reminder of the universal challenges and triumphs that come with motherhood, regardless of age or circumstance. She candidly discussed the complexities of breaking the news to her parents, the ever-evolving relationship with her daughter’s father, and the unwavering love that defined her experiance.
Finding Fulfillment: A Comedian’s Journey From Mom Life to Stage Lights
Stand-up comedian Aoife Doran’s journey to the stage is a testament to the power of chasing dreams,even after years of prioritizing family life. Doran’s connection with her audience stems from her ability to find humor in the everyday chaos of parenthood and her unflinching honesty about the challenges and joys of motherhood.
Her story began in an unexpected place – a local chipper on Leaving Cert results night. It was there that she met her daughter’s father. ”I was working in a chipper on Leaving Cert results night, and he was getting his Leaving cert results, and that’s how I met him,” she shared, adding, “They do have a relationship, and he is in our daughter’s life and has since had a family with his wife.”
Doran’s perspective on this unique family dynamic is refreshingly open and inclusive. “I have my boys, but she has other siblings as well, and I’ve met them all, and it’s lovely. And I’ve met his wife, and she’s a lovely woman. They have a lovely family,” she remarked.
Despite the fulfillment she found in motherhood, Doran felt a persistent yearning for something more. “So I had met my partner, Shane, and I was pregnant with our frist child. So Ella’s now 10. So, like, 10 years have gone by. And I was like…that 10 years now has gone so fast. I could quite easily slip into having maybe a few more kids and working part time, and then all of a sudden realize that when my kids are older, what have I actually done?” she recalled. This realization prompted her to take a leap of faith.”You’ve been sensible now for ages. you’ve given it a good go. It’s time to do something. It’s time to let a bit of the wildness out.”
This “wildness” took the form of stand-up comedy. Her performances often explore the raw realities of early motherhood with wit and humor, resonating deeply with her audience. Doran stresses the importance of following one’s creative instincts, even when it involves taking risks and challenging the status quo. “Following the funny,” she calls it. It’s a philosophy that has propelled her to success on stage and has also earned her critical acclaim.
Doran’s experiences are captured in her book, “Mad, Isn’t It?”, a candid and insightful account of her journey through motherhood and the challenges and triumphs of building a career in stand-up comedy.
The show concluded with a captivating performance by Mohammad Sykhan, who delivered a powerful rendition of “I am Kurdish.” Sykhan’s musical talents had previously been showcased in a spellbinding ”Other Voice Anam” set recorded at Parke’s Castle in Leitrim.
How did Aoife doran’s unique family dynamic influence her viewpoint on motherhood and inspire her stand-up comedy?
Finding Fulfillment: A Comedian’s Journey From Mom Life to stage Lights
Stand-up comedian Aoife Doran’s journey to the stage is a testament to the power of chasing dreams, even after years of prioritizing family life. Doran’s connection with her audience stems from her ability to find humor in the everyday chaos of parenthood and her unflinching honesty about the challenges and joys of motherhood.
Her story began in an unexpected place – a local chipper on Leaving Cert results night.It was there that she met her daughter’s father. “I was working in a chipper on Leaving Cert results night, and he was getting his Leaving cert results, and that’s how I met him,” she shared, adding, ”They do have a relationship, and he is in our daughter’s life and has since had a family with his wife.”
Doran’s perspective on this unique family dynamic is refreshingly open and inclusive. ”I have my boys, but she has other siblings as well, and I’ve met them all, and it’s lovely. And I’ve met his wife, and she’s a lovely woman. They have a lovely family,” she remarked.
Despite the fulfillment she found in motherhood, doran felt a persistent yearning for something more. “So I had met my partner, Shane, and I was pregnant with our first child. So Ella’s now 10. So, like, 10 years have gone by. And I was like…that 10 years now has gone so fast. I could quite easily slip into having maybe a few more kids and working part time, and then all of a sudden realize that when my kids are older, what have I actually done?” she recalled. This realization prompted her to take a leap of faith.
“You’ve been sensible now for ages. You’ve given it a good go. It’s time to do something. It’s time to let a bit of the wildness out,” she mused.
This “wildness” took the form of stand-up comedy. Her performances frequently enough explore the raw realities of early motherhood with wit and humor, resonating deeply with her audience. Doran stresses the importance of following one’s creative instincts, even when it involves taking risks and challenging the status quo.“Following the funny,” she calls it. It’s a beliefs that has propelled her to success on stage and has also earned her critical acclaim.
Doran’s experiences are captured in her book, “mad, Isn’t it?”, a candid and insightful account of her journey through motherhood and the challenges and triumphs of building a career in stand-up comedy.
