LIMERICK podcaster / author / musician Blindboy Boatclub has announced a live podcast at University Concert Hall on Wednesday April 23 to mark the release of his book, Topographica Hibernica.
His podcast mentioned this newspaper recently and the role it plays in Limerick, informing and entertaining our readers weekly, and that led onto a Blindboy fan reaching out to Limerick Post to share some positive thoughts on, not only the Limerick man’s podcast, but also on his mum, who is a regular reader.
The Podcast
Described as a “cultural phenomenon” by The New York Times, the Blindboy Podcast is an award-winning storytelling show rooted in the seanchaí tradition. Blindboy blends history, fiction, cultural critique, and politics into a relaxed, comforting format that he describes as “The podcast hug.”
In these live events, Blindboy uses his curiosity to discuss art, psychology, politics, science, and music in an accessible and entertaining way.
With over 60 million global listeners, his live shows, from Toronto to Sydney to Limerick, are consistently sold out, drawing audiences into an intimate, quiet atmosphere.
At the live podcast, Blindboy will read from his new book, Topographica Hibernica, a collection of short stories exploring humanity, nature, and colonisation. Each show features a surprise guest, creating a theatrical experience that feels like a private conversation.
Blindboy regularly shares a slice of Limerick life in his podcasts, walking the old walls of the city or finding an undisturbed forest in the middle of the city.
On TV and in the news
Recently Blindboy had one of his short stories screened on RTE, he also presented a documentary examining the origins and cultural legacy of early Irish Christianity. He describes how his appearances on corporate media, make him “famous in Ireland for three weeks,”
On his weekly podcast he discussed this weekly newspaper and its role in keeping his family up to date on his creativity.
He stated that while this short lived fame means little to him, his mother enjoys seeing his achievements on the pages of Limerick Post Newspaper and she keeps a scrapbook of his appearances in newsprint.
“The one thing I do like about being on radio and TV is my mam loves it. My mam is in her 80s, and all her neighbours are older, they haven’t a clue what a podcast is.
“What’s very important to my mam is whether or not I appear in the local newspaper called the Limerick Post.
“I’ve been in the Limerick Post twice this week. So now, when my ma goes to the shop, she’s a legend.
“All her friends are coming over to talk to her because they’ve seen me written about in the local newspaper that came in their doors.
“So I like that. I allow myself to feel happy about that, because that has nothing to do with my self esteem or my ego.
“It’s about my mam, and it’s about her social circle, and my ma likes it when her friends are coming up to her saying, Well, you must be so proud of your son.”
Since that particular podcast was released (titled ‘The miserable blood drenched history of Jaffa Cakes’) Limerick Post received an email from a Blindboy Podcast fan called Leila, an American, living in Ireland who wanted to reach out to the podcaster and in particular, his mother to acknowledge her “stellar parenting” through these pages.
Leila wrote, “I am pleased to write to you as an American with a multicultural background. Your own oral tradition rubbed off on your son.
“We have learned so much about Irish culture, wit, compassion and issues worldwide through him that we’d never have learned. I know I speak for hundreds of thousands of listeners and fans, Blindboy: You Rock.”
She continues, “I’m doing this also as a promotion for people to please give charitably to any of the issues raised by Blindboy for this Christmas season.”
Recommended Listening
If you, like our young Limerick representative Cllr Adam Teskey (see Page 16, Council Affairs and Page 22 in the current issue), are new to Blindboy Boatclub and his podcast and want join over a million worldwide monthly listeners, here are three personal recommendations to get you started.
1. The History of Disco (three episodes). Blindboy Boatclub was a musician and a producer before he knew what a podcast was and his look back at how an underground music style developed in house and techno is an essential listen.
2. Interview with Patrick McCabe. The twice Booker Prize-nominated Irish novelist, is renowned for his works The Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto. Blindboy’s podcast features a discussion about writing, writer’s block, and creativity.
3. 43 minutes of Blindboy walking around Limerick city, discusses the historical Walls of Limerick and its unexpected connection to Tupac Shakur, all delivered in BB’s soothing ASMR style.
The Blindboy Live Podcast Show plays at University Concert Hall on Wednesday April 23, 2025. Tickets from www.dolans.ie and uch.ie
