Brendan O'Connor

Culture journalist and host of ‘The Bellissimo Files’, Sarina Bellissimo joins Brendan to talk through the best new offerings on the big and small screen. Her choices include divorce drama, ‘War’, Brad Pitt’s survivalist epic ‘Heart of the Beast’ and Aidan Gillen’s latest series ‘Tall Tales and Murder’. 

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Author Louise O’Neill joins Brendan to discuss her first memoir ‘A Bigger Life’. It details a dramatic break-up, which led her to completely reconsider her life and priorities. From returning home, to travelling in Thailand, to dating her way across Europe, she outlines the huge mix of emotions she went through from joy to embarrassment to unexpected tears. 

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Poet Enda Wyley joins Brendan with a selection of autumnal poems, including classics by John Keats and Seamus Heaney, and lesser-known gems by Vona Groarke and Ru Borsen.  

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Former Ireland and Munster Rugby Captain, Peter O’ Mahony joins Brendan to discuss his amazing grandmother, his lifelong temper, and his extraordinary playing career. Marking the publication of his memoir ‘All In’ he talks about what he learned from coaches Joe Schmidt, Andy Farrell and the late Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley.   

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Chef and Restauranteur Marco Pierre White joins Brendan to discuss his pivot from restaurants into curating a hotel, his ongoing quest to recreate his childhood and how kitchen culture has changed during his career. He also talks about his long and complex relationship with Gordon Ramsay. He also tells us how to cook the perfect steak.

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Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute; Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Times; Finian McGrath, Former Independent TD and former Minister of State for Disability Issues and Dr Barra Roantree, Economist at Trinity College, Dublin.

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Mark Little, tech entrepreneur and journalist, has written a new book 'The Last Good Day on the Internet' in which he charts the initial innocence of the internet and its 'shared playground' feel to the rise of the algorithm to the AI age we're currently living in. 

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In a new book by the brother of the late Princess Diana, Charles Spencer makes various claims highlighting King Charles' cold-heartedness at the time of Diana's death. Jennie Bond, Journalist and former BBC Royal Correspondent also recalls the tension between Diana and the Royal Family while she was alive and its impact on the next generation of royals. 

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Joining Brendan to pick out the week's best offerings on the big and small screen are: Esther O’Moore Donohoe, writer and podcaster and John Maguire, Business Post Film Critic for the Business Post. Among some of the TV shows and films they preview are Sharon Horgan's 'Youth', Matthew McConaughey's 'Brothers', the new BBC series of 'Strictly Come Dancing', Saoirse Ronan's 'Bad Apples and Shaun The Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. 

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Aisling Rogerson, founder of The Fumbally Café and the widow of the late Manchán Magan, talks about how all of Manchán's life's work culminates in the final book of his trilogy, 'Seeing What's Happening', with its focus on connecting to the spirit and having the right relationship with nature. She also talks about first meeting him on Inis Oirr 12 years ago, their long-distance relationship and coming to terms with his death. 

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