Conor Faughnan’s Driving Life

Conor talks to former rugby international Shane Byrne. They chat about his playing days and how he is very much enjoying his current life especially where there’s a bit of craic. They also talk about modern rugby and Ireland’s performance at the rugby world cup.

Conor sits down with Minister Donohoe to discuss what brought a northside lad who used to sell nappies by the truck-load to the huge job that he has now at the heart of Irish public life. And of course, what he is proposing to do with the money…

Tommie spent many years as one of our best known and best loved broadcasters. From the West of Ireland he became RTE’s Europe correspondent for 12 years, before spending a long time as Northern Editor. He’s had a great view of history and has been our witness to it. He spent a long time successfully battling cancer but it has never held him back; now’s he’s enjoying life to the full.

Professor Brian Caulfield of TCD is a very active academic specialising in Transport and the carbon and climate impacts coming out of it. He’s published multiple papers on the topics, he provided advice to the Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change and is also on the steering group reviewing the Greater Dublin Transport Strategy. He and Conor have met on the radio a few times but this is a chance for a longer chat.

Conor talks to Neil Briscoe, Irish Times motoring journalist car nut and all round expert, about why cars have got so big, and why car makers are insisting on selling us SUVs. This has cropped up for Conor on the Pat Kenny programme and elsewhere recently so here he takes a more detailed look at an unwelcome trend.

Driving Life with Conor Faughnan Ep 42: Professor Rose Anne Kenny of the TILDA study, Ireland’s world class Longitudinal Study on Aging. She tells Conor how it works, what its teaching us about life and health as we live longer and hopefully happier.

Ruth Scott has been a successful DJ on national radio for years having begun as an early colleague of Conor’s in AA Roadwatch. She’s still on air but she is now also a humanist celebrant for weddings and funerals. She chats about her path in life, her humanism, and her happy marriage to Rob Morgan, son of the legendary Dermot Morgan.

Conor has a long chat with Paul Reid. Recently CEO of the HSE and now Chairing the Citizen’s Assembly on Drug Use but that is just the latter part of an extraordinary career. From growing up in Finglas and leaving school at 16, to trade union activism in Eircom and then a senior management role. He’s been round the world working for Trocaire, lead operational reform in the civil service after the Financial Crisis, ran Fingal Co. Council for 5 years, then lead the HSE through Covid. Busy guy, but we managed to get a quiet hour for a long chat.

Conor meets Brian MacNeice, who is both Chair of Cricket Ireland and an international rugby official, serving as TMO in the recent Six Nations. We cover the growth of Cricket in Ireland from grass roots to Test status, and on the rugby side how he got started as a referee and how the TMO process actually works in the modern game.

Driving Life Conor Faughnan. Episode 38, where Conor meets Senator Michael McDowell. Hello, I’m Conor Faughnan and this is Driving Life. They talk about the life and amp; death of the PDs, Northern Ireland and why he now thinks the St Andrew’s agreement was a mistake, and Sinn Fein’s democratic credentials. Along the way we hear his thoughts on the Irish Left, the Planning System and his reflections on 30-plus years in public life.

Driving Life Conor Faughnan. Episode 37, where Conor meets Eanna Ni Lamhna. She’s a biologist, environmental consultant, radio and amp; TV presenter, author and educator – and that’s just for starters. They chat about her life and amp; background, what we can all do about the great climate challenges, and how we can enjoy nature every day.

Driving Life Conor Faughnan. Episode 36, where Conor meets Charlie McGettigan. He’ll always be remembered for winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Paul Harrington in 1994, but there is lots more to him than that. He is full of life and the fun that he has with his family, and the joy of choosing to only the things that he enjoys. These days that includes gigging with Marty Morrissey in his Marty Parties, playing music and enjoying the world from his home in Drumshanbo.

Conor meets broadcaster Phil Cawley for a chat about his love of biking. These days he is the new host of the Breakfast Show on South East Radio and he’s on Ireland’s Classic Hits every Sunday but he still loves his bikes. If you have ever been tempted by thoughts of doing Route 66 on a Harley Davidson or just riding out in a group for a Sunday cruise, he’s done it all.

Conor meets Professor Donal O’Shea, Ireland’s leading medical specialist in obesity and gender services. Two very big but very different modern issues. He’s very frank about on the need for better understanding of obesity and on the harm done by zealous ‘activists’ on gender. He’s also the brother of rugby international player and coach Conor O’Shea, though that hasn’t proved enough to get him to support England.

Conor meets Frank McDonald, Journalist and former environment editor of the Irish Times. He’s an influential author and commentator on Irish architecture and Irish urban planning, especially on the development of Dublin. He has just left Temple Bar for a splendid new home in Blackrock and has lots to say on the city’s good and its bad (spoiler – he’s not a car fan!).