iRadio's Groupchat

If you ever get into trouble on a mountain, a remote trail, or somewhere hard to reach, Galway Mountain Rescue could be the team that comes looking for you. They’re on call 24/7 - and they do it all as volunteers.

Valerie is joined by team member Hannah Gibney to explain what call-outs can look like across Galway and North Clare, from injured hikers to missing people caught out after dark (and the odd four-legged rescue too).

Hannah talks training, specialist equipment, and the reality of mobilising at the drop of a hat.

Plus, details of their annual fundraiser Howl at the Moon on 26th September - with 9k and 17k walks in the Galway Wind Park - and how you can support or get involved.

Heart disease and stroke don’t always come with warning signs - which is why prevention matters. Valerie is joined by Aisling Harris, cardiac and weight management dietician with Croí, to break down the simple checks that can make a real difference.

They chat about knowing your numbers (blood pressure and cholesterol), understanding your family history, and why heart health isn’t something to park until you’re older - it’s the habits in your 20s and 30s that add up.

Aisling shares practical, non-overwhelming ways to start: move more in ways you enjoy, tweak your diet, manage stress, sleep better, and take it one step at a time - with extra supports available through Croí.

Get involved in the Croí Night Run by visiting https://croinightrun.ie/

If you’ve been watching The Traitors Ireland, you’ll know the castle has been full of twists, suspicion and backstabbing - and this week one GAA contestant’s journey came to an end.

Valerie is joined by Saoirse Joyce, who went in as a Faithful and found herself banished after weeks of trying to figure out who she could actually trust.

Saoirse chats through the casting process (TikTok application, Zoom rounds, in-person interviews and psychometric tests), the reality of life inside the castle with cameras always rolling, and the chaos of keeping it all secret from friends and family.

Starting college can feel like a high at first - CAO night, the debs, graduation, freshers week — and then the comedown hits. Valerie is joined by Craig to talk about that sudden loneliness that can creep in when everything finally goes quiet.

Craig opens up about commuting alone for the first time, how even small changes can mess with your head, and why staying busy didn’t actually fix what he was feeling.

They also chat clubs and societies, the pressure of “everyone’s grand” on social media, and what colleges and students’ unions could do to change how we talk about loneliness - even when you’re surrounded by people.

As students across Ireland get ready to head back to college, the accommodation scramble is back – and for many, it’s reached crisis point. Valerie is joined by Daniel Walsh, President of USI, to explain just how serious things are, and why some students are giving up before they even start looking.

Daniel breaks down what he says is a lack of state investment in purpose-built student housing, the reliance on private developers, and why the government’s “digs” push feels like an admission of defeat.

They also dive into the wider cost-of-college squeeze: rising commuting costs, the end of once-off supports, and what students can do next – from contacting their students’ union to joining a national protest on October 1st.

Caitlin Lowry from Longford is on a mission to change Ireland’s education system. After leaving school at 14 due to severe anxiety, she taught herself the Leaving Cert curriculum independently, all while grieving the loss of her father - and has just received her results.

She joins iRadio’s Groupchat to explain why self-taught students are being left behind, especially when it comes to project work that can make up 20-40% of grades.

Caitlin also breaks down her Hear The Stars campaign: book donations, free notes, volunteer teaching videos on YouTube, and an app in the works - plus her bigger goal of building a school that supports students who don’t fit the traditional system.

If you’re already dreaming of getting away as the nights get darker, this episode is for you.

Valerie McHugh is joined by travel journalist Melanie May to share her top picks for autumn and winter city breaks – from warm-weather favourites like Lisbon, Seville and Athens, to crisp Central European classics like Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Krakow. They also chat Christmas markets (including Tallinn and Riga) and how to avoid the biggest crowds.

Planning a group ski trip? Melanie breaks down the biggest booking mistakes, how to keep costs under control, and why the “weakest skier” should shape the whole holiday.

From a TY Mini Company project to an AI-powered study app with an ambitious plan to raise €500,000, Sean Cahill and Paddy Corcoran are taking StudyTok way beyond the classroom.

They tell Valerie how the idea was born while they were meant to be studying for the Junior Cert… and ended up doom-scrolling instead. That “TikTok but for study” concept turned into an app that hit tens of thousands of downloads after one viral video.

They also break down how StudyTok keeps content accurate using past exam papers and notes, what makes it different (scrollable feed + adaptive learning), and what it’s like building a business while sitting the Leaving Cert.

Childhood is changing fast - and so is the way kids play, cope and communicate. Valerie is joined by Robin Burns from Robyn’s Nest Play Therapy in Loughrea, Co. Galway to unpack why play isn’t “just for fun”, but a child’s natural language.

Robyn explains what play therapy is (and who it can support), from anxiety and low self-esteem to bereavement, trauma and parental separation.

They also talk about the power of letting kids be bored, how to respond without instantly reaching for screens, and the impact too much screen time can have on development.

Heading back to college can mean fresh starts, new people… and messy love lives. From long-distance relationships to first dates, breakups, hookups and everything in between, it’s a lot to navigate.

Valerie is joined by psychologist and relationship therapist Louise Carroll to talk about how to actually make long distance work (without living in “when we see each other again” limbo), and how to deal with jealousy when your partner is meeting a whole new crowd.

They also unpack “red flags” vs normal human messiness, why feeling confused can be a big signal, and how to survive situationships when expectations don’t match.