Niall Sabongi is on a mission to change how we eat, and think about, seafood in Ireland. A chef and seafood entrepreneur, Niall was frustrated by stuffy restaurants and a broken fishing system, and he set out to do things differently. He opened a string of relaxed, seafood-focused eateries and later launched Sustainable Seafood Ireland, a wholesale business dedicated to sourcing the best wild Irish catch while supporting responsible fishing practices.

In this episode of Food Matters, Niall talks to Mick Kelly of GIY about the deep cultural roots of Ireland’s uneasy relationship with seafood, why seasonality and quotas matter, and how good food can also be good for the planet.

Tom Keogh has a great story to tell. Their family has been farming the land for over three generations, supplying the fresh produce market with potatoes grown on the farm in North County Dublin. Faced with falling demand for fresh spuds, Tom took a bold step, he began making crisps by hand in a shed on the farm.

That small experiment became Keogh’s Crisps, now one of Ireland’s best-loved food brands and a growing global export. Along the way, Tom has helped to revive interest in the humble potato, champion Irish produce and shine a light on the food security challenges facing Irish horticulture today.

In this episode of Food Matters, Tom talks to Mick Kelly of GIY about the heritage of Irish spuds, the ups and downs of launching a food brand, and why we need to protect the future of vegetable growing in Ireland.

John Gilliland is on a mission to transform how we think about food, farming, and the environment. At Brook Hall Estate, his family’s historic farm in Derry, John began by trying to lower his farm’s energy bills, but his changes grew into a model for climate-friendly farming that’s now guiding policy in Northern Ireland and beyond.

An award-winning farmer and one of the world’s leading voices in agricultural sustainability, John has pioneered techniques to take his farm beyond carbon neutral.

In this episode of Food Matters, John talks to Mick Kelly of GIY about why he started making changes, what he’s learned, and how we can all be part of a better food future.

Having spent over a decade as an international pro surfer, Fergal Smith made the life-changing decision to return home to the west of Ireland and follow in his father’s footsteps as an organic farmer. Starting with just half an acre of land, Fergal has slowly grown his innovative food business, Moy Hill Farm, into a 120-acre certified organic farm, growing vegetables using the no dig system, the Korean Natural Farming method, and Holistic Management.

In this episode of Food Matters, Fergal joins Mick Kelly of GIY to talk about how the Fukushima nuclear disaster inspired him to make this major life decision, the challenges and triumphs of building Moy Hill, and his commitment to sustainability, community, and inspiring the next generation of farmers.

Dr Ollie Moore is an expert in the sociology of farming and food, and one of Ireland’s leading experts on food systems and champions of food justice. As a member of Talamh Beo, Ollie was invited by a farming development and advocacy organisation in Palestine to visit the West Bank and learn about what life is like for food producers in an area that is renowned for endless conflict and highly challenging living and working conditions.

It was a very eye opening and at times, difficult and emotional trip, and in this episode of Food Matters, Ollie joins Mick Kelly of GIY to share his experience. They talk about the fears he felt before going, the people he met and risky situations he found himself in during his time there, and what he has learned about food security and the resilience of the farmers and Palestinian people along the way.

Mitch McCullough’s journey into the world of heirloom seeds and heritage vegetables is anything but ordinary. A former chef turned grower, Mitch explores the fascinating stories behind the plants we eat. His book, ‘The Seed Hunter: Discover the World's Most Unusual Heirloom Plants’, is more than a gardening guide - it’s a deep dive into rare and unusual varieties, culinary traditions, and the importance of preserving seed diversity..

In this episode of Food Matters, Mitch talks to Mick Kelly of GIY about how his journey from chef to grower led him to seed-saving. He discusses the loss of heritage vegetables, the importance of seed diversity, and his global search for rare crops.

We talk a lot about the future of food on this podcast, but what about the past? Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire is on a mission to uncover and celebrate Ireland’s deep-rooted food history. From the earliest evidence of dairy farming over 5,000 years ago to trade networks that shaped our cuisine, he explores how food connects us to our past.

An award-winning chef, educator, food historian, and broadcaster, Máirtín is also the co-editor of ‘Irish Food History: A Companion’, a book that traces Ireland’s food journey from early hunter-gatherers right up to modern Irish cuisine.

In this episode of Food Matters, Máirtín talks to Mick Kelly of GIY about some of Ireland’s most fascinating food traditions, the influence of figures like Myrtle Allen, the resurgence of food storytelling, and the challenges facing Irish vegetable growers today.

Colman Power’s mission is a simple one – to help people become happier and healthier through good food, regular movement, and spending time in nature. Having studied horticulture at third level, Coleman became a skilled organic grower and a personal trainer. He has combined his twin passions into a career as an educator and author, self-publishing the no1 Amazon best-seller, The Power of Organic Fitness.

In this episode of Food Matters, Coleman talks to Mick Kelly of GIY about how he found his purpose after a difficult start in life, his passion for sharing the knowledge he has accrued about food and fitness, and how he has been inspired by the food producers he has met on his travels across Ireland.