In 1970s Ireland, the nation's youth were craving an escape - and music was going to provide it.
Over the course of the next few decades, what had been a gigging backwater was transformed into the centre of the live entertainment universe.
Fields of Dreams tells the story of that remarkable change through the trailblazers who made it happen.
Narrated by singer songwriter Róisín O, this 10-part series chronicles the rise of the festival and the extraordinary local scene that saw many Irish acts touch greatness.
With stories equally hilarious and infuriating, it's a portrait of success and failure and everything in between.
Episodes released weekly every week.
From the producers of the Stardust Tragedy, the Kinahans, This Is Your LOIfe and This Is Robert.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
In the last episode of the series, we hear the story of rock 'n’ roll excess - drugs, booze and living in Lillie Bordellos.
We go back to the beginning, hear the U2 double header in Slane 2001 and how the rejuvenated band convinced the government to change the law to make it happen.
We get the inside story of some of the biggest gigs in Irish history - and how Roy Keane ended up laying into his Ireland team mates just months before his Saipan meltdown.
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13 Aug 2025
Contract Killers | 9
This episode takes us inside the struggle at the top of the music tree.
We learn why some massive Irish bands failed to make a cent from their careers despite their songs raking in millions. Dave Browne from Picturehouse explains why Sunburst may have been a hit, it wasn't for them financially.
The 1990s sees much of the 80s promise melt away as bands begin falling away one by one. Mary Black reveals why she refused to make it even bigger than she did, while Daragh O'Toole explains how a call from Adam Clayton led him changed his path.
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6 Aug 2025
Pop Culture | 8
Ireland goes pop mad as girl and boy bands dominate the UK charts, while Riverdance emerges as a cultural force.
Rock n’roll Kids singer Paul Harrington takes centre stage as he brings us back to the dizzying madness of post-Eurovision success.
Plus, remember the Beat on the Street?
And how the Good Friday Agreement brought music to the masses for the first time up North.
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30 Jul 2025
The Changing of the Guard | 7
Come with us in this episode to recall the astonishing rise of dance music which made Dublin the party mecca in the 1990s.
We hear how U2’s the Kitchen and John Reynolds’ Pod changed everything, the emergence of ecstasy, and the remarkable story behind Ireland’s most famous dance export: Peter Cunnah’s D:Ream.
Meanwhile, U2 begin to falter.
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24 Jul 2025
The Main Event- Féile | 6
This episode looks at the amazing story behind Irish kids’ right of passage - the Trip to Tipp.
Mary Black tells us how she avoided being arrested, we hear about how the Saw Doctors ignored Van Morrison's rules, Chris De Burgh’s topless stripper stunt and why the Happy Mondays put Fiachna O’Braonain off Glasto.
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23 Jul 2025
The Main Event- Slane | 5
This episode tells the stories behind the rise of Slane and Croke Park as Ireland’s major music venues.
We hear why Bruce Springsteen lost the plot, how promoter Peter Aiken blew all his money on a circus and about Alex Conyngham’s life as a young aristocrat rising through the ranks, from backstage VIP security to become Slane boss.
Plus, Moby tells us couldn't really warm to Slane headliner Bryan Adams.
This podcast series is hosted by Róisín O and is produced by Headstuff.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
16 Jul 2025
Alternative Realities Part Two | 4
This episode hears some amazing stories behind the 1980s charity singles, the rise of Mary Black and why Whitney Houston couldn’t top the Irish charts.
We hear how a Ramone’s legend came to influence the Irish scene, the Waterboys ended up drinking whiskey and feeding lambs (at the same time), and why the Stunning’s tour manager felt compelled to assault a member of Blur.
Up north, how Cher cheated death and the terror reason why Banarama gigs were cancelled.
This podcast is hosted by Róisín O, and produced by Headstuff.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
10 Jul 2025
Alternative Realities Part One | 3
The astonishing rise of U2 as Irish cities become a hotbed of musical creativity in the 1980s.
The Hothouse Flowers - labelled the hottest unsigned act on the planet at the time - discuss being "the next U2" as they came close to cracking America.
Something Happens and the Stunning discuss life in Bono’s shadow and the pursuit of a record deal - while Aslan talk about killing their own band to save Christy Dignam’s life.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Jul 2025
The End of the Beginning | 2
This episode explores how tragedy, money, and competition led to the downfall of new festivals, as Irish line-ups become more international and promoters spend heavily on acts like Chuck Berry.
3 Jul 2025
Out with the Old | 1
Ireland's music scene in the 1970s is explored, featuring Horselips, Mary Black, Sharon Shannon, Tom Dunne, and Fiachna Ó Braonáin, revealing the origins of music festivals.
27 Jun 2025
Fields of Dreams- a new podcast coming soon
Singer-songwriter Róisín O narrates the story of Ireland's transformation into a live entertainment hub in the 1970s, highlighting the rise of festivals and the local music scene.
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
27 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 27 / 100
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YouTube
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