Podcasts about The Irish Times

Last week, Irish author Naoise Dolan and psychiatrist Dr Veronica O'Keane arrived home to Ireland after spending five days in an Israeli prison. The pair were among more than one hundred activists including five other Irish citizens detained by Israeli forces earlier this month, as they made their way to Gaza as part of the Thousand Madleens flotilla. In today's episode, Dolan and O'Keane tell Róisín Ingle about the gruesome conditions they were kept in, the violence and heavy-handedness used by members of the IDF and the relief they felt upon release. But first Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the government's plans for a new domestic violence register and the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre's tell-all memoir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colm was born and raised in Clondalkin, Dublin, and attended Naíonra Chrónáin, Scoil Chrónáin & Coláiste Chillian. Colm's love for the language grew after spending time in East Timor, teaching English. East Timor is a multilingual country and experiencing that got him asking why we make such a song and dance about bilingualism in Ireland! When he came home he studied communications and worked with the Irish language newspapers Lá and Gaelscéal. He now works in the non-profit  sector. While he was working in journalism he started writing about myths we often hear about the Irish language, that it's a dead language, etc. He later developed that into a Mythbusting campaign with Conradh na Gaeilge which has included a TedX Talk and other public talks, articles in the Irish Times and Journal.ie, interviews on Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte, RTÉ Radio 1 and BBC Radio and YouTube videos. He believes these myths have a real, negative effect on the Irish language and that is the main reason for the campaign. Deconstructing Myths about the Irish Language | Colm Ó Broin | TEDxBallyroanLibrary

This Saturday the 18th October is World Menopause Day and to mark the occasion we are joined by journalist, broadcaster and menopause advocate Mariella Frostrup and by Belles Berry, chef and daughter of well-known cookery writer Mary Berry. Together they have written Menolicious, a new cookbook packed full of healthy recipes designed to help balance hormones, boost energy levels and improve weight management through perimenopause, menopause and beyond. In this episode, they tell Róisín Ingle how they first met at a protest for HRT, why they feel a cookbook like this could help women at all stages in life and what some of their favourite recipes from the book are - including Irish-inspired porridge bread and kale and tahini pancakes. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including new findings around the benefits of taking HRT and the results from the latest presidential opinion poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerard Howlin, political commentator and columnist with the Irish Times, reacts to the latest Irish Times opinion poll regarding the presidential election.

Irish Olympic swimmer Shane Ryan can now take all the performance-enhancing drugs he wants as part of his training plan.And if anabolic steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), or testosterone supplements show up in his system next May when he competes in Las Vegas, the organisers will congratulate him for playing by the rules.The Enhanced Games dubbed the Steroid Olympics – was dreamed up by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza as a sporting event that lets competitors maximise their performance by doping.Ryan, who was the first swimmer to compete in three Olympics for Ireland, says the decision to join the Enhanced Games is financial. He will, he says, be “making over six figures for nine months and then potentially making over $600,000 when it comes down the line”.But Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency) rules exist not just to level the playing field for all athletes but also to protect them from the health impacts of doping. So isn't the 31 year-old worried?Irish Times sports writer Malachy Clerkin talked to him from his new training base in Nevada.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times, discusses the latest developments in the race for the Áras, as both presidential candidates continue on the campaign trail.

Is that photo of Trump on the cover of Time magazine really ‘the worst of all time'?The US President certainly seems to think so, and has been hitting out about the unflattering picture…But, what does it take to make a cover photo, and was this one deliberately uncomplimentary?James Crombie is the 2025 Irish Press Photographer of the Year and his photograph is on the front page of the Irish Times today. He joins Seán to discuss.Image: TIME

The number of people falling victim to online fraud, and in some cases losing their life savings as a result of being scammed, is skyrocketing. Banks have warned of a sharp increase in phone calls and text messages from criminals purporting to be delivery companies or Government agencies. However, in some of the most disturbing cases, victims are targeted with the promise of love and romance.Romance scams are not new – lonely people have always been targeted by criminals. But with the omnipresence of social media in people's daily lives, and the rapid development of AI, criminal gangs are using more sophisticated methods than ever before to exploit the human need for connection, trust and affection.The sheer extent and impact of these scams remains unknown because many people are too embarrassed to report the relationship, or their lost funds, to the authorities. They are often also left heartbroken after truly believing they had found their soul mate.One Irish woman in her 60s, who recently lost more than €291,000 through a sinister romance scam to a man who claimed to love and want to marry her, shared her experience with The Irish Times this week.On today's In The News episode Conor Pope, Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent, shares the story of Mary* who has been left with huge debts, and potentially serious legal implications, after being financially exploited, and emotionally manipulated, by a man who called himself Donald.What are the red flags people should watch out for if they begin a relationship online?And can further steps be taken by authorities to track down the criminal gangs behind this financial fraud?Today, the story of one woman who lost everything through an elaborate romance scam.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair.*Pseudonym requested to protect woman's identity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday, more than two years after the conflict in Gaza began – a war which has killed tens of thousands, including an estimated 20,000 children – the remaining living Israeli hostages returned home.Meanwhile, about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners – including 1,700 from Gaza who have been held by Israel without charge – were released and reunited with family.The return of hostages and release of prisoners is all part of the first phase of Donald's Trump's peace plan for Gaza.Trump, who spoke before the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on Monday, told cheering lawmakers that the “long and painful nightmare is finally over” and that the agreement marked a “historic dawn of a new Middle East”.But is the US president correct? Will both sides honour the agreement and what will the next stage of this peace plan look like?And when so many lives have been lost, where do Palestinians begin when it comes to rebuilding the Gaza Strip?Irish Times contributors Mark Weiss and Michael Jansen discuss how Trump's peace plan will work and what the future holds for Palestinians.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ellen Coyne, Political correspondent with The Irish Times

Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPEA dying man with a fake identity spent his final days erasing every trace of his existence before walking into the Irish sea, leaving investigators with only one question: who was Peter Bergmann? | #WDRadio WEEK OF OCT 12, 2025==========HOUR ONE: 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) ==========HOUR TWO: 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)==========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© 2025==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).==========https://weirddarkness.com/WDR2021012

Barry Roche, Southern Correspondent with the Irish Times, discusses two violent assaults in Tipperary and Cork over the weekend.

Michael D Higgins will shortly finish his two terms as President of Ireland, having served 14 years as head of State.In 2011 he said his tenure would be “a presidency of ideas”. But what are they and where in his background and in his impressive and varied pre-Áras career did they come from?And how has his outspokenness on a wide range of subjects, from foreign affairs to army pay, been received by successive governments? To what extent did his personal popularity insulate him from criticism and even censure when he was perceived to have overstepped the boundaries of the role?The 84 year-old's appeal, notably among young people, has secured a prominent place for him in Irish popular culture inspiring a range of “miggledy” memorabilia from T-shirts to tea cosies.But while his public image is that of a warm, affable elder statesman in a tweed suit with a ready smile and an ability to connect with everyone who comes in contact with, his private persona is somewhat different according to Irish Times journalist Naomi O'Leary who has written a long profile of this very popular, effective President.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Brendan to talk through highlights from the Sunday newspapers is political editor with The Irish Independent, Mary Regan; Irish Times columnist and public affairs consultant, Gerard Howlin; Nutriband founder and former presidential hopeful, Gareth Sheridan and Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute, Brigid Laffan.

Ellen Coyne and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With Jim Gavin gone, the presidential election is now a two-horse race between Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, and a more combative one at that as the third live debate on Thursday on RTÉ Radio's Drivetime will attest. Is Heather Humphreys trying to appeal to voters on the left who haven't made their mind up about Connolly yet? · As the timetable of who knew what and when becomes apparent in the Jim Gavin controversy, could those running his campaign have done anything to dampen the impact of the revelation around an unpaid debt to a former tenant from Gavin's time as a landlord in 2009? And why did Gavin go ahead and participate in RTÉ's televised debate last Sunday when the game was already effectively up? · And will Wednesday's marathon Fianna Fáil party meeting provide enough catharsis for a cohort within the party questioning Micheál Martin's leadership in the wake of the Jim Gavin fiasco? Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Manchán Magan remembered, Japan's Iron Lady, and Ray D'Arcy leaves RTÉ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So now we know what's in Budget 2026 but for most people, what's not so clear is what's in it for them.As he has done every year on the day after the budget Irish Times personal finance expert and assistant business editor Dominic Coyle put a call-out to readers for their own queries and then he answered them.For In the News he picks out the ones that exercised people the most and explains how he answered.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, Revenue seized 112 million illicit cigarettes in Ireland. The black market trade in tobacco products is big business. So, how do tobacco companies go about clamping down on all this.Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times, joined a sting operation to find out, and joins Seán to discuss.

Kate English, Chief economist with Deloitte // Eoin McGee, Financial Planner // Michelle Murphy, Research and Policy Analyst at Social Justice Ireland // Cliff Taylor, columnist with the Irish Times

Cúrsaí polaitíochta an deire seachtaine agus an buiséad.

How can it happen that a doctor who has been sanctioned or even struck-off in one country can simply move to another and continue working?Shouldn't the various medical registration bodies have robust recording and information sharing systems that would make that impossible. Most patients will assume that to be the case but a new global investigation has found serious flaws in the system.And it is happening in Ireland: 11 doctors who have faced serious sanctions in the UK, including being struck off, remain registered in Ireland.In each case, the UK sanction was not recorded on the doctor's publicly available record published by the Medical Council.The information comes from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which in the past has investigated transnational criminal gangs and drug cartels but in recent months has turned its attention to doctor registration.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher joined international journalists from more than 50 other media outlets to uncover this very real threat to patient safety. He explains the findings of the report particularly as they relate to Ireland.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick County // Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil's Dublin MEP // Louise Burne, political correspondent with the Irish Examiner // Pat Leahy, political editor with the Irish Times

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are Dr. Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer, ICTU; Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway; Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times and David W. Higgins, Economist.

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the week in politics: We already know next Tuesday's budget is going to be a much less generous affair than recent years. Jack and Pat share what they know about the tough stance being taken by Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers in negotiations, including one Government source's characterisation of Chambers as akin to Margaret Thatcher: “no, no, no”. Of the three presidential hopefuls, Catherine Connolly has run the strongest campaign so far. But could the news that she employed a woman convicted of firearms offences hinder her in gathering the votes she needs?Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin's campaign also made some missteps this week, hampering the novice politician's campaign as it finds its feet. Security issues are at the top of the European agenda thanks to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the fear of Russian cyberattacks and drone incursions. Finally the panelists pick their favourite Irish Times journalism of the week including Senator Michael McDowell's explanation for why he didn't nominate Maria Steen, the passing of Martin Mansergh and a relatable personal problem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In July 2019, Bláthnaid Raleigh's life changed forever when she was raped at a house party by a man named Jonathan Moran, whom she was familiar with from her hometown of Mullingar. It was a vicious and violent attack, which resulted in a headline sentence of nine years for Moran, although he is likely to serve just six.In her new memoir Aftermath, Raleigh describes how her life was effectively put on hold for five years while she awaited the trial. During which time, Moran continued his working life, socialised with friends, and played rugby with the local club in Mullingar.In today's episode, Raleigh tells Róisin Ingle about the long-lasting emotional and physical impacts of the attack, the trauma of the subsequent legal process and why she waived her anonymity to name her rapist. She also talks about the healing process and how she hopes her story will help others. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell joins us to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including the women standing up to racism in their local communities and a new report highlighting research gaps in the understanding of women's health conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olivia Kelly, Dublin Editor, The Irish Times

There's one thing that unites Irish people everywhere: we love to give out about the state of the place… but, heaven help anyone else who dares do the same.Today, we're exploring the tug-of-war that happens among emigrants: those who left Ireland with a dream in their suitcase, and came back with stories and maybe just a bit of snobbery.Irish Times contributor Céire Sadlier has written about just that, and says she gets defensive when people call Ireland a ‘kip.' She joins Seán to discuss.

The Irish Times is continuing to develop its podcast offering and would like to invite some of our current listeners to take part in a research study to listen to, and discuss, a new podcast pilot.This will involve listening to 2 short versions of a news briefing podcast and taking part in an online forum to discuss your reaction. You will be free to take part and contribute to the discussion at times that suit you over a period of a number of days. If selected to take part, and in return for your participation, you will receive a €30 One4All digital gift voucher.If you would like to take part please complete this form with your details. We'll aim to select as many as possible to participate.On Monday evening, the three candidates for the Irish presidency gathered together for their first live debate on Virgin Media Television. But, was it a really a debate?Rather than standing, Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin sat around a table and delivered a series of lines and scripts for over an hour. To many, it just appeared to be a longer version of Virgin's regular weeknight politics show.The conversation was largely polite, restrained and non-combative and ultimately made for quite dull TV.How did the three presidential candidates fare in the live TV studio setting and who came out on top?And what do the Irish presidential candidates need to change about their communication style to bring some spark to the race for the Áras and inspire us, the public, to cast our vote in their favour?Today, on In The News, what does it take to win a presidential debate?Lorcan Nyhan, head of training at the Communications Clinic who has previously worked with Irish politicians on presentation and communication, breaks down what the candidates need to change about their debating style to bring more energy and public interest to the campaign for president.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Una Mullally of the Irish Times joins Ger Gilroy, Colm Boohig & Arthur O'Dea on the show to discuss whether the GAA should consider taking a more activity-based approach to matchdays, much like the NFL displayed at the weekend ahead of Ireland's first-ever NFL game.Off The Ball Breakfast w/ UPMC Ireland | #GetBackInActionCatch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app.SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/joinOff The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

The Irish Times is continuing to develop its podcast offering and would like to invite some of our current listeners to take part in a research study to listen to, and discuss, a new podcast pilot.This will involve listening to 2 short versions of a news briefing podcast and taking part in an online forum to discuss your reaction. You will be free to take part and contribute to the discussion at times that suit you over a period of a number of days. If selected to take part, and in return for your participation, you will receive a €30 One4All digital gift voucher.If you would like to take part please complete this form with your details. We'll aim to select as many as possible to participate.In the early hours of Sunday morning, Russia launched a big drones and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, killing at least four people. Meanwhile, more than 1,500km to the West, Denmark reported drone sightings over military sites in its own country.These latest Danish reports follow a series of drone sightings across Europe in recent weeks, including in Poland, Germany and Romania, as well as Russian fighter jets violating Estonia airspace. These incursions have caused international chaos and raised concerns over the security of northern Europe and its vulnerability to air attacks from Russia.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the recent drone aggression across European countries is proof that Vladimir Putin is planning to expand Russia's war into the European Union.And while Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia has no intention of attacking European Union or Nato member states, he also says it is prepared to act if provoked.Europe is moving forward with plans for a drone wall and increasing defence spending, but is that enough?Today, on In The News, is Europe already at war with Russia?The Guardian newspaper foreign correspondent Luke Harding discusses the growth of Russian interference and provocation across Europe and Moscow's belief that it is already at war with the West.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 17th, partial skeletal remains of a child were discovered on waste ground in north Dublin following an extensive search by gardaí.While DNA analysis has yet to be concluded, the remains are believed to be those of Daniel Aruebose.He was last seen when he was 3 1/2 years of age and had not been seen in four years.The discovery of his body was a significant step in the investigation into his disappearance but the initial results of the postmortem have been a setback as no cause of death could be determined. So what happens now?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally, who broke the story of the discovery of the child's remains, explains how the investigation might now proceed.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.The Irish Times is continuing to develop its podcast offering and would like to invite some of our current listeners to take part in a research study to listen to, and discuss, a new podcast pilot.This will involve listening to 2 short versions of a news briefing podcast and taking part in an online forum to discuss your reaction. You will be free to take part and contribute to the discussion at times that suit you over a period of a number of days. If selected to take part, and in return for your participation, you will receive a €30 One4All digital gift voucher.If you would like to take part please complete this form with your details. We'll aim to select as many as possible to participate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent with The Irish Times

The Irish Times reported on Saturday that gardaí asked American forensic experts to help them in their investigation into the murder of Kenmare farmer Mike Gaine. Barry Roche, southern correspondent with The Irish Times, wrote the story.

Gardaí are treating the death of a father and his five-year-old daughter in Finglas as a suspected murder-suicide, according to the Irish Times. However, the investigation is still at an early stage and postmortem examinations will decide the next steps. Conor Gallagher, Crime Correspondent with the Irish Times joined Jonathan Healy with the latest on the investigation.

A garda investigation is underway after the bodies of a man and a young child were found in a house on Saturday. Sarah Burns, News Reporter with The Irish Times, joined Pat with the latest on the garda investigation.

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin got their campaigns into full swing this week as they got out and about to meet voters and give their pitch ahead of voting day on October 25th. And while Connolly made headlines this week when she told a fireside chat with the UCD Politics Society that she believed Germany's rearmament was like the 1930s, it will be next Monday's televised debate that will give voters a better idea of each candidate. · While the presidential election takes all the attention, it can be easy to forget that Budget 2026 is less than two weeks away. Perhaps Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers are enjoying the lack of scrutiny?· And Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has not ruled out Ireland using deportation hubs outside EU borders, something that would have been very controversial in the not-too-distant pastPlus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· The bizarre political karaoke of the Lib Dems party conference, the central importance of William Shakespeare's work to a proper education, and the influence of Kermit the Frog on Patrick Freyne's journalism career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The aid flotilla which is attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza has been attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Greece. The move is widely seen as an escalation of Israel's attempts to stop the flotilla from reaching its destination.The organisers said at least 13 explosions were heard on and around boats and objects were dropped on at least 10 boats from drones or aircraft.The 51-vessel flotilla carrying food and essential supplies has about 500 international volunteers, including Irish pro-Palestine activists.Italy is to send a naval ship to come to the vessels' assistance while Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez said his country is sending a warship to protect the flotilla.“The government of Spain insists that international law be respected and that the right of our citizens should be respected to sail through the Mediterranean in safe conditions,” he said.Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews is among 22 Irish participants on the flotilla and he has called on the Government to protect its citizens on the flotilla and “as a matter of urgency, they need to arrange for an observer vessel to accompany the flotilla to ensure Israel does not violate the human rights of its participants”.So what will happen next? Irish Times reporter Naomi O'Leary, who has been talking to people on the flotilla, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As conservative campaigner Maria Steen marked the end of her presidential bid on Wednesday, many were quick to spot the €20,000 designer bag on her arm. Elsewhere, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer has revealed plans for a controversial UK digital identity card and US President Donald Trump has claimed he was 'sabotaged' while at the United Nations General Assembly.Orla Ryan, Irish Times journalist, and Paddy Duffy, TV producer, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

We've got a jam packed episode for you this week, kicking off with a fascinating interview with Indian theatre artist, Mallika Taneja, who is bringing her show ‘Be Careful' to the Dublin Theatre Festival next month. Running from the 7th to the 10th October, the show is a satirical piece that challenges our notion of safety in public spaces and addresses attitudes towards women and girls in India and elsewhere. See DublinTheatreFestival.ie for tickets. Later on, Róisín Ingle is joined by Laura Dowling, aka The Fabulous Pharmacist to discuss her new book Love Your Vulva. It's an open and empowering guide to women's intimate health, which covers everything from vaginal dryness to grooming your bush. Dowling explains the inspiration behind the book and why we should all be getting to know our vulvas better. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss the biggest news stories of the week including Trump's controversial advice to pregnant women, why everyone's talking about Maria's Steen's Hermés handbag and Tuesday's nail-biting finale of Traitors on RTE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend, over the course of 24 hours, two men were stabbed and seriously injured in separate incidents in Dublin's city centre.An English tourist was hospitalised on Saturday night after he was stabbed in Temple Bar and on Sunday, a 17-year-old teenager was left in a critical condition after he was repeatedly stabbed on Dublin's Eden Quay.These latest attacks will undoubtedly reinforce beliefs that the streets of the Irish capital are becoming unsafe. They also come in the wake of a surge in attacks against immigrants, particularly the Indian community.Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan recently pushed back against any suggestions that Dublin was unsafe, arguing that the capital city is actually becoming safer. In contrast, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said earlier this year that people living, working and visiting the city “have been robbed of their sense of safety”.In today's episode, Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally joins Sorcha Pollak to discuss the latest crime figures in the capital and how recent assaults are impacting people's perception of personal safety.Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support our Affiliate My Pillow. Mypillow.com enter code Patrick at check out.   Host Patrick Coffin welcomes Irish journalist and author John Waters, whose eleventh book chronicles the "heinous crime" of the past five years through Substack dispatches. Waters, a former Irish Times columnist and First Things contributor, frames the work as Winston Smith's diary from 1984—a record for the unborn, preserving truths amid erasure. Waters argues we've entered a copy of reality detached from the original, where politics, ethics, and truth dissolve. COVID lockdowns exemplify this: a health "crisis" masking authoritarian overreach, with media flipping from truth-telling to industrialized lying.  Was COVID a dream, or did it really happen?Once the "land of saints and scholars," Ireland now embodies cultural collapse—abortion's moral ecosystem shattered, fatherhood in apocalypse (echoing Waters' 1994 play Long Black Coat), and institutional betrayal.  He laments: "I am an authority on the destruction of my country," wishing instead for skills in boats or squash.Waters dissects systemic wickedness: tyrannical police, corrupted judiciaries, silent abolition of laws. Beyond news events, Waters probes meanings—lost freedoms, fractured subjects "subdivisible to infinity," and humanity's thieving under technocratic masks. Despite censorship (his book has been shunned by Irish shops), Waters sees Substack as resistance. Advice: Hold fast to the good; pass truth to posterity.    

One question that many find hard to understand is how ordinary Israelis can go about their daily lives with a genocide happening or their doorstep…Paul Kearns, an Irish journalist based in Tel Aviv, has been writing about this for the Irish Times, and joins Seán to discuss.

Cúrsaí polaitíochta an lae - an feachtas uachtaránachta.

Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with The Irish Times, looks to the week ahead in Irish politics.

Brian Mooney, guidance counsellor and education coloumnist with the Irish Times, gives brief overview of what changes and how it changes.

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:The nomination process for presidential candidates rumbles on. At the time of recording independent Gareth Sheridan has the best chance, needing two more local councils to back him. A report today looking at Sheridan's business partner's links with Russia may not be welcomed by his campaign as councillors around the country weigh up their decision.Meanwhile social conservative Maria Steen is gathering nominations in the Oireachtas. Can she get over the line before next Wednesday's deadline?Mary Lou McDonald continues to be coy about who will get Sinn Féin's backing, perhaps enjoying an opportunity to toy with the media. But who will it be - Catherine Connolly, or one of their own?Budget 2026 is drawing near. So far the focus of political debate has been on the withdrawal of one-off payments. It is an issue that cuts through, as Opposition parties well know.Plus the panelists pick their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week, including columns on a rescinded award and Ireland's rudeness problem and a look at sport's greatest quirkiest cheating scandals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Regan, Political Editor of the Irish Times, assesses the current state of the presidential race.

Meta's lineup of smart glasses could soon get a lot more capabilities. The company will begin allowing outside developers to bring their apps to its RayBan and Oakley smart glasses, Meta announced on the second day of its Connect event. The FTC and seven states sued Ticketmaster owner Live Nation on Wednesday. The lawsuit accused the company of knowingly allowing brokers to buy tickets in bulk. Ticketmaster allegedly then let them resell the tickets at a significant markup on its own second-hand market. The FTC claims Ticketmaster was aware that resellers routinely bypassed its security measures for these purchases. A former lobbyist for Meta is now in charge of the EU's chief regulator for big tech firms, according to reporting by The Irish Times. Niamh Sweeney has been named commissioner of the Data Protection Commission, which is one of the largest EU data protection authorities. Prior to this, she worked at Meta for six years. Sweeney was director of European public policy at WhatsApp and head of Irish public policy at Facebook for many of those years. She becomes the third active commissioner of the regulatory body. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Martin Wall, Public Policy Correspondent with the Irish Times, has the latest as the board of the DAA reaches a settlement with its CEO Kenny Jacobs.

First up on the Inside Business podcast this week, the rift between the board of the DAA, the State-owned operator of Dublin and Cork airports, and its CEO Kenny Jacobs. The Irish Times reported yesterday that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see Jacobs leave his role early with a €1m exit package. Joe Brennan and Martin Wall of The Irish Times have been covering the story and joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss the background to the rift. Also on the podcast, Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent, discusses new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which shows that one in four Irish adults have no financial arrangements in place for their retirement. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The assassination of the conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk on stage at a college campus in Utah on Wednesday is the latest chapter in America's increasingly toxic political climate. A Donald Trump loyalist, Kirk was instrumental in mobilising younger voters during last year's US presidential race. Unfortunately, the threat of violence is present in Irish politics too, with Tánaiste Simon Harris outspoken on the intimidation and bomb threats directed at him and his family.· The urgency with which aspiring independent presidential candidates have sought support is ramping up, with ten Oireachtas members now said to have given commitments to conservative campaigner Maria Steen to nominate her to enter the presidential election. Council nominations are also a viable route for independents but one that is narrowing all the time.· And EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to suspend parts of EU-Israel trade deal could be seen as a significant shift towards the stance Ireland and others have taken as the slaughter in Gaza continues. Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Javier Milei's right-wing ‘chainsaw revolution' in Argentina, Ireland's shambolic display against Armenia as their World Cup dream dies, and yet another new prime minister as France's political crisis deepens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.