Newstalk Daily

They were children when the Celtic Tiger collapsed. Teenagers when the IMF arrived. And now, they’re adults in an Ireland that in many ways still hasn’t fully recovered.The “Bailout Babies” are the generation born into the boom and shaped by the bust. They never benefited from the good times, but they’ve lived with the consequences ever since, in housing, work, relationships, politics, and mental health. And in 2025, it feels like something has shifted.From CMAT’s Euro-Country to Kneecap’s cultural breakout, from housing protests to emigration, this generation suddenly seems to be everywhere — angrier, funnier, more creative, and more politically engaged than before.On this Christmas Eve podcast, Sean Defoe is joined by journalist Adam Maguire, author of The Bailout Babies, to ask who this generation really is, and why this year feels like their coming-of-age moment.They talk about growing up during the crash, the long shadow of austerity, the housing crisis as a barrier to adulthood, and how living in box rooms into your thirties reshapes dating, work, and family life. They also explore why inheritance has quietly become a housing plan.Adam Maguire’s The Bailout Babies is published by Gill Books.

What happens when millions of people online seem to decide, almost overnight, that they don’t like you? A harmless Christmas special. Fifty-six minutes of cooking, crafting, and cosy domestic cheer. And yet, once again, Meghan Markle found herself at the centre of a full-scale online pile-on.The reviews were ferocious. The tone was personal. And the backlash felt wildly disproportionate to the crime — if there even was one. On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe looks at why certain public figures become lightning rods for outrage, and why Meghan Markle continues to provoke such an emotional reaction.He’s joined by journalist and writer Mary McCarthy, whose crime was watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration on Netflix — and actually enjoying it. Together, they talk about snobbery, misogyny, racism, and the strange expectations placed on women in the public eye. From British tabloids to social media dogpiles, from lifestyle branding to Christmas escapism, this is a conversation about who we choose to hate — and why.With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration is streaming now on Netflix.

For decades, Irish food suffered from a reputation it struggled to shake. Overcooked vegetables, low expectations, and the idea that good eating was something you travelled abroad to find. Then something changed. Irish restaurants grew more confident, more creative, and far more ambitious. Today, Ireland is home to dozens of Michelin-listed restaurants, an internationally respected dining scene, and a generation of chefs who take Irish ingredients — and Irish food culture — seriously. So, when did Irish restaurants actually get good? On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe is joined at the restaurant table by chef, food historian, and TU Dublin lecturer Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire. From Ballymaloe to modern neighbourhood bistros, from Michelin stars to vegetable-led menus, Máirtín traces the long evolution of Irish dining — and explains why this was less a sudden revolution than a slow, cultural shift in how Ireland eats, cooks, and thinks about food. They talk about the role of foreign travel and chef training abroad, how Michelin fits into the story, and whether Ireland’s current golden age of restaurants is sustainable amid rising costs and staff shortages. 📘 Book recommendation Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire is the co-editor of Irish Food History: A Companion, published by the Royal Irish Academy — an award-winning deep dive into how Ireland eats, cooked, and understood food across centuries. A serious contender for the foodie Christmas list. 📩 Get in touch Have thoughts, memories, or strong opinions about Irish restaurants past and present? You can email the podcast at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.  

This weekend marks forty years since the founding of the Progressive Democrats — the small, outspoken party that reshaped Irish politics, then vanished.Born out of revolt against Fianna Fáil’s culture and economics, the PDs injected ideology into a system long defined by civil war loyalties rather than left-right debate. Pro-market, socially liberal, and unapologetic about the limits of the State, they punched far above their electoral weight for more than two decades.Today, Irish politics is more fragmented than ever, but it is also strikingly pro-spending and pro-State across almost every major party. So, is there now a gap where the PDs once stood? Is there room — electorally and culturally — for a low-tax, small-state party in modern Ireland?On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe is joined by Professor Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at Dublin City University and biographer of Charles Haughey, to reflect on the PDs’ origins, influence, controversies, and their lasting legacy.

Over the past week, the world has once again watched the horror of mass shootings unfold — from the United States to Australia — and the fear they leave behind, particularly for Jewish communities and students on campuses. Each time it happens, the same questions return. Why does this violence keep recurring? Is it random? And crucially, does gun control make a difference? On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe is joined by two leading experts to examine what the evidence really tells us. Professor Peter Squires, criminologist and public policy expert at the University of Brighton, explains what international data from countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada show about gun laws, and why access to firearms consistently shapes outcomes. Meanwhile, Professor Orla Muldoon of the University of Limerick explores the psychology behind mass shootings, the well-documented risks of imitation, and the role media coverage can play in amplifying or reducing harm. While Europe has largely avoided the scale of gun violence seen elsewhere, Orla warns that complacency is dangerous. Ireland is not gun-free — there are seven guns for every one hundred people — and no society is immune if warning signs are ignored. Patterns around age, gender, access to weapons and social conditions matter, as does how these attacks are reported in the days that follow. Have thoughts on the conversation? You can email the show at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

Trying to buy a home in Ireland can sometimes feel like a bad joke. Prices are still rising, and homes are still selling well above asking. Mortgage rates, at least, are easing. So, a simple question keeps coming up: does it make sense to buy now, if you can — or would you be mad not to wait until the next recession drives down prices? Today on the podcast, we look past the noise and ask what the signs point to next year. Will Irish house prices still be rising in 2026? Have mortgage rates hit the bottom of the cycle? And does biding your time, waiting for an economic crash to bag a bargain, make sense in this version of the housing market? Sean Defoe is joined by Michael Dowling, senior mortgage adviser with Irish Mortgage Brokers, to cut through the headlines and explain what buyers should really be watching — and why timing the market perfectly may matter less than people think.  

It’s the political mess Fianna Fáil can’t escape. Months after Jim Gavin’s presidential bid collapsed in spectacular fashion, the party is finally preparing to publish its long-awaited internal review — and nerves are jangling. Gavin was meant to be a safe choice. A proven winner. A figure above party politics. Instead, a controversy dating back to 2009 detonated his campaign almost overnight, forcing a humiliating withdrawal and leaving Fianna Fáil badly bruised. Now, as leaks swirl about when decisions were made, who knew what — and how much money was spent — the big question is where responsibility will land. TDs and Senators are still furious over the sidelining of Cork MEP Billy Kelleher, the secrecy around Gavin’s recruitment, and the role played by Micheál Martin and Jack Chambers in pushing the candidacy through. With around €400,000 reportedly poured into a campaign that barely got off the ground, party members want answers — and some are wondering whether this is merely a face-saving exercise or a genuine reckoning. On today’s podcast Sean Defoe is joined by Shane Coleman from Newstalk Breakfast to dig into what the review is likely to say, whether Micheál Martin’s leadership is really under threat, and whether this fiasco changes anything at all for Fianna Fáil. 

Politicians used to fight elections on radio and in TV studios and newspaper columns. Now they’re doing it on YouTube, TikTok, Substack, and podcasts recorded in cupboards. From Liz Truss launching a baffling YouTube show aimed squarely at the American right, to UK Greens embracing what critics call “cosy left-wing populism,” politics has fully entered its influencer era. Long-form, first-person digital media is no longer a side hustle — it’s central to how power is won, lost, and rehabilitated. And Ireland is part of this shift too. During the presidential campaign, Catherine Connolly quietly dominated the under-35 vote by appearing on podcasts like Blindboy, Louise McSharry and How to Gael, while rivals stuck largely to traditional interviews. The result raised an awkward question for Irish politics: are podcasts now just as important as radio, TV, and print? On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe is joined by writer and broadcaster Paddy Duffy to explore this increasingly strange corner of political life. Why do some politicians thrive online while others look painfully out of place? Why do so many still speak to the internet like it’s a press release? And is there a future where Irish TDs host their own successful podcasts — or would listeners revolt? As ever, we’d love to hear from you. You can email us at 📧 newstalkdaily@newstalk.com   

Netflix wants to swallow-up Warner Bros — home to Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, DC, Barbie and HBO — in a deal so big it would reshape global entertainment. But Paramount has crashed the party with an even bigger hostile bid, dragging in the White House, Hollywood unions, and a swirl of billionaire politics. Prices, choice, cinemas, wages, competition… everything is suddenly up for grabs. Are we heading for a world where three giant companies decide what gets made and what we’re allowed to watch? And does the ordinary viewer even care, as long as The Sopranos streams in 4K? On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe is joined by For Tech’s Sake co-host Elaine Burke to make sense of the battle for Warner Bros, Trump’s looming “involvement,” and why this might be the moment the entire streaming era pivots. Email your thoughts 📩 newstalkdaily@newstalk.com and follow For Tech’s Sake wherever you get your podcasts. 

Ireland doesn’t lack ambition. But from the National Children’s Hospital to Metrolink to housing targets nobody seems able to hit, our record on major projects has drifted into farce. We plan big, talk big, promise big… and then somehow spend years in planning, appeals, disputes, overruns, and political hesitation. It wasn’t always like this. Ireland once built boldly. Ardnacrusha powered the country. The Luas, announced on this day 30 years ago, transformed Dublin. Temple Bar was regenerated with imagination and speed. Across Europe, countries our size continue to build metros, housing and civic spaces at a pace that makes us look frozen in place. So, what happened? And more importantly — how do we get unstuck? On today’s podcast, Sean Defoe is joined by Maeve Jennings, founder of Harcourt Investments, one of the key figures behind the early Temple Bar regeneration and now a senior player in major infrastructure projects in France. From Paris, she explains why Ireland’s problem isn’t talent but structure, why we struggle to assemble land, how special delivery companies changed cities abroad, and what Ireland must do if it ever wants to build a metro, a hospital or even a new neighbourhood without a decade of delay. If you’ve thoughts on this, drop us an email: ✉️ newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 

A row about renaming Herzog Park in Rathgar turned into a much bigger national conversation about how Ireland remembers its past. Do we keep the names we inherited? Do we change them for modern values? Or do we risk losing the clues that explain who we were in the first place? Meanwhile, Dublin’s Liberties are having a moment — and not just because of their famous markets, traders, and characters. A new push to secure UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status has reopened an old argument about who tells the story of the city, and what gets protected as Dublin grows and gentrifies. On today’s Newstalk Daily, Sean Defoe sits down with Dublin South Central Historian-in-Residence Cathy Scuffil — a walking encyclopedia of Dublin 8 — to discuss the real history behind the Liberties, including how tariffs helped define the community, why “Engine Alley” isn’t about engines, and the local origins of the term “tenterhooks.” From Viking settlers to Huguenot weavers, Jewish communities to British imperial markers, Dublin’s map is a storybook. So, what happens when a modern city tries to rewrite some of its own chapters? 

December does strange things to us. One minute we’re “being good,” the next we’re knee-deep in tins of Celebrations, half a cheeseboard and someone’s leftover mulled wine. Christmas isn’t just a day — it’s an entire season of grazing, drinking, skipping sleep and drifting out of our routines. And no matter how much we pretend otherwise, the festive sluggishness we blame on Christmas Day actually comes from everything wrapped around it. The office sweets. Late-night snacks. The “take the edge off” drinks. The meals we inhale without even noticing. On today’s podcast, we’re asking a simple question: can you enjoy Christmas properly… and still feel good in January? Tara Duggan is joined by Registered Dietitian and Physiologist Orla Walsh, who brings hard science to the trendiest December habits — intermittent fasting, crash dieting, festive drinking, movement, sleep, and the myth that you can “fast your way out” of the season’s excess. Orla also offers a range of tips for enjoying the festive season in a balanced, sustainable way. 🌐 Orla Walsh Nutrition:https://orlawalshnutrition.ie/

Gambling was once the quiet background noise of Irish sport — a fiver on a match, a flutter at the weekend. But new research shows the problem is far deeper, and far darker, than most people realise. GAA players are six times more likely to struggle with gambling addiction than the general public. Behind the roar of the crowd sits a hidden world of pressure, debt, secrecy, and shame. On today’s podcast, Dr Kieran Murray lays out the latest data from his study on gambling within the GAA — including players describing addiction as a “curse” gripping young men across teams and counties. And Armagh football legend Oisín McConville joins Tara Duggan with a searingly honest account of how gambling hollowed out his life at the height of his career: the debts, the panic, the sleepless nights, and the day he lost €20,000. If you’re worried about your own gambling or someone close to you, support links are included below. 📌 Support and Information: GamblingCare.ie  🔗 https://gamblingcare.ie/ 📌 Gamblers Anonymous Meetings & Help: GamblersAnonymous.ie  🔗 https://www.gamblersanonymous.ie/  

Across the water, the UK is swinging a hammer at one of the oldest pillars of the justice system — stripping thousands of cases a year of their right to a jury. Only the gravest crimes will still go before twelve citizens in a box. Everything else gets fast-tracked into judge-only hearings. Officials say it’s the only way to stop a court system collapsing under; critics say it’s the start of a very slippery slope. So, are we protecting fairness… or quietly eroding it? And in a world of delays, intimidation, huge legal bills and unpredictable outcomes — is trial by jury still the gold standard? Barrister and Fifth Court co-host Peter Leonard joins Tara Duggan to test whether one of our oldest rights is becoming one of our biggest myths. 📧 For views, rants or jury-box confessions, email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com 🎙️ And tune in to The Fifth Court here: www.thefifthcourt.com 

Psychedelics are everywhere right now. From celebrity confessions by Conor McGregor and Miley Cyrus, to Silicon Valley productivity hacks, and cutting-edge Irish research labs. But are substances like psilocybin, LSD and ibogaine genuinely therapeutic… or just the latest wellness trend with a dangerous edge? On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan plunges into Ireland’s fast-moving psychedelic conversation. Writer Suzanne Harrington shares her candid experience microdosing magic mushrooms and explains why so many middle-aged women — not tech bros — are quietly experimenting with these substances. We also hear from therapist and author Ciara Sherlock, whose book The Spirit of the Liberty Cap champions Ireland’s own naturally growing psychoactive mushrooms. But psychiatrist Professor Brendan Kelly brings the caution. He reminds us that psychedelics remain illegal in Ireland, that the evidence for microdosing is still weak, and that “bad trips” and long-term complications are real. He walks us through the science, the risks, the early-stage clinical trials, and why some celebrity stories should be taken with a large pinch of scepticism. Are psychedelics the future of mental health — or a step too far? Tara digs into it all. 📩 Got thoughts on this episode? Email us at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com. 

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