The Ireland Podcast

In Part 2 of this extended conversation, former Irish Minister for Justice Alan Shatter continues his discussion with Fender Jackson about Israel, Gaza, antisemitism and Ireland's relationship with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The conversation explores Shatter's perspective on the war in Gaza, the distinction between criticism of Israel and antisemitism, and the increasingly polarised debate surrounding Israel and Palestine in Irish public life.How should Ireland approach its relationship with Israel? What constitutes legitimate political criticism, and when does it cross into antisemitism? And how do history, identity and political loyalties shape the positions people take?Shatter offers his arguments and interpretations in his own words, in a conversation that listeners may find challenging, thought-provoking or deeply contentious.The Ireland Podcast is committed to recording a broad range of voices and perspectives across the island. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast.The Ireland Podcast - Recording the island.Also listen to:Part 1 - Episode 247: Alan Shatter: October 7, Gaza & Israel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, 11 October 2026, Fender Jackson visited Garvaghy Road following the end of the latest Drumcree standoff. The road was completely quiet. Then, by chance, he met Breandán Mac Cionnaith of the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition. In this spontaneous walking interview, Mac Cionnaith explains why residents opposed the proposed Orange Order parade, discusses the human cost of the Drumcree dispute, addresses his own imprisonment and recalls alleged attempts on his life. Fender challenges him on whether a small, silent parade could have provided a compromise, the Orange Order’s responsibility for loyalist violence, and unionist concerns that the dispute offers a glimpse of life within a united Ireland. This conversation presents Breandán Mac Cionnaith’s account and perspective. TIP has invited representatives of the Orange Order and the wider unionist and loyalist communities to discuss Drumcree. That invitation remains open. Recorded on Garvaghy Road, Portadown, on 11 October 2026. 🎙️ The Ireland Podcast Recording the island. Subscribe for long-form conversations about Ireland’s people, politics, history and culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the difference between feeling low and clinical depression? When does an inner critic become destructive? How do psychologists arrive at a diagnosis? And what does good mental health treatment actually look like? In this conversation with Fender Jackson, Dr Brannick discusses depression, rumination and self-criticism, behavioural activation, diagnosis, bipolar disorder, the role - and limitations - of AI in mental health, barriers to seeking help, therapy, suicide awareness and recovery. The conversation was recorded in Dublin as Jonathan Kemp passed through the city during his 4,200km Finding Peace of Mind walk from the Shetland Islands to Galway. Jonathan is raising awareness and funds for four mental health charities: Aware, AWARE NI, SAMH and Mind. Support Jonathan's Finding Peace of Mind Walking Challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Jonathansupporting4mentalhealthcharitiesAware is the national charity providing support, therapy, education and information to those affected by depression, bipolar and anxiety. They provide free accessible support to tens of thousands of people across Ireland each year. Visit aware.ie or call the Aware Support Line 1800 80 4848. Jonathan is due to complete his journey in Galway on Sunday 18 October 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Shatter is a former Irish Minister for Justice and Defence, former Fine Gael TD, solicitor and author.In Part 1 of this extended conversation with Fender Jackson, Shatter reflects on growing up Jewish in Dublin and how his experience of being Jewish in Ireland has changed over the course of his life.He gives his personal account of waking to news of the Hamas attacks on October 7, discusses the intelligence and security failures that preceded the attack, and considers the political responsibility of the Israeli government.The conversation then turns to the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the creation of Israel, Palestinian and Jewish displacement, the Six-Day War, Gaza following Israel's 2005 withdrawal, Hamas's rise to power and the conditions in Gaza before October 7.Fender challenges Shatter on Israel's responsibility for conditions in Gaza, restrictions on fuel and essential supplies, the scale of civilian deaths, the conduct of the war and the accusation that Israel is committing genocide.Part 2 turns more directly to Ireland: antisemitism, anti-Zionism, sanctions and boycotts, the description of Israel as an apartheid state, Ireland's unusually strong identification with Palestinians, and Shatter's concerns about the future of Jewish life in Ireland.Recorded in Dublin.The Ireland Podcast - Recording the island. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quinn is the creator behind Mend & Move On, an online community of almost 600,000 people built around hope, healing and starting again.In this walking conversation at the ancient Beaghmore Stone Circles in County Tyrone, Quinn speaks about the breakdown of his marriage, the difficult months that followed and how sharing a few simple words of encouragement online developed into a worldwide community.Quinn and Fender discuss counselling, male friendship, vulnerability, imposter syndrome, becoming an accidental content creator and whether Mend & Move On could eventually become Quinn’s full-time work.Fender also shares his own experience of divorce, grief and returning to Ireland as the pair discover that neither the path through Beaghmore nor the journey through life is always straightforward.Relevant LinksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mendandmoveon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mend2moveon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mendandmoveon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mendandmoveon/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.