Podcasts about Maynooth University

In this episode, we chat about the incredible academic and public resource that is the Library in the Royal Irish Academy. Academy Librarian Barbara McCormack tells us all about the collection of medieval manuscripts including some of Ireland's oldest manuscripts the Cathach of Columba and the Stowe Missal. Please visit the library yourself or check out the collections: https://www.ria.ie/library/visiting-the-library/ and https://www.isos.dias.ie/collection/ria.htmlBarbara is responsible for the strategic direction of the Library and Archive, the information services provided by the Library, and the curation of the world's largest collection of manuscripts in the Irish language, as well as numerous other manuscript and archival collections, books and collections in other formats.You can get tickets to the events Barbara discussed here: https://www.ria.ie/events/For more on the Stowe Missal see the blog by Lars Nooij here: https://www.ria.ie/blog/bringing-the-stowe-missal-to-life/Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by Maynooth University, especially the International Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage, the Dept of Early Irish, the Dept of Music, the Dept of History, & Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland.Views expressed are the speakers' own.

Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless opened Maynooth University's Digital Health Summer School, which unveiled a new vision for digital health in Ireland, outlined with demonstrations of 10 healthcare innovations that could revolutionise the Irish healthcare system. Opening the Innovation Value Institute's 3rd International Digital Health Summer School, Minister Lawless said: "Today's event exemplifies higher education's potential to profoundly impact society, showcasing Maynooth University's commitment to innovation beyond academia." The Summer School unveiled a digital health initiative, named Mission 10X, to deliver healthcare in Ireland that is 10 times faster, cheaper and smarter than that offered by the current system and that also enables comprehensive patient-managed care. Speaking at the event, Professor Martin Curley, Director of the Digital Health Ecosystem at IVI, said: " "The best way to predict the future is to innovate it. We have all the knowledge and technology to build and scale a world-class health and wellness system - powered by open, intelligent technology and centred on patients, not paperwork." He added that Mission 10X, which is based on 10 actionable recommendations, was fully aligned with Irish health strategy Sláintecare and its adoption would allow Ireland to leapfrog from last in Europe to world leader in digital health. At the core of the new plan is SPINE, or Secure Patient Information Network Exchange, an individual electronic health record system which already supports over 15,000 patients in Ireland. It aims to improve patient outcomes, health economics, clinician experience and productivity by addressing patient information fragmentation. Mission 10X recommends a phased investment in SPINE, starting with an initial €10 million feasibility study scaling to a €100 million nationwide deployment that would see every citizen offered a personal electronic health record. Other healthcare innovations demonstrated at the two-day event which could form part of an integrated Irish digital health ecosystem, included: An AI-integrated smartwatch capable of real-time fall detection, direct care operator communication and instant patient record updates AI-driven screening technology deployable at pharmacies, GP practices, primary care centres and homes, to bring proactive screening into local settings Voice AI technology providing multi-lingual communication and customised podcasts to improve patient understanding and adherence Voicing support for the plan, Dr John Sheehan of Blackrock Health, said: "With a modest initial investment of €10 million, Ireland can create a scalable digital health system, mirroring Estonia's successful model. This is a historical opportunity we cannot afford to miss." Others attending the Summer School included Danny McCoy, IBEC chief executive, who said: "Despite Ireland's wealth and EU digital rankings, we lag in digital healthcare. Mission 10X provides an essential leapfrog solution that we must adopt immediately." Stephen McMahon, Head of the Irish Patients' Association, also backed the move to digital healthcare: "This is a digital health revolution - a beacon of hope and healing for patients today and future generations. Mission 10X shows that together, we truly can transform healthcare." Watch Prof Curley explain Mission 10X, the initiative which aims to provide Ireland with a world-leading digital healthcare system. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@...

I'm joined today by Dr Chloe Keegan. Chloe Keegan is Lecturer of Early Childhood Education in the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education in Maynooth University, Ireland.Dr Keegan is an early childhood expert with over a decade of experience as an educator, researcher, and policy advocate. Her work focuses on children's rights and power, play and participation, and influencing practice and policy in early education. She completed her doctoral thesis at Maynooth University, developing an innovative method using GoPro cameras to involve children as co-researchers in studying power dynamics. Her research also explores the impact of play bans on children's well-being, moral development, the influence of stereotypical media on children's views of sex, gender, and race, and participatory art-based methods in children's research and video-based reflective practices.Connect w/ Dr Keegan on LinkedInFull thesis: It's Like a Baby Jail Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Description:In this episode, I celebrate our 600th milestone and express gratitude for listener support. I discuss the $7,500 federal tax credit for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, EV owner fees, and Waymo's plans for consumer-direct autonomous taxis. Highlights include Maynooth University's all-electric fleet, Walmart's new EV fast charging network, and updates on Tesla's rear-wheel drive Model Y and upcoming robo-taxi service in Austin. I invite listeners to share their thoughts as we explore the evolving electric vehicle landscape.Support the Show:PatreonAcast+Other Podcasts:Beyond the Post YouTubeBeyond the Post PodcastShuffle Playlist918Digital WebsiteFriend of the show:Cars With CordsSources: Waymo considers selling Robotaxi's to normal peopleMaynooth University converts to fully electric fleetUS House discusses killing federal tax creditFoxtron and Mitsubishi Model Y LR RWDNew Model Y sells well in ChinaNew Model Y financing dealsTesla robotaxi rolloutTesla UK sales crashCybertruck and Autosteer*Show Art Created By Dall-eSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kilowatt. Support the show at https://plus.acast.com/s/kilowatt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Victoria McAlister from Towson University, Maryland, on everything you ever wanted to know about castles! Featuring all the big hits, Maynooth Castle, Bunratty, Blarney, Trim, the Rock of Dunamase, Clonard castle, Ferrycarrig, Carrickfergus, Irish castles, Anglo-Norman castles, Tower houses, colonialism, we cover it all. Dr McAlister busts some myths and explains how new advances in technology can assist the archaeologist and historian in their understanding of settlement around castles and the importance of considering the things we cannot see. Suggested reading:-Victoria McAlister, The Irish Tower House: Society, Economy and Environment c. 1300-1650 (Manchester University Press, hardback 2019, paperback 2021)-https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/great-castles-of-europe-Tom McNeill, Castles in Ireland: feudal power in a Gaelic world (Routledge, 1997)-Tadhg O'Keeffe, Ireland Encastellated, AD 950–1550; Insular castle-building in its European context (Four Courts Press, 2021)Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Dept of Music, Dept of History, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace? Explore this forgotten policy and its surprising legacy in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast!In the 20th century, many countries enforced so-called "Marriage Bars" – rules that required women to leave their jobs once they got married. While most countries abolished these policies by the 1950s, Ireland maintained its Marriage Bar until the 1970s. What impact did this have on the lives of Irish women, and what can we learn from it today?In the 39th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, Dr Irene Mosca, lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University, takes us on a journey through her research on Marriage Bars in Ireland and beyond. Drawing on data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), she reveals the lasting economic and social consequences of this institutionalised form of gender discrimination.Dr Mosca explains how women affected by the Irish Marriage Bar tended to have shorter working lives and lower personal incomes, yet also more children, more educated children, and – paradoxically – greater household wealth. She also sheds light on the political and social arguments that kept such policies in place and reflects on how the legacy of the Marriage Bar still echoes in today's debates on gender equality.Learn more about Irene Mosca:Dr Irene Mosca is a lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University and has a strong track record in applied health, population, and labour economics. She is also a research fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics and the Global Labor Organisation, and an Executive Committee Member of the Irish Society for Women in Economics.

Series 3, Episode 6 of Artery features Adèle Commins and Daithí Kearney with Kayla Rush Musicologist Dr Adèle Commins is Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Her PhD from Maynooth University focused on the music of Irish-born composer Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. Her recordings include contributions to an album of Irish piano accordion music released by Comhaltas in 2014 and vocal soloist on an album by Irish composer Sr Marie Dunne in 2015. She also contributes music in two local churches. Her recent research includes critically documenting the music of Co. Louth céilí bands from the mid-twentieth century. Her compositions featured in the seminal publications Tunes from the Women (2023) and some have been recorded by Cork-based Ceolta Sí (2020). Ethnomusicologist and geographer Dr Daithí Kearney is co-director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology, where he lectures in music, theatre and tourism. His PhD from University College Cork examined the geographies of Irish traditional music. An All-Ireland champion musician, he has toured and recorded as a musician, singer and dancer with a number of groups including Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, and performed for President Obama in The White House. He recorded the critically acclaimed album Midleton Rare with accordion player John Cronin in 2012 and continues to tour regularly. He wrote and produced the musical To Stay or Leave (2005, 2015) and his compositions have been recorded by groups including Nuada (2004) and Ceolta Sí (2020). As a composer, he has received commissions funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltachts and Cork County Council. Both Commins and Kearney have published extensively on music including contributions to the Companion to Irish Traditional Music and the Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland . In 2017 they released an album A Louth Lilt, featuring their own compositions, and produced the documentary The Road to Speyfest in 2016. International tours including North and South America, France, Scotland, Norway and England. They have composed and arranged a number of pieces for the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, of which they are musical directors. In 2024, they were commissioned by Louth County Council to compose the score for a music theatre production Brigid, Lady of Light for the 1500 celebrations of St Brigid in Co. Louth. Dr Kayla Rush is an assistant lecturer in music at Dundalk Institute of Technology. An anthropologist of art, music, and performance, her current research examines private, fee-paying rock music schools in global perspective. She previously held a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, supporting ethnographic research with Rock Jam, a private music education organisation in Ireland. Her work has appeared in Borderlands, Liminalities, Feminist Anthropology, Journal of Popular Music Education, and IASPM Journal, among others. She is the author of The Cracked Art World: Conflict, Austerity, and Community Arts in Northern Ireland (Berghahn, 2022). She is also a recognized teacher and practitioner of creative ethnography, with a particular interest in ethnographic science fiction. Artery is a podcast organised by Iza Kavedžija (University of Cambridge) and Robert Simpkins (SOAS, London) and supported by the AHRC. Music: Footsteps, by Robert Simpkins.

Prof Tim Thompson, Professor of Anthropology and Vice President for Students & Learning at Maynooth University discusses being part of a study which has found the first physical evidence of Gladiator and animal combat in ancient Roman times.

Headed back up the hills, and today we are in the misty uplands of Kildare with Professor Dr A Jamie Saris. Dr Saris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Maynooth University. He has been working for more than twenty years in medical and psychological anthropology in Ireland, North America, and parts of Africa, where he has researched and published on such diverse issues as the social life of mental hospitals, the experience of major mental illness, colonialism and its aftermath, structural violence and health risk, authenticity, health services research, drug use/abuse, professionalism in medical education.Find more information about Jamie here. His latest book can be found here.To help the podcast hike up more hills, comedic or otherwise, please be in touch with ideas of who I should be inviting on the podcast, and support me with some waterproof gear. All that and more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thank you to all the supporters as well as to the amazing band Bukahara for their permission to use their fabulous, on point song '⁠⁠Storytelling Animal⁠⁠' as our soundtrack.The World is Storytelling podcast is based on the book by the same name. Written by Arjen Barel, Ronni Gurwicz, and Stu Packer, it is the definitive guide to how sharing stories can be used for social impact and personal growth. Buy your physical or digital copy ⁠⁠today⁠⁠!

This is episode 4 of the My Identity podcast series hosted by Professor Colin Graham, Maynooth. In this series, Colin is in conversation with a range of people whose ideas, work and life experiences shed light on the topic of identity on the Island of Ireland. My Identity is part of the ARINS project. Colin Graham is Professor English and formerly Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Maynooth University. His books include Northern Ireland: Thirty Years of Photography, Deconstructing Ireland and Ideologies of Epic. He was editor of The Irish Review from 2004 to 2020. During the Brexit negotiations he created the Twitter account @borderirish and wrote the book I am the Border, so I am, published by HarperCollins. ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at www.arinsproject.com ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. My Identity is hosted by Professor Colin Graham. Podcast management and production by Dr Susie Deedigan (University of Notre Dame). Audio design and editing by Conor Patterson and Morgan Blain-Crehan, The Spinner's Mill, Belfast.

What IS personality? Are you born with your personality or is it shaped by experience? Can we change our personalities? Dr Katriona O'Sullivan, from Maynooth University's Psychology Department, takes Brendan on a whistlestop tour of some of the thinking behind personality, and some of the main models.

This week we are delighted to talk to the always enlightening Dr Christian Schweizer about his Research Ireland funded research on Dicuil, an Irish scholar who was prominent in the Carolingian Court in Aachen in the early 9th century. Dicuil wrote many fascinating texts covering a variety of disciplines including geography, astronomy and computistics, some of which, Dr Schweizer explains were annual "gifts" owed to King/Emperor Louis the Pious in return for his patronage. We also hear about other famous Irish scholars on the continent and ponder whether there are many parallels between their experiences and academia today.Suggested reading:-Christian Schweizer, ‘Categorizing Dicuil's De cursu solis lunaeque' in Peritia: Journal of the Medieval Academy of Ireland, xxxiii (2022), pp 227-48.⁠ https://doi.org/10.1484/J.PERIT.5.131906⁠-Anthony Harvey, ‘"Battling Andrew" and the West-Brit Syndrome Twelve Hundred Years Ago', Classics Ireland 9 (2002), 19-27.- Anthony Harvey, How linguistics can help the historian (Dublin, 2021), 11-22.-Sam Ottewill-Soulsby, ‘The Elephant's Knee: Questioning Ancient Wisdom in the Ninth Century', in The Historian's Sketchpad, November 30, 2023. ⁠https://salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2023/11/30/the-elephants-knee-questioning-ancient-wisdom-in-the-ninth-century/⁠- Tutrone, F. (2020). ‘Lucretius Franco-Hibernicus: Dicuil's Liber de astronomia and the Carolingian reception of De rerum natura', Illinois Classical Studies 45.1, 224-52.- Ross, H. E. and Knott, B. I. (2019), ‘Dicuil (9th century) on triangular and square numbers', British Journal for the History of Mathematics, 34.2, 79-94.- Dicuil, Liber de mensura orbis terrae, ed. & trans. J. J. Tierney [and Ludwig Bieler] (1967). Dublin: School of Celtic Studies.Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Dept of Music, Dept of History, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

Today's guest is Martin Curley, Digital Health Leader and Professor of Innovation at Maynooth University. In the episode, Martin delves into the pressing need for digital transformation in healthcare, elaborating on how delays in diagnosis can significantly increase mortality risks. He offers his insights spanning experience from electronic engineering and executive roles at Intel and MasterCard, where he harnessed technology for profit with purpose.Topics include:0:00 His journey to driving digital health innovation through collaboration4:39 Learning from top innovators to shape his leadership approach7:03 Overcoming resistance and driving healthcare innovation10:00 How AI accelerates diagnoses, improves care and saves lives16:25 Revolutionising healthcare through automation, efficiency and accessibility20:47 Utilizing AI and mobile health tools to empower patients and doctors27:51 Adopting digital and telehealth solutions to boost healthcare efficiency and accessibility31:46 How Telehealth and AI improve healthcare outcomes, reduce costs and enhance experiences37:51 The need to reimagine and engineer health systems43:22 Why Martin is driven by purpose, progress, relationships and making a difference

Apologies for the poor sound quality in this episode! This week Dr Janel Fontaine (Treasure Trove Officer, National Museums Scotland) talks us through some of the evidence for slavery in medieval Ireland. From the accounts of St Patrick in the 5th century to Gerald of Wales in the 12th century she explains how slavery was built into the social and economic fabric of Irish society. Suggested reading:- Janel Fontaine, Slave Trading in Early Medieval Europe (Manchester, 2025)- Fergus Kelly, Guide to Early Irish Law (Dublin, 1988)- Caitlin Ellis, ‘Perceptions of the Slave Trade in Britain and Ireland: “Celtic” and “Viking” Stereotypes', Quaestio Insularis 19 (2018), 127–57- Paul Holm, “The slave trade of Dublin, ninth to twelfth centuries”, Peritia 5 (1986), 317–345- David Wyatt, Slaves and Warriors in Medieval Britain and Ireland, 800-1200 (Brill, Leiden, 2009)- Charlene Eska, “Women and slavery in the early Irish laws”,  Studia Celtica Fennica 8 (2011), 29–39-Alice Rio, Slavery After Rome, 500-1100 (Oxford, 2017)Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Dept of Music, Dept of History, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

Guests:Gert Biesta is a Professor of Public Education in the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy, Maynooth University, and Professor of Educational Theory and Pedagogy at the Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh. Description:In this episode, Dr Sophie Specjal speaks with global education thought leader Professor Gert Biesta about the purpose of education beyond knowledge transfer. He shares his journey from post-war Rotterdam to his influential academic career, introducing his three-dimensional approach to learning—qualification, socialisation, and subjectification. They discuss the importance of high expectations, student engagement, and world-centered education, exploring how teachers can help students navigate the complexities of learning and life.

On The Newspaper Panel this week, Brendan is joined by; Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent, the Irish Examiner, Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist with the Sunday Times, Dr JoAnne Mancini, Associate Professor in the Department of History at Maynooth University and Louise Bayliss, Head of Social Justice and Policy at the Saint Vincent de Paul.

Private counselling sessions are the new school grinds, that's according to Anna Daly's guest…In wanting to comfort our children and ease their burden, are we in danger of depriving them of learning for themselves?Joining to discuss is Dr Clare Finegan, Lecturer in Education, Guidance and Counselling at Maynooth University's Department of Education, as well as Principal of East Glendalough School Co. Wicklow Craig Petrie and Clinical Psychologist Tara Logan Buckley.

Dr Clare Finegan, a lecturer in education, guidance and counselling at Maynooth University, told Oliver how she feels that when it comes to teen anxiety private counselling sessions are the new grinds.

In the third episode of ‘My Identity' Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth) is in conversation with Manchán Magan. This episode is a recording of a public conversation which took place in Dublin on 4 February 2025. Manchán Magan has written books on his travels in Africa, India and South America. He writes occasionally for The Irish Times, and presents the Almanac of Ireland podcast for RTÉ. He has made dozens of documentaries on issues of world culture for TG4, RTÉ, & Travel Channel. His books include Thirty-Two Words For Field, Listen to the Land Speak, Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Words For Nature, and Wolf-Men and Water Hounds. With Antic-Ham, he's collaborated on two art books for Redfoxpress. www.manchan.com In this episode he discusses his identity and background as well as his work. Read more about this public event: https://www.ria.ie/blog/you-need-to-walk-the-land-to-feel-the-stories/ About the Series This is episode 3 of the My Identity podcast series hosted by Professor Colin Graham, Maynooth. In this series, Colin is in conversation with a range of people whose ideas, work and life experiences shed light on the topic of identity on the Island of Ireland. My Identity is part of the ARINS project. Colin Graham is Professor English and formerly Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Maynooth University. His books include Northern Ireland: Thirty Years of Photography, Deconstructing Ireland and Ideologies of Epic. He was editor of The Irish Review from 2004 to 2020. During the Brexit negotiations he created the Twitter account @borderirish and wrote the book I am the Border, so I am, published by HarperCollins. ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at WWW.ARINSPROJECT.COM ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. My Identity is hosted by Professor Colin Graham. Podcast management and production by Dr Susie Deedigan. Audio design and editing by Conor Patterson and Morgan Blain-Crehan, The Spinner's Mill, Belfast.

It's time for our annual discussion of the man responsible for our national holiday in Ireland, Fáilte Ireland's global greening campaign and J. D. Vance wearing shamrock socks in the White House! Dr Elizabeth Dawson (Carlow College) is the perfect expert guide through over 14 centuries of stories celebrating St Patrick. She explains how Patrick became our patron saint, how traditions around Patrick evolved, why the 3 day weekend actually goes the whole way back to the 8th century, and from where snakes, parades and green beer come. For those looking for the historical individual Patrick, have a listen to our episode with the excellent Terry O'Hagan from last year: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xYXTvNMKUbOwfG9Cf061N?si=-_3QBbkGQnOx9YofGTKXVQSuggested reading:Dawson, Elizabeth, Lives and Afterlives: The Hiberno-Latin Patrician Tradition, 650–1100 Studia Traditionis Theologiae, 55 (Turnhout, 2023)Dawson, Elizabeth, https://www.confessio.ie/more/article_dawson#Wycherley, Niamh, 'Meet St Patrick's Spin Doctor,' https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/0314/1036430-meet-st-patricks-spin-doctor/Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

€250 million in capital flowed through the RDI Hub for startups and scaling companies in the southwest region. €1M Smart Regions AI Navigator Programme: Partnering with Enterprise Ireland, RDI Hub launched a €1 million programme to help SMEs adopt AI solutions. RDI Hub celebrates its five-year anniversary as €250 million in capital flows to its members. Photo credit Don McMonagle. L-R Minister Norma Foley, Bertie Murphy, Chief Strategy Officer Fexco, Anna Savage, Fexco Group CFO, Neil Hosty, Fexco Group CEO, Denis McCarthy, Chairman at Fexco and Liam Cronin CEO RDI Hub. RDI Hub celebrates its five-year anniversary Impact over 5 years In the five years since its inception, the RDI Hub has become a pivotal player in the evolving innovation landscape across Ireland. The RDI Hub has seen over €250m in capital flow through to be invested in its members to establish and grow their business. In addition, other key findings from the RDI Hub Impact Report include: 97 member companies have been supported through the RDI Hub since it opened in 2020 These companies have created and supported over 430 jobs 70 new products and services have been launched by RDI Hub companies Over 10,000 people have attended RDI Hub training programmes, including the AI Summer School, NDRC, and Skillnet Innovation Exchange Providing STEM education to over 500 female secondary school students in Munster in 2024. EI and RDI Hub announce a €1m Smart Regions AI Navigator Programme Partnering with Enterprise Ireland, RDI Hub announced the €1 million Smart Regions AI Navigator programme, which will enable SMEs to adopt and implement artificial intelligence solutions. The Smart Regions AI Navigator programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027. Over the next three years, the programme will deliver AI masterclasses, strategic workshops, training days, and wraparound consultancy services to equip Irish businesses with the tools to thrive and engage in peer-learning in an AI-driven landscape. The programme is live and RDI hub, Portershed and Greentech HQ are delighted to announce that leading companies within the manufacturing and engineering sectors are currently taking part in the programme. Growing our network in a virtual world The RDI Hub Digital Community, launched in March 2024, offers global virtual mentorship and resources for tech startups. It connects mentors, entrepreneurs, and innovators with coaching and upskilling opportunities. This virtual community will expand across international markets, deepening relationships and opportunities across the global innovation ecosystem. The evolving Fexco and RDI Hub Partnership This impact report marks the fifth anniversary of the Hub's partnership with Fexco, highlighting ongoing investment and support. To date, Fexco has provided the 17,000 sq. ft. facility, mentorship programs, and financial backing for STEM education initiatives. The latest of which is the STEM Passport for Inclusion, run in association with the RDI Hub, Maynooth University, Microsoft and Munster Technological University, which provided 500 female post-primary students with access to STEM education in Munster in 2024. Marking the 5th Anniversary The RDI Hub's fifth anniversary was celebrated at an event at their offices in Killorglin, Co Kerry with stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem in attendance, including RDI Hub partners Fexco, Munster Technological University, and Kerry County Council. Minister Norma Foley will deliver the keynote address, highlighting the importance of AI in shaping Ireland's future. The event will also feature panel discussions with industry leaders, including Kevin Marshall (Microsoft), Bronagh Riordan (EY), Joseph Walsh (Munster Technological University), John Kelleher (ADAPT Research Centre), and Andreea Wade (Delta Partners), as well as examples of AI use cases from Irish businesses such as TLI, Energywise, O'Ca...

Due to popular demand our podcast producer Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva has finally come on to the other side of the mic as one of our expert guests! We chat ‘soft power', definitions of patronage, Agnes Ní Máelsechlainn ‘An Caillech Mór' (d.1196), St Mary's Arrouaisian monastery, Clonard, & reflections on the study of medieval Irish history. Tiago is over half way through his PhD research in the Department of Early Irish, Maynooth University, under the supervision of Dr Wycherley, working on the Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland Pathway project ‘Power and patronage in medieval Ireland: Clonard from the sixth to twelfth centuries'. Tiago's research aims to understand how women exercised power and authority in medieval Ireland by operating socio-cultural and political networks of patronage. This investigation is framed around noblewomen and religious women of the 12th century due to its intense and transformative character, but it allows certain chronological flexibility in order to understand the development of the concept and exercise of female power. To fill this epistemological lacuna, he employs an interdisciplinary approach anchored in a wide array of sources such as the corpus of secular genealogies, the Banshenchas and annalistic evidence. Suggested reading: Tiago Veloso Silva, The other Brigids: meet the forgotten mighty women of Medieval Ireland, https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/0130/1493745-medieval-ireland-kildare-women-st-brigid-darlugdach-gnathnat-sebdann-muireann-and-coblaith-sarnat/ Tracy Collins, Female Monasticism in Medieval Ireland: An Archaeology (Cork, 2021) Burke, Peter. History and social theory (Cambridge, 2005) Hall, Dianne. Women and the Church in Medieval Ireland (Dublin, 2008) Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday)Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

In the second episode of ‘My Identity' Professor Colin Graham (Maynooth) is in conversation with NI Justice Minister and Leader of the Alliance Party, Naomi Long MLA. This episode is a recording of a public conversation which took place in Dublin on 6 December 2024. A lifelong resident of East Belfast, and politically active since her early twenties, Naomi first joined Belfast City Council as an Alliance Party councillor in 2001. She was subsequently elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as MLA for East Belfast in 2003. After having the honour of serving as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 2009 to 2010, she became the first Alliance MP elected to Westminster, as Member of Parliament for East Belfast in 2010, unseating the then First Minister, Peter Robinson. In May 2016, Naomi returned to the Northern Ireland Assembly as MLA for East Belfast, before becoming Leader of Alliance that October. Since then, she has presided over the most successful elections in Alliance's history. Naomi is the current Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. In this episode she discusses, among other things, her upbringing, her faith and her career journey. The recording of the event can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXiqr9KX34s Read more about the event here: https://www.ria.ie/blog/the-long-view-identity-is-a-fluke-of-where-you-were-born/ This is episode 2 of the My Identity podcast series hosted by Professor Colin Graham, Maynooth. In this series, Colin is in conversation with a range of people whose ideas, work and life experiences shed light on the topic of identity on the Island of Ireland. My Identity is part of the ARINS project. Colin Graham is Professor English and formerly Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Maynooth University. His books include Northern Ireland: Thirty Years of Photography, Deconstructing Ireland and Ideologies of Epic. He was editor of The Irish Review from 2004 to 2020. During the Brexit negotiations he created the Twitter account @borderirish and wrote the book I am the Border, so I am, published by HarperCollins. ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at www.arinsproject.com ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. My Identity is hosted by Professor Colin Graham. Podcast management and production by Dr Susie Deedigan. Audio design and editing by The Spinning Mill, Belfast.

New Research investigating whether casual kitchen dancing counts as moderate exercise has found that Dancing around your kitchen for 20 minutes every morning is enough to reap health benefits, scientists say. To discuss this Dr Ciara McCormack, Assistant Professor of Sport Science and Health in Maynooth University.

European leaders gather in Paris for emergency summit on Ukraine. We discuss what this meeting will bring with John O'Brennan, Jean Monnet Professor Of European Integration at Maynooth University.

We're marking the 40th anniversary of the legalisation of the sale of contraceptives in Ireland in this episode of Talking History. Our panel features: Dr Jennifer Redmond, Associate Professor in 20th Century Irish History, Maynooth University; Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and Director of Gender Studies at UCD, specialising in Irish women's/gender history; Prof Caitriona Beaumont, Professor of Social History at London South Bank University, and Visiting Full Professor at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice/Gender Studies at UCD; and Prof Lindsey Earner-Byrne, Professor of Contemporary Irish History, Trinity College Dublin.

Joining Brendan to discuss the stories of the week were Hazel Chu, Green Party Councillor, John O'Brennan, Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, Sarah McGuiness, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, John Fitzgerald, Economist and former member of the Climate Change Advisory Council.

"I have no claim to anything here save through her". These are the reputed words of one of the most famous knights in English history, William Marshal, describing his wife Isabel, daughter of Aoife and Strongbow. In honour of St Valentine's Day Dr John Marshall (Lancaster University) gives us the full story of Isabel de Clare — a fascinating noblewoman, whose life, inheritance and influence crossed multiple (shifting) territorial boundaries. Dr Marshall offers complex and sometimes poignant insights, explaining to us how, being "born to an English father from the Welsh March and an Irish royal mother, Isabel's life crossed geographic and cultural divides, though neither of these were as rigid as we tend to think.” Suggested reading: You can find details on John's publications at: https://lancaster.academia.edu/JohnMarshall The history of William Marshal , eds A. J. Holden, S. Gregory, and D. Crouch (3 vols, London, 2002) L. Mitchell, ‘‘The most perfect knights' Countess: Isabella de Clare, her daughters, and women's exercise of power and influence, 1190–ca. 1250' in H. J. Tanner (ed.), Medieval elite women and the exercise of power, 1100–1400: moving beyond the exceptionalist debate (London, 2019), 45–65 J. Bradley, C. Ó Drisceoil and M. Potterton (eds), William Marshal and Ireland (Dublin, 2020)Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday).Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

In this episode, we're going back in time back to the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century taking a captivating journey into the grandeur, elegance, and daily realities of life in British country houses.Joining us is Adrian Tinniswood — Adrian is a professorial research fellow in history at the University of Buckingham, adjunct professor of history at Maynooth University, and one of the foremost experts on the history of British country homes. He has authored many books including The Long Weekend, Noble Ambitions and  his latest book, The Power and the Glory.Adrian gives us a front-row seat to life in these magnificent homes — from the glittering dinner parties and opulent furnishings to the strict hierarchies and gruelling schedules of the staff who kept everything running smoothly. What was it really like to live in a country house? And how did these houses evolve through times of prosperity and hardship?So, grab your afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches and get ready for a fascinating conversation with Adrian Tinniswood.Memorable quotes;"If it's big and it's posh, it's a country house.""Life was actually pretty good for servants."“The moment I set foot in Sudbury Hall, I thought—country houses are how I want to spend my life.” “We sometimes forget that the reason we save these places is because they're so damn beautiful. They're not just history lessons—they drip with joy.” “For some, buying a country house was the pot of gold at the end of their rainbow—it gave them access to county society.” – Adrian Tinniswood Adrian's links:https://adriantinniswood.com/https://www.instagram.com/adriantinniswood/Book: The Power and the GloryMA in Country House StudiesConnect with Undercurrent Stories:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

John O'Brennan, Director of European Studies at Maynooth University and Donnchadh O'Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central & Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs

Jerry spoke to Joanna McHugh Power who’s associate professor in psychology at Maynooth University. She studies loneliness and social functioning in later life. She’s been involved with this research: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/loneliness-taskforce-research-network-step-towards-togetherness-dr-joanna-mchugh-power-department

"If the relationship is unresolved and they die, it's ok to feel sad that they're gone" - so says Dr Katriona O'Sullivan, Psychology lecturer at Maynooth University, who talked about grieving the people in our lives who die with whom we had complicated relationships in life.

As a follow up to our episode on the English Conquest with Dr Colin Veach (University of Hull) we examine the bias inherent in the contemporary sources, including the famous Laudabiliter papal bull, the works of Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis/Gerald de Barri) , and the 'Song of Dermot and the Earl'. We also discuss how historians can best approach this complicated period of Irish history.Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday).Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.comX (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPodSupported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council).Views expressed are the speakers' own.Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva.Logo design: Matheus de Paula CostaMusic: Lexin_Music

Ireland's three Regional Assemblies, in collaboration with the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) at Maynooth University, are proud to announce the launch of the National Census Atlas, a groundbreaking tool that provides an unprecedented view of over 200 social, economic, and environmental indicators at the neighbourhood level across Ireland. Alongside this, a new section on the Regional Development Monitor (RDM) dedicated to key Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) indicators is also being unveiled. This pioneering atlas is hosted on the Tailte Éireann GeoHive platform via the Regional Development Monitor (RDM), enabling users to explore a wealth of data in an accessible and interactive format. From housing trends and employment statistics to environmental factors, the atlas delivers valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and citizens alike. The National Census Atlas offers: Neighbourhood-level insights: Detailed mapping of data for informed decision-making at the local level. Comprehensive indicators: Over 200 datasets covering critical aspects of Irish life, including demographics, social and cultural factors, education, health and wellbeing, housing, employment and economy, communications and ICT, and transport and commuting. User-friendly access: An intuitive interface powered by the GeoHive platform, making data exploration straightforward for all users. All data in the atlas comes from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Census 2022 results, ensuring the most up-to-date and accurate representation of Ireland's social and economic characteristics. A Resource for Evidence-Based Planning and Beyond The National Census Atlas is primarily aimed at supporting the planning sector in Ireland, providing a robust resource for evidence-based planning and policymaking. It will be a useful support tool for Government Department and State bodies, local authorities, community groups and planning consultants. However, its applications extend far beyond, offering valuable insights for secondary and third-level students in understanding the social and economic characteristics of the country. Examples of the Tool in Use The National Census Atlas illustrates its potential to support current and future policy development for key social issues. For instance: Population change: The tool shows levels of population change over the last twenty years, highlighting areas of major population growth alongside regions experiencing continual population decline. Household heating sources: The atlas details variations in household heating methods within and across counties, providing essential data for policies aimed at achieving a just transition from fossil fuels. Employment clustering: Insights into the clustering of employment in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing industries, and professional services can guide regional economic development strategies. Religious affiliation trends: The tool reveals differing trends in religious affiliation between urban and rural areas, offering a nuanced understanding of cultural shifts. Commuting patterns: Detailed data on commuting patterns to cities and large towns helps inform transport and infrastructure planning. Setting Ireland Apart as an International Leader The National Census Atlas is unique in its scope and detail. No other country has developed a national resource as comprehensive as this, positioning Ireland as an example of international best practice. This innovative approach highlights Ireland's commitment to leveraging data for sustainable development and inclusive planning. Technological Advancements for Local Authorities One of the key advancements in this tool is its ability to allow local authorities to develop their own maps tailored to their specific areas - counties, cities and towns, local electoral areas and municipal districts. This feature empowers local authorities and elected members to better understand and respond to the unique needs of their commu...

Justin Gleeson, Director of All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO), Maynooth University discusses the advantages of the new National Census Atlas, the first of its kind in Europe.

With the Taoiseach announcing that Ireland will adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, what does this mean, and will it cause problems?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr Barry Cannon, Associate Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University, who has been expressing a view on this in the Irish Times today…

Happy St Brigit's weekend! (For links to Brigit content see below). Instead of Brigit we were eager to release an episode we recorded just before Christmas with the brilliant Dr Colin Veach, from the University of Hull, on the English colonisation of Ireland, which may be known to some of you as the Anglo-Norman Invasion. Today's episode mostly focusses on the English perspective of the conquest. Whether it was inevitable, how we should frame the events, English or Anglo-Norman etc. We talk Diarmaid Mac Murchada or in English, Dermot McMurrough and Strongbow, King Henry II and the bad King John, but we'll cover Rory O'Connor and other aspects in more detail in future episodes. We've an extra super short bonus episode which we will release next week on the initial propaganda that was released justifying the English invasion and how historians should approach the sources today. Suggested reading: Colin Veach, From Kingdom to Colony: Framing the English Conquest of Ireland , The English Historical Review, 2024;, ceae210, https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/ceae210 Brigit links: Niamh on the Bitesize Irish Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om-vObx_1gg Tiago's article on RTÉ Brainstorm: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/0130/1493745-medieval-ireland-kildare-women-st-brigid-darlugdach-gnathnat-sebdann-muireann-and-coblaith-sarnat/ Podcast episode with Prof. Catherine McKenna last year: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1GYSJHylMlTNuKUSSzLhN1?si=fcdf72608d9142b7 Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.com X (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPod Supported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council). Views expressed are the speakers' own. Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva. Logo design: Matheus de Paula Costa Music: Lexin_Music

The Government is expecting to have staff in parts of the Civil Service return more frequently to the office as working from home looks set to be scaled back. We get reaction from Michael Doherty. Professor in Employment Law at Maynooth University.

Most people would have learned about the Norman Invasion of Ireland back at the end of primary school, or the start of secondary school.So, the details might be somewhat hazy in your mind, but that may not be a bad thing as much of what we learned was a story told primarily from the perspective of the invader rather than the invaded. Indeed, it's not even referred to as the Norman Invasion anymore!Dr Seán Ó Hoireabhard is a Lecturer in Medieval History at Maynooth University and the author of a new book focussing on the invasion as experienced by the native Irish Kings. It's called ‘The Medieval Irish Kings and the English Invasion'. Seán joins Seán to discuss.Image: British Heritage Travel

Naoise O Muiri, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay North; Aiden Farrelly, Social Democrats TD for Kildare North; Mark Ward, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West; Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner; Dr. Tadhg MacIntyre, Associate Professor of Environmental Psychology at Maynooth University

In this episode of the podcast, Niall is joined by Professor Seth Barrett Tillman from Maynooth University's Law and Criminology department to discuss Ireland's proportional representation system and its impact on elections. With voters feeling increasingly disillusioned, Seth breaks down the mechanics of the system, its strengths, and its glaring flaws.Seth challenges the idea that proportional representation always results in a fair outcome, explaining: “Proportional representation makes sure that minorities have at least a voice, even if they don't really have an element of control.” He also highlights the stark voting disparities across the country, pointing out that in Kerry, a candidate needs over 13,000 votes to reach the quota, while in Dublin Central, it takes just 6,500. “That is, in my view, very unfair,” he states.As the conversation unfolds, Seth and Niall debate whether low-quality votes deep in the count are undermining democracy, how the lack of transparency in Ireland's system obscures accountability, and why the electoral structure favors urban constituencies over rural voters. They also touch on international comparisons, from the U.S. Electoral College to mandatory voting in Australia.Niall shares his own frustrations from running in the European elections, comparing the convoluted counting system to the ‘pub debate logic' of a World Cup qualifier—where one team's fate depends on a complex mix of other results. Meanwhile, Seth explores whether shifting from population-based representation to voter-based constituencies could bring a fairer balance to Ireland's political landscape.Is the system broken, or is it simply misunderstood? Would Ireland benefit from a two-party system, or is coalition politics the best we can hope for? And more importantly—should you really be allowed to win a seat because someone thought you "looked nice"? Tune in for a fascinating deep dive into the heart of Ireland's electoral process.

Naoise O Muiri, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay North; Aiden Farrelly, Social Democrats TD for Kildare North; Mark Ward, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West; Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner; Dr. Tadhg MacIntyre, Associate Professor of Environmental Psychology at Maynooth University

Beannachtaí na Féile Bríde oraibh!The Bitesize Irish podcast is back with a special discussion about St Brigid and her influence on Irish life with Dr Niamh Wycherley of Maynooth University.Niamh is host of the excellent Medieval Irish History Podcast.See shownotes and original video at: https://www.bitesize.irish/blog/all-about-brid/Check out all the seasonal material on our blog here: https://www.bitesize.irish/seasonal/Get 10% off membership at: offer.irishSupport the showGo to www.bitesize.irish/links to find out more about courses and membership #GaeilgeGachLá

In this episode, we talk to Veronica about Ireland's huge potential for Advanced Air Mobility and the work she is doing with the various organisations. Dublin was one of the world's first cities to adopt a drone strategy, so Veronica goes into more detail about the background behind the initiative and what the roadmap looks like for the coming years. We also talk about why Ireland is best placed to be a real leader in this industry, and Veronica also tells us what the rest of the year has in store with her work.

Jim O'Malley, New York-based immigration lawyer and Jennie Stephens, Professor of Climate Justice at Maynooth University, outline what a Trump presidency will mean for immigration and climate.

In this episode, Niamh Wycherley interviews Mairéad Finnegan, a PhD researcher in Maynooth University, about dress, clothing and fashion in late medieval Ireland (12th to 16th centuries). Mairéad brilliantly paints a vivid picture of how a medieval Irish person would express their ethnic identity, status, gender or community through their clothes and provides a glimpse into the private lives of medieval Irish men and women. Mairéad talks sumptuary laws, tomb effigies and dodgy hairstyles and indulges all of Niamh's random musings on short shorts, long shoes and colourful clothing. We ask the big questions like who wore it best (Waterford vs Limerick edition) in the 14th century and how does one deal with blackberry stains? Mairéad is half way through her PhD research in the Department of Early Irish (supervisor Prof. Deborah Hayden) and the Department of History (supervisor Dr Michael Potterton). Suggested reading: Sparky Booker, 'Moustaches, Mantles, and Saffron Shirts: What Motivated Sumptuary Law in Medieval English Ireland?' Speculum 96/3 (July 2021): https://doras.dcu.ie/26481/1/Speculum%20booker%20mantles%20moustaches%20final.pdf Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday). Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.com X (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPod Supported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council). Views expressed are the speakers' own. Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva. Logo design: Matheus de Paula Costa Music: Lexin_Music

John Sweeney, Emeritus Professor at Maynooth University and Climatologist and Kevin O' Sullivan Environment and Science Editor, The Irish Times

Professor David Malone, of the Department of Maths and Statistics at Maynooth University has been looking at the data to find out who had it easier in the leaving cert years gone by.

Happy New Year! To soothe fragile minds after the Christmas break we are easing you in to 2025 with St Columbanus part 2 — a further, more relaxed, reflection, on the career and legacy of Irish monastic founder Columbanus with Dr Alexander O'Hara. Do listen to our previous episode from November 22nd first if you get the chance. In this episode, we hear lots of Columbanus' own words, from his own writings. Dr O'Hara discusses how Columbanus became a dynastic holy man to the Merovingians, high politics, murder, marriage alliances, the appeal of Irish radical asceticism, the tension between temporal and spiritual power, the physical layout of Irish monastic sites, the legacy of St Gall (Sankt Gallen). Suggested reading: Sancti Columbani Opera, ed. G. S. M. Walker, (Scriptores Latini Hiberniae Vol. II) The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, (Dublin, 1957 [repr. 1970]) Ian Wood, The Merovingian Kingdoms (450-751) (London, 1994) Alexander O'Hara (ed.), Saint Columbanus: Selected Writings (Veritas, Dublin, 2015)  J.-Michel Reaux Colvin & Alexander O'Hara, "Réécriture and the cultus of Saint Gallus, ca. 680-850: A fidelissimis testibus indicata", Traditio 79 (2024) Regular episodes every two weeks (on a Friday). Email: medievalirishhistory@gmail.com X (formerly Twitter): @EarlyIrishPod Supported by the Dept of Early Irish, Maynooth University, & Taighde Éireann (formerly Science Foundation Ireland/Irish Research Council). Views expressed are the speakers' own. Production: Tiago de Oliveira Veloso Silva. Logo design: Matheus de Paula Costa Music: Lexin_Music

Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant. It was a rare moment of hope for Palestinians, but the US government responded with outrage.Earlier this year, a report by the Guardian and +972 Magazine showed that Israel had been spying on the ICC for a number of years. The aim of the espionage was to keep track of which particular allegations of war crimes were being investigated by the ICC. Israel would then start its own investigation retroactively into the same allegations. This was designed to undercut the ICC and make it possible for people like US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller to speak about the virtues of the Israeli court system.Our guest today for a conversation about the ICC arrest warrants is John Reynolds. John is a professor of law at Maynooth University and the author of Empire, Emergency and International Law. He's joined us twice before on Long Reads to speak about the challenges Israel is facing on the international legal front.Find his last interview for the podcast, "Backing Israeli Apartheid Isn't Just Immoral — It's Illegal," here: https://jacobin.com/2024/08/israeli-apartheid-gaza-icj-iccLong Reads is a Jacobin podcast looking in-depth at political topics and thinkers, both contemporary and historical, with the magazine's longform writers. Hosted by features editor Daniel Finn. Produced by Conor Gillies, music by Knxwledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.