Ireland Unfiltered with Dion Fanning

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Hosted by Dion Fanning, Ireland Unfiltered features stripped-back, honest conversations with some of the biggest names in Irish entertainment, sport, politics and media. Fanning also speaks to notable international figures on some of the most important issues affecting Ireland today. Ireland Unfilte…

JOE


    • Nov 19, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 5m AVG DURATION
    • 58 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Ireland Unfiltered with Dion Fanning

    Jack Whitehall: How he made peace with being posh

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 45:01


    Dion is joined by stand-up comedian and actor, Jack Whitehall, ahead of his headline comedy shows at The Three Arena this December. Whitehall discusses why when it comes to making it on the comedy scene, privilege and class won't get you far and how he deals with his posh guilt. Whitehall also discusses his unique relationship with his father both on and off screen and gives some anecdotes on their worldwide travels.

    Emma Donoghue: Enjoying Room's success and the Ireland she left behind

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2019 49:12


    This week on Ireland Unfiltered, Dion is joined by Irish-Canadian novelist and screenwriter, Emma Donoghue. Donoghue discusses the story behind bringing her award-winning novel, Room, to the big screen and the reality of life as a touring author. Donoghue also reflects on the Ireland she left behind as a young, gay woman and the changes her country continues to make.

    Dermot Kennedy: How Ireland’s next music superstar always knew what he wanted

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019 49:34


    Prior to the release of his debut album, Without Fear, Dion Fanning was joined by Irish musician and songwriter, Dermot Kennedy. Kennedy discussed his journey from busking on Grafton Street to playing headline arena gigs and the help he had along the way. He also discusses how he cultivated a loyal fanbase through his lyrics and the creative process behind his debut album.

    Lisa Dwan: What Top Boy tells us about Britain & living with her fear

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 68:40


    Ahead of her role as Ismene in Colm Tóibín's new theatre piece 'Pale Sister', Dion is joined by Irish actress, Lisa Dwan. Dwan discusses life growing up as an outsider and the long and lonely road she took to medicating her anxiety. Dwan also discusses her experiences of Boris and the Johnson family and the stark differences between her two working worlds.

    Tony Connelly: Why Brexit won't be done anytime soon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2019 73:17


    In this Brexit Special of Ireland Unfiltered, Dion is joined by Europe Editor for RTÉ, Tony Connelly. Connelly discusses the ongoing Brexit saga and what's in store for Boris and the UK. He also talks to Dion about how he sent the currency up with just a simple tweet and why when it comes to breaking stories, he always has complete faith in his EU sources.

    Reginald D Hunter: Living with the guilt for the mistakes he's made

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 76:16


    Currently in the midst of his nationwide tour, Dion is joined by stand-up comedian Reginald D Hunter. Hunter discusses the trials and tribulations he faces with age and the high price he's paid for success. Hunter also discusses the reality of growing up as a black kid in 70's America and the life-changing moment he discovered he had a daughter.

    Joe Brolly: RTÉ, the demons and me

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019 81:37


    For our debut Ireland Unfiltered live show, Dion is joined by GAA pundit Joe Brolly. Brolly discusses his infamous career as a sports analyst and the culture of fear sweeping RTÉ. Have we gone too far with balance in sports commentary? Brolly also discusses the darkness and demons he faced following his kidney donation and life growing up in Derry during The Troubles.

    Bronagh Gallagher: The Pulp Fiction moment & Derry’s heartbreaking sadness

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2019 55:54


    Ahead of the release of her new film 'A Bump Along the Way', Dion is joined by Irish musician and actress, Bronagh Gallagher. Gallagher discuss life growing up in Derry and the struggles faced by the people of northern Ireland, her comedown from fame after the success of The Commitments, and the moment she knew Pulp Fiction would be a hit.

    Paschal Donohoe: There can be no clean break for the U.K. if Brexit happens

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 54:22


    This week, Ireland Unfiltered travelled to the department of finance to chat with Irish finance minister, Paschal Donohoe and discuss the ongoing Brexit saga and why a border poll on this island would be a great mistake. Can there be a clean break in a no-deal Brexit and will Ireland pay the price for the loyalty of the EU? Donohoe also discusses the need for journalistic freedom today and why language in politics is more important than ever.

    Lisa Chambers: Brexit posturing doesn't help and dealing with online abuse

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2019 55:32


    During another week of Brexit intrigue, Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fail’s Brexit spokesperson, joined Dion Fanning on Ireland Unfiltered to discuss how the saga might end. Has the Irish government prepared properly for No Deal and what are the dangers of a border poll and a united Ireland? Chambers also discusses the realities of being a politician in an online world and if the public have forgiven Fianna Fail for their part in Ireland’s downfall.

    Nichola Mallon: Fighting the extremists, the strain of politics and the real Boris Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019 54:40


    On this week’s Ireland Unfiltered, the SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon joins Dion Fanning to discuss Brexit and where Northern Ireland is now. The party of John Hume is not the force it once was and Nichola Mallon assesses frankly the struggles of the party which is trying to be a voice of moderation at a time when the extremes are heard the loudest. There is a on-the-nose assessment of Boris Johnson, a withering assessment of Sinn Fein’s abstentionist policy and a sobering reflection about attitudes in the south to Northern Ireland.

    Frank Crummey: How he changed Ireland

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 84:05


    Frank Crummey joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss how he broke the mould in Irish society. Many people will not know Frank Crummey but his life has had one overarching theme: women's rights. In this week's show, he talks about his commitment to that work, his early appearance on The Late Late Show which began that process and why he keeps on keeping on

    Colm Tóibín: How Britain turned irrational and the anguish of cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 46:56


    Colm joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss how he found creativity in his grief and what chemo does to the mind and soul.

    Ardal O'Hanlon: Learning to live with Fr Ted and England's identity crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2019 65:53


    Ardal joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss why he thinks Britain are entitled to their fantasy Brexit and how he may never escape Father Dougal.

    Pat Falvey: Life on the extremes and the secret to happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019 66:50


    Pat joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss how he deals with death and danger on the mountain, finding his voice in the tough times, and the moment he decided to become a better person.

    Melanie Murphy: Building a life offline and overcoming the trolls

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2019 51:01


    Melanie joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss how she build an online empire, her Twitter backlash and why she chooses to keep some things private.

    David Yelland: The British Establishment doesn’t care about Ireland and this is why

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019 67:07


    David joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss his role as former editor of The Sun, why the British establishment doesn't really care about Ireland, and how the TV series Succession was cruel on the Murdoch family.

    Jerry Flannery: Why he stepped away from Munster, the team he loved

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2019 71:19


    Jerry joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss why he chose to leave the team he loved, suffering from imposter syndrome and dealing with the challenges of parenthood.

    Lynn Boylan: Why a united Ireland border poll could fail

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019 61:25


    Lynn joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss the violent history of our state, why a united Ireland border poll could fail and the infamous St.Patrick's Day banner.

    Conor Moore: Making Tiger Woods a fan, what Davy really thinks & how Donald Trump helped him out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019 63:58


    Best known for his sketches and impressions, Conor joins Dion on this week's episode of Ireland Unfiltered to discuss how his viral videos brought him from a small town in Westmeath to the Big Apple.

    Jared Diamond: How democracy ends, Ireland's Brexit opportunity & why stupidity conquered the world

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 48:30


    Jared joined Dion to discuss how democracy ends in the USA and the UK, the core values of Britain and why he thinks stupidity is slowly conquering the world.

    Kate McGrew: The truth about sex work, feminism in the industry & coming out to her family on TV

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2019 54:58


    Also known as Lady Grew, Kate is a singer, writer, performer and sex worker. She joined Dion to discuss why we need to decriminalise sex work in Ireland, the dangers involved in the industry and how she came out to her family as a sex worker on national television.

    Jordanne Jones: Breaking the class ceiling, how acting saved her and becoming an activist

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2019 51:28


    Dion Fanning talks to Irish actor, Jordanne Jones, who began her acting career at just 14-years-old. Jordanne discussed her mental health and acting, being working class in Trinity College and becoming an activist. She plays the role of Emma in Hugh O'Conor's debut directorial feature, Metal Heart.

    LA Confidential author James Ellroy: God, happiness & coping with his mother’s murder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2019 45:14


    Dion Fanning talks to L.A. Confidential author, James Ellroy, whose life has been as dramatic and eventful as the novels he has written. Ellroy discussed obsession, God and how he found freedom from the misery.

    Andrew Maxwell: a Maserati midlife crisis, being the class clown & how Britain lost its mind

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2019 90:44


    Dion Fanning talks to Irish stand-up comedian, Andrew Maxwell.

    Saoirse McHugh: becoming a politician, calling Peter Casey & how we change Ireland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2019 66:46


    Ireland Unfiltered: Dion Fanning talks to Irish politician, Saoirse McHugh.

    Tommie Gorman: the freedom cancer gave him, Martin McGuinness's loss and Brexit's sting in the tail

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 80:18


    Dion Fanning talks to Irish journalist and broadcaster, Tommie Gorman.

    John Barnes: why real racists don't get caught, the secret reason for Brexit & his father, his hero

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2019 110:13


    Dion Fanning talks to John Barnes who has followed up a phenomenal career as a footballer, most notably with Liverpool by becoming one of the most articulate and compelling voices on race, politics and societal inequality. He spoke to Dion on all these subjects as well as Cool Runnings.

    David McWilliams: fixing the housing crisis, why he'll never have a boss & Ireland's class obsession

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2019 92:35


    Dion Fanning talks to Irish economist and writer David McWilliams.

    Bret Easton Ellis: Fighting Irvine Welsh, what he got wrong about millennials & being a curmudgeon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2019 61:25


    Dion Fanning talks to American Psycho writer Bret Easton Ellis about his sympathy for millennials, how he felt doing that infamous New Yorker interview and why he's worried that Donald Trump will win in 2020.

    Rory O'Neill, the trials of Panti Bliss, living with HIV & why Leo HAD to write that letter to Kylie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2019 67:24


    Dion Fanning talks to Rory O'Neill, aka Panti Bliss, about growing up in Catholic Mayo, living with HIV and why Ireland isn't so bad.

    Mairead McGuiness: peace under threat, why the UK voted to leave and her brother, the whistleblower

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2019 69:03


    Mairead McGuiness: peace under threat, why the UK voted to leave and her brother, the whistleblower by JOE

    God Knows: challenging Irish racism, reimagining Irish music & why Tupac is a Limerick icon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2019 54:44


    God Knows: challenging Irish racism, reimagining Irish music & why Tupac is a Limerick icon by JOE

    Camille O'Sullivan: the pain of the love song, living with Game of Thrones & seizing the day

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2019 69:04


    Camille O'Sullivan: the pain of the love song, living with Game of Thrones & seizing the day by JOE

    Natalya O’Flaherty: speaking poetry to power, growing up in Neilstown & why she loves 'notions'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 57:49


    Natalya O’Flaherty: speaking poetry to power, growing up in Neilstown & why she loves 'notions' by JOE

    Jarlath Burns: his obsession with Unionism, Alan Partridge's genius & what a United Ireland could be

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2019 69:31


    Jarlath Burns: his obsession with Unionism, Alan Partridge's genius & what a United Ireland could be by JOE

    Andrew Trimble: Catholic or Protestant, the relief of retirement and the rewards of rugby

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2019 53:58


    Andrew Trimble: Catholic or Protestant, the relief of retirement and the rewards of rugby by JOE

    Deborah Somorin: Homeless at 13, pregnant at 14 & how she wants to change Ireland for single parents

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2019 70:47


    Deborah Somorin: Homeless at 13, pregnant at 14 & how she wants to change Ireland for single parents by JOE

    Michael Healy-Rae: begging for votes, how his parents' break up changed him & climate change is real

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2019 86:54


    Michael Healy-Rae: begging for votes, how his parents' break up changed him & climate change is real by JOE

    Paul Howard: his guilt about money, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, the role model & always being an outsider

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2019 82:20


    Paul Howard: his guilt about money, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, the role model & always being an outsider by JOE

    John Butler: the terrors of film directing, the struggle to come out and homophobia in sport

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2019 58:54


    John Butler: the terrors of film directing, the struggle to come out and homophobia in sport by JOE

    Eamon Dunphy: How he learned to stop worrying, the rise of Anglophobia and why RTE didn't want him

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2019 68:36


    Eamon Dunphy: How he learned to stop worrying, the rise of Anglophobia and why RTE didn't want him by JOE

    Maria Doyle Kennedy: Rejecting fame, joining The Black Velvet Band and how parenthood changed her

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2019 68:32


    Maria Doyle Kennedy: Rejecting fame, joining The Black Velvet Band and how parenthood changed her by JOE

    Emilie Pine: The dangerous life of a wild child, surviving loss and the power of storytelling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2019 63:16


    Emilie Pine: The dangerous life of a wild child, surviving loss and the power of storytelling by JOE

    Liam Cunningham: Life without Game of Thrones, standing up to Hollywood & why the revolution is near

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2019 74:13


    Liam Cunningham: Life without Game of Thrones, standing up to Hollywood & why the revolution is near by JOE

    Mario Rosenstock: His Nazi hunter grandfather, being Roy Keane & the trauma of his parents' breakup

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2019 79:36


    Mario Rosenstock: His Nazi hunter grandfather, being Roy Keane & the trauma of his parents' breakup by JOE

    Davy Fitz: how hurling saved him, arguing with his dad & what he really thinks of Conor Sketches

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2019 51:55


    Davy Fitz: how hurling saved him, arguing with his dad & what he really thinks of Conor Sketches by JOE

    Kellie Harrington: Living in Katie's shadow and the one thing that's almost better than boxing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2019 52:25


    Kellie Harrington: Living in Katie's shadow and the one thing that's almost better than boxing by JOE

    The Best of Ireland Unfiltered 2018 featuring Tommy Tiernan, Barry Keoghan, Lynn Ruane and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2018 59:45


    The Best of Ireland Unfiltered 2018 featuring Tommy Tiernan, Barry Keoghan, Lynn Ruane and more by JOE

    Melatu Uche Okorie: 8yrs in Direct Provision, casual racism in Ireland, and giving tough love

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2018 62:37


    Melatu Uche Okorie: 8yrs in Direct Provision, casual racism in Ireland, and giving tough love by JOE

    Tommy Tiernan: the tensions of Navan, his unhappy childhood and his friendship with Michael D

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2018 70:06


    Tommy Tiernan: the tensions of Navan, his unhappy childhood and his friendship with Michael D by JOE

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