Podcast Episodes

The broken UN, and Ireland's role: 'There's cynicism among member states towards our so-called neutrality'

The absence of a coherent international response to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine has raised questions about what used to be called the international rules-based order. Does it still exist at all, o…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Does the Presidency matter? Live at Electric Picnic

Today we bring you a recording of a live episode that took place yesterday in the Mindfield area of Electric Picnic. Hugh talked to Ellen Coyne, Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy about the meaning of t…

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Does Jim Gavin have what it takes for a presidential campaign?

Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

·      It seems highly likely that former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has the blessing of Taoiseach Miche…

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Are we still living in De Valera's Ireland?

Éamon De Valera died on August 29th, 1975. Fifty years on, the Ireland of today would hardly be recognisable to the revolutionary leader, taoiseach and president who famously extolled the simple virt…

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Heather Humphreys is the likely Fine Gael candidate, but Fianna Fáil are yet to show their hand in this presidential race

Harry McGee and Ellen Coyne look back on the week in politics:

·       The presidential race is the only show in town with Fine Gael recovering remarkably well from the news last week that Mairead McG…

Published on 4 months ago

Ukraine: Possibility and peril as Trump pushes for Putin-Zelenskiy meeting

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Monday’s summit at the White House with US president Donald Trump as a “major step forward” towards ending Europe’s deadliest conflict in 80 years and…

Published on 4 months ago

Crash, part three: Ireland hits rock bottom and politics changes forever

Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan bring the story of Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government to its conclusion.

Following Cowen’s embarrassing appearance on Morning Ireland in late 2010, many in the cou…

Published on 4 months ago

McGuinness's shock withdrawal throws the presidential race wide open

The surprise withdrawal from the presidential election race of Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness on health grounds has introduced even more uncertainty to an already unpredictable contest. On to…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

Crash, part two: austerity bites and Cowen’s Morning Ireland humiliation

In part two of a three-part series on Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan continue the story.

After the fateful 2008 decision to bail out Ireland’s banks, Cowen an…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

Crash, part one: Brian Cowen and the unravelling of Ireland

Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in 2008, just as Ireland’s economy was going into free-fall. For the next three years he struggled to lead the country through some of its darkest days, with public opini…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago