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EU ministers are to debate the bloc's approach to trade talks with the United States. With Brussels scrambling to head off 30% tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. Pat discusses this and more with Nora Strecker, Associate Professor of Economics at UCD and also Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for Euro News.
Donald Trump announces plans to sell military defence weapons to Ukraine.He has not specified the type of weapons or the amount, but he did warn the EU that they will cover the cost. We get the latest on this and more with Scott Lucas Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.
Dr Andrew Hines, Lecturer at the School of Computer Science in UCD, on how AI is impacting jobs.
The Independent Covid Evaluation Panel aims to understand the extent of the damage from the Covid-19 pandemic, and take those learnings for advice on preparation for the next potential epidemic. So, what has been learned?Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor of Social Policy in UCD and a member of the Independent Covid Evaluation Panel has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner, and joins Seán to discuss.
The Independent Covid Evaluation Panel aims to understand the extent of the damage from the Covid-19 pandemic, and take those learnings for advice on preparation for the next potential epidemic. So, what has been learned?Nat O'Connor, Assistant Professor of Social Policy in UCD and a member of the Independent Covid Evaluation Panel has been writing about this in the Irish Examiner, and joins Seán to discuss.
The Housing Minister has issued new guidelines on apartments, changing the minimum sizes, reducing the requirement for open spaces & removing requirements for communal spaces. To discuss this Tom Phillips, Town Planning Consultant /Adjunct Professor of Planning in UCD & Darragh Moriarty, Labour Party Councillor for Dublin South West Inner City.
How many times have you looked at your weather app when it's raining, only for your phone to insist that you're actually mistaken and the sun is splitting the rocks!This didn't happen in the past. Back in the good old days, you could be sure of the weather by just taking a look around you.If the hills seemed far away, then the weather would be good. If the cat sat with its back to the fire, then the weather would be bad. Simple!Kelly Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore in UCD. She joins Seán to discuss the origin behind some of these weather phrases.
The Cabinet is to consider reducing the size of studio apartments in order to encourage developers to build more of them.Is this the most effective way to solve the housing crisis?Orla Hegarty, Architect & Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD and Kate English, Chief Economist at Deloitte, spoke to Matt on Monday's The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.
We often don't think of the fact poorly dogs and cats need blood transfusions. Finn Ryan told Brendan about her dog Vernon who is one of Irelands greatest donators! To learn more about animal blood donations go to UCD veterinary hospital's website
How many times have you looked at your weather app when it's raining, only for your phone to insist that you're actually mistaken and the sun is splitting the rocks!This didn't happen in the past. Back in the good old days, you could be sure of the weather by just taking a look around you.If the hills seemed far away, then the weather would be good. If the cat sat with its back to the fire, then the weather would be bad. Simple!Kelly Fitzgerald is the Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore in UCD. She joins Seán to discuss the origin behind some of these weather phrases.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, was pictured crying at Prime Minister's Question Time. Commentators called her "unprofessional and wrong." This level of criticism begs the question - are we tougher on female leaders? Professor Brendan Kelly of Trinity College Dublin and Mary McAuliffe, Director of Gender Studies at UCD join the program
Bedsits suited students, single people, separated people and many others, and should not have been banned in 2013. That's according to Michael McDowell's latest column in the Irish Times. To discuss further is Tom Phillips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD and also Rory Hearne, Housing Spokesperson for the Social Democrats,
Bedsits suited students, single people, separated people and many others, and should not have been banned in 2013. That's according to Michael McDowell's latest column in the Irish Times. To discuss further is Tom Phillips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD and also Rory Hearne, Housing Spokesperson for the Social Democrats,
Colin O'Gara, Head of Addiction Services in St John of God Hospital and Clinical professor of Psychiatry at UCD. discusses gambling inducements with Claire.
Can life be programmed like software? Synthetic biology says yes. We're entering an era where DNA is code and biology is becoming a programmable platform. You can now order synthetic DNA online and use AI to design brand-new proteins. Today, we're diving into the frontlines of this biotech revolution — and joining us is microbiologist, geneticist, and futurist Andrew Hessel to explore what's possible now and what's coming next.Also featured in Newsround are Dr Shelley Brady of DCU and Dr Shane Bergin of UCD.
Andrew Parnell, Professor of Data Science for Climate at UCD, discusses Europe's extreme heatwave.
In a city increasingly defined by data, design, and digital connectivity, a new pilot project is giving some of its youngest residents a powerful tool for change - Minecraft. As part of the Smart Docklands Pilot Call 2024 projects, Craft My Street addresses the topic of community development by delivering workshops to schools in Dublin. A total of 139 students participated and 54 ideas were designed in Minecraft. This initiative was created by researchers from University College Dublin that uses gaming to amplify youth voices in city-making. Blending open-source geospatial data with interactive multiplayer crowd mapping, this project enables young people to propose real-world urban interventions, all while building their ideas block by block in a virtual version of Dublin's Docklands. The initiative is part of a broader effort by Smart Docklands, an innovation programme established by Dublin City Council and CONNECT, the Research Ireland Centre headquartered at Trinity College Dublin. In 2024, the programme launched a €50,000 open call to fund pilots across four urgent themes identified through public engagement: environmental monitoring; urban greening; antisocial behaviour/safety; and community development. Craft My Street was selected for its focus on the latter and its potential to reimagine what participation looks like in the digital age. "Craft My Street shows what happens when researchers meet young people where they are - in games, in classrooms, in their communities - and hand them the tools to shape the future. It's not just about Minecraft; it's about empowering the next generation to imagine and build a better city," said Trinity's Prof. Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Centre. "Young people are rarely included in decisions that affect the communities they live in," said Ítalo Sousa de Sena, Assistant Professor in Digital Landscape Design at UCD and the project's lead. "The Smart Docklands Pilot Programme was a great opportunity to further develop the Craft My Street project and validate its impacts. The network of participation and expertise in engagement from the Smart Docklands team was essential to achieve the goals of the project. The funding was crucial to guarantee that all students could have the same experience with the project, by securing devices and the game for all participants, as well as to continue promoting the playful crowd mapping of Dublin in Minecraft!" Through Mapathons, classroom-based workshops, and access to a public Minecraft server, participating students imagined new public spaces, proposed green solutions, and mapped safety and accessibility issues. The virtual environments reflected real data and spatial realities - but the creativity was all theirs. Reflecting on the programme's impact, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, said: "Young people are an important part of shaping the future of the city, and it's essential to involve them in the conversation. The Craft My Street project as part of the Smart Docklands Pilot Call 2024 projects is a fantastic example of how technology can make youth participation in decision-making more engaging and inclusive." "By reshaping their surroundings in a virtual Dublin through Minecraft, students created solutions in a fun and meaningful way. I'm delighted to support this initiative and to see the creativity and vision of young people come to life. I was particularly flattered to see my own avatar be brought to life." Karolina Anielska, Programme Manager at Smart Docklands, said: "Craft My Street proved that serious topics like city planning can be fun and engaging, especially when young people lead the way. Through Minecraft, they shared creative ideas for Dublin's future and reminded us that play can be powerful. Their energy doesn't just shape the city - it encourages adults to get involved too. This is just the beginning." While the outcomes are playful, the project is underpinned by serious intent. It supports the National Framework for Chi...
On episode 176 I am delighted to be joined by All-ireland winner club football manager with Cuala, Austin O'Malley. The former Mayo and Wicklow inter county footballer was involved in both the 2004 and 2006 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship finals with Mayo. O'Malley won the 2006 Dublin Senior Football Championship while playing for UCD and lined out with St.Vincent's in Marino. He took over as manager of Cuala Senior football team and in his 3rd season led them to the 2024 All-Ireland club football title following a first ever county football title win against Kilmacud Crokes. As a player he was coached by Mick O'Dwyer, Davy Billings, Micky Whelan, John Maughan, John O'Mahoney and Mickey Moran, some of the best gaelic football coaches of all time. Austin shares insights from the legends of coaching and how it has shaped his approach as a leader, coach and manager. During this episode we discuss coaching, performance, vision, stretch goals, energy management as a coach or manager, preparing for a match as a manager and more! Plenty of takeaways for athletes, coaches, managers and those involved in elite sport throughout the chat. A teacher by trade he moved into performance coaching working with Enda McNulty and completed multiple academic qualifications before setting up his own business Hexagon performance where he works with individuals in sport and business. His work includes improving human performance, building High-Performance teams, Culture Coding, and is a skilled Health & Wellbeing practitioner. Qualifications include BBS Degree in Business Studies, Hdip In Education, BSC in Strength & Conditioning, Diploma in The Science of Wellbeing, MSc in The Science of Performance Coaching and a Certificate in Sport and Performance Psychology. Find Austin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-o-malley/ https://hexagonperformance.ie/ Follow The Sideline Live Social Media channels: https://twitter.com/thesidelinelive https://www.instagram.com/thesidelinelive/ Recorded using Samson Q2 microphone, Edited using GarageBandIntro music, Watered Eyes by a talented Irish artist, Dillon Ward check him out here . If you are looking to set up your own podcast get in touch with the Prymal Productions team www.prymal.ie
In this episode: a profile of Ireland's longest-serving Minister for Justice, Gerald Boland, with Prof Stephen Kelly, Professor of Modern History and British Irish Relations at Liverpool Hope University; counter-insurgency strategies in the Civil War, with author Dr Gareth Prendergast; and how women changed the study of foreign languages in Ireland, with Dr Phyllis Gaffney, French Adjunct Researcher at UCD.
Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is urging holidaymakers to be aware of CITES regulations – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – which protect endangered plants and animals from illegal trade. Many people don’t realise that everyday souvenirs—such as ivory trinkets, coral jewellery, reptile skin products, certain orchids, and traditional medicines—can be illegal to bring into Ireland under CITES regulations. These items may seem harmless, but their trade threatens endangered species. Jerry spoke to Dr Noeleen Smyth of UCD.
Architect and conservationist, Roisin Murphy, and UCD history professor, Conor Mulvagh join The Hard Shoulder to discuss why so many of Ireland's heritage buildings are deteriorating.This comes after a viscious row erupted in the Dáil between Simon Harris and Sinn Féin on plans to redevelop the GPO.Listen here to hear if these plans will be positive, or yet another failure in the state acknowledging the past and present.
According to an Al Jazeera report, Ireland is the second biggest importer of Israeli products.And, with the Tánaiste bringing the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet yesterday, is our government's talk over Israeli actions in Gaza at odds with our actual economic relationship with the country?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Patrick Brodie, Assistant Professor at the School of Information and Communication Studies at UCD.Image: Reuters
US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with Israel and Iran after claiming both countries violated a ceasefire.Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss Trump's involvement in the conflict and more of the latest news from the United States.But to start, Dr Edward Burke, lecturer in the history of war at UCD, joins to discuss how the escalating situation in the middle east could impact global defence and security as NATO leaders gather in The Hague for a crucial summit.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor in Linguistics at UCD, joins Newstalk Breakfast to unpack the use of explicit language by Donald Trump during public comments on Iran and what it signals about presidential rhetoric and public norms.Listen here
Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor in Linguistics at UCD, joins Newstalk Breakfast to unpack the use of explicit language by Donald Trump during public comments on Iran and what it signals about presidential rhetoric and public norms.Listen here
According to an Al Jazeera report, Ireland is the second biggest importer of Israeli products.And, with the Tánaiste bringing the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet yesterday, is our government's talk over Israeli actions in Gaza at odds with our actual economic relationship with the country?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Patrick Brodie, Assistant Professor at the School of Information and Communication Studies at UCD.Image: Reuters
The new €2.4bn pediatric hospital will officially be named the National Children's Hospital of Ireland according to a Government proposal, despite efforts to name it after doctor and political activist Dr Kathleen Lynn.Dr Mary McAuliffe, director of Gender Studies at UCD, and Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh join The Last Word to discuss whether public buildings should be named after historical figures or whether it is better to play it safe.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
It's been 10 years since the Marriage Equality Referendum made history in Ireland. But what has changed and what still needs to be done? Quare Clare LGBTQIA+ Support and Social Group are inviting the public to join them for a morning of celebration, reflection, and discussion on Tuesday, June 24th (10.30 am – 1pm) at Ennis Library. The event features a panel of LGBTQIA+ voices from County Clare, chaired by Dr Anne Mulhall of UCD, and a special presentation from Bulelani Mfaco on global LGBTQIA+ rights and the ongoing challenges for migrants and others whose needs remain unmet. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Sarah Clancy from the Clare Public Participation Network.
Donald Trump decided in favour of sending American bunker busting bombs to support Israel's conflict with Iran. We discuss the implications of President Trump's decision with Tánaiste Simon Harris, Professor Edward Burke of UCD and our Washington Correspondent Sean Whelan.
Planning permission has been sought for 439 purpose-built student bed spaces in Clonskeagh, Dublin 6.The site is just 1km from UCD's main campus, but it has been met with opposition from residents.Ian Guider joined Will O'Callaghan for Wednesday's business news.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.
The owners of dodgy boxes are coming under new threats from Sky Ireland.They're warning there'll be “consequences” if people are caught streaming sport or films using the illegal devices.It's estimated about one in four people in Ireland use dodgy boxes.So, would this put you off?Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly, Producer at Tri Moon Films Sam Atwell, Dr TJ McIntyre, Associate Professor of Law in UCD and Chair of Digital Rights Ireland, as well as listeners.
Donald Trump has approved attack plans for Iran, but for now is holding back on a final decision to go ahead with any attack according to sources who spoke to CBS news who also earlier reported that trump was weighing a strike on Iran's subterranean uranium enrichment facility in Fordo. Analysis on this and more from Scott Lucas Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD
Dr. Andrew Hines, lecturer at the School of Computer Science, UCD
From the Metro to Dublin Bus to off shore wind farms and housing, why can't we build anything and what is the problem? To discuss with Pat was Orla Hegarty, Architect and Assistant Professor at UCD and Karl Deeter, Director at Irish Mortgage Brokers.
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack What are the new rental measures? In this Reboot Republic podcast Rory and Dr Michael Byrne from UCD break down the latest rental measures and explain what they are, what is the likely impact on rents and supply, and who will actually benefits. The verdict? TBD. The Week in Housing newsletter is a weekly one-page analysis of new housing research and policy. Read it here: https://theweekinhousing.substack.com/ The illegal Public Services Card with Simon McGarr:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-131317106 Donate to Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-129326641
Joining Dearbhail to dissect the Sunday papers are Dr Graham Finlay, Assistant Prof. of Politics and International Relations, UCD; Dr Keire Murphy, Senior Policy Advisor at the ESRI, Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist with The Sunday Times, and Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent, The Irish Times.
What are the effects of stress on memory? How does age change the nature of this vital piece of human cognition? What are the limitations of memory, and how can we embrace them?Ciara M. Greene is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, UCD, where she also heads up the Attention and Memory Laboratory. She's also the co-author of the book Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember.Greg and Ciara discuss the nature of memory, challenging the common belief that the best memory is akin to a flawless recording device. Ciara argues that memory's imperfections are actually evolutionarily beneficial, aiding in survival and decision-making. They discuss how metaphors for memory have evolved alongside technology, the reconstructive nature of memory, and the importance of understanding its functions. Ciara also explains how schemas play a role in memory errors, but how they are also beneficial.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Why forgetting your shopping list is a feature not a flaw44:38: We don't need to have this fear that means technology is ruining our mind. This is exactly the same way as is. Like you say, you're, I dunno, you're going to the supermarket and instead of remembering your shopping list, you write it down. Okay. You don't then also need to remember it. They're able to adapt. So like if you say, I have written down my shopping list, you've essentially told your brain you no longer need to remember this. You don't need to remember bread and eggs and mouthwash. Like, our brains are flexible. Like they're not just running on tracks. It's not necessary.It's not a good use of your resources because you've offloaded that task. That doesn't mean that your ability to go to the shop tomorrow and remember that you need to buy laundry detergent is going to be impaired because you wrote it down yesterday. It's just that we're, if you could think of it as being almost like extending your mind. Okay. It's almost like adding an external hard drive to your computer. You're just giving yourself a little bit more, like an, again, a broader sketch pad to play with. And that we, sometimes we use those tools. There's nothing wrong using those tools, but we should do them consciously.How does the basis of memory work?30:21: The reconstruction of memory is literally the basis of how memory works. It's inescapable. You can't just have a good memory and not have a reconstruction.Memory helps us belong03:46: It's important to think, not just about what memory is — it's not something static — but to think about what it's for, what its function is, and how it evolved in the way that it did.Because just like every other part of our minds, and our bodies, every function that we have evolved under evolutionary pressures — you know, that there are survival pressures and reproduction pressures — and those influence the way in which we evolved as human beings, as any kind of species. So when we think about our memory, I think it's important to keep that in mind, and that evolution wasn't prioritizing: it's super important that you remember absolutely every boring detail of every single experience you've ever had. And, you know, that you have this perfect fidelity and recollection of every detail of everything you observe — that's not necessary to support your survival, it's not necessary to support reproduction, and in some cases, it can be counterproductive.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Jorge Luis BorgesHyperthymesiaSource-Monitoring ErrorThird-Person EffectElizabeth LoftusRepressed MemorySatanic PanicMcMartin Preschool TrialGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at University College DublinSocial Profile on XAttention and Memory LabHer Work:Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We RememberGoogle Scholar PageResearchGate Page
Smartwatches promise a lot, from measuring your heart rate to calculating your sleep pattern. But, how accurate are they at counting the number of calories you're burning?Joining Seán to discuss is Cailbhe Doherty, Lecturer in the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science at UCD…
Yesterday on the show, Jerry spoke to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, who mentioned the landing of Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giovanni Battista Rinuccini at Kenmare in 1645. This was in the context of the Kerry TD’s request for more funding for Kenmare Pier. To find out more about Archbishop Rinuccini, Jerry spoke to Professor Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin, School of History, UCD, and author of Catholic Reformation in Ireland: The Mission of Rinuccini 1645-1649.
As tensions explode between President Trump and Elon Musk, talk of a third political party is gaining steam. Insiders say Musk is privately exploring options to back a new political movement that breaks from both Trump-style populism and Democratic progressivism. After their public clash over Trump's tax bill, and with no reconciliation in sight, some allies say Musk's next move could reshape the midterms next year. Scott Lucas, Professor of international politics at UCD says some republicans could be swayed. To discuss this fallout further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Lecturer & Director of Clinical Legal Education, Larry Donnelly.
In this episode of Encounter, host Maria is joined by Christine from Nigeria who is a student in UCD. She gives her testimony of how her faith deepened. L'articolo Encounter – Maria – Christine proviene da Radio Maria.
The Government is preparing major changes to planning laws, including proposals to allow attic conversions, garden cabins, and home extensions for elderly relatives without planning permission.It's a move aimed at relieving pressure on the housing system and speeding up development. But questions remain about the effectiveness of these plans and whether they will move the needle at all.Tom Philips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning at UCD and later James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford join Kieran to discuss.
Guests:Professor David Webb, Professorial Research Fellow at Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies at Aston University in the UKDr Shelley Brady of DCUDr Shane Bergin of UCD
Dr Andrew Hines, lecturer at the School of Computer Science, UCD
In this episode we chat with Prof Paddy Wall about his recently published report into the scandal involving a horse abattoir in Ireland in 2024.Prof Wall is a vet and medical doctor and has awide-ranging resumé with contributions spanning public health, food safety, governance and education. He was the first Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and has held senior positions on international food safety bodies including the European Food Safety Authority. He is Professor of Public Health at University College Dublin. He has further qualifications in infectious diseases, business administration and corporate governance. A keen horseman, Paddy has shown and judged young horses, produced riding horses for the Ridden Hunter classes, participated in hunter trials and one-day-event competitions, and ridden in Point-to-Points. He was co-author of the 2010 UCD report on Horse Welfare in Ireland commissioned by World Horse Welfare and was chairman of Horse Sport Ireland from 2013-2016.In 2024 the Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ, screened an investigative documentary which alleged potentiallysignificant animal welfare breaches and fraud at Ireland's only equine abattoir which was under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). In the wake of this documentary Paddy was asked by DAFM to carry out a review of the issues highlighted in the documentary, particularly around equine identification and traceability. The report was published in March 2025 and is available at this link.The report was accompanied by an ActionPlan from DAFM setting out proposals to implement the recommendations of the Wall report.
Video recording of this episode is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OcxwmDuUeU&ab_channel=UCD-UniversityCollegeDublin Henry Glassie is College Professor Emeritus at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, and has published widely in the fields of material culture and vernacular architecture. His contribution to the discipline of Irish Folklore and Ethnology has been exceptional. Having lived in Ballymenone, Co. Fermanagh, for almost a decade in the 1970s, Professor Glassie published a number of studies inspired by the community there, including All Silver and No Brass (1975), Passing the Time in Ballymenone (1982) and The Stars of Ballymenone (2006). These books are landmark works which have become classic texts for students of Folklore in Ireland and abroad, along with many other items on Professor Glassie's long list of publications. Henry has rendered invaluable service to our understanding of Irish popular tradition and vernacular culture, and he can truly be described as a towering figure in the study of Irish Folklore for more than half a century. Even in his retirement, he remains a staunch and committed friend to Ireland and to the people he worked with while carrying out fieldwork here. Henry has had a long and extremely positive relationship with UCD since the establishment of the Department of Irish Folklore in the university in the early 1970s. With the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of his first major publication on Irish Folklore, All Silver and No Brass, it was deemed especially appropriate for the University to take the opportunity to honour Professor Glassie, and on Wednesday 21 May 2025, Henry was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from UCD, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to the growing area of Irish Studies in general, and to the field of Irish Folklore and Ethnology in particular. It was a great honour and personal privilege for me to sit and 'Pass the Time' with Henry, and over the course of ninety minutes we explored his background, interests, intellectual life, and experiences of field work, as well as delving into the topics of place, creativity, art, meaning, identity, belonging and despair; invoking old friends such as Fred B. Kniffen, E. Estyn Evans, Michael J. Murphy, Seán Ó Súilleabháin, Ellen Cutler, Tommy Love, Michael Boyle, Peter Flanagan, and Hugh Nolan as we trooped our way homewards. My thanks to all my colleagues at the NFC, as well as Susan Lysaght, Sandra Collins, Evelyn Flanagan, Andrew Fogarty, Veronica Aguilar Olmos, Dominic Martella for making this episode possible, and - most especially - to Henry and Pravina for their generosity, openness and kindness.
William Gallagher, Professor in Cancer Biology with UCD, discusses calls for breast density information to be given to women after a mammogram.
In this episode of Talking History, we're going back in time 10 years to remember how Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote, as we debate what the passing of the marriage equality referendum really meant for Irish history.Featuring: Dr Mary McAuliffe, historian and Director of Gender Studies at UCD, co-editor of ‘The politics of gender and sexuality in modern Ireland' and co-editor of ‘Sexual Politics in Modern Ireland'; Prof Sonja Tiernan, historian of modern Ireland, based at the Royal Irish Academy, and author of ‘The History of Marriage Equality in Ireland: A Social Revolution Begins' and co-editor of ‘Sexual Politics in Modern Ireland'; Dr Brian Tobin, Associate Professor at the School of Law at the University of Galway, author of 'The Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships: Emerging Families in Ireland and Beyond'; and Frances Fitzgerald, former Tánaiste and former Minister for Justice, who introduced that legislation to hold the marriage equality referendum and signed its commencement order that November.
In this episode of Talking Practice, host Grace La interviews Sheila O'Donnell, architect, educator and co-founder of O'Donnell + Tuomey. Sheila reflects on the creation of O'Donnell + Tuomey, the practice she formed with John Tuomey in 1988. She traces the evolution of her practice through the workings of Group 91 and shares her insights on how their collective energy reshaped Dublin's Temple Bar District. She discusses how context fundamentally influences her design approach and the professional opportunities that opened for many of Ireland's most successful practitioners. Sheila describes the collaborative spirit within her firm, the challenge of competing against large corporate offices, and the creative benefits that a smaller, design-focused team offers its clients. She explores the evolving conversation around sustainability and material choice, offering a grounded yet optimistic view on how contemporary practices navigate design, context, and climate responsibility. The podcast highlights the early significance of working with existing buildings and honing an acute attention to context — characteristics that have become central themes of O'Donnell + Tuomey's practice. For more on Sheila O'Donnell, check out her GSD Department of Architecture lecture – “Conversations with Place.” Sheila O'Donnell established O'Donnell + Tuomey with John Tuomey in 1988. O'Donnell + Tuomey's work is developed in the spirit of architectural, social and cultural investigation. The practice has been commissioned with a variety of work, including renowned projects such as the Photographers' Gallery and LSE Student Centre, a new museum for the V&A and a dance theatre and academy for Sadler's Wells. She is an Honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architects. In 2009 she was elected a member of Aosdána, an affiliation of Irish Artists. In 2015 she was joint recipient with John Tuomey of the RIBA Royal Gold Medal and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Brunner Prize, both awarded in recognition of a lifetimes work. Sheila has been a lecturer in Architectural design in UCD since 1981 and a Professor since 2016. She has taught and lectured at schools of Architecture in Europe, Japan and the USA, including Harvard GSD, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, among others. About the Show Developed by Harvard Graduate School of Design, Talking Practice is the first podcast series to feature in-depth interviews with leading designers on the ways in which architects, landscape architects, designers, and planners articulate design imagination through practice. Hosted by Grace La, Professor of Architecture and Principal of LA DALLMAN, these dynamic conversations provide a rare glimpse into the work, experiences, and attitudes of design practitioners from around the world. Comprehensive, thought-provoking, and timely, Talking Practice tells the story of what designers do, why, and how they do it—exploring the key issues at stake in practice today. About the Host Grace La is Chair of the Department of Architecture and Professor of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where she served as Chair of the Practice Forum, and former Director of the Master of Architecture Programs. Grace is also Principal of LA DALLMAN Architects, internationally recognized for the integration of architecture, engineering and landscape. Cofounded with James Dallman, LA DALLMAN is engaged in catalytic projects of diverse scale and type. The practice is noted for works that expand the architect's agency in the civic recalibration of infrastructure, public space and challenging sites. Show Credits Talking Practice is produced and edited by Maggie Janik. Our Research Assistant is Victor Ohene. Contact For all inquiries, please email practicepodcast@gsd.harvard.edu.