Behind the Story

Did the Gaza flotilla change the mood music? and the 'Steroid' Olympics!

22 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fourteen Irish citizens are en route back to Ireland following their deportation by Israel.  They were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla along wi...

Meta job losses, AI and RTÉ at the committee [again]

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The scale of possible job losses announced by Meta today, came as a surprise to many, up to 350 people could be made redundant in the coming months. B...

How supermarkets learn about your shopping habits and predicting floods

18 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Supermarkets are increasingly using information about customer shopping habits to develop new pricing structures and influence how you shop. Consumer ...

'Money, Money, Mooney': RTÉ, China deals and Eurovision!

15 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

RTÉ published a revised list of the top 10 highest earners for 2024 which included Derek Mooney after it said it had 'reconsidered what constitutes a...

Bertie caught on camera and shopping scams on the rise!

13 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was recorded without his knowledge on a canvas for the bye-election in Dublin Central. His comments on immigration and s...

Fire in Waterford city and Starmer's last chance saloon!

11 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Over the weekend, a huge fire broke out in the Tycor area of Waterford. Dozens of businesses have been destroyed and government is promising an emerge...

Parking rows and driving to matches

08 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As restrictions around the number of car parking spaces allowed in new developments increasingly come into play, rows are breaking out between househo...

The failures in the investigation into Katie Simpson's murder

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An independent review into the death of Katie Simpson found 'institutional misogyny' at the centre of failings by the PSNI to investigate her murder. ...

Treks and trails: why Ireland's hills need help

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Many people enjoy trekking hills and mountains on bank holiday weekends but the majority of the country's uplands are in very poor state. A recent rep...

US troops in Europe and Christians in the White House!

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A war of words has broken out between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump, with Trump threatening to withdraw US troops fro...

Fuel supports and the electric buses going nowhere!

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The government gave more detail on the latest fuel supports for farmers and agricultural contractors but will it be enough to help the sector? And is ...

How do character references work?

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Character references in court have come back under the spotlight after former TD Jim Glennon issued a character reference for Daniel Ramamoorthy. Rama...

Radio 1's new sound and could Italy go to the World Cup?

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why did RTÉ Radio 1 change the familiar tunes attached to its programmes? Media correspondent Evelyn O'Rourke joins Fran and Eamon to discuss the con...

Milluns and Billuns and increased security threats

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The government revealed in the spring economic statement that it is expecting a surplus of €9bn, up from €5bn, however despite the extra money, it...

Starmer says it's 'frankly staggering' he wasn't told that Mandelson failed security vetting

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke in the House of Commons today to explain how he wasn't told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting for ...

Peptides, biohacking, deep plane facelifts: inside the booming anti-ageing industry

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fran and Evelyn are joined by presenter Kathryn Thomas to discuss the booming anti-ageing and longetivity industry. More and more people are turning t...

Media Minister switches to reverse gear and why is holding the EU Presidency a big deal?

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fran and Paul discuss Minister Patrick O'Donovan's change of heart in relation to a request for Coimisiún na Meán to review coverage of the fuel pro...

Protests: Minister not happy with media and Trump not happy with the Pope!

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The government announced an additional package of support to help with the impact of higher fuel prices. While the blockades have stopped, Minister Pa...

Fuel protests, prediction markets and merch at the Masters!

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

No deal unless the protests are called off, so says the government in response to the escalating crisis surrounding the fuel protests. Laura Fletcher ...

Hungary for change? Could Orbán lose power? and the US-Iran ceasefire

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Latest opinion polls indicate that there is a significant chance that Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary could lose power after  in Sunday'...

How forcing remote workers to return to the office can backfire!

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Increasingly, companies are insisting remote workers return to the office full time. This is causing tension between employees and management. However...

Up, Up and away: what to consider before booking a flight!

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The airline industry is sounding the alarm over jet fuel shortages. The cost of aviation fuel has doubled since the Iran war broke out and some airlin...

Trump on Iran war and threats to leave NATO [again]!

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Contradictory statements continue to flow from President Trump and his administration on the Iran war. Trump expects the conflict to end in a few week...

Paying more for chocolate and energy this Easter!

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation figures released today show prices rose by 1.8% since last month. RTÉ's David Murphy joins Fran to explain the latest figures and the measu...

Drug intimidation in rural areas and Max Verstappen's hissy fit!

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Drug initimidation gangs are threatening families in rural areas. At a recent community meeting in Co Galway, a young women told people how an armed a...

Guilty: how murderer Stephen McCullagh's alibi unravelled

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You Tuber Stephen McCullagh was found guilty of the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally on Monday in a Belfast court. Northern Correspon...

Will Gov fuel supports help bring down the price at the pump? and a Love Story!

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's widely anticipated the Government will announce fuel supports in an attempt to soften the blow of increasing petrol and diesel prices. Paul Deane...

Trapped in Dubai: the Kinahan crime gang

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, a leading figure in the Kinahan crime gang, Sean McGovern pled guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal gang in...

Why is the tech bro Peter Thiel warning about the Antichrist?

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One of the world's leading tech billionaires, Peter Thiel is in Rome this week, giving a series of 'behind closed doors' lectures on the Antichrist. T...

Oscar success, Timothée's ballet faux pas and Taoiseach's high wire act

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jessie Buckley made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Success too for Dubliner Richie Baneham who w...

Has the manosphere gone mainstream? and inside the Oscars!

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, a documentary by Louis Theroux landed on Netflix. Fran is joined by Professor Debbie Ging of DCU to discuss the growth of the manos...

What's happening with the electric car market?

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New figures released today show that used EVs are priced 11% below comparable diesel vehicles. After a fall in the value of electric cars, the market ...

Pump prices, inflation and Gulf food supplies

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Oil prices surged today to their highest levels since 2022. Stocks fell as the fallout from the Iran conflict continues to hit the economy and your po...

The suspicious death of Liam Farrell and Mr Beast's foray into finance!

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Leitrim man Liam Farrell's death in 2020 was in suspicious circumstances. His family received news on Thursday that the Minister for Justice has autho...

Enoch Burke's mother and sister to be jailed and the cost of war.

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

"The family circus has to end' says Justice Brian Cregan who, today, ordered that Enoch Burke's mother and sister be sent to jail for two weeks for co...

Bonus: Remember GPO Girl? There's a development!

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2013, the Gardaí, with permission from the courts, released a picture of an unidentified girl to try and find out who she was. Within hours, they ...

How the Iran crisis could hit your pocket and EU response

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the US-Iran conflict escalates, oil prices have begun to rise, so what impact could the crisis have on prices here? Adam Maguire of the RTÉ Busine...

BONUS - US attacks Iran

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US and Israel have commenced 'major combat operations' against Iran. Iran has responded by hitting sites in several Gulf States including Israel. ...

Who is Larry Goodman? and axing the Arts degree?

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Larry Goodman is one of Ireland's richest men, with a business empire that stretches from beef to healthcare and property. A new two part TV documenta...

Protecting our seas, a billion dollar deal and Punch the monkey!

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The government published the country's first maritime strategy today, but what's in it? and do we have the money to pay for it? Former Army Ranger and...

Focus on Ukraine

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the 4th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, Professor Donnacha Ó' Beacháin joins Fran and Laura to discuss the situation now....

Andrew's arrest and the story behind that photo!

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Following the arrest and release of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor by Thames Police, the story continues to dominate world headlines. Historian and author...

'It's a race': the risk of cyberthreats is increasing

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Browne, the Director of the National Cyber Security Centre joined Fran and Paul for a deep dive into the cyber risks facing the country. AI is...

The search for JoJo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

"I have a lift, bye'... the last words of Jo Jo Dullard in 1995 before she went missing. Gardaí declared her case a murder investigation in 2020. Dei...

What's going on with the proposed National Children's Science Centre?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An agreement between the OPW and a charity to build a National Children's Science Centre has run aground. The OPW says it doesn't have the money and n...

Can diplomacy help Seamus Culleton? and a Norwegian confession!

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Irish man Seamus Culleton who is detained by ICE in a facility in Texas went public with his story yesterday and appealed to politicians to help get h...

How 'auction fever' is fuelling bidding wars on homes and Starmer's woes!

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

House buyers who bid on properties in open or online auctions are pushing prices up more than they can afford. Bidders in sealed auctions pay less and...

Winter Olympics and the politics of sports bans

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the Winter Olympics gets underway in Italy, RTE Sport's Eamon Horan joins Fran and Laura to discuss the Irish hopefuls at the games and the controv...

Commuter hell for students and pressure grows on Starmer

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new survey from the University of Limerick Student Union found 60% of commuter students travelled more than one hour each way to campus during the l...

Why are farmers fighting with Bord Bia? And danger here: US visa rules ahead of World Cup

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A bitter row has broken out over the last week between farmer organisations and the Chair of Bord Bia, but what's it all about? Agriculture and Consum...

Can nature help stop flooding and are you tipping too much?

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Slaney and Dodder rivers burst their banks and flooded surrounding areas following subtantial rainfall over the past few days. And while the clean...

Minneapolis: Is the US facing into the abyss? And the EU focus returns to Grok 

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Officials in US President Donald Trump's administration continue to defend the fatal shooting on Saturday of a man by immigration agents in Minneapoli...

The murder of Marilyn Rynn - how Gardaí caught her killer

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the man who murdered Dublin woman Marilyn Rynn in December 1995 is released from prison, author and crime journalist Barry Cummins details the inve...

Trump's demand: 'We want a piece of ice' and billionaires squabble!

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As President Trump continues to make demands, newly minted Washington Correspondent, Jackie Fox joins Fran and Fiona to discuss the US President's ext...

Trump's tariff threats and what could it mean for Ireland?

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As US President Donald Trump issued tariff threats on 8 European countries, Fran [yes, he's back] and Karen speak to Chief Economist with the Institut...

China-Ireland relations and what is a k-hole?

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, it was reported that China's trade surplus has reached $1.9 trillion last year, a 20% increase on 2024. As China exports continue t...

Leaving X, Grok AI and is Dublin City Council on the move?

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Senior Gardaí appeared at the Oireachtas media committee today where they revealed they are investigated two hundred complaints about Grok AI and chi...

Jessie wins and Iran on the edge

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jessie Buckley won Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her performance in 'Hamnet', an adaptation of the best selling book of the same name by Coler...

The Mercosor deal and On The Beat with the Gardaí!

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A majority of EU States voted to pass the Mercosor trade deal with South American countries. Ireland, along with 4 other countries voted against the d...

Tankers, Tourism and Grok AI

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is hoping to attract more tourists here from India, the UAE and the Asia-Pacific region as part of a new strategic investment plan of €...

Maduro in court and Venezuela's future

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ousted President Maduro was brought to court in New York this afternoon to face drugs and weapons charges. Meanwhile, it remains unclear who is really...

Inside FIFA and who is Infantino?

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With less than six months to the kick off of the World Cup, Fran is joined by sports reporter, Miguel Delaney for a deep dive into how FIFA operates a...

Entertainment year in review

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kneecap, Traitors, Adolescence and the Eurovision, just some of the big entertainment stories that hit the headlines this year. Streaming continues to...

Business year in review 2025

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Concerns around US tariffs dominated the first half of the year in 2025. While on the domestic front, the debate around working from home continued as...

The highs and lows of AI in 2025

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the year comes to an end, Fran takes a look back at some of the stories on artificial intelligence that were covered on the podcast. From new ...

Dáil rows, tariff threats - the political year in review

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dáil rows, Trump's tariff threats and a Presidential campaign: Professor Gary Murphy of DCU and political reporter Sandra Hurley join Fran to dissect...

Fallout from the Fianna Fáil report and a visit to a refugee camp

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty four hours on from the publication of the Fianna Fáil report into their Presidential campaign, Fran and Barry dissect the reaction to the repo...

Pressure on FF to release report and positive noise from Ukraine talks

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pressure is mounting on Fianna Fáil to release the report into the Jim Gavin Presidential campaign. Three senior party members said today that the re...

Ireland's largest ever water project and what's going on in Venezuela?

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Uisce Éireann announced that it will submit plans for the country's largest ever water project next week. The plan involves building a 170km undergro...

RTÉ at the committee, media deals and is the door open for Tubridy's return?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RTÉ's Director General, Kevin Bakhurst and the leadership team appeared at the Oireachtas media committee today to give an update on developments at ...

Edenderry attack and drug debt intimidation

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gardaí have described the fatal attack on a family home in Edenderry as 'callous, reckless and murderous'. Mary Holt and her four year old grand neph...

Boat strikes in the Caribbean and revealing your Spotify Wrapped!

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The US military and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth are under pressure over the killing of 11 people during a boat strike on Sept. 2nd. Louise Byrne...

M50 at capacity and speeding up infrastructure delivery

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The country's most famous road is officially at capacity but can anything be done to improve journey times on the M50? Reporter Conor McMorrow joins F...

Zelensky is coming to town!

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the weekend, the government confirmed President Zelensky will visit Dublin on Tuesday. Political editor, Joe Mag Raollaigh joins Jackie Fox to ou...

What can the courts do with Enoch Burke?

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, Enoch Burke was jailed for the fourth time since 2022 for contempt of court. He appeared by videolink from Mountjoy today to listen...

Inside the crimes of disgraced surgeon Michael Shine

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, the government announced a scoping inquiry into abuse by former surgeon Michael Shine. Shine was found guilty of child abuse in 2019 and releas...

Is there progress on Ukraine talks? and a new law on ATM machines

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump is sounding positive about the talks to bring about peace in Ukraine, however President Zelensky says borders cannot be changed by for...

BONUS: DJ Carey: The Dodger

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Award winning Producer-Director Trevor Birney speaks to Fran about his new two part TV documentary, DJ Carey: The Dodger. Trevor, who produced critica...

Massive money laundering network undercovered and re-thinking Black Friday!

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Police authorities across Europe including Ireland have undercovered a massive money laundering network that included buying a bank! Crime corresponde...

Ivan Yates, the media committee and should Ireland go nuclear?

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Podcasts and conflicts of interest were under the microscope at the Dáil media committee today.  Political reporter, Juilette Gash joins Fran an...

Soccer's hero and who is Jack Schlossberg?

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jackie Fox and Aisling Kenny are joined by former Democratic Governor Howard Dean to discuss JFK's grandson, Jack Schlossberg entry into political lif...

COYBIG, US v Venezuela and the Tik Tok Awards!

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The US military continues to build up forces off the coast of Venezuela, but what is really going on there? Professor of International Politics, Scott...

A look at the housing plan and what's a democracy shield?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the release of the government's housing plan, Fran and Laura take at look at what is known so far and reel back the years on previous housing...

Trump threatens BBC with legal action

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two senior executives at the BBC have resigned over an edited clip used in a Panorama documentary about Trump and the Capitol Hill riots. But, what ex...

Know your Cop and FIFA's new peace prize

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Love motels, cruise ships and new highways - some of the things you might not know about the Climate summit COP30. Laura Fletcher joins Fran to discus...

The murder of Emer O'Loughlin

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Reporter John Cooke joins Fran to discuss the ongoing murder investigation into Co Clare woman, Emer O'Loughlin. Earlier today, a jury at an inquest r...

Combatting ‘AI Slop’ after the presidential election

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An expert in misinformation has warned about the amount of “AI slop” online as a new investigation found 172 instances of political mis- and disin...

Inside: DJ Carey's fall from grace

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The judge in the DJ Carey case told the former hurling legend that he can expect a prison sentence for defrauding people for falsely claiming he neede...

Micheál Martin’s future and RTÉ back in the news

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the dust settles on the presidential election, some Fianna Fáil members are questioning how their campaign went so wrong – with pressure said to...

Want to run faster? a motorised runner could be the answer!

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the Dublin marathon taking place this weekend, David, Fran and Katie speak to Sean Ingle, Chief Sports reporter with the Guardian who recently vi...

Garda response: From Dublin Riots to Citywest

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There was “serious concern for public life” during violence seen in Citywest in Dublin last night, a journalist has told Behind the Story. It come...

BONUS - Was there a winner in the final Pres Election TV debate?

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

David, Fran and Katie are live backstage at the final Presidential Election TV debate. Joined by Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU, they analy...

The hunt is on for the Louvre jewel thieves

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's being described as the 'heist of the century', priceless crown jewels were stolen on Sunday from the Louvre museum and now questions are being as...

Can you trust everything you see online?

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the rise of AI and deepfake videos, Brian O'Donovan joins Katie and David to discuss whether we can really trust what we are seeing online? Brian...

Service charges and sinking funds - what you need to know!

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Campaign groups are raising serious concerns about how owner management companies are running apartment complexes. While some are well run, many are s...

Trump praises his peace deal for Gaza

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump hailed as historic the ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas that came into effect over the weekend.  Earlier today, 20 I...

Katie gets a new job and how to win a Nobel Prize

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Amid a shake-up of RTÉ’s Radio 1 schedule, Katie reflects on her new job behind a different mic – and what it means for Fran.The duo also discuss...

Gavin tenant revealed and a look at the Gaza peace plan

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The tenant at the centre of the Jim Gavin debacle unmasked himself on the Sunday World podcast today prompting more developments on the story! David, ...

BONUS - The Budget - will you have more or less money?

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ministers Donohue and Chambers outlined Budget 26 this afternoon in the Dáil. Katie and Fran are joined by Kate English, Chief Economist with De...

Gavin pulls out of Pres campaign: the blame game begins!

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

'Fiasco' just one of the words used by Fianna Fáil politicians to describe the Presidential campaign for the party now. This follows the sudden withd...