Last Word

Pictured: Derek MahonMatthew Bannister on Derek Mahon, one of Ireland’s greatest poets of recent times, whose work 'Everything’s Going To Be Alright' was read on Irish TV and radio at the start of the Covid lockdown.Professor Gerta Vrbová, who spent her youth fleeing Nazi persecution, then carried out pioneering work on the interaction between muscles and nerves.Ang Rita Sherpa, the only person to have climbed Mount Everest ten times without using supplemental oxygen.Helena Shenel, the voice coach who helped many celebrated performers – including Shirley Bassey, Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel – to overcome problems with their singing. Interviewed guest: Sean O’Brien Interviewed guest: Peter Hilton Interviewed guest: Uma Shahani Interviewed guest: Ang Tshering Sherpa Interviewed guest: Bhadra Sharma Interviewed guest: Nikki SladeProducer: Neil GeorgeArchive clips from: Derek Mahon, Radio Ulster 15/01/1984; Arts Extra Special - Derek Mahon: A Celebration, Radio Ulster 16/12/2008; Poetry Please, Radio 4 28/01/20