Fields of Dreams
The Irish Sun
Publishing Details
Contact & Outreach
About This Podcast
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 for more information.
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
S1E10 Booze, drugs... and rock & roll | 10
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…
S1E9 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…
S1E8 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…
S1E7 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…
S1E6 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…
S1E5 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…
S1E4 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…
S1E3 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…
S1E2 The End of the Beginning | 2
The end of the beginning as the glut of new festivals are taken down by a combination of tragedy, money and competition. The mainly Irish line-ups become more international as fierce rivalry forces…
S1E1 Out with the Old | 1
The story of what Ireland’s music scene was, and an introduction to what it would become. This episode introduces the grim 1970s, and the young people’s desire to leave the bleakness behind. The…
Fields of Dreams- a new podcast on Ireland's music industry- out now
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…
Frequently Asked Questions
Fields of Dreams has published 11 episodes since June 2025, covering topics in Arts, Music.
Fields of Dreams is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 47m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Fields of Dreams, including email and social media links.
Similar Podcasts
One by Willie
John Spong
79 episodes
The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast
National Review
103 episodes
Jokermen
Jokermen
538 episodes
All I want to do is talk about Madonna
Snyder and Finkle
236 episodes
Women of Substance Music Podcast
Bree Noble
879 episodes
A Musical Theatre Podcast
Jeffrey Scott Parsons
175 episodes