Eamonn Holmes reveals what he’d like to banish from NI in new podcast

In the podcast, Holmes – who has interviewed Hollywood stars such as John Travolta, Dustin Hoffman, and Meg Ryan – shares his thoughts on Saint Patrick, the personality he would still like to interview, and what he would like to banish from Northern Ireland.

The Saint Patrick Podcast is hosted in Downpatrick by Saint Patrick Centre pilgrim guides, Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly, as a way of marking the centre’s 20th anniversary and celebrating Ireland’s patron saint.

The 40-minute podcast will be aired on Monday, as a series of online events begins for Saint Patrick’s week which includes writing and art competitions, a virtual walk, a day of virtual dance and the launch of a new Saint Patrick Show, telling the story of Patrick through song, dance and iconic imagery.

Grian Chatten, a member of Grammy-nominated band Fontaines DC is to star in the show, along with talented young people from Co Down.

Dr Timothy Campbell, director of Saint Patrick’s Centre, the world’s only permanent exhibition to Saint Patrick, said he hoped the podcast and the show would bring much joy at a time when there is no St Patrick’s Day parade and only a virtual walk to sites such as Saul Church.

Dr Campbell was delighted Eamonn Holmes agreed to launch the first the podcast and be quizzed by the former BBC political correspondent and a former barrister.

Martina Purdy said she was “chancing her arm” when she asked the famous broadcaster, who is used to an audience of millions, to join the podcast.

She said: “I didn’t have the nerve to ask until I saw a tweet from Eamonn Holmes one Friday night about how he was missing social interaction during lockdown and how he would like to laugh about rubbish and talk nonsense to new people. So I contacted him on Twitter and to my great delight he immediately agreed. He’s a real gentleman – passionate about his family and his work which is clearly a vocation and mission for him.”

Elaine Kelly added: “We knew he was perfect for the podcast and for us because we love to talk rubbish. We had a great chat with him. He is warm and entertaining – very generous.”

The 40-minute podcast will be aired on Monday while the new Saint Patrick Show will be aired on Saint Patrick’s Day, along with another podcast featuring cellist Patrick Dexter.

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