The Irish Passport

With the fallout of Brexit straining the bonds of the United Kingdom, Naomi and Tim look back on a period of history with huge resonance for the current moment. The union that still perseveres today was forged in crisis, as an emergency response by the British government to a Protestant-led Irish rebellion that deeply shook …

Continue reading "Destructive Unionism: Part 1, The History"

Past guests including comedian Tara Flynn, Brendan Boyle, Caitríona Perry, Emma de Souza, Sarah Maria Griffin, Caelainn Hogan, Sarah Creighton, Ronan McCrea and Matthew O’Toole join us again for a Christmas reunion! It’s a bizarre one for many of us this year but we hear from people all around the world who are making it …

Continue reading "Christmas reunion"

Self-described “Irish Catholic” Joe Biden has elected president of the United States after a momentous election that has the potential to transform international relations and potentially Ireland’s fortunes as the post-Brexit talks reach their final moment. Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney discuss the president-elect’s Irish roots, what his Catholic identity means in this historical …

Continue reading "The most Irish US president ever?"

In this episode Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney hear the voices of women who lived through a profound social transformation in Ireland: the coming of electricity. The ability to turn on a light or boil a kettle with just a switch came relatively late to large parts of Ireland, part of an ambitious project …

Continue reading "Electrifying Ireland"

It’s return of the clowns as Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney dissect the latest Brexit drama and speak to Congressman Brendan Boyle, whose cutting criticism of the British government went viral after the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared it would break international law. Where are we, how did we get here, and …

Continue reading "Gloves off, Washington to the rescue! Brexit update"

A golf society dinner for 81 people has thrown the Irish government into chaos. Attended by a host of senior political figures, many at the forefront Ireland’s COVID health strategy, the event appeared to flout the very social distancing regulations some of its guests had devised. This is just the latest in a series of …

Continue reading "Scandal! Can Ireland’s government survive?"

Celtic identity is politically powerful but historically nebulous, a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists, while being a source of inspiration to some and irritation to others. In this episode, Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney visit a Celtic music festival in the Netherlands to explore why the concept has such international appeal. Tim …

Continue reading "Who were the Celts?"

After almost half a year of negotiations and political maneuvering, Ireland finally has a government. It’s unlike any that has come before it, and it doesn’t include the party that got the post votes in the last election, Sinn Féin. In this livestreamed podcast, Naomi O’Leary and Tim Mc Inerney answer listener questions with special …

Continue reading "Halfpints: New Irish government Q&A livestream"

Young Black people in Ireland have taken to the streets to demand an end to racism and discrimination in the midst of a global uprising inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Documentary maker Amanda Adé explores the conversations and momentum for change that is happening in Ireland in the wake of the protests. We …

Continue reading "Ireland’s next revolution"

Protests against Ireland’s controversial system for housing asylum seekers Direct Provision have been re-ignited as demonstrations against racism sweep the United States. We interviewed Bulelani Mfaco where he lives in Knockalisheen Direct Provision centre on the border of Limerick and Clare for our episode on the system published in January. In this bonus episode made …

Continue reading "Halfpints: Bulelani Mfaco on Direct Provision"