RTÉ - Sunday with Miriam

Mark O'Meara is President of the Garda Representative Association,. Today he shared his very personal story about being a gay man in the force, and what that meant for his family, and explains why he's decided that now is the right time to talk about it publicly

Chat and live music from the trad titans Beoga, whose new album ‘Phases' has just been released Official website: www.beogamusic.com (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)

The best-selling historical fiction writer explains why leaving the corporate world behind was the right thing to do. Her 12th book has just been published - ‘Before Dorothy' creates a back story for Dorothy and Aunty Em, before ‘The Wizard of Oz'

A dementia ambassador and advocate for Alzheimer's services, Helen has been living with Alzheimer's for the past thirteen years. After the recent RTÉ Investigates exposé on two nursing homes, she feels compelled to speak out when so many people in her position would prefer to stay in their own home with state supports

The actor, a graduate of the Lir Academy, chats about his play ‘The Black Wolfe Tone'. A co-production with FishambleTheatre, it is based on his own personal story of father/son relationships and teenage mental health issues Project Arts Centre, Dublin / Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray / Cork Midsummer Festival

The former journalist explains how she first met and started volunteering with Dr Anne Merriman, a Liverpool-born, Irish-educated doctor who founded Hospice Africa Uganda. Dr Anne died last month, shortly after her ninetieth birthday, and she is to be honoured tomorrow by Uganda's President Museveni for her work there

A wide-ranging conversation with the couple about Paddy's wrongful conviction for the Guildford pub bombings, release after 15 years in prison and the effect his experiences had on their life. His story is told in the Mary Elaine Tynan play ‘Paddy: The Life and Times of Paddy Armstrong' Full details: www.lifeandtimesofpaddy.com

Chat with the two musicians about their legendary band Horslips, the early days of a band that was put together in an ad-hoc way. They have just launched a new box set ‘Horslips at the BBC' and Eamon's book 'Pure Gold: Memorable Conversations with Remarkable People' is out now

Garden designer Leonie Cornelius and nursery owner Jo McGarry are working together for this year's Bloom, taking place next weekend in the Phoenix Park. They explain why their garden ‘Nourish' is a very personal project for them both Full details: www.bordbiabloom.com

Chat with the Mullingar singer/songwriter about combining family life with a music career and his new album ‘All the World Is Running On A Mystic Code Official website: www.peterdoran.com (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)

The best-selling author chats about her childhood in Cahir, Tipperary, co-writing thrillers with her husband, writing scripts for Hallmark movies, working with Reese Witherspoon and her latest novel ‘Only in New York' (published by HQ)

Ten years ago, Ireland made history by voting for Marriage Equality. To remember that landmark day—and the powerful stories and journey that led to it—Grainne Healy and Rory O'Neill joined Miriam in studio.

Simon Le Bon: The Voice of Duran Duran chats with Miriam about the music of the '80s, the nerves of performing on stage, and the band's upcoming tours in Dublin (Malahide Castle, 30 June) and Cork (Virgin Media Park, 4 July).

At the end of June, Chef Clodagh McKenna will be at the Curragh to judge the ‘Best Dressed' competition for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. This morning, Clodagh chatted with Miriam about her signature style, the excitement around the competition, and what's new in her life.

David French is the brother of Valerie French, who was murdered by her husband James Kilroy in 2019. In his book 'For Valerie', her brother describes the trauma for the family of that devastating event and how he feels the Irish system is utterly unprepared to respond to such domestic murders

Chat with the acclaimed author about what life is like now in Trump-presidency USA and also the local Wexford legend that inspired his work 'Urban Legends' for this year's Wexford Festival Opera Full details: www.wexfordopera.com

Chat with the singer/songwrtiter from Clare Island about the big themes explored in his new album 'Stranger' and the thrill of recently playing the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast) Official website: www.niallmccabe.com

The Defence Forces' chaplain Father Paul Murphy, who was at the centre of an incredible case recently when a teenage boy attempted to murder him. He explains why, after the sentence was handed down, he hugged the boy and told him he forgave him

Chat with the writer whose second novel ‘The Good Mistress' has just been published. She chats about growing up in Navan in the talented Tiernan household, coping after the tragic death of her mother and life now in New Zealand

Chat with the multi-talented award-winning stand-up comedian/actress/producer/writer. She explains why she doesn't hold back on her views on life or politics, the importance of comedy and bringing her tour ‘Please & Thank You' to Dublin in June. Further details: mcd.ie/artists/wanda-sykes

Chat with the RTÉ Lyric fm presenter and the soprano about bringing ‘The Hamilton Scores' to the National Concert Hall next month, with special guests and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Further details: https://orchestra.rte.ie/

Chat with the accordion-player about the 1991 release of her best-selling trad album ‘Sharon Shannon' (which has been remastered and re-released) and preparing for upcoming live gigs. Official website: https://sharonshannon.com (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)

The Irish Times journalist Patrick Freyne and photojournalist Chris Maddaloni talk about their recent trip to war-and-famine-stricken Chad, the many displaced people they met and empathy fatigue in the west Further reading: www.irishtimes.com

Remebering Julian Benson, choreographer and ‘Dancing With the Stars' judge, whose funeral took place yesterday His interview with Miriam on19 Jan 2025 is available on the programme website at https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22483850/

Máiréad Ní Nuadháin (Dublin's Plurabelle Paddlers) and Clodagh Flynn (Medb's Dragon Warriors, Sligo) explain how a cancer diagnosis was the spark that brought them to the growing sport of Dragon Boat Racing. 'Dragon Hearts', RTÉ1, Easter Monday Further information: www.dragonboat.ie

Live music and chat with singer/songwriter Haylar about what influences her unique electronica sound (joined today by Karl Odlum on keyboard/computer) Instagram: @haylarmusicofficial (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)

Chat with the two Irish dancers who are performing in Matthew Bourne's ‘Swan Lake', which returns to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre at the end of May as part of its 30th anniversary tour Full details: www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

The actor/writer talks about suffering a stroke last summer aged 38. He's now back to full health, with a very busy schedule including the Eugene O'Brien play ‘Falling to Earth: My Summer With Bowie' and the upcoming movie ‘Saipan' Tour: https://verdant.ie Irish Heart Foundation: https://irishheart.ie/

Live music and chat with the two musicians - and old friends - about their involvement in the ‘Drawing from the Well' concert at the National Concert Hall in May and collaborating on their new album ‘Into The Loam Cormac: www.facebook.com/cormacbegley/ Drawing from the Well, NCH: www.nch.ie

The hugely-successful Grammy-nominated Irish songwriter chats about always being focused on a career in music, the success of her song ‘The Vow', suffering for years with endometriosis and being an ambassador for Darkness Into Light for Pieta House Helpline: www.endometriosis.ie Pieta House: www.darknessintolight.ie

The trainer is still "speechless" at the "off-the-charts" amazing success in yesterday's Grand National, when his son jockey Patrick rode ‘Nick Rockett' to first, and his other horses ‘I Am Maximus' came second, ‘Grangeclare West' came third and ‘Meetingofthewaters' came fifth.

The documentary filmmaker and the Vincentian priest chat about collaborating on Alex's new documentary ‘Sins of Ireland', a look at the Catholic Church in Ireland but told through the lens of the confession box

Live music and chat with the singer (and son of Finbarr Furey) about his musical influences growing up, being a full-time musician and impending fatherhood Official website: www.finfureymusic.com (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)

Firstly, a tribute to the great Kerry GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer (who was buried yesterday) and chat about the upcoming highlights as yesterday was the start of the GAA All-Ireland Championship season

The actor/comedian/podcast host chats about his chaotic journey from a tough childhood and addiction to now being fit and healthy in his 50s. He's in the 2-hander Brokentalkers play ‘The Examination' in Dublin's Ambassador theatre in April. Full details: https://mcd.ie/artists/the-examination-featuring-willa-white

As the singer prepares to tour internationally with the album ‘Redesign' he chats about sharing a stage with Snow Patrol, writing with Ed Sheeran and the artists that inspire him (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast) Website: https://ryanmcmullanmusic.com/

The designer/artist chats about her life-long love of colour, her fashion career and how social media gives her vital customer feedback. She's part of the ‘Incognito Art' anonymous art sale this year for the charity Jack & Jill. Official website: https://helensteele.com/ www.jackandjill.ie/events/incognito-2025/

The legendary artist has been looking back on his decades-long career, sorting through his archive, remastering and remixing some classics, which will be released in a special compilation, called ‘Paul Brady: The Archive' (for copyright reasons the full tracks featured in this interview are not available in the podcast)

The boxer from Dundalk chats about getting into boxing from a young age, winning a World Championship for Ireland in 2022, disappointment at subsequent Olympic qualifiers, playing for Team GB, impending motherhood and her ambitions for the 2028 Olympics

The former Ulster and Connaught rugby player Jonny Murphy (aka The Hungry Hooker) loves to bake, especially with his grandmother Mamie. They chat about family, Fifteens, chief taster Grandad Alfie and his new cookbook 'Bakes and Wee Treats' www.instagram.com/the_hungryhooker/

The singer/songwriter chats about her roots in France and America, wide-ranging musical inspirations, looking forward to an upcoming tour and a new album ‘Gamble' Official website: https://zoebasha.net/ (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this interview cannot be made available in the podcast)

The poet, writer and lecturer chats about a new initiaitve - an online hedge school called Scoil Scairte, which hopes to foster a love for the Irish language in a non-formal setting, to lose our hangups about grammar and just enjoy this vital part of our heritage www.thetrailblazery.com/scoilscairte