Newstalk Daily

Ireland wants one million extra tourists every year. The Government’s new tourism strategy promises a foodie revolution, year-round stays, and a far better regional spread of visitors. But the reality on the ground tells a different story: visitor spending has slipped, prices have soared, and many travellers say the céad míle fáilte now comes with luxury-hotel pricing. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan asks if Ireland is truly offering value, or whether high prices, seasonal closures and hotel shortages are turning visitors away. Sunday Times food critic Russell Alford, who’s had to move his own wedding date because of hotel price-gouging, joins Irish Examiner travel editor Jillian Bolger to take an honest look at the visitor experience. They explore whether our food scene is as strong as the hype, why menus outside the cities can feel stuck on repeat, whether rural Ireland can ever deliver year-round tourism, and whether we actually have enough hotel rooms to support the growth the Government is promising. There are big ambitions for Ireland to become one of Europe’s great “foodie destinations.” The question is whether the value, the offering — and the welcome — can match that ambition. ⭐ Explore Jillian’s writing & travel guides 📘✨ Website: www.jillianbolger.com  👉 Dive into Jillian’s food writing, travel insights, and award-winning features. ⭐ Follow Russell & Patrick — the GastroGays 📸🍽️ Instagram: www.instagram.com/gastrogays  👉 Food journeys, travel tips, and brilliant dishes from across Ireland and beyond.  

Volodymyr Zelensky is in Dublin at a moment of extraordinary pressure — both for Ukraine and for Europe. The Ukrainian president arrives amid huge security precautions, with Gardaí and Defence Forces on high alert. And according to Professor John O’Brennan, that level of protection isn’t theatre: it reflects real malign threats linked to Russia, from cyber-attacks to the probing of deep-sea cables and suspicious vessel movements in Irish waters. He believes this visit may even serve as a test-run for Ireland’s EU presidency next year. Zelensky’s arrival also comes as the United States pushes hard for a peace deal that critics warn tilts towards Moscow. Donald Trump appears impatient for a quick end to the conflict, with John O’Brennan telling us that the former president would prefer Zelensky to “effectively surrender” so Washington can claim credit for ending another war. He sees Russian fingerprints all over the latest blueprint. But despite political upheaval at home, including the resignation of a key adviser in a corruption scandal, Zelensky remains — in O’Brennan’s words — “the most formidable leader in the world over the past four years.” His visit to Ireland signals not just diplomatic courtesy, but a strategic push for European unity at a time when America’s reliability is increasingly uncertain. Professor John O’Brennan from Maynooth University joins Tara Duggan on Newstalk Daily to explore the real significance of this state visit, the political danger surrounding the peace talks, and Europe’s responsibility at this pivotal moment. ✉️ We’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s conversation: email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

Donald Trump has done something no US president has tried in more than three decades: he's pulled the plug on World AIDS Day. No federal statement. No public awareness campaign. And at the same time, global HIV agencies say American funding cuts have already left millions without access to prevention or treatment. On today’s podcast Daily, Tara Duggan asks what this retreat means — and why World AIDS Day still matters.  She hears a special World AIDS Day message from Rory O’Neill — Panti Bliss — before speaking to Professor Fiona Lyons, the National Clinical Lead for the HSE Sexual Health Programme, about where Ireland stands and why this moment still matters. Later, activist Adrian Duggan joins Tara to talk about his own diagnosis at 17, the long arc of stigma, and the future of the Poz Vibes movement. 📌 Learn more about HIV and sexual health (HSE):  👉 https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/hiv/ 🎙️ Explore the Poz Vibe community & podcast:  👉 https://pozvibe.com/ 

Ireland’s political landscape is changing fast. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the age profile of the Dáil. One year on from the general election, dozens of first-time TDs are settling into life as national lawmakers, including a cohort barely older than the century itself. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan meets two of the younger voices reshaping Irish politics: Labour’s Eoghan Kenny, the 25-year-old from Cork North Central who became the youngest member of the Dáil, and Fianna Fáil’s Naoise Ó Cearúil, the Kildare North TD juggling his first year in Leinster House with first-time fatherhood. They talk about the shock of getting elected, the culture shift inside Leinster House, and whether younger TDs are taken seriously by the old guard. Tara asks them about Dáil chamber theatrics, family commitments, and whether politics can ever allow normal social lives for people in their 20s and 30s. The conversation ranges from generational change to long-term ambitions — with a little detour through Coppers along the way. 📩 Send your thoughts and questions to newstalkdaily@newstalk.com  ▶️ Catch up on previous episodes of Newstalk Daily anytime on the GoLoud player or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Ireland was all set for a tap-and-go future - card-only cafés, vanishing ATMs, entire towns losing bank branches. Then things flipped. The Government has now introduced new rules forcing banks to keep cash physically available and is even advising households to store cash at home for emergencies. Europe is saying the same thing: cash isn’t old-fashioned; it’s crisis-proof. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan – a proud Cash Queen – dives into why the cashless “revolution” suddenly stalled. Sean Defoe, who never carries cash, breaks down the new ATM rules landing this week. Financial advisor John Lowe explains why he still backs a cashless economy. And Brett Scott, author of Cloudmoney, argues that Big Tech and Big Finance have spent years waging a quiet war on cash, because digital money means data, power, and profit. Is cash freedom? Is cash wasteful? Is cash about to make a comeback? Or is this just a speed bump on the road to a fully digital wallet? Tara tests the tension between tap-and-go Ireland and the die-hard defenders of paper money. 📧 Share your thoughts with us: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 🎧 Listen to Let Me Explain with Seán Defoe: https://www.goloudplayer.com/podcasts/let-me-explain-1031 💶 Visit John Lowe’s Money Doctor: https://moneydoctors.ie 🌐 Explore Brett Scott’s work: https://alteredstatesof.money  

The British Covid Inquiry has released another huge report. Hundreds of pages, years of testimony, and a stark conclusion: tens of thousands of lives might have been saved with a faster response. Its public hearings, cross-examinations, and political fallout are all playing out in the open. Ireland, by contrast, is taking a very different path. Our Covid-19 Evaluation has been operating behind closed doors for months. No sworn evidence. No public questioning. No powers to compel documents or text messages. Supporters of the process say it keeps the focus on learning lessons instead of political point-scoring. Critics — including many families bereaved in nursing homes — say it's “toothless" and reminiscent of past Irish investigations that simply didn’t go far enough. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan hears from Dr Ciara Kelly, who has long argued that Ireland locked down too hard for too long. She also speaks to Majella Beattie of Care Champions about why so many families believe only a statutory inquiry can deliver the transparency they were denied during the darkest months of 2020 and 2021. And Maynooth University’s Shamsoddin Shariati explains to Newstalk Daily why our expert-led review may avoid the political circus unfolding in the UK. 

Estate agents sit at the very bottom of the national trust rankings. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan asks why. Are estate agents being unfairly blamed for a dysfunctional market? Or are some long-standing practices inside the industry contributing to mistrust, price inflation, and buyer frustration? The average home in Ireland now costs eight times the average income. One in five homes sell for 20% above the asking price, and just 22% of buyers say they trust estate agents, according to the CCPC. With only 13,000 homes for sale nationally, competition is intense and emotions run high. Tara speaks first to Ronan Crinion, founder and managing director of MoveHome, about licensing, transparency, and why his industry gets such a bad rap. What’s myth, what’s fact, and what really happens behind the scenes when bids start rolling in? Then she’s joined by Ciarán Mulqueen of Crazy House Prices, a man who spends every day fielding messages from buyers who feel confused, stressed, and sometimes misled. He explains how asking prices are set, whether “phantom bidders” are actually possible under current regulations, and what buyers can do to put themselves in the strongest position. If you’ve had your own home-buying horror story — or a positive experience with an estate agent who restored your faith — we’d love to hear from you. Email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com. 

As Bosnia marks thirty years since the signing of the Dayton Agreement, a chilling allegation has resurfaced - one so grotesque it sounds almost unbelievable, yet one now being examined by prosecutors in Milan. During the siege of Sarajevo, according to claims emerging from Italian journalists and newly contacted whistleblowers, wealthy foreign visitors may have paid Bosnian Serb fighters to escort them to sniper positions overlooking the city, where civilians were deliberately targeted as if on a safari. If true, it would mean civilians in a European capital were killed not just out of hatred, but for sport. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan speaks first with Zlata Filipović, whose childhood diary captured the terror and claustrophobia of life under sniper fire. Sometimes called the “Anne Frank of Sarajevo,” she reflects on memory, identity, the children lost, and parallels with recent events in Gaza. Then defence analyst Declan Power, who served with the Irish Army in Bosnia, joins Newstalk Daily to assess the allegations — where they came from, how credible they appear, and what mechanisms could allow something as macabre as “sniper tourism” to happen unnoticed by the wider world. ✉️ Email your thoughts or questions to newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.  

Line of Duty, one of the most-watched TV dramas of the century, is officially returning. After four years off air, the BBC has confirmed a brand-new six-part season, with filming in Belfast beginning next spring and the iconic AC-12 trio back together: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and our own Adrian Dunbar as Ted Hastings. The announcement has detonated across the fandom. But Newstalk Daily’s Tara Duggan has never seen a single episode.  So, on today’s podcast, she’s joined by someone who has practically built part of his career on Line of Duty: Brendan O’Loughlin from 98FM, one of the voices behind Shrine of Duty — the fan podcast that became a runaway hit by decoding acronyms, analysing clues and channelling the intensity of AC-12 obsessives everywhere. Tara and Brendan talk about why the show became such a phenomenon, how Adrian Dunbar’s catchphrases entered everyday Irish slang, what the new storyline might hold, and why the fandom has already burst back to life. 📧 Email your thoughts or favourite Line of Duty moments to: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com ▶️ Listen to Shrine of Duty here: https://www.goloudplayer.com/podcasts/shrine-podcast-376 🎧 Catch Brendan every weekday morning on 98FM’s Big Breakfast: https://www.98fm.com/podcasts/big-breakfast 

The ‘Great Resignation’ has reached Irish politics. Paschal Donohoe is the latest big name to walk away from Leinster House — departing immediately for the World Bank in Washington and joining a fast-growing list of high-profile exits that already includes Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and dozens of TDs and Senators from the last election. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan asks why so many mid-career politicians are stepping back, not at retirement age, but at the height of their influence. Is it burnout? Toxicity? Online abuse? A changing culture in public life? Or the simple truth that the private sector now offers better pay, better hours and a saner existence? Political correspondent Claire Scott of The Sunday Times digs into the trend and what it means for the next generation of leadership. Former Minister Ciarán Cannon reflects on life after politics, the pressures that drove colleagues to leave, and whether Ireland undervalues its politicians until other countries snap them up. We also hear a voice note from former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator Lisa Chambers, once tipped for Cabinet, who left politics at just 38 and explains the moment she realised life outside Leinster House might be healthier — and happier. From the politics of burnout to the politics of opportunity, this conversation explores a system struggling to retain talent — and asks whether the exodus is a warning sign for Irish politics. For thoughts or feedback, email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com. 

Ireland is in the middle of a masculinity reset. Andrew Tate’s influence hasn’t faded. The Conor McGregor civil rape verdict rattled classrooms where he’d been idolised. BBC Three’s Men of the Manosphere aired this week. And “parasocial” has just been named Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year — a perfect description of the strange, intimate bonds teenage boys form with influencers they’ll never meet. In real life, the picture is just as messy. Samaritans research suggests one in ten men fake interest in sport and exaggerate their drinking, while two-thirds say they’d live differently if freed from social judgement. And yet we also saw Irish footballer Troy Parrott break down after the Hungary match, offering a rare counterweight to the idea that Irish men must bottle everything up. Educator Eoghan Cleary has spent years warning that boys are being raised — emotionally, sexually, socially — by the loudest, most misogynistic corners of the internet. Porn is shaping expectations long before adults intervene. Boys are anxious, angry, confused and algorithmically nudged toward men who promise clarity through dominance. On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan and Eoghan talk about why this generation feels lost, what parents can do tonight, what schools urgently need, and whether Ireland is finally ready to create a healthier, more humane model of masculinity for our sons. Comments and stories welcome at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.  

The release date for Grand Theft Auto VI has slipped again — it’s now not expected until late 2026 — and the fallout is ricocheting far beyond gamers. When the world’s biggest entertainment franchise hits pause, stock markets wobble, hardware makers rewrite sales forecasts, and governments even start talking. Poland’s parliament debated the delay; analysts are re-running their 2026 projections; and a row over Rockstar’s workplace practices has burst into the open. In today’s podcast, Shane Beatty looks at why GTA matters so much, what’s really causing the repeated hold-ups, and how a single title has become an economic bellwether for the global games industry. We hear from our own Micheál O’Connell (whose holiday plans have been derailed by the latest postponement) and from tech podcaster Kelly Earley on what this means for gamers, studios and the rapidly growing Irish games sector. 🎧 Listen to Kelly Earley on the For Tech’s Sake podcast: https://www.fortechssakepod.com/ 

Weight loss injections were supposed to be for “other people” — the Hollywood elite, the super-rich, the anonymous “before and after” photos in newspaper health pieces. But what happens when your own GP prescribes one… and suddenly the miracle drug is in your fridge? On today’s podcast, Shane opens up about starting a new injectable weight-loss treatment earlier this year, the dramatic impact it’s had on his body, and the monthly bill that comes with it. He talks frankly about what it’s like to be living on a medication that can transform your weight and your health — while still feeling nervous about telling people you’re on it. Shane is joined by Dr Mick Crotty from the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, and community pharmacist and WonderCare podcast host Sheena Mitchell. They explain how drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy work, why Ireland has become a manufacturing hub for their active ingredients, and what that means for everything from our hospitals to our corporation tax take. They also tackle the big questions: who can get these medicines through the HSE, who’s forced to pay hundreds of euro a month, and why an estimated three in four users never admit they’re on them at all. From side-eye at the pharmacy counter to fears about “cheating” at weight loss, Newstalk Daily asks whether it’s time to rethink our ideas about obesity, willpower and what it means to take control of your own body. 📩 Email: Share your own experience of weight loss medication — anonymously or otherwise — at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 🎧 Listen to Sheena Mitchell’s WonderCare podcast: https://www.wondercare.ie/episodes/ 

President Catherine Connolly wants to do something no Irish president has tried in a serious way before: make Irish the actual working language of her presidency. Not just the cúpla focail at a podium, but real-life emails, meetings, memos, and day-to-day business conducted as Gaeilge. It sounds inspiring, slightly terrifying, and raises a simple question: could anyone else pull that off? In today’s podcast, we ask what it would mean for an ordinary workplace to follow her lead. Could a private company – say, a busy radio station like Newstalk – decide that Irish is the language of the office? What would that look like for staff who are fluent, staff who are rusty, and staff who still wake up sweating about their Leaving Cert oral? Today FM presenter and How To Gael co-host Louise Cantillon joins Shane to talk about living and working bilingually every day, why she slips between Irish and English on air without thinking about it, and how listeners really react when a national presenter leans into Gaeilge. She explains where her own grá for the language comes from and what she learned interviewing President Connolly during the campaign. We also hear from Natasha O’Flaherty of Hynes’ Pub in Stoneybatter, where customers are actively encouraged to order their pints in Irish. She explains how a few words at the bar can change the atmosphere of a place, and why making mistakes is part of the fun rather than something to fear. Then HR expert Moira Grassick from Peninsula Ireland joins Shane to reality-check the idea of an Irish-language workplace. She talks through what the law actually says, whether a company could insist on Irish for certain roles, how contracts and policies would have to change, and how employers might promote Irish without alienating staff who aren’t confident speakers. From lunchtime conversation circles to bilingual signage and the branding benefits of using our first official language, she lays out what’s possible – and what would be a legal or practical nightmare. So can Irish really move beyond the Gaeltacht, the classroom and the Dáil chamber to become a genuine working language again? Or is this one of those ideas we love in theory, but quietly abandon once the Monday morning inbox lands? 🎧 Listen to Louise Cantillon on the How To Gael podcast: https://www.howtogael.com/ 🎧 Tune into Splanc with Cuán Ó Flatharta on Newstalk: https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/splanc 📧 Tell us whether Irish could work in your office: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

Another housing plan. Another set of promises. Another “urgent” response to a crisis that’s now shaped more than a decade of Irish life. Today, Government will unveil its latest plan to fix Ireland’s housing emergency. Titled ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities,’ it’s expected to include around €100 million for long-term housing list families, new powers for the Land Development Agency, and tougher rules on derelict properties. But with the cost of a two-bed apartment in Dublin now topping €550,000, and homelessness hitting record highs, will this one finally make a difference? Joining Shane Beatty on today’s podcast are Seán O’Neill McPartlin, Director of Housing Policy at Progress Ireland — who’s published his own 25-point plan to deliver 300,000 homes — and architect Pat Barry, CEO of the Irish Green Building Council. They discuss what real solutions look like:  – Cutting construction costs and planning red tape  – Balancing sustainability with speed  – Making better use of empty buildings  – Whether lowering building standards risks repeating old mistakes They also present some big ideas, including local authority one-stop-shops across the country and integrating housing developments with major public infrastructure projects like Dublin’s new metro.  Ireland’s new president, Catherine Connolly, called housing “a fundamental human right.” But after a decade of failed strategies — from Rebuilding Ireland to Housing for All — can this latest plan finally deliver? 📩 Share your story: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

A Garda–PSNI investigation into an alleged terror plot has led to charges against two men and a warning that violent far-right extremism is no longer confined to the online fringe. On today’s Newstalk Daily, Shane Beatty speaks to Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, about the group calling itself the “Irish Defence Army” — the small, secretive network at the centre of the investigation. The podcast explores how Ireland’s far-right has evolved from social-media agitation to real-world activity; the ideology fuelling it; and how authorities north and south of the border are responding. It also looks at the impact on Muslim and migrant communities, the verbal abuse of faith leaders such as Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, and the recent alleged arson attack on an IPAS centre in Drogheda. 🔗 Read more from Cormac O’Keeffe and the Irish Examiner: www.irishexaminer.com  📩 Share your thoughts or experiences with us: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

For decades, Irish football has survived on crumbling terraces and rusting floodlights, but change may finally be in the air. Dublin City Council has finally approved the long-awaited redevelopment of Dalymount Park, home of Bohemians FC, while just up the road, Shelbourne have secured a 250-year lease on Tolka Park, ending years of uncertainty over their spiritual home. On today’s podcast, Shane Beatty is joined by Cameron Hill from Off The Ball to ask whether these long-delayed projects mark a real turning point for domestic football — or just more patchwork progress. From the political wrangling behind Dalymount’s €64 million rebuild to the deep cultural roots of Bohemians’ unique social mission, Shane and Cameron explore how the League of Ireland compares to the GAA and rugby when it comes to investment and ambition, and whether Irish football is finally ready to dream big again. They also look at the hard questions: Why did it take a decade to greenlight Dalymount? Can Dublin really sustain two stadiums side-by-side? And does the League’s revival off the pitch — with sellout crowds and viral jerseys — signal a brighter, better-funded future for the game? 🎧 Listen as we ask: If you build it, will they come? 📩 Got thoughts on the future of Irish football? Email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 📱 Follow Cameron Hill for more football insight and updates: @the_cameronhill 

Tomorrow, the red carpet will be rolled out at Dublin Castle as Catherine Connolly takes the oath as Ireland’s tenth president in a room once used to celebrate royal rule. In today’s podcast, Shane Beatty is joined by journalist and author Flor MacCarthy, who’s been watching the final preparations unfold in St Patrick’s Hall, from the chandeliers polished crystal by crystal to the presidential chair re-gilded for a new era. They explore the pageantry carried over from the old days of empire — uniforms, salutes, and a ceremony once designed for kings — and how faith and religion have always played a part, from early Catholic blessings to today’s more pluralist prayers. Flor explains how each president used the day to set a tone: Mary Robinson reaching out to the Irish diaspora, Mary McAleese pledging to build bridges north and south, and Michael D. Higgins invoking the power of culture and poetry. There are lighter touches too: Flor has uncovered what past presidents had for lunch — Dev’s post-inauguration feast was simply chicken, peas and spuds — and she offers a glimpse inside Áras an Uachtaráin, where President-elect Connolly and her family will move in tomorrow afternoon. Expect a ceremony rich in symbolism, with plenty of Irish language woven through. Catherine Connolly has said she wants Irish to be the working language of her presidency. 📘 Read more in Flor MacCarthy’s book The Presidents’ Letters: An Unexpected History of Ireland (Little Island Books): 👉 https://www.littleisland.ie/books/the-presidents-letters-an-unexpected-history-of-ireland ✉️ Email us your thoughts on the new president: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

When Kim Kardashian tells her 364 million followers she doesn’t believe in the moon landing, it’s tempting to roll your eyes. But in 2025, conspiracy thinking isn’t just a fringe obsession — it’s mainstream entertainment. From claims that aliens built the Pyramids to the wild theory that birds aren’t real (they’re government-controlled drones, apparently), these ideas spread faster than ever and reach millions who never question them. As Ireland’s Science Week gets underway, Shane Beatty is joined by Dr Shane Bergin, Associate Professor in Science Education at UCD, host of The Trust Race podcast, and the man who actually teaches a course on conspiracy theories at UCD. Dr Bergin explains why we fall for fake facts, how social media algorithms amplify suspicion, and what centuries-old events like the Gunpowder Plot reveal about the long, strange history of paranoia and mistrust. He also recalls how conspiracy and misinformation surrounding the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s cost lives — a reminder that these ideas aren’t harmless fun. From 5G panic to flat-Earth videos, and from anti-vaccine movements to moon-landing denial, this episode explores how mistrust takes root — and how science can fight back through education, creativity, and connection. Welcome to your crash course in the psychology of disbelief. 🔬 Explore Science Week 2025 events and activities: https://www.scienceweek.ie 📘 Read Dr Shane Bergin’s new book, The Experimenters: Luke and Ruby’s Scientific Sleepover (Little Island Books): https://littleisland.ie/books/the-experimenters-luke-and-rubys-scientific-sleepover/ 💌 Share your favourite (or strangest) science conspiracy with us: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

He’s the most wanted Irishman on Earth — a boxing promoter turned drug lord, living it up in the desert. Daniel Kinahan’s wedding at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab brought together Europe’s biggest narcos. Within five years, almost all of them were behind bars. All except him. Now, as the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau sells off his former Dublin mansion for a record sum, Kinahan remains untouched in Dubai: shopping, dining with boxers, and running what Europol calls a “Super Cartel” worth up to €20 billion a year. On today’s podcast, Shane Beatty talks to Ed Caesar, whose New Yorker investigation reveals how Kinahan built his empire, courted boxing’s elite, and managed to stay free while others fell. They also discuss why the United Arab Emirates have become, in Ed's words, "a sandy place for shady people." And Ed reveals he's been informed that Daniel Kinahan has read his investigation in the magazine. A story of crime, influence, and the strange safety of exile. 📰 Read Ed Caesar’s full investigation in The New Yorker: 👉 The Cocaine Kingpin Living Large in Dubai  📩 Email the show: newstalkdaily@newstalk.com