The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

Content Warning: This podcast discusses subject matter that some listeners may find disturbing.

This Reboot Republic talks to Kelly Ann Byrne, about her experience of being homeless with her children, her own childhood trauma and growing up in care, and the central importance of home, and support services like Focus Ireland. Kelly Ann is a Focus Ireland Lived Experience Ambassador.

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Helpful contact details:

The Samaritans:https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/samaritans-ireland/about/governance-and-structure/contact-us/

Women's Aid:https://www.womensaid.ie/help?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-JacBhC0ARIsAIxybyNbaxPl2RM4WJ-fKmenoABl94nHI4Q8f9xdvBXq4RENG_a5YcUYYfQaAp4qEALw_wcB

Focus Ireland:https://www.focusireland.ie/contact-us/?

In this episode, Rosie talks with Pádraic Fogarty, campaigns officer at the Irish Wildlife Trust and editor of ‘Irish Wildlife’ Magazine, about his book, Whittled Away – Ireland’s Vanishing Nature, that was published in 2017. Pádraic also presents the Shaping New Mountains podcast.

Whittled Away documents how our seas, waterways, skies, soil, woodlands and wildlife are being stripped of their diversity. While underscoring the urgency of this ecological crisis, and its negative consequence for Irish communities and society, Pádraic also considers how we might better approach and embrace our inter-relationships with nature.

Pádraic and Rosie discussed how his involvement in activism and campaigning led Pádraic to write this book; the significance of Ireland’s low density of environmental organisations; the exploitation of the seas and the EU Common Fishing Policy; the problems with the roll-out of the EU Habitats Directive; what’s wrong with the National Parks; lessons from the Burren about community engagement; our lack of knowledge about biodiversity and species loss in Ireland; tensions involved in advocating for biodiversity; rewilding – its meanings, prospects and possibilities; and what’s changed since the book was published in 2017.

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(Recorded 23rd Nov)What would you do if we told you that the four Local Authorities in Dublin built 0 new homes in the first six months of 2022? Well it's true.

Joining us to talk through the jaw droppingly bad housing output, the direction of travel for the property market and how we might turn the corner by building and refurbishing new and existing properties is architect, Mel Reynolds.

As always, Mel is a font of ideology-free get it done sense.

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On Friday Nov 18th, Shrapnel cohost Sam Mcilwaine came down from Belfast to the wonderful Axis Theatre in Ballymun to chat all things Northern Ireland, Loyalism, Unionism, socioeconomic issues and politics with Echo Chamber host, Martin McMahon.

This is a great conversation and features an engaged and lively Q&A with members of the audience. Don't miss it. We want to again thank Dean, Aifric and the Axis team for a brilliant night.

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It was a pleasure to be joined by Dublin Inquirer journalist, Shamim Malekmian, Mr. Election Projections, Harry McEvansoneya and United Against Racism's Memet Uludag to talks about some of the news of the week and the stories that deserved a bit more attention.

We chat the latest opinion polls and the FG bounce, the Raise the Roof Rally, Iran falling out of the news, World Cup geopolitics, dangerous changes to our immigration system, passing the mic and a deep-dive into the fears around immigration and the links to failed housing policy.

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Listeners will have seen the recent "anti-asylum seeker" protests in East Wall. But you might not have gotten the full picture on what is really happening both there and within our creaking immigration system. Joining us to discuss this and his viral thread on these events is Activist and National Organiser with United Against Racism, Memet Uludag.

We talk about the vetting question, the economic migrant classification and why we have a housing crisis, not a refugee one. Memet talks about his own experience and those of the people he has helped navigate through the immigration system. Above all else he outlines the facts beyond the rhetoric and if we change the political trajectory there is nothing we cannot overcome in this wealthy and welcoming country.

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Thread here:https://twitter.com/Memzers/status/1594477958864969728?s=20&t=UzCv2YwhCSCj4b9v0-eyzQ

Múscailt is a podcast of interviews with scholars and writers who are raising important questions about Irish society through their research. Committed to critique and hope in equal measure, the show features discussions on a range of issues relating to ecology, criminal justice, politics, sexuality, culture, identity, social policy and more.

Join hosts Rosie Meade and Niamh McCrea for in-depth, convivial conversations with guests who want to share their work on Irish society with new audiences.

In this introductory episode Rosie and Niamh talk with Echo Chamber host, Tony Groves about what listeners can expect in the weeks ahead.

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Artwork by selkiesstudio.com

A European Union draft law forcing large companies to check if their suppliers use slave or child labour and or environmentally sustainable practices (the CSDDD) is facing calls from some member states, including Ireland, to exclude the financial sector.

Joining me to discuss what would be a hypocritical position by an Irish Government, who support human and environmental rights domestically, yet might then turn a blind-eye to abuses committed by Irish-based companies internationally, is Coordinator of the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights, Sorcha Tunney.

There's a call to action here, folks. Please contact your TD and or Minister Dara Calleary, and ask them why we are looking to half-arse our adherence to what is already a watered down law.

Contact: [email protected]

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See you on Saturday

Listeners will be aware of the amount of coverage we've given to CETA, and the ISDS (investor courts) that it signs us up for over the last few years. We have not been shy about our dislike...

So it was a great boost when the case taken against the constitutionality of aspects of the deal by Green Party TD, Patrick Costello's was victorious in the Supreme Court. (would've loved to have seen Leo's face)

Patrick rejoined us to talk about taking the case, the judgement and where to next politically for a deal that is already over 90% implemented.

(recorded Saturday 13th Nov)

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E.S. 'Ed' Haggan is a former Royal Ulster Constabulary officer who is active on Twitter as @redbrickedslums. He describes himself as 'a writer of fiction about Irish terrorism and the lives it damages'. In this episode Ed talks about his experiences of living with CPTSD, shifting from wanting to be a marine biologist to joining the RUC as a teenager in 1986 during the tumult following the Anglo-Irish Agreement and experiences of policing in North and West Belfast and South Armagh and Newry. Ed also talks about his love of mysticism, mythology, black metal and power noise.

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*PIRA is a reference to the Provisional IRA

**Varg Vikernes is a founding member of the early black metal scene in Norway and was later imprisoned for murder

***Michael Moynihan is an American writer and journalist