Features@irishtimes.com (The Irish Times)

Shows

The Irish PassportInvestigating a ruthless rental empireNaomi spent months investigating a rogue landlord who built up an empire of rental properties in Ireland backed by family wealth in Luxembourg. In this episode, we tell the story of Marc Godart: his back story, the controversial evictions that brought him to prominence, and the unusual ways he runs his businesses. This is based on reporting by Naomi and her colleagues at the Irish Times that was recently awarded the Mary Raftery Prize for social affairs journalism. The winning story is here: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/01/13/under-the-eye-of-landlord-marc-godart-how-a-tenant-who-objected-to-cctv-surveillance-was-evicted/ You can read more of Naomi's reporting here: https://www.irishtimes...2025-05-051h 21

In The NewsHow to avoid a fresh scam hitting Irish shoppers onlineUnsuspecting Irish shoppers are being duped by scammers who have figured out a fiendish way to win your trust. Consumer Affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains what the scam is, how it works and how to avoid it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-04-1517 min

In The NewsWho was David Joyce, the Irish man shot dead by UK police?David Joyce, 38, was killed with a single shot by British police officers at Milton Keynes railway station on April 1st.But who was he and what do we know about his life in the lead up to that tragic day?Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul visited Milton Keynes to explore what happened at the train station and how Joyce lived and died.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-04-1417 min

In The NewsWhy are two Irish citizens being deported from Germany despite no convictions?Two Irish citizens living in Berlin have been issued with deportation orders and instructed to leave Germany before April 21st after facing charges over alleged actions at pro-Palestinian protests.Lawyers for their case have raised concerns that the deportation orders undermine civil liberties for EU citizens living in Germany, as neither have been convicted of any criminal offences in the German courts.Bert Murray (31) and Shane O’Brien (29) have been attending protests in support of Palestinians since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023.On this episode of In the News Bert Mu...2025-04-0216 min

In The NewsThe climate threat to Irish housesAs sea levels rise and extreme floods become more frequent, increasing numbers of Irish homeowners are struggling to secure insurance for their properties. Midleton resident Caroline Leahy, who's home was affected by Storm Babet in October 2023, is one of them. In this episode, she talks to Sorcha Pollak about living in constant fear of the next disaster and why the Government response falls short of what is needed to help those impacted. Later on, Environment and Science editor Kevin O’Sullivan on how climate change is impacting the situation. Hosted on Ac...2025-04-0125 min

In The NewsHow new gambling rules will impact Irish puntersThe newly formed Gambling Regulatory Authority has, since Wednesday, taken control of the industry.The regulator will decide who in the areas of gaming, betting and lottery will get operating licences, and oversee the new regulations now in force under the long delayed Gambling Regulation Act.The underlying goal of the legislation is to protect children and problem gamblers.Measures include advertising and sponsorship restrictions as well as banning industry-wide marketing practices such as free bets, free credit and hospitality.And those child-sized football jerseys that feature...2025-03-0720 min

In The NewsFamily of murdered backpacker Danielle McLaughlin seek Irish inquestBackpacker Danielle McLaughlin knew that her mother Andrea worried about her when she was away on her travels, so every day she’d text home to Donegal.Then one day in March 2017 there was no text and Andrea soon learned, from one of Danielle’s friends in Buncrana, that her 28-year-old daughter had been murdered in Goa.The friend had seen the news on Facebook and it was up to Andrea to go to her local Garda station to seek help.Last month, Vikat Bhagat, 24 at the time of the kill...2025-03-0324 min

In The News‘My Irish friends are awesome’ says Elon Musk – who are they?Elon Musk seems particularly taken with the opinions of three Irish men active on X: far-right activist Michael O’Keeffe; Barry O’Driscoll, whose idea of calling the US’s new cost-cutting agency DOGE was seized on by president Donald Trump’s right-hand man, and Keith O’Brien, a white nationalist who goes by the name Keith Woods on X. Musk interacts with these men and often amplifies their posts to his millions of followers. So what image of Ireland is the billionaire being fed by these men and why does it matter that so much of what he sees, and...2025-02-2727 min

In The NewsAs Trump’s deportations begin, what now for the undocumented Irish?President Trump campaigned on immigration. He promised mass deportations, zero tolerance and border security. His first acts in office included several executive orders related to immigration, focused on the US’s southern border and giving officials the power to quickly deport migrants who came in under Biden-era programme.Deportations in his first week included rounding up migrants with criminal records.Undocumented Irish in America typically don’t come in across the southern border. Instead they travel from Ireland under the 90-day ESTA visa waiver programme and simply stay on. Many of them acquire soci...2025-01-2723 min

In The NewsRoblox: what is it and are Irish children at risk?This episode was originally published in September 2024If you don't have young children in your life, you may be completely unaware of one of the world's biggest game platforms. Roblox is a digital playground where children can create block-like avatars, pay to accessorise them, use them to take part in role-playing games and talk to others. Therein lies the inherent danger. While it's mostly harmless fun, several terrifying cases of grooming, abuse, blackmail and even kidnapping have been highlighted in the US. In September, an Irish report found most primary school children who'd had upsetting experiences...2024-12-2719 min

In The NewsWill early release for prisoners solve overcrowding crisis in Irish jails?Sending Irish prisoners to jails in eastern Europe and letting some sex offenders out early with electronic tags are just two of the 16 recommendations put forward by an expert group to solve the overcrowding crisis in Irish prisons.These two proposals are not being considered by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee but most of the measures in the Prison Overcrowding Response Group’s new report are, including pop-up prison cells and early release for a wide range of offences.So packed are our 14 jails that for the past two years many offenders have al...2024-10-2219 min

In The NewsKinahan cartel arrest: Is Dubai no longer a safe haven for Irish criminals?Even when Interpol slapped a “Red Notice” on Sean McGovern, the Irish career criminal hiding out in Dubai was probably not too concerned.That Red Notice came about because the DPP in Ireland directed that McGovern, Daniel Kinahan’s closest and most trusted lieutenant, should face charges relating to the 2016 murder of Noel Kirwan (62) as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud and the notice requested police authorities around the world to find and arrest the Dubliner.McGovern would likely have considered the UAE a safe haven, far from the reaches of US and European law en...2024-10-1624 min

In The NewsWhy would Russia want 'agents of influence' inside the Irish political system? Last weekend, The Sunday Times reported that an unnamed Irish politician had been working for Russian intelligence as "an agent of influence” within the Oireachtas. Although the news “came as no surprise” to Taoiseach Simon Harris, it is one of the most serious national security issues in recent history.Gardaí have now compiled a list of members of the Oireachtas and other people, including those in academia, that they believe have been targeted by Russians in Ireland seeking to exploit them for information gathering and destabilising the State.But how are they approached? And how...2024-10-0816 min

In The NewsRoblox: what is it and are Irish children at risk?If you don't have young children in your life, you may be completely unaware of one of the world's biggest game platforms. Roblox is a digital playground where children can create block-like avatars, pay to accessorise them, use them to take part in role-playing games and talk to others. Therein lies the inherent danger. While it's mostly harmless fun, several terrifying cases of grooming, abuse, blackmail and even kidnapping have been highlighted in the US. This week an Irish report found most primary school children who'd had upsetting experiences online had experienced them on YouTube or Roblox. Irish Times...2024-09-0419 min

In The NewsShaun Brady: The murder that shocked an Irish community in the heart of AmericaAn Irish chef living in the US has been killed after being shot outside his own business in Kansas City.Shaun Brady, originally from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was the co-owner of Brady’s KC, a popular restaurant in the Brookside area of Kansas City, Missouri.Brady was a popular and well-known figure in Kansas City's large and vibrant Irish community. His friend and Kansas City resident Pat O'Neill talks to Bernice Harrison about how the violent loss of Shaun has shocked the community. Hosted on Ac...2024-08-2915 min

In The NewsWhy are so many busy Irish restaurants shutting down?Brasserie Sixty6, Rustic Stone and Ukiyo are just three of the high-profile restaurant closures in Dublin this month. 577 eateries across Ireland have announced their closure over the past year, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland. But how can so many food businesses be going to the wall when they appear so busy. Restaurateurs Vanessa Murphy and Anna Cabrera explain the tide their businesses are swimming against and the daily battle to keep afloat. Irish Times restaurant critic, Corinna Hargrave, explores the changes in consumer behaviour and market demands that are driving the shuttering of so many of our...2024-08-2821 min

In The NewsHow ex-Irish soldiers are training a rogue Libyan militiaThis episode was originally published in April 2024. In Libya, former members of the Irish Defence Forces, including men who served in the elite Army Rangers Wing have been providing training for a militia headed up Libyan strongman, Khalifa Haftar.It’s a lucrative business for the company called Irish Training Solutions but the work is an apparent breach of a United Nations arms embargo imposed on the volatile African country.Naomi O’Leary broke the story in the Irish Times on Wednesday and the official response was swift. Tánaiste and M...2024-08-1324 min

In The NewsStripping an Islamic terrorist of his Irish citizenshipA new process to strip citizenship from Irish citizens has been passed by the Oireachtas more than three years after the previous system was struck down by the Supreme Court.The system will allow the State to revoke the citizenship of Islamic terrorist Ali Charaf Damache, something it has been trying to do since 2018. A convicted terrorist, Algerian-born Damache is in jail in the US where his Irish citizenship helped earn him a shorter sentence through a plea bargain.About 40 other revocation cases are also pending for a range of other issues, for...2024-08-0921 min

In The NewsThe dark history of Irish slave ownersWere Irish colonisers too? A new book reveals our forgotten dark historyIn discussions around empire and colonisation, including popular movements such as Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall, Ireland likes to think itself on the “right” side of history, as colonised victims of empire.But as Trinity College Dublin historian Prof Jane Ohlmeyer explores in her new book, Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism, and the Early Modern World, it’s not as simple as that.On the island of Monsterrat in the West Indies, for example, St Patrick’s Day is a...2024-08-0520 min

In The NewsOlympics 2024: The key events for Irish viewersIreland’s Olympic medal hopes have never been higher. Many of the athletes are already household names, including Rashidat Adeleke, Kellie Harrington and Paul O’Donovan, while others will be new names for those watching on the sofa, including Daniel Wiffen and Jack Woolley. According to Irish Times sports journalist Ian O’Riordan it’s not a question of if Ireland wins a medal, it’s when the first one will be claimed. And Paris is set to put on a show this Friday night: the opening ceremony kicks off on Friday with a flotilla down the Seine.Pres...2024-07-2424 min

In The NewsKneecap: The Northern Irish rappers leading a Celtic revivalBelfast and Derry rappers Kneecap have been in the news for many things in the past year: they took a case against the previous UK government for intervening to block an arts grant; they led a boycott at South By Southwest in Texas over the festival sponsor's links to the Gaza bombardment; they played Glastonbury, released their debut album, Fine Art, and their debut feature film, Kneecap, is about to hit cinemas after an award-winning outing at the Sundance Film Festival. They arrived to that event in a jeep designed to look like a PSNI vehicle. Una Mullally has...2024-07-1922 min

In The News‘It’s hard to stop scrolling’: What Irish teens are watching on TikTokFrom cute dance videos to antifeminist and racist ones, the social media app is a growing part of young people’s lives. There are concerns, though, about sleep deprivation, mental health, attention span – and the messages these young teenagers they are being relentlessly fed.Irish Times parenting columnist Jen Hogan and journalist Patrick Freyne spent time with a group of teenagers, looking over their shoulder as they scrolled for hours on TikTok and talked to them about their relationship with the Chinese-owned app. They explain to In the News just how out of touch adults are when...2024-05-1325 min

In The NewsHousing, immigration, Gaza: Which issues are Irish voters really paying attention to?Snapshot, an Irish Times poll with Ipsos B&A, captures the issues that citizens are taking notice of.Every month, 1,000 people, over the age of 15 and from all around the country are asked an open-ended question on what they’ve noticed about the Government’s actions – and given space to add their own comments.The results, tracked since last July, are published every month in The Irish Times. In each poll, the list of top-of-mind subjects changes but two consistently top the list – housing and immigration.During the period of April’s...2024-04-2925 min

In The NewsRising road deaths: What will it take to make Irish roads safer?On Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris called a meeting the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to discuss the rising number of deaths on Irish roads.Mr Harris said road safety was a “top priority” and announced actions to crackdown on careless and dangerous driving and additional RSA funding.So far this year, sixty-three people have died in road accidents across the country, an increase of 14 on the same period last year.And while the RSA has welcomed the new 30 minute mandatory road safety policing directive, questions remain as to why road-related deaths are...2024-04-1723 min

The Royal Irish AcademyARINS: Common Ground: A new Irish Times projectHost Rory Montgomery is joined by Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times and Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor of the Irish Times. Their conversation focuses on how north-south and east-west relationships are covered in the media and the recently launched Irish Times initiative, 'Common Ground', which examines the constitutional issues facing Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. https://www.irishtimes.com/common-ground/ This is episode 32 of a podcast series that provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. Host...2024-04-0450 min

In The NewsHow ex-Irish soldiers are training a rogue Libyan militiaIn Libya, former members of the Irish Defence Forces, including men who served in the elite Army Rangers Wing have been providing training for a militia headed up Libyan strongman, Khalifa Haftar.It’s a lucrative business for the company called Irish Training Solutions but the work is an apparent breach of a United Nations arms embargo imposed on the volatile African country.Naomi O’Leary broke the story in the Irish Times on Wednesday and the official response was swift. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin called the revelations “deeply s...2024-04-0425 min

In The NewsWere Irish colonisers too? A new book reveals our forgotten dark historyIn discussions around empire and colonisation, including popular movements such as Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall, Ireland likes to think itself on the “right” side of history, as colonised victims of empire.But as Trinity College Dublin historian Prof Jane Ohlmeyer explores in her new book, Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism, and the Early Modern World, it’s not as simple as that.On the island of Monsterrat in the West Indies, for example, St Patrick’s Day is a national holiday - the only country outside Ireland to mark the day official...2024-03-1819 min

In The NewsCork drugs bust: Are Irish agents working for Mexico’s deadliest cartel?Last week, a consignment of synthetic drugs, thought to be crystal meth worth €32.8 million, were seized in Cork Port. It is believed the shipment, which was destined for the Australian market, was owned by the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico’s deadliest drugs gang. Gardaí are now investigating whether a number of Irish men based in Cork and Kerry have been acting as agents for the cartel. So far, they have made two arrests. Irish Times Crime and Security editor Conor Lally reports. We also hear from Karol Suarez, a journalist based in Mexican City who explains how the Si...2024-02-2128 min

In The NewsLet's have the difficult conversation about immigrationImmigration has overtaken housing and the cost-of-living to become the main issue on the minds of voters, according to a new Irish Times and Ipsos Behaviour and Attitudes survey. The public sentiment research coincides with a study by Maynooth University of what protesters at migration-related rallies really want. Dr Barry Cannon and Shane Murphy have found locals cite security fears, a scarcity of resources, lack of government consultation and the suitability of accommodation sites, in that order. Although most sought to distance themselves from far-right agitators, they simultaneously engaged with racist tropes. Dr Barry says it's time to level...2024-01-3122 min

In The NewsStripping an Islamic terrorist of his Irish citizenshipThe Department of Justice is to introduce a new process for stripping citizenship from Irish citizens, three years after the previous system was struck down by the Supreme Court.The system will allow the State to revoke the citizenship of Islamic terrorist Ali Charaf Damache, something it has been trying to do since 2018. A convicted terrorist, Algerian-born Damache is in jail in the US where his Irish citizenship helped earn him a shorter sentence through a plea bargain. About 40 other revocation cases are also pending for a range of other issues, for example...2024-01-0520 min

The Royal Irish AcademyARINS/Irish Times Survey '23: New positions and perspectives a year onIn the January ARINS podcast on the ARINS/IrishTimes survey Rory Montgomery hosts Professors John Garry (QUB) and Brendan O’Leary (UPENN) authors of the survey along with Dr Jamie Pow (QUB). Together they scrutinise the intriguing findings of the ARINS/Irish Times survey and disentangle the answers to seasoned questions asked in the ’22 Survey, while exploring the perceptions and expectations posed in the answers to innovative new questions about the short and long run costs of the economics of the status quo and unification. Find out more about the survey: https://www.ria.ie/news/arins-analysis-and-research-ireland-north-and-south/initial-findings-new-arinsthe-irish-times This is epis...2024-01-0456 min

In The NewsHow the generosity of an Irish-American billionaire transformed IrelandChuck Feeney, the Irish-American philanthropist, died in October this year at the age of 92. Two months after his death in San Francisco, he was laid to rest in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery. During his lifetime he quietly gave away almost all of his $8 billion fortune. Through his foundation Atlantic Philanthropies he funded massive life-changing education, health and science projects in Ireland, the US and around the world; as a proud Irish-American he helped fund the peace process leading to the Belfast Agreement. He wanted anonymity; he never wanted to be thanked or acknowledged or for his name to be on any...2024-01-0132 min

In The NewsWhy Irish criminals turned to Chinese restaurants to hide their cashAn investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) unearthed an underground “banking” network offering an international money transfer system to Irish criminals. It allowed Irish drug gangs to move cash to continental Europe at low risk and without trace. The first step in this process was to bring the ill-gotten money to a local Chinese restaurant.Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally interviewed the head of Cab, who told him about the newly uncovered methods of hiding the proceeds of crime - and about how Instagram and reality TV are influencing the way criminals spend their mone...2023-12-2823 min

In The NewsBehind the scenes of hit Netflix documentary 'The Deepest Breath' with Irish director Laura McGannEarlier this Summer, a Netflix documentary, all about the hidden world of freediving, catapulted the sport in front of a global audience. The Deepest Breath, tells the story of Alessia Zecchini, a champion freediver from Italy and Stephen Keenan, an expert safety diver from Glasnevin in Dublin. It follows them as they rise separately through the ranks of the sport, before their lives eventually become intertwined. The film was directed by Irish filmmaker Laura McGann and gives an incredible insight into the world of freediving: which sees divers reach depths of more than 100 meters, without any equipment and with one s...2023-12-2737 min

In The NewsLiam Byrne: The rise and fall of a major Irish gangland figureLast week Liam Byrne, the alleged leader of the Kinahan cartel’s Irish operations, was extradited from Spain to the UK to stand trial and face charges related to the alleged supply of firearms to other crime gangs.The 43-year-old, who was arrested while eating in a restaurant with his family in Mallorca in early June, had been living openly in Dubai for a couple of years before travelling to Europe for a holiday. Britain’s gun-related allegations are the first gangland charges Byrne has faced after a 20-year run that saw him rise to the top...2023-12-2017 min

In The NewsThe tragic death of a rising Irish cyclistOn Saturday, May 27th 2023 champion cyclist Gabriele Glodenyte was out on her bike for a morning spin in north county Dublin with her boyfriend Seán Landers.Gabriele was 24 years-old, a vibrant young woman who shone at everything she did.But what started as a typical, carefree day for Gabby and Seán ended in tragedy.Gabriele was killed instantly when an oncoming driver crashed his car.Seán (25) came upon the scene moments later. He recalls finding first her mangled bicycle on the roa...2023-12-1825 min

In The NewsWhy a billionaire is buying up land in one Irish county - and why its farmers are unhappyIrish billionaire John Magnier has been steadily accumulating huge tracts of land in south Tipperary. He's entitled to do so. But local farmers say they are being priced out of buying the land they desperately need to stay afloat in a difficult business environment. Ronan McGreevy reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-12-1123 min

In The NewsThe feis-fixing scandal that rocked Irish dancingIn July 2022 a very public scandal erupted in the normally relatively closed world of Irish dancing. An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG), the oldest and largest governing body for competitive Irish dancing, was informed of allegations that at least 12 Irish dancing teachers in Ireland and overseas were involved in the “fixing” of competitions. And that was the tip of a very grubby iceberg as further allegations emerged – including stories of “unwanted behaviours”, tales of sexual impropriety among the adults and a lack of trust among dancers, parents and teachers. Now 44 individuals are facing disciplinary hearings as the globa...2023-12-0619 min

In The NewsWhy BSE in one Irish cow worries China - and spells trouble for farmersFor Irish beef producers, China is a prize – capture that vast market and the troubled sector is secure. And Chinese influence in Asia means cracking that market is the key to opening others in the region such as South Korea.The Chinese though – mindful of the horrific global health crisis around beef in the 1990s – have a zero tolerance of BSE, a bovine disease that when it enters the food chain causes deadly CJD in humans. It closed its market to Irish beef three years ago when a case of BSE was found and it had only r...2023-11-1316 min

In The NewsWhy three Irish nursing homes were forced to closeSince September, three nursing homes have been forced to close – in Kilkenny, Waterford and Cork. The residents, all vulnerable and elderly have had to be placed in new care facilities. All were private nursing homes, run by Aperee Living, part of a group of 10 such homes.The move follows highly critical reports by Hiqa which found serious issues in each of the homes. In some, the issues included financial irregularities. It’s a move the HSE does not take lightly. Irish Times reporter Jack Power has seen the Hiqa report and he explains what happened – and what n...2023-11-1023 min

In The NewsWill Irish citizens be allowed to leave war-torn Gaza?Around forty Irish citizens remain trapped inside Gaza after their names were not included on the list of foreign nationals allowed to leave the besieged area.On today’s podcast, Ibrahim Alagha, who usually lives in Blanchardstown with his wife and three children, describes the danger and hunger his family are facing on a daily bases.And Mark Weiss, who reports for The Irish Times in Israel, reflects on why most Israelis do not support calls for a ceasefire and discusses the efforts being made to secure the release of Irish-Israeli girl, Emily Ha...2023-11-0828 min

In The NewsWhy Irish criminals turned to Chinese restaurants to hide their moneyAn investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) unearthed an underground “banking” network offering an international money transfer system to Irish criminals. It allowed Irish drug gangs to move cash to continental Europe at low risk and without trace. The first step in this process was to bring the ill-gotten money to a local Chinese restaurant.Irish Times Crime Editor Conor Lally interviewed the head of Cab, who told him about the newly uncovered methods of hiding the proceeds of crime - and about how Instagram and reality TV are influencing the way criminals spend their mone...2023-11-0623 min

In The NewsChuck Feeney: the Irish-American billionaire who gave his entire fortune awayChuck Feeney, the Irish-American philanthropist, died last week at the age of 92. During his lifetime he quietly gave away almost all of his $8 billion fortune. Through his foundation Atlantic Philanthropies he funded massive life-changing education, health and science projects in Ireland, the US and around the world; as a proud Irish-American he helped fund the peace process leading to the Belfast Agreement. He wanted anonymity; he never wanted to be thanked or acknowledged or for his name to be on any of the buildings or institutions his money built.Journalist Conor O’Clery got to know Fe...2023-10-1632 min

In The NewsToo much Tubridy: What Irish teenagers think of the newsThis weekend, for the first time, the content of The Irish Times Magazine will be written entirely by teenagers. The six volunteers tackle subjects including the pitfalls of Tiktok, why many young women drop out of sport and what it is like to be a wheelchair user. One of their mentors for the project was Patrick Freyne, who recorded a conversation with them about the way their generation consumes news and the issues they really care about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-09-1525 min

In The NewsWhat's behind the huge drop in Irish gun crime? Something strange is happening in the Irish gangland scene. After years of escalating violence, gun crime across the country has now reached record lows. What's behind the drop and will it last? Crime and Security editor Conor Lally reports.Hosted by Aideen Finnegan. This episode was originally published in March 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-08-1422 min

In The NewsReport from Ios where tragedy unfolded for two Irish teenagersIrish teenagers Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall died in separate incidents on the Greek Island of Ios last weekend. Both were students of St Michael's College in Ballsbridge, Dublin and had recently completed the Leaving Cert exams. Irish Times Reporter Jack Power, who is covering the story from Ios, explains how this tragedy unfolded. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-07-0514 min

In The NewsThe secret deal for the UK to protect Irish skiesSince the 1950s, a hidden agreement between the Republic of Ireland and Britain has allowed the RAF to enter Irish airspace in the event of security threats that the Irish Air Corp, lacking advanced aircraft, is unable to deal with. It's a deal that has benefits for both sides - but raises questions about sovereignty, transparency and neutrality. Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent Conor Gallagher explains the history and significance of the secret agreement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-05-0924 min

In The NewsCould another crisis engulf Irish banks?Banks in the US and Europe are failing. Why? And could this new banking crisis spread to Irish shores? Cliff Taylor explains what's happening, why it's happening and whether we should be worried. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-03-2218 min

In The NewsWhat's behind the huge drop in Irish gun crime? Something strange is happening in the Irish gangland scene. After years of escalating violence, gun crime across the country has now reached record lows. What's behind the drop and will it last? Crime and Security editor Conor Lally reports. Hosted by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-03-2022 min

In The NewsWill we ever escape the drunken Irish stereotype?A cringey segment on Saturday Night Live went viral earlier this week ahead of the Oscars; lampooning the Irish accent and playing into the drunken, fighting Irish stereotype. Jimmy Kimmel also relied on the cliché twice during his presenting of the Academy Awards. Eyes rolled all over Ireland. But can we really get offended by the stereotype when our collective drinking habits are baffling to so many other nationalities? Chief Film Critic for The Irish Times, Donald Clarke, says yes. There's a litany of very offensive SNL sketches and a new 'Irish Ancestor Tiktok' phenomenon that's proving just as tone d...2023-03-1723 min

In The NewsWho's really benefitting from the Irish 'golden visas' bought by Chinese millionaires?'Golden visas' give wealthy non-Europeans the right to live in Ireland in exchange for an upfront investment or donation. The scheme enacted in 2012 has since become dominated by Chinese applicants, even though many are not taking up their right to reside here. Irish organisations benefitting from some of the €1.7bn raised include universities, social housing charities and even sporting organisations. They rely heavily on the fund but neither they, nor the foreign donors, are obliged to disclose it. Arthur Beesley reports on the businesses and groups in receipt of money from the Immigrant Investor Programme, the lack of transparency around it...2023-02-0820 min

The Royal Irish AcademyARINS: The ARINS/Irish Times survey: origins and outcomesIn this month’s podcast host Rory Montgomery explores the inspiration, creation, and collaboration behind the 2022 ARINS/Irish Times survey with John Garry, Professor of Political Behaviour at Queens University Belfast, and Brendan O’Leary Lauder Professor of Political Science at University of Pennsylvania. Together the authors of the survey discuss their division of labour, the importance of collaborative support from colleagues in ARINS and how marrying qualitative focus group findings with quantitative face-to-face polling research methods delivers the detailed insights into matters what most to us North and South when we consider our collective futures in a shared Ireland. -- T...2023-02-0252 min

In The NewsBest of 2022: Tibnin Bridge, the 1982 murder of 3 Irish peacekeeping soldiers.Since the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow. Last week, the tragic death of Private Sean Rooney brought the number of Irish peacekeepers killed in the line of duty to 48. This special three-part series revisits the 1982 murders of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Private Thomas Murphy at Tibnin Bridge, a checkpoint near the Israeli border. In part one, Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak tell the story of Tibnin Bridge, with help from those who lived through it. Artwork by Paul Scott.2022-12-3019 min

In The NewsBest of 2022: The Black Axe gang's Irish recruitsOriginating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang has stolen or laundered €64 million, mainly through romance scams and invoice frauds. The Irish cell of Black Axe launders money by using a rapidly growing network of money mules in Ireland. Money mules’ accounts are used to take receipt of, and then disperse, the proceeds of frauds carried out by other Black Axe cells located in countries across the globe. Security and crime editor Conor Lally has the details. Hosted on Acast. See acas...2022-12-2923 min

In The NewsWhy would Irish peacekeeping troops come under fire in Lebanon?The tragic death of Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon last week marks the first Irish peacekeeper death in combat in the region since 1999. The 23 year old was a member of the UN's 10,000-strong mission, Unifil. It's understood the vehicle became surrounded by an angry mob near the coastal down of Al Aqbieh on the night of Wednesday, 14th December. But why would the UN vehicle be the target of such ire? And what has caused the ratcheting up of tension in the Hizbullah-controlled region? Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher, and retired Lieutenant Colonel and military historian, Dan Harvey, frame...2022-12-2319 min

In The NewsNorth and South: What do Irish people think about reunification?Voters in the north and the Republic of Ireland would welcome a referendum on a United Ireland.A straightforward binary question would yield a resounding yes on this side of the border, and an emphatic no from the six counties.That result is clear from a two polls carried out in both jurisdictions by Ipsos for The Irish Times. But the wide-ranging research shows the Republic’s commitment to a United Ireland is wide but not deep. More than a third say they would be less likely to vote yes if...2022-12-0721 min

In The NewsThe Black Axe gang: a new frontier in Irish crimeOriginating in west Africa the Black Axe gang has quickly become one of the most successful groups in Irish organised crime. In the Republic, the gang has stolen or laundered €64 million, mainly through romance scams and invoice frauds. The Irish cell of Black Axe launders money by using a rapidly growing network of money mules in Ireland. Money mules’ accounts are used to take receipt of, and then disperse, the proceeds of frauds carried out by other Black Axe cells located in countries across the globe. Security and crime editor Conor Lally has the details. Hosted on Acast. See acas...2022-11-0223 min

In The NewsDeath at an Irish army checkpoint: Tibnin Bridge, part oneSince the 1970s, Irish soldiers have served as UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, a region where complex conflicts ebb and flow.47 Irish soldiers have died there in the line of duty. But among soldiers who have served in Lebanon, no incident is more notorious than the 1982 killings of Corporal Gregory Morrow, Private Peter Burke and Private Thomas Murphy at Tibnin Bridge, a checkpoint near the Israeli border.In part one of a three-part series, Conor Gallagher and Sorcha Pollak tell the story of Tibnin Bridge, with help from those who...2022-10-2619 min

In The NewsHow the death of Savita Halappanavar changed the course of modern Irish historyThis month marks ten years since Savita Halappanavar died at Galway University Hospital. At seventeen weeks pregnant, she had presented to the hospital complaining of back pain, only to be told she was actively miscarrying. One week after she was admitted to hospital, she died from sepsis after her request for an abortion was denied on legal grounds. Protests and vigils were held across Ireland, remembering Savita and calling for changes to Ireland's strict abortion laws. Ten years on and Savita's name is recognised across the country. Her story, synonymous with the campaign to repeal the 8th Amendment. In this...2022-10-2227 min

In The NewsThe agency forcing Irish criminals to flee abroad (From November 2021)Just over 25 years ago, the Criminal Assets Bureau was established in the wake of the killings of Detective Jerry McCabe and journalist Veronica Guerin. The murders shocked the nation and served as a wakeup call to the authorities that they were losing the fight against gangland figures and paramilitary groups. Over the years, the Criminal Assets Bureau has seized almost €200million in the proceeds of crime, forcing many to move abroad to keep hold of their cash. Today, Conor Pope speaks to Crime editor Conor Lally about the impact of Cab on the Irish criminal landscape. This episode was originally pu...2022-08-1222 min

In The NewsAre Irish house prices approaching a peak?Irish property prices are climbing at their highest rate for over seven years. In the last year alone, the average cost of a home jumped by just over 15 per cent. Most estate agents are forecasting continued price growth for the remainder of the year, and beyond. But can they really be so sure? Irish Times economics correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy explains why he believes a drop in prices is on the horizon, as interest rates rise and housebuilding finally takes off.Host: Conor PopeProduced by Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan Hosted on Ac...2022-05-1822 min

In The NewsHow young Irish women are losing money in too-good-to-be-true social media sales jobsMulti-level marketing companies, or MLMs, have grown in popularity across the UK and Ireland in recent years, particularly during the pandemic when online companies wooed people with the promise of big money and work-from-home flexibility. They’re touted as one way tickets to financial success, but in reality many recruits end up working for free.Irish Times reporters Jessica Doyle and Adesewa Awobadejo speak to Sorcha Pollak about their investigation into MLMs in Ireland. One of the women they spoke to, Karina O'Dowd, describes the year she spent working for one of these companies....2022-03-3022 min $The Women\'s Podcast$ The Women's PodcastEp 548 Marian Keyes: “Young Irish women are better at knowing what they’re entitled to”Marian Keyes talks to Róisín about her latest ‘selling-like-hotcakes’ book, ‘Again, Rachel’, the sequel to her much-loved novel 'Rachel’s Holiday', which was published 25 years ago.For the day that’s in it, they also talk about what it means to be an Irish woman in 2022 and Marian tells us why she’s inspired by younger Irish women and their determination not to take any bulls**t.www.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-03-1755 min

In The NewsHow the clerical sex abuse crisis reached the top of the Catholic ChurchEmeritus Pope Benedict XVI has been named by Munich investigators as a potential accessory to child abuse in a file made available to state prosecutors. It's after a law firm commissioned by the archdiocese of Munich and Freising to study its archives presented a report flagging 497 cases of clerical sexual abuse and 67 alleged perpetrators. The investigators highlighted four cases of abusing priests during the 94-year-old’s term as archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982.Derek Scally, The Irish Times Berlin correspondent, and author of The Best Catholics in the World: The Irish, the Church and the End of...2022-02-0424 min

In The NewsHow do we end male violence against women?Last Wednesday afternoon, 23-year-old Ashling Murphy went for a run along the canal pathway just outside the town of Tullamore in Co Offaly. At around 4pm, the primary school teacher was attacked and killed.Her death led to an outpouring of grief and anger across the nation with calls for men to stand up and call out the abuse and harassment of women.Irish Times journalists Jennifer O’Connell and Malachy Clerkin talk about why it’s time for a change of mindset to help end male violence against women.Pres...2022-01-1727 min

In The NewsHow Novak Djokovic’s vaccine-scepticism sparked an international sporting scandalNovak Djokovic is on the cusp of becoming the best men’s tennis player in the history of the sport. In less than a week, he should be attempting to land a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam men's singles victory at the Australian Open. But the Australian immigration minister has the power to revoke the Serbian’s visa due to his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Sorcha Pollak talks to Irish Times sports writer Johnny Watterson and Laura Slattery, Irish Times business journalist and tennis fan, about a very strange week in the world of tennis...2022-01-1223 min

In The NewsIreland’s rent crisis and its toll on societyIreland is in the midst of a rent crisis. Prices are increasing nationally at a rate of around 8%, housing stock is low and the cost of buying a home is beyond many people who would like to get a foot on the property ladder. In this episode we hear from two people with first-hand experience of the rental market. Conor Pope talks to Irish Times feature writer Jennifer O’Connell about the reality of the rent crisis, including the rise in a new phenomenon of family homelessness. And Irish Times reporter Jack Power explores what’s out there for woul...2021-12-2224 min

In The NewsOmicron is here. How bad could it get, and are we ready?The Omicron variant of Sars CoV 2 is the most transmissible variant yet and the percentage of cases here is growing dramatically. What is the Government going to do about it and what are the implications for the health service? Conor Popes talks to Irish Times health editor Paul Cullen and political correspondent Jennifer Bray.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.www.irishtimes.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-12-1723 min

In The NewsThe Treaty: how it shaped modern IrelandOn the 6th of December 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was agreed, paving the way for the creation of the Irish state. A century later, we explore how it was negotiated, the impact it had then and its legacy today. Conor Pope talks to playwright Colin Murphy, author Gretchen Friemann, historian Mícheál Ó Fathartaigh and Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy.Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.www.irishtimes.com/podcasts Clips from ‘The Treaty’ with thanks to Colin Murphy and the Fishamble theatre company. Hosted on Acast. S...2021-12-0621 min

In The NewsIs Dublin losing its cultural soul?A squat eviction, protests over plans to redevelop the site at the Cobblestone pub and the announcements of closures of the Science Gallery and a much-loved independent bookshop. These individual events, which took place in Dublin last week, may not seem related. But for many people, they symbolise what is seen as the degradation of culture and the character of the capital city. Sorcha Pollak talks to Irish Times columnist Una Mullally and Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly about the changing face of Dublin.Produced by: Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan 2021-11-0325 min

In The NewsThe agency forcing Irish criminals to flee abroadJust over 25 years ago, the Criminal Assets Bureau was established in the wake of the killings of Detective Jerry McCabe and journalist Veronica Guerin. The murders shocked the nation and served as a wakeup call to the authorities that they were losing the fight against gangland figures and paramilitary groups. Over the years, the Criminal Assets Bureau has seized almost €200million in the proceeds of crime, forcing many to move abroad to keep hold of their cash. Today, Conor Pope speaks to Crime editor Conor Lally about the impact of Cab on the Irish criminal landscape.Pr...2021-11-0122 min

In The NewsIs Facebook damaging our world?Facebook’s brand is in crisis. The social media giant is rarely out of the headlines, most recently after whistleblowers and leaked documents shed light on its failures, including the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories.Facebook is also facing pressure from lawmakers on various fronts, including pending legislation from Congress and a number of high profile lawsuits. This week cheif executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to announce a rebrand, as the company seeks to distance itself from these scandals and push ahead with plans to build the metaverse - the next evolution of the internet....2021-10-2621 min

In The NewsIreland 2050: 'The big changes will be at the extremes... droughts, floods'More flooding, longer spells of hotter weather, heavier rain events and the disappearance of frost: The changes to Ireland's weather if we fail to tackle the climate crisis may not seem too dramatic, but if other parts of the world suffer more, then the impacts of that will be felt here too. As part of our coverage of the climate crisis in the lead up to COP26, we talk to climate scientists, Dr Alastair McKinstry and Dr Enda O'Brien, about the likely consequences of climate disruption on Ireland in the coming decades.Guests: Dr Alastair McKinstry...2021-10-1324 min

In The NewsCovid and unvaccinated school children - what are the risks?The success of Ireland’s vaccine rollout has exceeded even the most optimistic projections of earlier this year and allowed the country to re-open, with virtually all pandemic restrictions due to be eased in the coming weeks. But for children in primary schools and creches there is no vaccine yet. Should we be concerned about the potential for the virus to spread in schools? Are children more at risk now than any other stage in the pandemic? And are those under the age of 12 likely to be vaccinated any time soon? Conor Pope talks to Irish Times health editor Pa...2021-09-1521 min

In The NewsHow the 9/11 attacks tore one Irish family apartTwenty years ago, on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, Mark Clifford was in Dublin attending the funeral of a friend, when he caught sight of a TV screen. What had happened changed his life forever. Plus: in 2001, Paddy Smyth was The Irish Times's Washington correspondent. He recalls the events of September 11th that have so shaped the world we live in today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-09-1023 min

In The NewsWho killed Michael Collins?Nearly 100 years after his death, the truth about who assassinated Michael Collins remains one of the greatest unanswered questions in Irish history. Collins was murdered at Béal na mBláth in Cork on August 22nd, 1922. At the time he was chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State. Why then was his death never properly investigated? Over the last century there has been much speculation about who fired the single shot that killed him. Will we ever know who did it?Guests: Art historian and performer Paddy Cullivan and Irish Times reporter Ronan Mc...2021-08-2722 min

In The NewsWhy did Katherine Zappone's UN envoy appointment spark a political crisis?At a time when TDs and ministers are usually winding down after the end of the Dáil term, the Government is facing a political crisis. It started last Tuesday August 27th, when journalist Daniel McConnell tweeted that the Cabinet had agreed to appoint Katherine Zappone, the former minister for children, to a newly-created role of UN Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. The move sparked calls for clarity over the appointment process, with Opposition TDs describing it as "cronyism" and lacking any real transparency. Then, just as the controversy seemed to be dying down, reports emerged t...2021-08-0618 min

In The NewsWhy do Brazilians want to impeach their president Jair Bolsonaro?For weeks now, thousands of protestors have been taking to the streets of Brazil demanding that their country's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro step down for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, more than half a million Brazilians have lost their lives to the virus. Bolsonaro has played down the severity of the virus since the start of the pandemic and is now facing allegations of political corruption relating to vaccine procurement. Sorcha Pollak talks to The Irish Times South America correspondent Tom Hennigan about who Jair Bolsonaro is, why people are protesting and what Brazil will look l...2021-08-0424 min

In The NewsA notorious people smuggler escapes justiceLast month, an infamous Eritrean human trafficker was sentenced to life in prison without parole in absentia in Ethiopia. Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, known as Kidane, who absconded from custody in February, oversaw an extensive smuggling operation in Libya where he is alleged to have extorted money from thousands of victims as they attempted to make their way to Europe. Sally Hayden has reported on the 21st century slave trade on Europe’s doorstep for The Irish Times for a number of years, interviewing victims of Kidane and his associate knows as “Walid”. She talks to Conor Pope about the horror...2021-07-2323 min

In The NewsHow Poland's right-wing politicians are reshaping societyEarlier this month, former European Council president Donald Tusk was elected head of Poland's Civic Platform, the opposition party he co-founded 20 years ago. Mr Tusk said he was returning to politics in his home country, where he was prime minister from 2007-2014, in order to help fight the “evil” of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Since it took power in 2015, PiS has introduced controversial reforms to the judiciary, clamped down on LGBTQ+ rights and essentially outlawed abortion. Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally, who regularly writes about Poland, talks to Sorcha Pollak about these...2021-07-1424 min

In The NewsWhy are MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly in trouble at the European Parliament?Irish MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly were recently formally sanctioned by the European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group for what were deemed to be unofficial election observation trips in Venezuela and Ecuador. In a statement, Daly and Wallace rejected the rebuke and said they will be challenging it. But their censure by the European Parliament comes amid increasing discomfort with the pair’s foreign policy positions including within their own Left group, where they were recently accused by a Dutch MEP of echoing pro-Putin talking points.The Irish Times Europe...2021-07-0924 min

In The NewsIs the education system doing enough for children with special needs?16-year-old Conor Lynch has a rare genetic syndrome and cannot speak. He also has a severe intellectual disability and a diagnosis of autism. Last September he was expelled from his special school due to challenging behaviour. His mother Lourdes Sanchez says she has tried and failed to find him a new school place since then and does not know if she will find one by September. The Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien spoke to Sanchez recently. In this episode he talks to Conor Pope about Conor Lynch and why he is not alone in falling through th...2021-07-0523 min

In The NewsCan we win the race against the Delta variant?Public health officials in Ireland appear optimistic about the progress of the Covid-19 pandemic, with indicators moving in the right direction and the dangerous Delta variant seemingly under control. But just how much of a “black cloud” does the variant represent? Conor Pope talks to The Irish Times health editor Paul Cullen.Presented by Conor PopeProduced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne BrennanTheme music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-06-2122 min

In The NewsWhy are people protesting about mica, and what do they want from the Government?On Tuesday, busloads of people travelled from Donegal and Mayo to protest outside Dublin’s Convention Centre calling for increased financial supports for homeowners affected by mica.Estimates vary, but up to 5,000 homes are thought to be affected by cracking and crumbling due to the defective concrete blocks.Mica Action Group campaigner, Eileen Doherty, whose own house in Donegal will have to be demolished as a result of mica, talks to Conor Pope about why people are protesting and what they want from the Government.Also in this episode, Irish Ti...2021-06-1619 min

In The NewsHas the Black Lives Matter movement changed anything in Ireland?Last June, thousands of young Irish people took to the streets of Dublin calling for an end to racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis on May 25th 2020.Amanda Adé is the co-presenter of the Black and Irish podcast. After the death of George Floyd, she spoke out publicly about racism in Ireland. On today's podcast, she talks to Sorcha Pollak about how the conversation about race in Ireland has changed in the past year. Also in this episode, assistant professor of law at Dublin City Un...2021-06-1425 min

In The NewsAfter 40 years, is there an end in sight to the Aids epidemic?In June 1981, a US medical journal published the first sketchy details of a disease which came to be known as Aids.In the 40 years since then, 33 million people have died as a result of Aids-related illnesses.The Irish Times's London editor Denis Staunton describes the fear and uncertainty of the early days of the Aids crisis and draws parallels with the coronavirus pandemic today. Dr Kim Roberts, a virologist at Trinity College Dublin, explains the origins of HIV/Aids, the scientific advancements that mean it is no longer a death se...2021-05-3126 min

In The NewsDeadline day for the HSEWill data stolen in the HSE ransomware attack appear online today? And if so, what will it mean for Irish citizens? Conor Lally explains.Plus: Karlin Lillington on why we should have been better prepared for the ransomware attack - but weren't.Presented by Conor PopeProduced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne BrennanTheme music by Hugh Rodgerswww.irishtimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-05-2422 min $The Women\'s Podcast$ The Women's PodcastEp 461 Best of 2020The time has finally come to say goodbye to 2020. But before we bid adieu to the longest year on record, we want to take you on a journey back through the last twelve months of The Women’s Podcast. The year 2020 will not just be remembered for the pandemic, it will also be remembered for the global Black Lives Matter movement, the historic US election result and the scandal around the sealing of the Irish Mother and Baby Home records. Róisín Ingle brings you a selection of these highlights including a conversation with Sinead O’Connor who spoke to us...2020-12-2842 min

Irish Times Inside PoliticsIs Fine Gael versus Sinn Féin the future of Irish politics?There's been a lot of commentary about the deepening rivalry between Sinn Féin on the left and Fine Gael on the right. Is this dynamic slowly replacing the old two-party struggle between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil? Some argue no, it's not, or not yet at least: Fianna Fáil are currently the biggest party in the Dáil. Fine Gael has not performed well in subsequent elections, while Sinn Fein's new-found support may yet turn out to be fleeting. But exit poll data from the last general election suggest that Sinn Féin and Fine Gael are indee...2020-12-0950 min $The Women\'s Podcast$ The Women's PodcastEp 450 Food Month: Lilly HigginsIt's Food Month in The Irish Times but you might say it's been Food Month pretty much everywhere since last March when the pandemic took hold and we found ourselves spending a lot more time in our homes and particularly in our kitchens. We were delighted to welcome resident Irish Times Food Columnist Lilly Higgins back to the podcast to discuss the foods that have been keeping her and her family going over lockdown - did anybody say duck pancakes? She also made a compelling case for her one woman campaign to bring back the Vol-au-vent, the giant variety of...2020-11-1938 min $The Women\'s Podcast$ The Women's PodcastEp 270 Elizabeth O’Kelly: The Irish Orphan Who Gave Away €30mIrish Times journalist Rosita Boland reads an article she wrote about Elizabeth O’Kelly, the little-known Irish philanthropist who, it was revealed last October, left €30 million to charity in her will. In the piece published in the Irish Times on Saturday 22 December, Rosita reports on Elizabeth O’Kelly’s past, revealing a life of privilege and tragedy, generosity and anonymity.You can read that article here: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/elizabeth-o-kelly-the-irish-orphan-who-gave-away-30m-1.3734135 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2018-12-2729 min

Irish Times BooksJune Caldwell - Room Little DarkerThis episode features a conversation between Irish Times Books Editor Martin Doyle and June Caldwell, author of Room Little Darker, at the Mountains to Sea festival in Dun Laoghaire last month. As ever, the podcast recording was preceded by a series of articles about Room Little Darker on irishtimes.com, written by fellow authors and critics including Maighread Medbh, Alan McMonagle, Joanna Walsh, Michael Harding, Justine-Delaney Wilson, Elske Rahill and Frankie Gaffney. And those interested can still find those pieces on irishtimes.com. Originally this event was due to take place at the Ennis Book Club festival, but that event...2018-04-0442 min

The Irish Times Books PodcastJune Caldwell - Room Little DarkerThis episode features a conversation between Irish Times Books Editor Martin Doyle and June Caldwell, author of Room Little Darker, at the Mountains to Sea festival in Dun Laoghaire last month. As ever, the podcast recording was preceded by a series of articles about Room Little Darker on irishtimes.com, written by fellow authors and critics including Maighread Medbh, Alan McMonagle, Joanna Walsh, Michael Harding, Justine-Delaney Wilson, Elske Rahill and Frankie Gaffney. And those interested can still find those pieces on irishtimes.com. Originally this event was due to take place at the Ennis Book Club festival, but that event...2018-04-0400 min

Róisín Meets...Luke Casserly - Kerry Babies Case (Efficacy 84)"On 14 April 1984 a woman’s identity was shattered to pieces. 33 years later we are still trying to piece it back together." More than thirty years ago two tragedies set off a chain of events leading to the Kerry babies case, gripping national attention and putting the spotlight on the place of women in Irish society, sexual mores and the conduct of An Garda Síochána. Longford theatre-maker Luke Casserly is the director of a show which will be part of the Dublin Fringe festival this month called Efficacy 84. It aims to ask questions about the limitations of art and how...2017-09-0100 min

Irish Times BooksJennifer JohnstonWelcome to the Irish Times Book Club podcast for June 2017. If this is your first time listening, you might be wondering how this works. Each month we run a series of articles on irishtimes.com on a chosen author. And at the end of each month we hold a public interview with that author at The Irish Writer's Centre on Parnell Square here in Dublin. It's free to attend. This month our chosen author is Jennifer Johnston. Jennifer's first novel The Captains and the Kings was published in 1972 when she was 42. Her latest work, Naming the Stars, a haunting tale...2017-06-3044 min

The Irish Times Books PodcastJennifer JohnstonWelcome to the Irish Times Book Club podcast for June 2017. If this is your first time listening, you might be wondering how this works. Each month we run a series of articles on irishtimes.com on a chosen author. And at the end of each month we hold a public interview with that author at The Irish Writer's Centre on Parnell Square here in Dublin. It's free to attend. This month our chosen author is Jennifer Johnston. Jennifer's first novel The Captains and the Kings was published in 1972 when she was 42. Her latest work, Naming the Stars, a haunting tale...2017-06-3000 min

Irish Times Inside BusinessUK Elections = Softer Brexit? & US Reviews H-1B VisaWhat exactly does the British Prime Minister want? That’s the question Irish Times columnist Chris Johns asks in the latest podcast.He joins Business Editor Cliff Taylor and Markets Correspondent Joe Brennan to discuss the fallout from Theresa May’s surprise announcement of a snap UK election yesterday, how it might affect the Brexit negotiations and what impact will be felt here in Ireland.Later in the podcast, Simon Carswell has the details of Trump's plan to review of the H-1B visa programme and outlines what it's likely to mean for Irish people seeking to work in the US...2017-04-1929 min

Irish Times Inside PoliticsInside Story - Carers In CrisisHow much do we as a society ask of those among us who have dependents in need of round-the-clock care? Last Saturday, The Irish Times published an interview by Rosita Boland with Johanne and Alan Powell, a couple in their 60s facing retirement and still caring for their profoundly disabled daughter, Siobhan, at home in Co Wexford.Exhausted and frustrated after three decades caring for Siobhan, who cannot walk, is nonverbal, does not eat solid food and has only one kidney, for the past three years the Powells have been seeking a residential care place for her. She is on...2016-11-2424 min

Irish Times Inside PoliticsInside Story - Pushing The Limits Of LifeThe limits of life have shifted dramatically at the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street in Dublin, where a baby born at 28 weeks now has a 90 per cent chance of survival, while those born at 24 weeks have a 50/50 chance . In the first episode of our new podcast series Inside Story, Conor Pope tells Hugh Linehan about the continuing advances being made in premature natal care and what it means for the parents and families. Conor’s article about Holles Street can be read at http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/the-pressure-and-joys-of-caring-for-premature-babies-1.2870303 You can find more information about Irish Times po...2016-11-1814 min