2023

April 16 2023: Show ID 1997

Guest: Ciaron Maron grew up in Northern Ireland and experienced the oppressive, prejudicial and life-threatening treatment imposed by British forces placed in the region to exercise control over those who lived there. Britain chose to completely omit any information about the history of Ireland in the courses that were taught in Northern Ireland. Ciaron tells radio show travel expert Stephanie Abrams’ audience how teachers held clandestine classes that students voluntarily attended to learn the story of Ireland’s past and their present. Ciaron’s accounts provide keen insights and a first-hand look into understanding The Troubles and need for the Good Friday Agreement which took decades to come to fruition in 1998.

April 15, 2023: Show ID 1996

Hour 1 Guest 1: John Hume, 1998 Nobel Peace Prize Winner for his significant contribution to a peaceful resolution to “The Troubles” in Ireland, Derry, Northern Ireland, UK: In honor of the 24th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Travel WITH Stephanie Abrams is broadcasting the first of three interviews broadcast on radio by travel expert Stephanie Abrams, the premiere authority on travel to the island that is Ireland. John Hume overviews US involvement in building the momentum to bring about the Good Friday Agreement which included the US political leaders known as The Four Horsemen who included: Senators Ted Kennedy, Daniel Moynihan, Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil, and Governor of New York and seven (7) term member of the House of Representatives Hugh Carey.

Hour 1 Guest 2: Gerry Murray, author of, “Peace & War: A Maiden City Childhood,” Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK, talks with radio show travel expert Stephanie Abrams about his life growing up as a Catholic in Northern Ireland. Gerry’s comments are particularly timely as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Gerry lives in Derry, a city officially renamed from Londonderry to “Derry-Londonderry” as a further step toward unity and solidarity in this city and region. Even today, one can drive through a neighborhood and know if it’s a neighborhood where Catholics live or Protestants live because Catholic areas have the colors of the Irish tri-color flag painted at the curb in front of their houses or have the red, white and blue stripes of the British Union Jack. If you can find a printed telephone directory, as you scan the columns of any page looking for a name, you will find the address of each person noted as Derry or as Londonderry. Those listed a living in Londonderry are Protestants; those living in Derry are Catholics who want nothing to do with “London’ and the rest of the UK and make that clear by referring to where they live simply as ‘Derry.’

Don’t miss this lively hour!

Hour 2 Guest: Ciaron Maron, like Gerry Murray, grew up in Northern Ireland and experienced the oppressive, prejudicial and life-threatening treatment imposed by British forces placed in the region to exercise control over those who lived there. Like many places in the US today that would prefer not to include in school curricula any events, time periods, or eras that present Americans tragically and regrettably behaving badly, by today’s standards and morals, Britain chose to completely omit any information about the history of Ireland in the courses that were taught in Northern Ireland. Ciaron tells radio show travel expert Stephanie Abrams’ audience how teachers held clandestine classes during lunch breaks that students voluntarily attended to learn the story of Ireland’s past and their present. Ciaron’s accounts provide keen insights and a first-hand look into understanding The Troubles and need for the Good Friday Agreement which took decades to come to fruition in 1998.

Hour 3 Guests:

Bridie Syron, Lahardane, Co. Mayo, Ireland, whose aunt, Mary Canavan, sailed and perished on Titanic.

David Donohoe, Lahardane, Co. Mayo, Ireland, whose aunt, Bridget Donohoe, boarded Titanic in Queenstown, now called Cobh (pronounced: Cove), bought a  3^rd class passenger ticket number 9234 for £7, 15 to sail to New York City.

Michael Coleman, Lahardane, Co. Mayo, Ireland, created the design for two new stained glass windows to commemorate and memorialize the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. Michael is a “blow-in” from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA and his wife’s family lives in Lanesborough, MA which borders Pittsfield. Michael had no idea that travel expert Stephanie Abrams lived in Lanesborough which led to a lively conversation!

In addition to this weekend being the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it is also the 111th anniversary of the sinking of the ship, Titanic. Every year, in Lahardane, County Mayo, Ireland, the locals and visitors assemble to remember the 14 passengers from Addergoole Parish who sailed on that fateful journey. Only three of the 14 passengers survived the journey.

At 2:20am on April 15th, yearly, in the grassy area next to St. Patrick’s Church in Lahardane, the eleven passengers from the region who died when Titanic sank are remembered with the mention of each name and the ringing of the church bell three times after each naming. In preparation for the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, the Addergoole Historic Society spearheaded the creation of a park in Lahardane to commemorate the loss. St. Patrick’s Church installed two new stained glass windows commemorating those passenger who left the town and presenting images meant to depict those on board Titanic sailing from Ireland.

The interviews in this episode of Travel WITH Stephanie Abrams were recorded in Lahardane, Co. Mayo, Ireland in December 2011 when the Addergoole Historic Socieity’s Titanic Memorial Park was under construction. On the night of April 14th and the wee hours of April 15, 2012 and all day on April 15th after a few hours sleep when the bell-ringing memorial ended just after 3am, Stephanie and her remote producer, her husband, Mark Abrams, were in Lahardane all day for the Memorial Mass at St. Patrick’s Church and the official dedication of the park. Among those at these events were Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland and Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach of Ireland in 2012 . You can see all of the proceedings captured in Stephanie’s TV show, commercial free, at sabrams.net in the section devoted to Travel TV by clicking on “Episode 9: Of Titanic Proportions.”

The audio of Bridie Syron, David Donohoe and Michael Coleman are only available in archived radio shows at sabrams.com and at our podcasters.

April 9, 2023: Show ID #1995

Guest: Paul Doran, Baron of Salt, Lord of the Manor at Belleek Castle, Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. http://www.http://belleekcastle.com/

You don’t want to miss this fun, uplifting, informative and motivational interview with Paul Doran, owner of Belleek Castle, located located in quiet corner of Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland, the town where President Joseph Biden’s family on his father’s side comes from. You’ll want to start planning your trip to Ballina with some nights at Belleek Castle where you’ll enjoy your stay, the food in their fine dining restaurant, their unique bar that looks like an authentic galleon, and cozy up in the great room by the fireplace for some conversation with guests and locals while enjoying a drink after a busy day of doing exactly what you want! If you’re into fishing, you’ll be so close to the River Moy where salmon run in abundance and the staff at Balleek Castle will sort out getting a fishing license for you. Done right, you’ll come back with a salmon that their chef will cook up for you! And if you’re a golfer, there are 8 fab golf courses wrapping all around the region with some super close and others less than an hour away that you won’t want to miss! Have a listen:

April 8, 2023: Show ID #1994

Hour 1 Guest: Alan Simpson, Radio Show Host & Presenter, Ulster BBC 1 Radio, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

Hearing that broadcast media travel expert Stephanie Abrams was in Belfast to visit the Titantic Belfast exhibit which was open only 10 days at that time, Alan Simpson arranged to have her as a guest on his prime peak afternoon drive-time radio show. The chemistry and fun exhibited by the pair will keep you in smiles and giggles as they talk about this unique exhibit, touring Northern Ireland and visiting Belfast.

Hour 2 Guests:

Bill Durbins, General Manager, Hilton Branson Hotel, Branson, Missouri, USA. www.Hilton.com

Roger , Superintendent & Principal, Webber Township High School, Bluford, Illinois, USA. www.blufordschools.org/o/webber-high-school

John Richardson, Spokesperson, Dolly Parton Stampede Dinner Show, Branson, Missouri, USA , dpstampede.com/branson

When broadcast travel expert Stephanie Abrams learned that the Senior Class of Webber Township High School in Bluford, Illinois had donated the money it took them four years to raise for their senior trip and senior prom to the family of an injured classmate who was left with a trauma accident and that the students decided they’d go camping for their senior trip, she contacted Roger Pauley the school’s principal. When Roger explained the situation and that the students decided they’d do something that was free, like going camping, Stephanie’s response was, “Not on my watch!” Learn about how these very special, caring, compassionate and giving teens had what they described as, “The time of our lives!” in Branson, Missouri hosted by Stephanie Abrams with the cooperation of the Branson Hilton, Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show, Dick Clark’s Legends in Concert, the Titanic Exhibit, and the wonderful parents who came along to chaperone the group! Have a listen to this wonderful story!

Hour 3 Guest: Kathleen Jarvis, Travel Companion to Sister Catherine Markey, Archivist at St. Scholastica Monastery of of the Benedictine Nuns, Fort Smith, Arkansas. www.stscho.org

When Kathleen Jarvis, a volunteer at St. Scholastica Monastery, learned from Sister Catherine Markey that the sister wanted to visit Ireland, the land of her roots, before she became “too frail,” Kathleen sent emails to a wide network of friends and acquaintances and people associated with Catholic charities and organizations to see if someone could help make that trip possible. Her outreach landed on the desk of Sister Camille D’Arienzo, a New York City nun of the order of the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Camille and her traveling companion, Sister Kathleen Quinn of the same New York City order, were beneficiaries of a 10 night trip to Ireland hosted by “Stephanie Abrams Travel Fairy Godmother” a year earlier. Sister Camille copied radio show travel expert Stephanie Abrams on her reply to Kathleen Jarvis and the trip was off and running.

Among the places that Stephanie planned for the duo to visit on their chauffeur-driven tour, was Knock Shrine in County Mayo, the third most important Western European Catholic Shrine located in the charming wee town of Knock in Co. Mayo. Since President Joe Biden visited Knock Shrine on his recent visit to Ireland, hearing about the visit of Kathleen Jarvis and Sister Catherine should be of added interest. Have a listen. . .

April 2, 2023: Show ID #1993

Guest: Adam Levine, DuVine Bike Trips, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

April 1, 2023: Show ID # 1992

Hour 1 & Hour 2 Guest: Mark Leslie, CEO, Martello Media, Based in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland.

Mark Leslie is an incredibly interesting guest and, given that there is so much he has to offer listeners, radio and broadcast media travel expert, Stephanie Abrams, has, on many occasions, had Mark on the air with her for more than an hour at a time! This show is no exception. Mark Leslie, and his company, have won many, many awards globally for the quality and creativity of installations and permanent exhibits which he is responsible for developing and installing. Mark has created three such exhibits in Malta and recently escorted a prestigious group of people including art critics and art scholars to see those in Malta. Learn more about this unique story . . .

Hour 3 Guest: Narcy Calamatta, actor, film producer, author, playwright, screenplay writer, historian, wit, charmer, Renaissance Man, and Good Friend. Sir Narcy Calamatta was born in Malta and resides there. He has worked in the film industry since his youth and was at the Malta Film Commission when the cult-classic film, Midnight Express: The Billy Hayes Story, was produced in Malta since Turkey would not permit the making of the film in the country where the true story took place. Sir Narcy has won multiple awards for his work, the latest being the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 2022 Malta Film Awards run by the Malta Film Commission, at which Harvey Kietel won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. “Listening to what Sir Narcy has to say is always a delight and I’m his biggest fan, vying to be President of the Sir Narcy Fan Club,” states broadcast travel expert Stephanie Abrams. This is a ” Must Listen” hour!