iRadio's Groupchat

Ireland is mourning the heartbreaking death of Olympian Ciara Mageean, who passed away aged 34 after sharing her stage four bowel cancer diagnosis. In this episode, we talk about what her story has highlighted: bowel cancer can affect anyone, at any age.

Brendan Dolan, Chair of Bowel Cancer Ireland, shares his own near-miss diagnosis at 48 and how it led him into advocacy and awareness work.

He breaks down the five key red-flag symptoms to never ignore, explains why early detection is so powerful, and outlines the urgent need to lower the screening age while tackling long waits for colonoscopies.

We also hear what supports Bowel Cancer Ireland offers, and where to find help at bowelcancer.ie.

Coldvember is back at Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill, and it’s bringing the early-morning buzz to Galway again - freezing sea dips, music, chats, and a massive sense of community.

Serena O’Sullivan and Ava Briscoe from the 2026 Coldvember team at the University of Galway join iRadio’s Groupchat to explain how it works: a student-led dip in the sea every morning in November, with no pressure to swim - you can just come down, donate, and soak up the vibes.

This year they’re fundraising for the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit, a volunteer-led group supporting coastal searches around Galway Bay. Follow along on Instagram @coldwember and donate via iDonate

Newly qualified nurse Della Clarke from Westmeath joins iRadio’s Groupchat after finally graduating - only to be left waiting on a contract.

Della shares how she switched from teaching to nursing, why her internship was the best part of her four year degree, and the moment “alarm bells” started ringing as reports emerged of graduates elsewhere being promised roles but not issued contracts.

Now back working as a healthcare assistant, she explains how HSE recruitment sanctions and budgetary considerations have left her class in limbo, and why some are now looking to the private sector or the NHS.

She’s calling for a clear statement, a start date, and answers.

This week on Business Spotlight, we’re chatting to two Irish lads in New York who’ve turned a serious craving for a proper fry into a booming business.

Niall Boyle and Noel Keran are the co-founders of Irish Breakfast Box, founded in a Queens apartment in 2022, now delivering curated boxes of authentic Irish breakfast favourites to customers across 48 states.

They talk about how a care package from home sparked the idea, the realities of cold-shipping perishables (yes, even eggs), and why getting the meats right was the biggest challenge.

Becoming a parent can be amazing and absolutely overwhelming all at once — from the sleep deprivation and “am I doing this right?” spiral to the pressure of social media’s highlight reel.

In this episode, Amy Corrigan, founder of Broode.ie, explains why so many new parents are struggling and how misinformation online can make everything feel even more confusing.

She breaks down what Broode offers through a monthly membership: trusted, GP-reviewed info, a supportive Irish parent community, and access to experts from midwives and lactation consultants to sleep support, pelvic health physios and relationship coaches.

This episode includes discussion around suicide, so listener discretion is advised.

It’s Movember season, and while the moustaches might raise a smile, the message is serious: getting men talking about their health - mental health and suicide prevention, as well as prostate and testicular cancer.

Movember Ambassador and poet Daragh Fleming joins iRadio’s Groupchat to explain what the campaign is really about, why being proactive matters, and how “man up” culture can shut down an emotional life. He also shares practical advice on checking in with the men in your life — including why leading with your own vulnerability can open the door.

With Halloween just around the corner, iRadio’s Groupchat is stepping into the paranormal with PJ O’Sullivan from Púca Vogue Paranormal Investigators.

PJ talks about what first got him into ghost hunting, from strange childhood memories to a shared sighting that never left him, and how his mum pushed him to set up the team. He also explains what a typical investigation involves, from cameras and trigger objects to EVP sessions and overnight lockdowns.

Plus, hear what happened during a two-night stay at Redwood Castle near Galway, including eerie “Priest’s Room” moments, doors moving on their own, and the unexplained sounds caught on camera.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, and in this episode we’re unpacking what ADHD can look like in real life in children and adults and why so many people still go undiagnosed for years.

Chartered Clinical Psychologist Dr. Fionna McDarby explains the different presentations, from hyperactivity and impulsivity to the quieter inattentive type that can be missed in school, and how ADHD can affect everything from organisation and relationships to self-esteem and even interoceptive awareness.

We also dig into the rise of online ADHD assessment platforms, the red flags to watch for, what a proper assessment should include, typical costs, and where to find trustworthy support, including ADHD Ireland.

ATU Sligo lecturers Robert Craig and Mary Nolan join the podcast after taking home Return Award Gold for a simple idea that turned into a huge community impact. By collecting deposit return bottles and cans across campus, their team has raised almost €30,000 for the North West Hospice - the equivalent of around 250,000 returns.

They talk about how it started with spotting return containers ending up in general waste, and how students and staff quickly got behind it.

Mary also shares what the hospice means to her personally, and how the fundraising will support the new €15 million hospice building opening soon.

Plus, they explain what’s next: bulk collections with Return, rolling the initiative out across more ATU campuses, and why anyone with an idea should “just go and do it.”

Shaun Harris – better known online as Shaun with a Fada – joins iRecommend to show how Gaeilge doesn’t have to mean grammar books, exams and fear. With clever puns, wordplay and plenty of laughs, he’s built a huge following by making Irish feel fun and accessible.

Shaun chats about growing up through Irish, taking a 10-year break from the language, and the moment an awkward run-in with an old teacher pushed him to start again.

He also talks about his new book of Irish puns (with a glossary and illustrations), how he writes the jokes, and why social media is helping a whole new generation find their cúpla focal again.