Clare McKenna

speaker

3,673 appearances 32 recordings 1 series first heard May 2026 last heard 9 Aug

Clare McKenna’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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recordings per month · last 12 months

Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 32 in all, peaking in Jun 2026 with 16.

Appearances

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Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna · Alive and Kicking Full Episode 2/8/26 · 2 Aug 2026 podcast

Does it exist?

Could it exist?

And what would it look like?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

You can email the show aliveandkicking at newstalk.com.

So let me introduce Ruthanne Barry.

Ruthanne has lived experience of the prison system and is now an advocate for justice reform, working as a consultant and as a purpose-driven coach whose work is rooted in empathy, empowerment and real change.

Through her roles with the Probation Service Advisory Council, the Department of Justice Employers Network

And as an expert by experience with Reform International, Ruth-Anne brings lived experience into national conversations on justice reform, rehabilitation and second chances.

Ruth-Anne, you're very welcome.

Thanks for having me on, Clare.

Now, it's going to be hard for you to get your whole story into a few minutes, but can you let people know before we get into the changes we'd like to see within the prison system, your experience of it?

And you and I met at a maternal mental health event for a year of care organised by Eilis Gormley, who's also been a guest on this programme.

And you were talking about...

mothers giving birth in the prison system.

And after the first year, the children are taken into care.

And there's no counselling at that time.

There's nothing given to women at that time.

That really shocked me.

And can you tell people about the circumstances surrounding you going to prison in the first place?

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