Podcast Episodes

Tommy guns, car chases & All Irelands. The life and times of a great Irish man.

Episode 126

Funerals matter in Ireland. They are an expression of community. On Free State today, Joe recalls the extraordinary life of Colm McCusker and why his funeral told so much about the man. Colm McCusker…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Drinking with Loyalists, Part 2. Conor McGregor is not at war. While he sails his yacht in the Med, it’s your kids who go to prison.

Episode 125

As people are sentenced to years in prison for their part in the riots, what is the real purpose of the pogroms? There are those who will say it is a cry for attention from the dispossessed but what …

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Drinking with Loyalists, Part 1. Ulster (and Coolock) says No

Episode 124

At their best, the Olympics represent all that is good about humanity. For Ireland the Olympics brought an outpouring of spontaneous joy and happiness, at least until the homecoming parade. But the h…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The surprising truth about Pat Spillane, part 2

Episode 123

For Pat Spillane, the golden years with Kerry were about a lot more than winning. The game for him was, in Danny Blanchflower’s words, about glory. It was also, sometimes, about holidays. On part two…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The surprising truth about Pat Spillane, part 1

Episode 122

This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20

Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Celebrating Sam with the Orangemen: Part 2

Episode 121

From Croke Park to the Olympics, the boys of Armagh have been making their mark. Like Daniel Wiffen, Joe is a former pupil of St Pat’s in Armagh and naturally he has his own accomplishments to add to…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Cups, cops and complainers. Celebrating Sam with the Orangemen

Episode 120

Unforgettable things have happened here. These words were used to describe the history of West Cork but they also could be a fitting description of the history created in Croke Park by Armagh. But so…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

The Boys from the County Armagh. Some Orangemen have culture.

Episode 119

Is there hope for America and the world if Kamala Harris becomes president? Or is the deterioration in the US terminal? On this episode of Free State, Joe talks to Dion about the Joe Biden he knows, …

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

The GAA is more important than money. For everything else there’s Mastercard.

Episode 118

America has Donald Trump’s Republican convention; Ireland has the All-Ireland hurling final. America has Hulk Hogan; Ireland has Tony Kelly. On Free State, Dion and Joe discuss the cultural importanc…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Big hair, bowler hats & bonfires. Can Orangemen survive the modern world?

Episode 117

As tricolours burned on the bonfires in the north before the Twelfth of July, the Irish far right stayed silent. What does that tell us about their allegiances?

Why are there so many Israel flags flyi…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago