The Mick Clifford Podcast

By Irish ExaminerNews

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The Mick Clifford Podcast episodes

September 11, 2025 GET UP THE ARAS: Louise Burne
The presidential race is up and running now, with Fianna Fail the latest party to select a candidate this week. Elsewhere, a whole host of independents are attempting to get nominated by appealed to county councils and Oireachtas members. Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Louise Burne takes a look at the runners and riders and who exactly might represent a value bet.
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42 min
September 04, 2025 THESE DIVIDED ISLES: Philip Stephens
Ireland’s history has been tied up with that of Britain for eight hundred years through strife, colonialism, emigration and at times friendship. But where do we go from here? Philip Stephens is a long standing commentator with the Financial Times who had an Irish mother so he has a unique take on the ancient issue. His most recent book is These Divided Isles – Britain and Ireland Past And Future. Philip is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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43 min
August 28, 2025 THE LONG FELLOW: Colum Kenny
Fifty years to the week after the death of Eamonn de Valera, we talk to his biographer Colum Kenny about the makings of the man who dominated the Irish state for the first half of its existence so far. Revered by some, hated by others, he has his rule has been subjected to much revision since his death.
Revolutionary, statesman, leader, yet also considered conniving and dishonest in his role in creating the Civil War that proved to be brutal. Who really was the man who oversaw De Valera’s Ireland. Colum Kenny is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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41 min
August 22, 2025 LEAVING CERT AND BEYOND: Jess Casey
The Leaving cert results are out and those who sat the exam are digesting how they did at a time when grade inflation is being reined in. But what does it all mean in today’s world? Will disappointment today just be a staging post to a career that is not at all dependant on the results and how far away is reform. Jess Casey is this week’s guest on the podcast
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35 min
August 14, 2025 RACISM’S UGLY TURN: Arpita Chowdhury
Following a spate of racist attacks on Indian people in this country the question arises as to whether something new and ugly is going on in Irish society. Arpita Chowdhury is a journalist born in India but living now in Ireland. She has observed changes, both in real life and online in how racism is showing itsef. Arpita is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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35 min
August 07, 2025 LOST GAELS: Peadar Thompson
The GAA in the north went through a torrid time during the Troubles, with members targeted and even murdered simply because of their membership. There were also members of the association who were in the IRA and ended up dead primarily because they were themselves involved in violence.
Peadar Thompson has written a book commemorating all the GAA members who died violently. In particular he spoke to bereaved families who remember their loved ones for who they were rather than how they died. Peadar Thompson is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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34 min
July 31, 2025 ONLINE SAFETY CODE: Wild West era of social media is over
For the first time, new regulations aimed at protecting Irish children online have been enacted – the ‘wild West’ era of social media is over. At least, that’s according to the Government, which this week announced the beginning of the Online Safety Code.
It’s taken the law over 20 years to catch up with social media – and in the meantime, a whole generation of children has been exposed to violence, pornography, self-harm content and misogyny, with only some minor attempts at protecting them from Big Tech.
But Ireland’s Online Safety Code is part of a wider effort including Europe’s Digital Services Act, the UK’s Digital Services Act and new Australian rules around social media which includes under 16s being banned from opening YouTube accounts. The measures have been widely welcomed in Ireland but have become the subject of huge debate in the UK.
So – what are the rules, what are the penalties, and crucially, do they have enough teeth?
Irish Examiner journalist Sean Murray joins Deirdre O’Shaughnessy on this week’s episode of the Mick Clifford podcast
You can read Sean Murray’s take on the Online Safety Code here: Will tech giants finally take online safety for children seriously?
Clare O’Donoghue Velikic’s piece about Meta is here: Meta's ban on political ads will mean less transparency and more slop for users
Alex Cooney from Cybersafe Kids wrote recently in the Irish Examiner about Big Tech and children: Social media aimed at kids is driven by profit, not safety
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41 min
July 24, 2025 THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW: low on detail, high on promises
The National Development Plan review was launched earlier this week to an underwhelmed response.

An update of the previous plan, the review takes into account the Apple Tax escrow fund the Government was so keen not to claim, and promises a focus on providing the infrastructure key to housing delivery.

Along with the Summer Economic Statement, both announcements this week make a statement about the forthcoming fiscal period, but in the absence of clarity on Trump's tariff plans - what does it all mean?

Deirdre O'Shaughnessy speaks to Political Correspondent Louise Burne about the figures, the ambitions, and the lack of detail at the plan's core.

Mick Clifford is away
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51 min
July 17, 2025 THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: Cormac Moore
James Craig, the leader of unionist Ireland in the 1920s coined the phrase the root of all evil about the boundary commission, the body set up in 1922 to determine where exactly the border should lie between south and north on this island. But what was it all about? Could it have been any different? Did the border actually beget evil? Cormac Moore has written a fascinating account of the border commission entitled The Root Of All Evil. Cormac is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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33 min
July 10, 2025 SHE WHO WOULD BE PRESIDENT: Elaine Loughlin
There has been some rustling in the political bushes of late concerning the forthcoming presidential election. Suddenly, a field might be beginning to take shape. Meetings, conventions, nomination processes, all are getting underway as the Summer break looms and the boys and girls in Leinster House break out their buckets and spades. But who is in and who will win? Irish Examiner Political Editor Elaine Loughlin is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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41 min