Claim OwnershipBrendan O'Connor
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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.
384 Episodes
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Joining Brendan to analyse the Sunday newspapers and Catherine Connolly’s election are Irish Times’ political editor, Pat Leahy; former Fine Gael TD, Noel Rock; Sunday Times’ columnist, Alison O’Connor; VP of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College, and former Labour candidate, Niamh Hourigan; and former Fianna Fáil minister, Mary Hanafin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Radio and TV producer Eoin Sweeney and writer Henrietta McKervey join Brendan to review the best of this week’s TV and cinema, including Nobody Wants This, Regretting You and Oíche Shamhna: An Ancient Mystery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark Little – entrepreneur and journalist – casts his eye over the recent Presidential election campaign to see what it might tell us about politics and media in 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and best-selling author Harlan Coben talk to Brendan about their joint novel – a thriller about an army surgeon who uses her skills to conduct questionable operations for supremely wealthy, international clients... Gone Before Goodbye.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the full tallies began to land, Brendan was joined by Sinn Féin TD, Claire Kerrane; Fine Gael Minister of State, Emer Higgins; Communications Consultant and Labour Party member, Lorna Fitzpatrick; DCU Politics Professor, Gary Murphy; newspaper columnist, David Quinn; Former Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring; and RTÉ’s Barry Lenihan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Connolly campaign mobilised artists and musicians to the cause over the summer. One of whom was her childhood friend from Shantalla, musician Mary Coughlan, who joined Brendan on the line.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Former Irish Olympian and European indoor gold medalist, David Gillick talks to Brendan about the excitement, heartbreak and anxiety of competing in top-level sport, and transitioning to a post-athletics career, as outlined in his memoir “The Race”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Podcaster and Broadcaster, Fionnuala Jones tells Brendan where the Gen Z obsession with Halloween comes from, the top costume trends for 2025 from the Kiss Cam couple to Travis and Taylor as well as tips on the best low effort pun costumes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Irish Times Arts Journalist, Nadine O’Regan and Dave O’Callaghan, host of the Here and Back Again Podcast talk Brendan through the hits and misses from the week’s watchlist from the new Bruce Springsteen movie to the BBC adaptation of Rónán Hession novel Leonard & Hungry Paul.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Musician and podcaster Niall Breslin AKA Bressie has taken a new direction with his new album of piano compositions, ‘The Place That Has Never Been Wounded’. He talks to Brendan about his early love of piano; using music to calm you down and why he feels modern culture can swindle us out of spending time with the people we love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joining Brendan to talk through the Sunday newspapers are Lisa Chambers, Director of Public Affairs at Consello and former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator, Oisin Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor, Jennifer Bray, Political Editor with the Sunday Times and Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at DCU .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2Elizabeth Day, presenter of the ‘How To Fail’ podcast has written a new novel, ‘One Of Us’. She talks about growing up in Northern Ireland, navigating elite circles in Cambridge and how she’s observed weight loss drugs become a lifestyle choice. She also chose five songs that have meant something special to her throughout her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Irish Examiner Food columnist, Catriona Redmond tells Brendan why we’re not making the most of our microwaves! She gives Brendan recipes for a microwave Bakewell pie, an egg muffin, and a baked potato!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Free Travel Scheme has just been extended with the launch of the Over 70s’ Free Companion pass and also a new free Leap card for the under-9s so where are we going to go with all this free travel? Travel Enthusiast Lisa Regan has ideas for intergenerational daytrips and daytrips for all around Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jennie Bond, former BBC Royal Correspondent joins Brendan as Prince Andrew announces that he will give up his royal titles after discussing the matter with King Charles. Jennie discusses the implications for Andrew, his wife Sarah Ferguson, their daughters and the wider royal family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Trudy Meehan, Lecturer and researcher in positive psychology at the RCSI talks to Brendan about navigating the suicide of her ex- partner and how she has guided her daughter through her grief. She and her daughter have written a book ‘The Way Home’ to help others deal with the deep grief of losing a loved one to suicide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent, Conor Gallagher talks to Brendan about how modern-day financial scams work; the skill of the people making scam calls, how they manipulate unsuspecting victims to defraud them of large sums, and the fallout when people fall victim.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Director of the Dublin International Film Festival, Grainne Humphries, and host of the "Xtravision" podcast Andy McCarroll, discuss the best TV and film of the week, including Celebrity Traitors, House of Dynamite and Mr. Scorsese.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Writer Michael Harding joins Brendan to discuss death, mental health and the natural world – all themes in his latest novel ‘Midwinter’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cork singer-songwriter Lyra explains why – over 50 years after they formed - Fleetwood Mac are enjoying a resurgence with younger listeners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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.