Bernadette Keogh

Why Gaelic is growing increasingly popular in Ireland.

Why Gaelic is growing increasingly popular in Ireland.

Now to a chance meeting that led to an unlikely friendship and ended up changing hundreds of people's lives. Australian Louise Plemming played tennis professionally in the 1990s and still travels the globe as a commentator and elite coach. But during Covid, she volunteered at a soup kitchen where she met a homeless man called Brian Turton.

Now to a chance meeting that led to an unlikely friendship and ended up changing hundreds of people's lives. Australian Louise Plemming played tennis professionally in the 1990s and still travels the globe as a commentator and elite coach. But during Covid, she volunteered at a soup kitchen where she met a homeless man called Brian Turton.

Now to a chance meeting that led to an unlikely friendship and ended up changing hundreds of people's lives. Australian Louise Plemming played tennis professionally in the 1990s and still travels the globe as a commentator and elite coach. But during Covid, she volunteered at a soup kitchen where she met a homeless man called Brian Turton.

Brian had always dreamt of a professional tennis career and even played on the circuit in Australia in his late teens. But after developing mental health problems, he found himself living on the streets. Their friendship led to Louise setting up the charity Rally Forever, which uses tennis to help people get back on their feet and gave Brian work as a coach.

Brian had always dreamt of a professional tennis career and even played on the circuit in Australia in his late teens. But after developing mental health problems, he found himself living on the streets. Their friendship led to Louise setting up the charity Rally Forever, which uses tennis to help people get back on their feet and gave Brian work as a coach.

Brian had always dreamt of a professional tennis career and even played on the circuit in Australia in his late teens. But after developing mental health problems, he found himself living on the streets. Their friendship led to Louise setting up the charity Rally Forever, which uses tennis to help people get back on their feet and gave Brian work as a coach.

Their friendship featured in an ABC documentary.

Their friendship featured in an ABC documentary.

Their friendship featured in an ABC documentary.

Louise spoke to my colleague Katie Smith.

Louise spoke to my colleague Katie Smith.

Louise spoke to my colleague Katie Smith.

And you can hear more inspiring sports stories on Sports Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Over the last few decades the number of people living in Ireland who can speak Gaelic has almost doubled. In fact the language app Duolingo says roughly one million are actively learning Irish at any given time. As well as technological advances there's been a big change in attitudes towards the language.

And you can hear more inspiring sports stories on Sports Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Over the last few decades the number of people living in Ireland who can speak Gaelic has almost doubled. In fact the language app Duolingo says roughly one million are actively learning Irish at any given time. As well as technological advances there's been a big change in attitudes towards the language.

And you can hear more inspiring sports stories on Sports Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Over the last few decades the number of people living in Ireland who can speak Gaelic has almost doubled. In fact the language app Duolingo says roughly one million are actively learning Irish at any given time. As well as technological advances there's been a big change in attitudes towards the language.

Belfast-based graphic designer Rachel Brady runs Askeliger, a small independent business selling colourful designs adorned with Irish phrases. She's been speaking to The Happy Pod's Ella Bicknell.

Belfast-based graphic designer Rachel Brady runs Askeliger, a small independent business selling colourful designs adorned with Irish phrases. She's been speaking to The Happy Pod's Ella Bicknell.

Belfast-based graphic designer Rachel Brady runs Askeliger, a small independent business selling colourful designs adorned with Irish phrases. She's been speaking to The Happy Pod's Ella Bicknell.