Claim OwnershipBrendan O'Connor
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© 2026 RTÉ Radio 1
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Brendan O'Connor has all you need for the weekend with time to pause and reflect on the week just gone. Featuring a selection of human interest, consumer and lifestyle stories, as well as keeping you up to date on the news stories that matter. Listen live Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 1pm on RTÉ Radio 1.
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Joining Brendan this week are: Eamon Ryan, former government Minister and Chair of the European Housing Advisory Board,Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute, Mary Regan, Political editor of the Irish and Sunday Independent and Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Actor Jason O’Mara has just moved home to Dublin after over 20 years in L.A. He’s acted in DC’s Batman, Band of Brothers, Life on Mars, The Good Wife, The Lincoln Lawyer and will be in RTE’s These Sacred Vows next month. He chose five songs to represent his life ranging from Simon & Garfunkel to The Jesus and Mary Chain to Max Richter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Writer, Henrietta McKervey and TV and Radio Producer Eoin Sweeney talked Brendan through the hits and misses from the big and small screen this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Elaine Burke, host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast on why we’ll all be talking to our computers in 2026 and how AI will infiltrate all spheres of life this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, joins Brendan to explain how the brain develops over the decades and why 32 is a crucial age for the brain’s re-wiring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Singer-songwriter Chris De Burgh and Ross-O'Carroll-Kelly creator Paul Howard joined Brendan to talk about becoming friends later in life, wine-related escapades and the importance of banter and laughter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Architect Róisín Murphy wades in on the Great Radiator Debate with her views on how to run a radiator, the cost benefits of turning the radiator down a degree or two, where to best position a radiator and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chef Darina Allen talks to Brendan about her favourite curries for these cold winter evenings, her inspiring travels to India and Sri-Lanka in search of new recipes and why using fresh spices is a game changer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Channel 4 News’ Foreign Correspondent Páraic O’Brien talks to Brendan about the potential collapse of the regime in Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Musician Gavin Friday joins Brendan on the 10th anniversary of David Bowie’s death to talk about what Bowie meant to him as a teenager growing up in Dublin, having dinner with his hero (and not seeing eye to eye!) and his enduring influence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Dearbhail to parse through the Sunday newspapers are former Fine Gael government minister, Josepha Madigan; Professor of US and International Politics at UCD’s Clinton Institute, Scott Lucas; Publisher of TheBriefing.ie, Liz Carolan; and Political Editor with the Irish Times, Pat Leahy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Dearbhail to discuss the modern meaning and relevance of Nollaig na mBan (“women’s Christmas”) are activist and founder of Topical Popical, Andrea Horan; interfaith minister, singer and theologian, Rev Dr Noirin Ni Riain; and novelist and author of ‘This is How You Remember It’, Catherine Prasifska.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Dearbhail to talk through some top tips for taking control of your money in 2026 is Financial Advisor and CEO of Fairstone Ireland, Paul Merriman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Previewing the very best of the big and small screen this week – including Traitors, Dancing with the Stars and soap mash-up ‘Corrie-dale’ – are Director of the Dublin International Film Festival, Grainne Humphries; and host of the Extravision podcast, Andy McCarroll.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Founder and Artistic Director of Druid Theatre company, Garry Hynes joins Dearbhail to talk about the songs of her life, the death of her beloved wife, Martha O’Neill and the 50th Anniversary of the Galway-based theatre company which she founded, Druid. The conversation co-incides with the publication of ‘Druid Theatre: Fifty Years’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“We lost trust... during Covid we saw an increase in free-birthing” Prof Shane Higgins – Outgoing Master of Holles St HospitalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Following dramatic strikes in Venezuela, US President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President, Nicholas Maduro. Chief Diplomatic Correspondent with The New York Times, Steven Erlanger; and Sky News Washington Correspondent, David Blevins bring Dearbhail up to speed on this breaking story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The differences between the Full Irish and the Ulster Fry, and the little nuances that make a fry special.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Poet Enda Wyley pick outs poems to ring in the New Year, and get us through the cold winter months – blending humour, optimism and wonder at the natural world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are cookies watching your online holiday booking habits and costing you more? Is 2am on a Wednesday the best time to book a flight online? Conor Pope of The Irish Times talks Dearbhail through hacks and myths for cheaper holidays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Good grief o connor must have the goods on rte she's never off it 🤡
O connor giving airtime / employment to the usual hacks and government lackies ... how depressing
I wonder does the allocation of €750 million of taxpayers money to biased rte the political wing of fg ff colour their Sunday panel discussions 😂💰#biasedrte
No programme on Bloody Sunday from this prick...
This is excellent. Heard it yesterday on the show and just had another listen. Some great stuff in here.
Plenty of rational, younger people see through Meghan as well as the older generations.