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Dympna Heron - Talking the talk and walking the walk.

Dympna Heron, from Stewartstown, has been a busy woman in recent years, with her involvement in a range of local community initiatives.

Currently she is flat out, as they say, helping organise the Coalisland Camino which takes place on Sunday, August 16.

It was the brainchild of Feargal O'Donnell, the Manager of Coalisland Community Hub & Foodbank.

Another group most connected with the walk is 'Friends 2 Talk' that meets and walks regularly in order to offer mental and physical wellbeing to participants.
The history and origin of the groups, which have many overlaps, is all explained in the podcast!

The Coalisland Camino is based on the famous Camino de Santiago that stretches across Portugal, Spain and France and is renowned for helping bring pilgrims to a mindset of peace, oneness and spiritual awareness.

The Coalisland Camino as well, provides wonderful booklets with explanations and depictions of local historical landmarks, mythology, wildlife... and is stamped at locations along the scenic 26.4km route.
Over 200 people from all over Ireland took part in the first walk last summer.

This time there will also be booklets available in the Irish language as well as Irish speaking volunteers at the various stations and refreshment stops.

Dympna also recalls the setting up of Friends 2 Talk in 2019 following a number of tragic deaths.

Then came the dreadful Covid lockdown in 2020, when boxes of food and goods were delivered to those 'sheltering' and the realisation that many in the locality were struggling financially, some actually in work but unable to meet rising costs.

This eventually resulted in the Communty Hub and Foobank as it is today. Based in St Patrick’s Hall, Coalisland, it confidentiality helps struggling families and has a range of schemes including the school uniform exchange and the Christmas hamper appeal.

Oh! There's was also the fascinating 400 year enactment of the Flight of the Earls embarked on by Dympna and others in costumes of that time (1607), and we explain why Tullyhogue Fort with its most significant history is well worth a visit.

There's a lot in this podcast!
It brings home the great community work being done and the decency of local people towards their neighbours.
Dympna Heron - a busy woman!

* Contacts for the various organisations are on the podcast and their Facebook pages.

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Bert Mohan - still whistling after all these years

Some thought Tyrone referee Bert Mohan and Martin Mohan were two different people.

'They' are indeed one-and-the-same, and in this podcast, Bert explains how he attained the name.. Bert!.. it goes back to the 1970s!

Thirty years a GAA whistler, that includes taking charge of three senior club finals, he recalls an approach on Scotch Street in Dungannon that started it all off.

That was shortly after he thought he'd hung up the boots, having won an Intermediate championship medal with Eglish.

From the Brantry his early playing days were at the Aghaloo club but they were different times and later his mother felt it safer he make the move. It was a transfer didn't please everyone at Aghaloo!

Bert gives us an insight into the world of the referee, many funny stories included, and shares his thoughts on more recent high-profile controversies.

He also played and managed the Tyrone Crystal soccer team and Ronan Mac, a fellow employee back in the day, recalls signing the form to join the team. However on reflection, he's sure the Saturday morning games, after a night at the Clubland, might not have passed the alcohol test!

A master glass cutter, Bert toured America on behalf of the company giving demonstrations of the art.

They remember the conman from Plumbridge, a self-made millionaire apparently, who was going to save the factory in 1980 but vanished after being wined and dined and put up in fine hotels on the company's expense.

Dungannon Co-Op saved the day and it did get another lease of life but eventually faded out of existence in 2010. A sad finish to what was a celebrated local institution and employer.

Bert would encourage younger lads to take up the whistle and recalls the fulfilment of refereeing those big games.

This is a podcast packed with memories and tributes to great local referees.

He continues to enjoy life with his wife Kate, children and 13 grandchildren who keep him on his toes!

Bert Mohan a hugely popular referee and character.

* Big call! TwoMacs producer Oliver is on the hunt for an All Ireland football final ticket for his cousin Sean McAndrew based in Birmingham (with St Brendan's GAA club there).

* Sean's late father, John RIP, (Oliver's uncle) was on the last Mayo team to win the All Ireland in 1951. He later emigrated to England.

* If anyone...

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Gerry Timlin - Bringing It All Back Home.

We were delighted to be joined by Gerry Timlin, on a visit home from America, where he has lived for more than 50 years.

This is a wonderful podcast as he recalls growing up in Coalisland, local characters, football with the Fianna and joining folk group The Jolly Tinkermen as a teenager after winning a major talent competition.

He recalls his beloved parents, and the devastating loss of his father Joe a barber, who passed on the trade to Gerry's brother Malachy who continued on Main Street for more than 60 years.

Gerry also remembers his team-mates on the winning U16 championship team of 1966 and the heartache his brother Niall and the senior team endured when defeated by Carrickmore in the 1969 county final.

Music was Gerry's great passion meeting local greats on stage, including the irrepressible Birdy Sweeney, before he made his way across the Atlantic.

A carpenter by trade, he eventually carved a full-time career in music. It wasn't easy, when home was so far away, long before the era of social media and texting.

Gerry found a whole new freedom getting off alcohol and now over 40 years sober, his enthusiasm for life is infectious.

He rubbed shoulders with Irish legends such as The Clancy Brothers, Finbar Furey and Paddy Reilly and performed in front of the American President.

These days, accompanied by his wife Lois, he brings tours of American visitors to sample the delights of Ireland, performs on luxury cruises and gets great joy from his daughters and grandchildren.

It's as if he was never away. A regular visitor to Coalisland, he likes to catch up with family and old friends.

A huge thank you to Gerry for joining the TwoMacs podcast and regaling us with a few songs. A fabulous performer!

* Further research has revealed that Coalisland NaFianna did play Brackaville in the first round of the 1970 O'Neill Cup, winning 3-7 to 0-8. Whether Malachy Timlin was marking his brother Niall, we don't know, as reports are scant.