Podcasts about The Irish Times

Employees of three key State agencies use a computer programme called Passwork to generate and protect their passwords. It's a cybersecurity measure.But what they didn't know, before it was revealed by The Irish Times, is that Passwork, which purports to be EU-based, has extensive links to a Russian company licensed by Russia's security service.The agencies using Passwork are the Office of Public Works, the State Laboratory, which provides chemical testing and scientific advice to Government departments, and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the agency tasked with, among other things, helping consumers stay cyber safe. It is unclear how many other Irish State agencies use Passwork.So what does it mean for State security? Who has access to these passwords? And what does the Russian owner of the Spanish-based company that sold the Passwork programme to the State agencies say? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tá rún ag an rialtas dlús a chur le beartais infreastruchtúir a measann siadsan práinn a bheith leo agus ar an gcéad cheann a bhfuil sé i gceist acu a dheifriú tá Seach Bhóthar na Gaillimhe.

In recent weeks, the Irish Government has come under pressure to introduce a ban on e-scooters following a steep increase in the number of serious e-scooter accidents involving children. One of those supporting the ban is Seana Brennan, a mother of two from Cavan whose son, Mason, was involved in a serious e-scooter accident last year.Brennan joins Bernice Harrison on today's episode to share her family's experience and to highlight the dangers e-scooters pose to children. Later, Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones discusses the political response to the rise in e-scooter related accidents and examines how a ban might work in practice.Produced by Suzanne Brennan, with research by Ellen Clusker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Claire Brock to discuss the top stories in Sunday's newspapers are Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times, Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor, Tax Advisor and Farmer, Oisín Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor, Prof. Niamh Hourigan, Sociologist and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Susan HayesCulleton. Presenter of Taking Stock here on Newstalk &Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor of The Irish Times.

Because of the warmer weather, we are getting through more wine. Should we go back to the 80s with the bag-in-box wine?Joining Seán to discuss is John Wilson, Wine Critic for The Irish Times.

For his hosting duties on America 2026, the Irish Times podcast, Paul Howard watched every World Cup single match, even it was on at 4am and featured a no-hoper team in the tournament to make up the numbers.What did he make of England's loss to Argentina?Why does he think the bloated half-time show featuring Shakira and Justin Bieber, planned for Sunday's final, highlights just how much Fifa is enthralled to the US; and who will lift the World Cup when the final whistle blows on Sunday, Argentina or Spain?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Doyle, Executive Editor at the Irish Independent and Jen Hogan, Irish Times parenting columnist

Because of the warmer weather, we are getting through more wine. Should we go back to the 80s with the bag-in-box wine?Joining Seán to discuss is John Wilson, Wine Critic for The Irish Times.

The body of Jamey Carney, a 43-year-old mother-of-one, was found by her teenage daughter at their home in Killarney last week. The American woman had suffered head injuries and a postmortem confirmed she had died a violent death by suffocation. Gardai traced her partner, Ahmed Al Saqar's, movements immediately after the killing and found that he left Ireland hours after she was killed, flying to Turkey having taken the night bus from Kerry. He then travelled on to Jordan where he was arrested and is in custody. It is thought the 28-year-old had been in Ireland for two years and had sought asylum before fleeing back to Jordan after the murder. The investigation is a full-scale murder inquiry. Gardaí did not seek Al Saqar's arrest in his home country, so why was he detained? How long can he be held by Jordanian authorities before he must be released? Ireland and Jordan do not have an extradition treaty so how can Al Saqar be brought back to Ireland? And when?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the complex road ahead in this investigation. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Dáil goes into recess, there are plenty of issues that will generate some controversy throughout the summer and beyond. To discuss with Jonathan was Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times.

As the Dáil goes into recess, there are plenty of issues that will generate some controversy throughout the summer and beyond. To discuss with Jonathan was Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times.

Arthur Beesley, Reporter for The Irish Times, outlines the complexities involved with the outcome of the investigation into Aughinish Alumina in Co Limerick.

First up on this week's episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times about the State's purchase of the a 5-acre site on O'Connell Street in Dublin that used to house the Carlton cinema. Officially, it has been purchased for the Metrolink underground rail link to Dublin airport. But is this part of a wider plan by the Government to take charge of regeneration in this key urban quarter of the capital?Why did Transport Infrastructure Ireland pay €80 million to purchase the site from UK developer Hammerson? And did it really need to buy the site to deliver a Metrolink stop on O'Connell Street?Plus, fighting has once again broken out in the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between the US an Iran has impacted on shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz. Denis Staunton has covered the story for The Irish Times, and he sums up the events of this week and where peace talks might go from here.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interesting piece in Yesterday's Irish Times by Breda O'Brien detailed what the Enoch Burke saga has taught us about the Irish justice system, ultimately raising the question what is the purpose of imprisonment? Is it retributive, rehabilitative, or restorative?Joining Shane to discuss this is Breda O'Brien, Contributor to The Irish Times.

First up on this week's episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times about the State's purchase of the a 5-acre site on O'Connell Street in Dublin that used to house the Carlton cinema. Officially, it has been purchased for the Metrolink underground rail link to Dublin airport. But is this part of a wider plan by the Government to take charge of regeneration in this key urban quarter of the capital?Why did Transport Infrastructure Ireland pay €80 million to purchase the site from UK developer Hammerson? And did it really need to buy the site to deliver a Metrolink stop on O'Connell Street?Plus, fighting has once again broken out in the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between the US an Iran has impacted on shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz. Denis Staunton has covered the story for The Irish Times, and he sums up the events of this week and where peace talks might go from here.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sadbh O'Neill, Irish Times climate contributor and Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer with ESRI

You might have noticed in recent weeks more bees dead on footpaths and struggling in the summer heat. To explain all was Eanna Ní Lamhna, Biologist, Environmentalist, Broadcaster and Irish Times contributor.

A second child benefit payment targeted at the families most in need was first proposed in 2012 by the official Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, so why have we not followed through with it? That's the question being posed by Fintan O'Toole in the Irish Times today.Joining Shane to discuss this is Suzanne Rodgers of Social Justice Ireland.

Comhrá le hÉanna Ní Lamhna atá ina moltóir ar chomórtas "Ireland's Greenest Places- 2026" do chuid an Irish Times. Fios Feasa le Rossa Ó Sioradáin – clár Gaeilge faoi chultúr agus na healaíona ar Raidió na Life, ó Luan go hAoine ag 20:00.

You might have noticed in recent weeks more bees dead on footpaths and struggling in the summer heat. To explain all was Eanna Ní Lamhna, Biologist, Environmentalist, Broadcaster and Irish Times contributor.

Online gambling on black-market betting sites is big business. One company, Soft2Bet, which has been licensed in Ireland since 2022, and its related entities received €600 million from dozens of offshore casinos that regulators in Europe had blacklisted or fined.For gamblers using some of these sites, it means few rules apply. Unauthorised betting sites deliberately target people with gambling addictions and ignore local gambling regulations, including age limits to protect young people.While working on an investigation with cross-border journalism group Investigate Europe, Irish Times investigative reporter with The Irish Times, Mark Tighe discovered that Irish authorities granted gambling licences to six companies at the heart of this global network of black-market betting and casino websites.One of the scheme's newest websites, OnlySpins, a bookmaker and casino with pornographic content targeting Europeans, does not verify whether Irish users are over the age of 18 or provide checks on a customer's identity.He also discovered that two Irish companies were processing payments for Soft2Bet-linked unlicensed gambling sites operating in Europe.Soft2Bet is led by Ukrainian-Israeli millionaire Uri Poliavich.He joins In the News to explain how this investigation unfolded, what the activities of black market sites mean for vulnerable users and what the Irish authorities had to say.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Pat to run through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor for ⁠The Irish Times.

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· Sinn Féin's Planning for Constitutional Change Bill, which obliges the Government to draft and publish a Green Paper on unification within 18 months, failed to win support from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, or independents. · All Government TDs also voted against a PBP Bill to ban hare coursing. The Bill presented an issue where the party whip could have been spared in favour of a free vote, given the public's clear support to outlaw the practice. The Bill was overwhelmingly defeated by 125 votes to 24. · And this week saw Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and far-right French leader Marine Le Pen take the biggest political gambles of their respective careers.Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Graham Platner crashes and burns, dwindling swag bags for visiting journalists, and the derelict ‘Carlton' site on O'Connell Street is snapped up by MetroLink.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday, gardaí confirmed that the investigation into the death of Jamey Carney had been upgraded to a murder probe. 43-year-old Jamie, who was the mother of a 13-year-old girl, was originally from Westchester County, New York. Her body was found at her home just off the Muckross Road, Killarney on Tuesday afternoon. Jerry spoke to Barry Roche, southern correspondent with The Irish Times.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Ronan McGreevy, News Reporter at the Irish Times.

Ian O'Riordan, Athletics Correspondent with the Irish Times, outlines the decision of the International Olympic Committee to lift its suspension on Russian athletes competing in international competitions.

Jack Power the Europe Correspondent with the Irish Times has the latest.

PJ talks to Jen Hogan of the Irish Times about how sometimes it's friends for life, other times not so much! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's Irish Times, Columnist Kathy Sheridan wrote a piece on ID cards, noting that we are one of only 2 EU countries that don't require citizens to carry ID cards. So, should we create national ID cards?Joining Shane to discuss is Antoin Ó Lachtnáin, Director at Digital Rights Ireland.

This episode was originally published in March 2026. Clifton Collins (55) had a thriving business growing cannabis in rented houses around the country.The Crumlin man and expert beekeeper was known for his award-winning honey but his real earner was the fortune he made from years of dealing drugs.He operated under the radar so when gardaí came across him parked in the Wicklow Mountains one night, they had no idea their search would eventually result in of the most lucrative seizures in the history of the Criminal Assets Bureau.Collins had amassed 6,000 bitcoin around 2010. The problem for the Garda was they didn't know the code to unlock the wallets; it was, Collins said, lost.His bitcoin stash had by 2026 rocketed in value to €360 million.Seven years after gardaí seized the wallets they have finally been able to open one of them and have released €30 million. There are 11 more wallets to be opened.Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the background to this extraordinary case.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Lally, of The Irish Times, reports on the Garda investigation into the death of a man shot dead in Dun Laoghaire in south Dublin yesterday.

For more on this, Sports Correspondent with the Irish Times, Gavin Cooney.

On a visit to Dublin last week, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy briefly burst the upbeat mood of the EU presidency party by criticising companies based in European countries that continue to supply essential materials to Russia's military forces. He didn't need to name the company that was on his mind; all present in Dublin Castle, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, knew he was referring to Limerick-based Aughinish Alumina.In March, Irish Times investigative reporter Conor Gallagher revealed that the Russian-owned plant exports vast amounts of alumina, the raw material for aluminium, which ends up in a supply chain that supplies Russia's military industry. Since then the pressure has been on the Government who make hard decisions about the alumina plant. Gallagher, who worked with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) on the investigation, explains the reaction to his report, from publication in March to Zelenskiy‘s comments.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling forest infernos across France, Spain and Portugal as Europe faces another heatwave with temperatures expected to reach around 40°C in some areas. For the latest on the situation across Europe was Naomi O'Leary, Europe Correspondent with The Irish Times.

A man was shot dead at around 8.30am on Sunday at Patrician Park, Kill Avenue, Dún Laoghaire. We get the latest on this with Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor at The Irish Times.

Joining Brendan to discuss the top stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Director of Public Affairs at Consello and former Fianna Fáil TD, Lisa Chambers; political editor of the Irish Times, Pat Leahy; Head of Social Justice and Policy at SVP, Louise Bayliss; security analyst, Declan Power and University of Galway law lecturer, Larry Donnelly.

Europe has barely emerged from one of the most intense heatwaves ever recorded, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees and thousands of excess deaths now being counted with forecasters already warning another spell of extreme heat is on the way. Pat is joined from Spain by Naomi O'Leary, Europe Correspondent with The Irish Times, to unpack what's happening on the ground.

In the next 15 years an additional 400 pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists will be killed on European roads because of the increased average car size.The figure is based on projections using data from Eurostat and the UK department of transport. Research by the Transport & Environment (T & E) think tank suggests that those road death figures could be significantly higher.After 25 years of relentless growth, our roads are increasingly dominated by huge SUVs that pose a physical danger to everyone else.And bigger cars means less space on the roads and in car parks. Big vehicles, such as SUVs and pick-up strucks, simply don't fit parking spaces that were designed for a different, smaller car, age.So why are SUVs so deadly for other road users? And why, even when they are made aware of the dangers their large vehicles pose for other road users, do drivers still choose them anyway?Irish Times motoring contributor Neil Briscoe reports.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,588.After Russia unleashes one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more, Dom reports on a city that knew the assault was coming hours in advance. He then examines a major new report alleging that Russia's shadow fleet has been used not only to evade sanctions, but potentially to launch drones targeting military bases and civilian airports across Europe, raising profound new questions about the Kremlin's hybrid war against the West. Later, Dom, Adelie and Francis answer your questions in the first edition of our new regular postbag segment.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Listen to ‘Ernstfall: What if Russia Attacks NATO? Inside a German Wargame' (featuring dubs from Francis Dearnley and James Rothwell): – Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ernstfall-what-if-russia-attacks-nato-inside-a/id6785429115 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/033GHuBrh6zwl1mq4TVeY6?si=-RApaIauQXaQhD5tgzhD_g&nd=1&dlsi=50aee65f40c4451b Eighteen killed in massive Russian attack on Kyiv (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/02/ukraine-war-russia-attacks-kyiv-drones-missiles/ Russia's UAV Campaign Over Europe (International Institute for Strategic Studies)https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2026/06/russias-uav-campaign-over-europe/ Russian drones spy on nuclear weapons in Britain (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/02/putin-shadow-tankers-drones-nuclear-weapons-russia-nato/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 1, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-1-2026/Sanctioned Russian billionaire retains control of Aughinish parent company, Sweden finds (Irish Times)https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/07/01/sanctioned-russian-billionaire-retains-control-of-aughinish-parent-company-sweden-finds/Russia buys gasoline from India to tackle shortages, sources say (Reuters)https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-buys-gasoline-india-tackle-shortages-sources-say-2026-07-01/Russia shuts railway border crossings with Finland, Estonia and Latvia (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-suspends-railway-border-crossings-finland-baltic-neighbors/ How likely is the use of nuclear weapons by Russia? (Chatham House)https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/03/how-likely-use-nuclear-weapons-russiaRussia's Nuclear Signaling in 2026 and Implications for European Security (DGAP) https://dgap.org/en/research/publications/russias-nuclear-signaling-2026-and-implications-european-security Nuclear Signaling since the beginning of the full-scale invasion (Ukraine: The Latest, February 3rd)https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/putin-waits-until-kyiv-hits-20c-before-knocking-out/id1612424182?i=1000747895284Postcards of the Front:https://postcardstothefrontcanada.com/EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.Thumbnail image credit: Vlada.UAHIGHLIGHTS:Ukraine's '40-day campaign' to break Russia continues as Kyiv suffers huge attackShadow fleet drones spy on Europe's nuclear warheads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland was on the fringe of the heat dome that seared much of Europe for several days late last month.In some parts of the country temperatures exceeded an uncomfortable 32 degrees and the hot spell ended with unseasonable thunderstorms and hail showers.Why is this happening?Climate scientists have recently warned that El Niño would impact temperatures in Europe this year, so is that why two heatwaves arrived in June, one delivering record-breaking temperatures?The June event was called a “heat dome” but what is that and what causes it?Another intense heatwave is forecast for Europe, beginning on July 5th.Recording-breaking temperatures are produced by climate change and they are something scientists have warned about for decades. So why is Ireland so behind in implementing policies that would help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.Caroline O'Doherty, the climate and science correspondent with The Irish Times, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With dining out becoming an increasingly expensive luxury, we find out how to order the perfect restaurant meal with top tips from a panel of seasoned pros. The Irish Times food critic, Corinna Hardgrave, veteran server and podcast host Brittany Felton and chef and hospitality advisor James Knight-Pacheco join Ruth Alexander to discuss how to make the most of a well-deserved meal from your hard-earned money. They cover everything from sharing dishes, whether to trust a waiter's recommendations and if it's best to stick to what you know – or try something more adventurous when visiting a restaurant with friends or family. We get the inside track from the diner's table to the wait staff and of course the kitchen. Brittany Felton explains how her 15-year career as a server means she can quickly assess a table's needs, even to the extent of working out what kind of meal and evening the diners would like to have. Corinna Hardgrave shares advice from her 20-plus years as a professional restaurant critic, including how to stay in control if you experience pushy or impatient wait staff when eating out. And chef James Knight-Pacheco shares his insight on when is the best time to order the special – and when to avoid certain dishes on a menu. Producer: Sam Clack and Niamh McDermott Sound engineer: Hal Haines(Image: Waitress taking the order of a group of friends eating at a restaurant - stock photo. Credit: Getty Images)

Today, four new Roman Catholic Bishops are going to be ordained in Switzerland, but Pope Leo XIV does not want them to go ahead. This is because the ordinations are being made by the Society of Saint Pius X, who have been against many of the reforms the Vatican have made…Joining Seán to discuss is Patsy McGarry, former Religious Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times.

We're thrilled to chat with the fabulous Karen Rose, international bestselling author of over thirty romantic suspense novels including two Rita winners. Her books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London's Sunday Times, and Germany's der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia! To date, her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. You can find her at https://www.karenrosebooks.com/ https://www.facebook.com/KarenRoseBooks https://www.instagram.com/karenrosebooks https://www.youtube.com/user/KarenRoseBooks https://bsky.app/profile/karenrosebooks.bsky.social Find Your Author Hosts: Sarah Andre at https://sarahandre.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahAndreNovels IG https://www.instagram.com/sarahandrenovels/ Lark Brennan at https://www.larkbrennan.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkBrennan/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/larkbrennan/ YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/43tWnZy

In this episode of Season 2 of The Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan, host Finghin Mac Cárthaigh (Flor McCarthy) sits down with Colm Ó Broin, Irish language advocate, researcher, writer, and campaigner with Conradh na Gaeilge.Together, they explore the myths, misconceptions, and attitudes that continue to shape how Irish people think about their native language. From growing up through the Gaelscoil system in Clondalkin to working in Irish-language journalism and leading a nationwide myth-busting campaign, Colm shares his unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Irish today.Thanks for your interest in The Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan! Subscribe for free to receive priority notification on future episodes and to access valuable Irish language learning resources. Throughout the conversation, Colm reflects on the importance of questioning assumptions about Irish, the role of Gaelscoileanna in shaping positive attitudes towards the language, the future of the Gaeltacht, and why language should be valued for far more than its perceived practical usefulness. He also discusses how historical attitudes towards Irish continue to influence modern perceptions and explores what a more confident relationship with the language might look like.This episode reminds us that language is not simply a tool for communication. It is also a connection to place, history, identity, culture, and community.This Episode Celebrates:* The power of challenging myths and misconceptions about Irish* The role of Gaelscoileanna in language revitalisation* The importance of community-led Irish language initiatives* The rich linguistic heritage that exists throughout Ireland, including beyond today's Gaeltacht regionsIf you've ever wondered why certain negative narratives about Irish persist, why bilingualism is viewed differently in Ireland than elsewhere, or what the future of the language might look like, this episode is for you.Thanks for your interest in The Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan! Subscribe for free to receive priority notification on future episodes and to access valuable Irish language learning resources.Podcast NotesGrowing Up Through IrishColm reflects on his experience attending Naíonra Chrónáin, Scoil Chrónáin and Coláiste Chilliain in Clondalkin and how Irish became a natural part of his life from an early age.East Timor and a Different Perspective on LanguageAfter spending time teaching English in East Timor, Colm encountered a society where multilingualism was completely normal. The experience led him to question why bilingualism is often treated as unusual or problematic in Ireland. Thanks for your interest in The Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan! Subscribe for free to receive priority notification on future episodes and to access valuable Irish language learning resources.Busting the Myths About IrishColm discusses his work with Conradh na Gaeilge, examining common misconceptions about Irish, including claims that it is a dead language, impractical, elitist, or disconnected from modern life. He explains why these myths persist and what they reveal about wider attitudes towards language and identity.The Future of Irish and the GaeltachtThe conversation explores the challenges facing Gaeltacht communities, the growth of Irish outside traditional Gaeltacht areas, and the importance of supporting language transmission within families and communities.Rediscovering Leinster's Irish Language HeritageColm shares his research into the historical dialects of Irish spoken throughout Leinster and explains why understanding local language heritage can help people reconnect with Irish in a meaningful way.Free Irish Learning ResourcesIf you enjoyed this episode of The Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan and want to continue your Irish language journey:Access free Irish learning resources, stay updated on upcoming episodes, and receive exclusive content.Sign up here:Free ResourcesThe Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan Free ResourcesYou can also follow my writing on Substack:Thanks for reading The Language Question ~ Ceist na Teangan! Subscribe for free to receive priority notification on future episodes and to receive valuable learning resources. A newsletter and community for anyone learning the Irish language as an adultSlán tamall,Finghin Mac CárthaighHost – The Language Question ~ Ceist na TeanganMore on Colm Ó BroinColm Ó BroinColm Ó Broin was born and raised in Clondalkin, Dublin, and attended Naíonra Chrónáin, Scoil Chrónáin and Coláiste Chilliain. His love of the Irish language grew after spending time in East Timor teaching English. Experiencing life in a multilingual society led him to question why Ireland often makes such a “song and dance” about bilingualism.After returning to Ireland, Colm studied communications and worked with the Irish-language newspapers Lá and Gaelscéal. He now works in the non-profit sector but continues to contribute actively to public conversations about the Irish language, language attitudes, and language policy.While working in journalism, Colm became increasingly interested in the myths and misconceptions frequently repeated about Irish. This led him to develop a myth-busting campaign with Conradh na Gaeilge that examines common claims about the language and their impact on public attitudes. The campaign has included public talks, webinars, educational resources for teachers, YouTube videos, media appearances, and a TEDx Talk.Colm's writing has appeared in The Irish Times, TheJournal.ie, and other publications, and he has been interviewed on RTÉ Radio 1, Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte and BBC Radio. He believes that myths and misunderstandings about Irish continue to have a real and negative effect on the language, and much of his work focuses on challenging those assumptions through evidence, history, and public discussion.Learn more:Ted Talk InstagramConradh na Gaeilge This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit finghinmac.substack.com

American businessman Jason Cardiff has lived in Ireland with his wife and daughter since 2022.For anyone who has followed him on Facebook, he has been living a life of considerable luxury. The house is on Highfield Road, one of Dublin 6's most expensive roads, and parked outside is a Bentley.His followers have seen posts showing him golfing in Ireland, travelling to Austria for ski trips as well as attending the local church fete in June.But last week his past came back to haunt him when at 8am he was arrested at home and brought to the High Court. The move by the Garda was on foot of extradition proceedings instigated by the US Department of Justice, which has charged him with fraud involving a homeopathic medicine company, identity theft and witness tampering. He denies all charges.So what are the charges? Why did Cardiff and his family leave the US? How did he get an Irish passport? And why does did he expect the Trump administration to come to his rescue?Mark Tighe, Irish Times senior investigative reporter, talked to Cardiff in the days before his arrest.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the week's film and TV highlights are Nadine O'Regan, Features Writer with the Irish Times and Michael Doherty, Movie Editor of the RTE Guide. They talk about the ‘Legally Blonde' prequel, ‘Elle'; Réabhlóid Mheiriceá - Na Laochra Gael on TG4 and ‘The Invite' amongst many more.

In this episode of the HR Like a Boss podcast, John Bernatovicz interviews Aoife O'Brien, an HR expert and author, discussing the impact of work on individuals, the purpose of human resources, and the challenges faced in creating a positive workplace culture. Aoife shares her experiences and insights on how to improve work environments and the importance of leadership in fostering employee engagement. They discuss the importance of psychological safety, the costs associated with toxic leadership, and the framework outlined in Aoife's book, Thriving Talent.ABOUT AOIFE O'BRIENAoife O'Brien is the founder of Happier at Work and host of the award-winning Happier at Work podcast, ranked in the top 2% globally. A culture and leadership expert with over 20 years' corporate experience, she works with global organisations to create the conditions where people can perform, grow, and stay. Her work focuses on aligning culture, drivers, and capabilities so employees feel valued, clear, and equipped to do their best work and organisations see sustainable gains in performance, engagement, and retention. Her debut book, Thriving Talent, was published in March 2026, was featured by Forbes, and is an Irish Times bestseller.

Jack Horgan-Jones and Mark Paul join Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics:· Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Brussels for the EU summit this week, also in attendance is Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy who is pushing for serious peace negotiations with Russia. Will Vladimir Putin come to the negotiation table? And could Ukraine's EU membership be fast-tracked during Ireland's upcoming EU presidency? · Security, competitiveness and the EU budget are some of the issues that will come into focus as Ireland becomes a deal maker and parks parochial affairs for the duration of its six-month presidency starting July 1st.· And with Andy Burnham justifying the hype by crushing Nigel Farage's Reform UK in the Makerfield byelection, will prime minister Keir Starmer go quietly or hang around for a leadership battle he stands little chance of winning?Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the luxury liner SS Morro Castle erupted in flames off the New Jersey coast in 1934, it left behind 137 dead, a captain's corpse that vanished before it could be examined, and a heroic radio operator whose criminal past suggested he may have started the fire himself. | #WDRadio June 14, 2026==========HOUR ONE: Jeannie Saffin already had a tough life, being born with a birth defect that stunted her mental growth, leaving her with the mind of a child, never getting married and having kids, never dating… but that all pales in comparison to how she died: bursting into flames for no apparent reason. Was Jeannie Saffin the victim of spontaneous human combustion? (The Spontaneous Combustion of Jeannie Saffin) *** Sometimes it's easy to get a girl to go out with you – just be polite and ask. Some men resort to cheesy pickup lines thinking it will help their chances. But one man chose to call upon a woman in a very unusual way… by purchasing a gravestone. (Pitching Woo With a Tombstone) *** If a man demands his girlfriend give up the baby they conceived, otherwise he would no longer be with the woman – what is that newborn's mother to do? Sadly, Emily Dunn made the wrong decision – with tragic results. (The Durbin Baby Murder) *** The transplanting of an organ is almost a routine procedure now in the 21st century – even doing a transplant of an arm or a leg isn't uncommon. But when you talk about transplanting a living head onto a dead body – that's when things get tricky. But Robert White thought it could be done – and even tried doing it. (The Man Who Wanted To Do a Head Transplant) *** Imagine getting onto a plane and once in the air finding out that the pilot wasn't qualified to fly that kind of plane – and that he was only there because the original pilot wasn't available due to being dead. That's what happened in 1934 on the boat, the SS Morro Castle. And it was the beginning of tragedy after tragedy. (Mystery, Mismanagement, and Mayhem on the SS Morro Castle)==========HOUR TWO: In June of 2009 a man calling himself Peter Bergmann checked in to a hotel in Sligo Town. Five days later his body was found on Rosses Point Beach. But Peter Bergmann was not Peter Bergmann – so who was he? (The Peter Bergmann Mystery) *** Sharing stories from people who are frightened by a bump in the night or a strange shadow on the wall in their bedroom is one thing, but when you get professional ghost hunters telling of the scariest experiences they've had, you know it has to be some freaky stuff. (Scariest Experiences of Ghost Hunters) ==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: More of the scariest experiences of ghost hunters! *** I'll tell you about that time when a dam failed – and because of it, people were legally allowed to marry the dead. And still do to this day. (That Time A Failed Dam Led to Marrying Corpses) *** Personal experiences of those who have stayed at the Wolf Creek Inn, plus some hard evidence, seems to indicate that spirits who haunt the place are not only benign in nature, but even protect the guests and owners from other malevolent spirits which roam there as well. (Haunts at Wolf Creek Inn)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“Mystery, Mismanagement, and Mayhem on the SS Morro Castle” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/56jb9c7j“The Man Who Wanted To Do a Head Transplant” by Gary Krist for the Washington Post: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/39d2k9pw“The Durbin Baby Murder” posted at Murders In History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/c96z9kst“Pitching Woo With a Tombstone” from the New York Journal, posted at The Victorian Book of the Dead website:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/utw6vh45“The Spontaneous Combustion of Jeannie Saffin” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/e6as67fn“That Time A Failed Dam Led to Marrying Corpses” by Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/zyrxx43k“Scariest Experiences of Ghost Hunters” by Amanda Ashley for Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y7tx3a2t“Haunts at Wolf Creek Inn” posted at HauntedHouses.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yadzm4ae“The Peter Bergmann Mystery” by Rosita Boland for Irish Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/9b44kfs==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2026==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at mailto:affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).==========https://weirddarkness.com/WDR20260614This episode of Weird Darkness moves from a burning luxury liner off the New Jersey coast to a fire-scarred kitchen in London, a body on an Irish beach, a drowned infant in Illinois, a collapsed French dam that legalized marrying the dead, and a haunted stagecoach inn in Oregon — with a head-transplant surgeon and a tombstone-shopping widower along the way.It opens with the SS Morro Castle, the 508-foot American ocean liner that ferried wealthy passengers between New York and Havana during Prohibition until September 8, 1934, when its captain, Robert Wilmott, dropped dead the night before departure and a fire of unknown origin erupted in a B Deck storage locker on the voyage home. Replacement captain William Warms steered into gale-force winds and waited 38 minutes to send a distress call, paint-gummed lifeboats refused to lower, untrained passengers broke their necks jumping in faulty life jackets, and at least 137 of the 549 aboard died before the charred hulk ran aground at Asbury Park, New Jersey, where souvenir stands sprang up around the wreck. Suspicion later fell on chief radio operator George White Rogers, the disaster's celebrated hero, whose hidden history of arson convictions, an aquarium-heater bomb built to maim a police lieutenant asking too many questions, and a double murder ended with his sudden death in Trenton State Prison — and the disappearance of his prison records.From there the episode lightens briefly with a pair of newspaper accounts of courtship by gravestone: an 1896 story from the Cincinnati Enquirer about a widower who finally bought a $50 monument for his wife of five years past — not out of grief, but to impress a wealthy widow who had called him too cheap to mark the grave — and a 1924 item from the Kansas City Star about a Kansas woman who married a widower precisely because he kept his first wife's grave so well.Next comes Dr. Robert J. White, the Cleveland neurosurgeon who watched the first successful human kidney transplant in Boston in 1954 and spent the rest of his life pursuing something far stranger: transplanting a living human head onto a donor body. In March 1970 he performed the operation on monkeys, moving one animal's head onto another's decapitated body in an 18-hour surgery; the hybrid lived nine days. White, a devout Catholic who sparred publicly with journalist Oriana Fallaci and animal rights activist Ingrid Newkirk, came close to attempting the procedure on a quadriplegic human volunteer through Russia's medical system before he died in 2010, leaving behind questions about consciousness, identity, and death that medicine has yet to answer.The hour then turns to Jeannie Saffin, a 61-year-old London woman with the mental capacity of a child who, on September 15, 1982, burst into flames while sitting calmly at her father's kitchen table in Edmonton with her hands in her lap. Her father Jack and brother-in-law Don Carroll doused the fire, but Jeannie — burned to the subcutaneous fat on her face, hands, and abdomen — never screamed, slipped into a coma, and died eight days later. The chair she sat in was unmarked, the nearest flame was a shielded pilot light five feet away, and a police constable concluded it was spontaneous human combustion, a verdict the coroner rejected. Skeptic Joe Nickell's pipe-ember theory accounts for some details, but not how a human body ignited so completely in under two minutes while burning nothing around it.Then the mystery of Peter Bergmann: the tall, gray-haired man with an Austrian accent who arrived in Sligo, Ireland by bus on June 12, 2009, checked into the Sligo City Hotel under a false name and a fabricated Vienna address, and over three days left the hotel thirteen times carrying a full purple plastic bag — returning empty-handed each time, never once caught by CCTV disposing of anything. He bought ten international stamps, cut the labels from his clothes, folded them neatly on a rock at Rosses Point Beach, and was found dead at the water's edge the next morning near Dead Man's Point. The autopsy revealed terminal prostate cancer he could not have been unaware of, yet he died of cardiac arrest, not dr