The Eighth

“It always seems impossible until it is done.”- Nelson Mandela

The final episode of the Eighth is a fly on the wall audio journey with Ciara from her hearing the exit poll results through to the final result in Dublin Castle. Featuring a range of voices throughout the day, with special thanks to my sister Evie, my Mam Róisín, Shane, Sharon, Morgan, and Ciara. 

Special thanks to Alan and the whole HeadStuff crew for their tireless support, encouragement and help in making this series.

And the biggest thank you of all to my partner in Repeal, Paddy. 

We did it. 

It Is Done. 

**Credits**:

Featuring news clips from Newstalk, RTE, ITV, Fox News, and BBC News, reproduced with thanks.

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

**Music**:

Nine Inch Nails, Ghosts I-IV, Ghosts I

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven - Storm

This week, Ciara and Paddy reflect on the journey of making The Eighth, what they have learned, and where they think the chips might fall tomorrow. Ciara speaks to political analyst Johnny Fallon to make predictions about the count, to Elle and Lisa out on the canvass in Dublin, and Ciara's sister Emily speaks to some of her friends on the eve of the vote. Then join Ciara, Paddy, and a cameo from the lovely Karen from Everyday Stories part 2 as they CAST THEIR BALLOTS this morning. Now get out to vote everyone... Your voice matters. 

Credits:

Clips from ITV, Channel 4 News, The Telegraph, NBC, BBC

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh, Emily Hannigan

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Sinead O'Connor, Thank you for hearing me

Ghosts I-IV, Nine Inch Nails

This week, Ciara and Paddy reflect on the journey of making The Eighth, what they have learned, and where they think the chips might fall tomorrow. Ciara speaks to political analyst Johnny Fallon to make predictions about the count, to Elle and Lisa out on the canvass in Dublin, and Ciara's sister Emily speaks to some of her friends on the eve of the vote. Then join Ciara, Paddy, and a cameo from the lovely Karen from Everyday Stories part 2 as they CAST THEIR BALLOTS this morning. Now get out to vote everyone... Your voice matters. 

Credits:

Clips from ITV, Channel 4 News, The Telegraph, NBC, BBC

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh, Emily Hannigan

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Sinead O'Connor, Thank you for hearing me

Ghosts I-IV, Nine Inch Nails

We're being asked by campaigners for and against repeal to get out and talk to our family and friends before the 25th of May - to have conversations about why voting is so important, and about which way to vote. Turnout will make or break the campaign for both sides, and given we have so many people who are still somewhere in the middle, conversations with people who they love and respect could be the deciding factor.

In this episode, Ciara and her husband Paddy bring up the _awkward_ subject of abortion with their families, who have a mixed bag of opinion… including Ciara's sister Katie, who does a complete 180 after listening to the pro-life episode of the podcast.

Also, the wonderful Taryn DeVere gives advice on how to start these conversations and how to make them meaningful if you are planning on raising the referendum at home, at work, or in the pub. You should 100% read Taryn's excellent piece, [How To Talk To Your Anti Choice Dad](https://medium.com/@taryndevere/how-to-talk-to-your-anti-choice-dad-2d5829ab731c), and follow her super-duper-repeal-y and inspiring Twitter feed, @TarynDeVere.

**A note from the producer: 

It was brought to my attention that I got a point of information confused in my conversation with my brother last week on this episode, and I’d like to correct that. The proposed legislation states that up to 12 weeks, a woman will arrive at her decision regarding her abortion with the support of one doctor. After 12 weeks, two medical professionals will essentially need to ‘approve’ the abortion on serious mental and physical health grounds amounting to a risk to life. I wanted to clarify this mistake, and recommend the site Aboutthe8th.com for clear, non-legalese information on the proposed legislation.

**Credits:**

Thanks to my very patient and deadly family for letting me ask them some pretty tricky questions for this one.

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music: Devin Townsend Project - Ghost - Infinite Ocean / Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe - You caught the light

In this episode, Louise tells the story of having termination following a fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis, and Ciara and her friend Karen share their own abortion stories with each other for the first time.

**Content warning for discussion of abortion, in some detail. **

Credits:

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Alvo Noto – Xerrox vol 2

Nils Frahm - Screws - Re

This Episode shares four women's stories of abortion, and is a partnership with Everyday Stories. Content warning for sexual violence, physical abuse, abortion, miscarriage. 

[www.everydaystories.org](www.everydaystories.org) 

Credits:

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh and Caoimhe Anglin

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Bohren and Der Club of Gore - Black Earth - Crimson Ways

Bohren and Der Club of Gore - Dolores - Black Maja

Maternity

In this Episode, we hear about how the 8th Amendment impacts on every single pregnancy in Ireland, Ciara speaks to Philomena Canning from Midwives for Choice, Dr Anthony McCarthy, Perinatal Psychiatrist in Holles St, Krysia Lynch, Chair of AIMS Ireland, and her friend Clare Anne O'Keefe about her own pregnancy. Ciara also shares footage from before, during and after her 20 week scan from when she was pregnant with her son last year.

CREDITS

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Alvo Noto - Xerrox vol 2

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV

Kid Loco - Party Animals and Disco Biscuits

The Violinist.

This Episode delves into the field of ethics, or moral philosophy, to see how it can help clarify a lot of our gut instincts around the issue of abortion. Ciara speaks to world-renowned Professor of Bioethics in Princeton University, Peter Singer; Professor Maureen Junker-Kenny, Head of Religions and Theology in Trinity College Dublin; and Dr Helen Watt, Senior Research Fellow and former Director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, Oxford, UK.

Credits

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Max Richter, The Blue Notebooks, On the Nature of Daylight

Max Richter, 24 Postcards in Full Colour, The Picture of Us

Nine Inch Nails, Ghosts I-IV, Ghosts I

In this Episode of The Eighth, Ciara tells the story of the reality of Irish abortions, and why Ireland will never be an island free of abortion. She speaks with Niall Behan, CEO of the IFPA, who provide counselling to thousands of women who travel every year to the UK for an abortion. She also speaks to Dr Patricia Lohr, Medical Director of BPAS, one of the UK's largest abortion providers. Ciara draws on research by Professor Cara Delay (Fulbright Fellow 2012-2013, UCD Humanities Institute and Associate Professor History Department, The College of Charleston) and her lecture – ’Noxious Things’: Illegal Abortion Cases in Twentieth-Century Ireland’

CREDITS

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music:

Ulver, Teachings in Silence, Silence Teaches You How to Sing

Ulver, Teachings in Silence, Darling, Didnt We Kill You

Dead Can Dance, The Serpents Egg, The Host of Seraphim

Episode 02: Yes for Repeal

In this episode, Yes for Repeal, Ciara meets women who are campaigning to remove the 8th amendment to the constitution. One woman tells her personal story of travelling to the UK for an abortion, another describes how she almost died during her pregnancy. Campaigners talk about what drives them, and a team of women in Waterford talk about ‘fighting the good fight’ in a pro-life city that ‘tends to be forgotten’. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Dympna Reilly. 

CREDITS:

Produced by Ciara O’Connor Walsh

Executive Producer: Alan Bennett, HeadStuff

Production assistance from Paddy Walsh, Emily Hannigan, and Brian from HeadStuff

Artwork: Eimear Gavin

Music: Ghosts I-IV, Nine Inch Nails 

Ani DiFranco, ¿Which Side Are You On?, Amendment