The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast

The lonely death of Jamie Weldon

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jamie Weldon from Butlerstown in Co Waterford would have been 57 on the day his body was found, August 19th 2023. Instead, he...

Trump’s war on Iran is more complicated than we think, with Mahya Ostovar

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US and Israel’s bombing campaign on Iran has caused international chaos, unprecedented turmoil in previously safe areas of the Middle East and a...

The Meath demolition drama and our troubled relationship with planning, with Lorcan Sirr

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The demolition of a family home in Co Meath last week brought the idea of ‘build first, apply for retention later’ into the spotlight.&n...

The ‘demonic, shocking’ murder of Daena Walsh

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Young mother of two Daena Walsh was found in her burning Midleton apartment with 25 knife wounds in August 2024.  H...

The Soham murders and the death in prison of Ian Huntley

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On August 4, 2002, 10‑year‑old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman went missing after leaving a family barbecue in the village o...

The Irish tricolour, with John Crotty

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Flags have become increasingly controversial in recent years. The US flag has become shorthand for MAGA and the Irish flag is under increasing strain,...

The Wexford eviction mess, with Paul Hosford

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier in March, news broke in the Irish Examiner that 36 households in one estate in Co. Wexford had been served with eviction notices just hou...

Justice at last for Noel Farrell’s victims, with Alison O’Reilly

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Warning: This episode deals with child sexual abuse and listeners may find it upsettingLast month, Sligo musician Noel Farrell was sentenced to 20 yea...

Bessborough’s missing babies with Donal O’Keeffe

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The granting of planning permission for 140 apartments on the site of Cork’s most infamous mother and baby institution last week has caused deep ups...

What’s happening in the Middle East, with Colin Sheridan and John Hayes

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Areas of the Middle East previously considered safe have this week come under missile fire as Iran reacted angrily to illegal air strikes by the US an...

The SNA U-turn mess, with Ciara Reilly

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Government’s u-turn on and subsequent denial of involvement in a review of Special Needs Assistant allocation was an embarrassing episode for th...

Four years of war in Ukraine and finding safety in Cork, with Liudmyla Bortok

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

‘On 24th of February, 5 in the morning, I woke up because my neighbours were screaming and I heard like, “It started! It started!”‘I looked ou...

ICE and the Irish

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In recent weeks, the story of Kilkenny man Seamus Culleton has come to the fore as an Irishman living and working in the US who is being detained by t...

Red flags, with Kathleen Funchion

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

“I suppose from early on there was red flags that I didn't want to see, if I'm being perfectly honest,” says MEP Kathleen Funchion of her relation...

A battle for the skies, with Emer Walsh

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, word began circulating among drone operators in Cork – architects, roofers, corporate video creators and wedding photographers –...

Moving away from US tech, with Brian Honan

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Big Tech products like Whatsapp, Microsoft Office and the Apple iPhone have become essential to our daily lives, but as President Trump’s tantrums c...

Living with the Inuit with Geraldine Osborne

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With Greenland in the news, Cork doctor Geraldine Osborne’s recently published account of the year she, her husband and their three s...

A decade of deception catches up with Catherine O'Brien - with Ann Murphy

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last month in a Waterford courtroom, the past finally caught up with Catherine O’Brien.The Buttevant woman, who’s be...

Minneapolis under siege – with Sean Murray

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The scenes from Minneapolis are by now familiar to anyone with a smartphone or a television. Masked, unidentified agents of ICE, Trump’s immigration...

Obsession, manipulation and murder: The death of Bruna Fonseca

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2022, 28 year old librarian Bruna Fonseca fulfilled a lifelong dream to travel to Ireland from her home in Brazil.She was attending English classes...

Humanitarian Sean Binder’s fight for justice

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Binder from Castlegregory, Co Kerry, was an idealistic 24 year old with a law degree, a scuba diving qualification and some time to spare when he...

Mad King Donald, with Marion McKeone

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From kidnapping the Venezuelan President to unleashing a masked paramilitary force on his own people, from threatening to invade Greenland to sulking ...

The tragic death in childbirth of Laura Liston

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

36 year old Laura Liston died in June 2022 after giving birth to a baby boy at her home near Croom, Limerick, under the HSE homebirth service. Since t...

A publican’s story of addiction and recovery, with Michael Droney

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

He’s the face behind some of Cork’s most popular bars, but for many years Michael Droney lived a half-life of alcohol and drug addiction.Now, the ...

Remembering Ireland’s strongest man, Pa O’Dwyer, with Manon Gilbart

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The sudden death of Ireland’s strongest man, Pa O’Dwyer, was widely reported this week.The Limerick Lion was five times Ireland’s strongest man,...

‘AI girlfriends’ with Eoghan Cleary

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Children are being “bombarded” online by so-called AI girlfriend porn apps, which are gamifying sexual violence and rape and encouraging them to r...

An Irishwoman's Diary Episode 6: The woman who gave us control of our fertility - May McGee

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

🎧 Episode 6: May McGee, the woman who fought to make contraception legal in IrelandMay McGee was a young, hearing-impaired mother to four chil...

An Irishwoman's Diary Episode 5: The original fashion editor - Carmel Snow

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Wintour is only following in the footsteps of Carmel Snow, who edited Harper’s Bazaar for 25 years, with a vision of catering to “well dresse...

An Irishwoman's Diary Episode 4: Irish sisters at the heart of European culture – Sarah and Amelia Curran

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

🎧 Episode 4: Irish sisters at the heart of European culture – Sarah and Amelia CurranSarah Curran was best known to generations as the tragic fia...

An Irishwoman's Diary Episode 3: ‘Looking for a woman in finance’ - Oonah Keogh

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

🎧 Episode 3: Oonah Keogh,first female member of the Dublin Stock ExchangeThe first female stockbroker in the world made her debut on the trading fl...

An Irishwoman's Diary Episode 2: ‘Vive la résistance' - Maureen O’Sullivan

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“A tough type of woman, at the moment growing quite a successful moustache... Not particularly intelligent, and does not seem [to] take her work ver...

An Irishwoman's diary Episode 1: ‘Quiet piggy’ - Grizelda Steevens

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Calling women pigs has been a trope to bring down women throughout history.The famous ‘pig-faced woman’ of Dublin was a trailblazer – in th...

Manizha Khan Part 1: One woman’s escape from The Taliban

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A single act of kindness by a Red Cross nurse to eight year old Manizha Khan would change the course of her life forever – that one action woul...

Manizha Khan Part 2: ‘I would die for Ireland’

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After months of living under suffocating Taliban rule, losing her much-loved job, encountering death threats and oppression, Manizha and her family es...

Christmas parcel problems with Caitriona Redmond

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Massive delays in parcel delivery, one operator gone out of business just weeks before Christmas and a growing sense that some stockings may be filled...

Free birthing and the tragic death of Naomi James

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mother of four Naomi James from Co Louth died in June 2024 after giving birth to her youngest son.Having previously experienced traumatic births in ho...

Cal O’Keeffe’s astonishing act of bravery

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

90 year old Callaghan (Cal) O’Keeffe gave his life to save a woman from being hit by a reversing car in 2024.The retired school principal and farmer...

The mysterious case of Jimmy O’Neill

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The disappearance of Jimmy O’Neill is one of Ireland’s longest running mysteries. The 16 year old messenger boy disappeared in 1947 after being ac...

The Zelenskyy visit

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his first visit to Ireland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Ireland repeatedly for its “steadfast support” for his embattled co...

Ireland needs a Minister for food, with Michelle Darmody

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last week's 'Lancet' report on ultra processed foods (UPFs) established that ultra processed foods are damaging both our mental and physical health, a...

The murder of Miriam Burns

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In August 2022, 75 year old mother of four Miriam Burns was found strangled and beaten in her Killarney home after family members asked neighbours to ...

Inside Ireland’s deportation system

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There have been six chartered deportation flights out of Ireland so far this year. It comes as, against the backdrop of heated statements and debates,...

A tragedy in Ballinlough

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A man in his twenties is in Garda custody today after the stabbing of Stella and Brian Gallagher at their home in Ballinlough on Monday night.Resident...

The Holly Bough special edition

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Holly Bough has been part of a Cork Christmas since 1897. With its unique combination of Cork folklore and history, photos from Corkonians here an...

‘I don’t want to lose my child’

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Growing numbers of new mothers are living in fear their babies will be taken from them by social services because they are homeless.One woman who spok...

The unsolved murder of Emer O’Loughlin

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

23 year old Emer O’Loughlin was found dead in a burned-out mobile home in the Burren, Co Clare in April 2005. An inquest into her death last week es...

Banks almost destroyed my family, with Caitríona Redmond

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over 42,000 families were affected by the tracker mortgage scandal, put under enormous pressure to pay money they never really owed, but just one pers...

An arson attack on sleeping children in Drogheda

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A review of security at all IPAS centres nationwide is underway after a Halloween night arson attack on a Drogheda centre housing 28 people .At the ti...

Kieran Quilligan murder case: “I will never forgive them for what they put my family through”

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Tuesday’s episode of The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast, court reporter Liam Heylin described the daylight murder of Kieran Quilligan and the ex...

The daylight murder of Kieran Quilligan

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 Murdered in daylight on a Cork city street after a small-time drug deal went wrong, the case of Kieran Quilligan is a revealing insight into the...

Presidential election post-mortem

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Catherine Connolly has been elected the tenth president of Ireland by a resounding majority.She’s the first ever candidate backed by all the left wi...

Citywest riots, race and the right

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A week of protests has taken place outside the Citywest accommodation centre in Dublin, including violent rioting which saw four Gardaí injured and m...

Voting on the 'Cringe Factor'

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As polling day nears and the Presidential campaign gets nastier by the day, the final debate will take place this evening on RTE Prime Time. But will ...

Annmarie O’Connor on Twitch: My Life with Parkinson’s

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Irish Examiner Fashion Editor Annmarie O’Connor is well known to readers as a stylist, a writer, and more recently an advocate for people with ...

Suspensions ‘crisis’ at Cork special school

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Parents at a flagship special school in the Taoiseach’s constituency, opened in a rush due to a shortage of school places, warned recently the ...

How Laura Kenna never served a day in prison for attempted murder, with Ann Murphy

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In January 2017 civil servant Fi Bourke was walking home from work when she was viciously attacked by a woman she didn't know. The attack would change...

The Budget unlocked, with Louise Burne

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A rise in minimum wage to €14.15, a €10 increase to all core social welfare rate and hikes in cigarettes and fuel – but not alcohol.What’s in ...

Bonus episode - Jim Gavin drops out

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Presidential hopeful Jim Gavin's sensational dropping out of the Presidential election has shocked the country. His announcement late late last n...

What is Frugaltok, and should you try it?

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all been feeling the squeeze over the past couple of years as Covid and then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw a massive rise in the cost of ...

The death of Teddy Murnane, with Ann Murphy

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tipperary town was left reeling earlier this month when a local man was killed in his own garden.Teddy Murnane was a husband and father of three who w...

The Michael Gaine murder investigation six months on - with Neil Michael

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been six months since Kenmare farmer Michael Gaine went missing, and four since parts of his dismembered body were found in a slurry tank.There...

Khaled’s story, with Amal El Khawaja

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Sunday the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised Palestinian statehood, with more countries expected to follow.Almost two years...

Gardai arrest Cork businessman in major fraud probe

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week the Irish Examiner reported that a major investigation is underway into a massive case of fraud with a Cork-based businessman arrest...

Fraudster Catherine O’Brien facing jail, with Ann Murphy

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The name Catherine O’Brien is a familiar one to regular followers of the Irish Examiner – in this first episode of The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Pod...

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast Trailer

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Launching on Tuesday 16th September, The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast will focus on the biggest, best and quirkiest stories from the Irish Examiner's...

My stalker is being released from prison

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Corkwoman Sonya Egan was sentenced in 2023 to three years in prison with one suspended for a sustained campaign of harassment against community activi...

Inside Irelands first Bitcoin Conference with Emer Walsh

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Irish Examiner business reporter Emer Walsh recently attended Ireland's first bitcoin conference.Techbros, pensioners, young parents and even a 'finan...

Giving up ultra-processed foods, with Nicole Glennon

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ultra-processed foods are slated by wellness influencers but unavoidable in our daily lives. Just how unavoidable, Assistant Weekend Editor Nicole Gle...

Feelgood special podcast: Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon on living with stage 4 bowel cancer

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Covid five years on: The Editor's perspective

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Five years on from Ireland’s first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, Irish Examiner Editor Tom Fitzpatrick reflects on a turbulent and transformative...

Land of the Free Part 3: 'Nanny, I don’t want you to leave'

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 3 of Land of the Free, we hear from three undocumented Irish people from very different backgrounds on the real human impact of their situa...

Land of the Free Part 2: 'Keeping our heads down'

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 2 of Land of the Free, we speak to notable figures in the Irish communities across some major cities about how they’re feeling with Donal...

Land of the Free Part 1: 'He’s going to savage immigration'

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 1 of Land of the Free, we hear from immigration lawyers from Irish backgrounds based in three major US cities on their fears for the undocu...

Party Leaders Episode 5: Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald reflects on the outcome of the recent election and talks about the future.

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald on a challenging year both personally and politically.Mary Lou McDonald looks back on a year in which her personal...

The ieBusiness Podcast meets Tom Ryan, Managing Partner of SF Bloodstock in Kentucky

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s ieBusiness Podcast, Tom Ryan, Managing Partner of SF Bloodstock and Racing Manager for SF Racing talks about his career in horse...

The Mick Clifford Podcast: COUNTING IT ALL UP: Elaine Loughlin

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the second day of the general election count, the period in which the whole picture clears up to present the reality of the next Dail. Irish Ex...

The Mick Clifford Podcast: The Count: Elaine Loughlin

30 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irish Examiner Political Editor Elaine Loughlin and Special Correspondent Mick Clifford give their analysis of the key stories emerging from the GE24 ...

Party Leaders ep4: Simon Harris on why he believes Irish people want stable government

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Taoiseach Simon Harris tells Elaine Loughlin why he believes there is finally an opportunity to fix the housing crisis in Ireland.   In...

My message to the next Dáil: Mike McGrath-Bryan on the barriers facing neurodivergent adults in a world not built for them

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike McGrath-Bryan is a features writer and digital journalist for the Irish Examiner who was diagnosed as autistic and ADHD as an adult. In this...

Party Leaders ep3: Roderic O'Gorman on why the Greens need to be part of government

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman speaks to the Irish Examiner's Elaine Loughlin ahead of the general election In the latest of the Irish Examiner i...

Election Watch podcast: What can politicians really do about climate change?

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hosted by Irish Examiner columnist Mick Clifford, the Election Watch podcast brings UCC experts and students together to examine topics that...

‘My Message to the next Dail’: Kevin Quaid on addressing major gaps in dementia care

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Kevin Quaid, originally from Limerick and now living in Kanturk, Co Cork is chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group and member of th...

Party Leaders ep2: Richard Boyd Barrett on why Ireland needs a left leaning government

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett speaks to the Irish Examiner's Paul Hosford ahead of the general election In the latest of the I...

‘My Message to the next Dail’: Emily Crowley on addressing the housing and rental crisis

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Emily Crowley – writer, columnist and long time renter - sets out what she feels needs to be done by the next government, whoever th...

‘My Message to the next Dail’: Rachel Martin on supporting our farmers

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Rachel Martin – Irish Examiner farming editor - sets out what she feels needs to be done by the next government, whoever they may be...

‘My Message to the next Dail’: Colin Sheridan on resolving the middle east crisis

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Colin Sheridan – Irish Examiner writer and former member of the Irish Defence Forces - sets out what he feels needs to be done by th...

‘My Message to the next Dail’ podcast. Elaine Loughlin on ending child poverty and providing better childcare

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Elaine Loughlin – Irish examiner political editor and columnist - sets out what she feels needs to be done by the next government, w...

‘My Message to the next Dail’ podcast. Seamus Boland on securing sustainable rural communities

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link - sets out what he feels needs to be done by the next government, whoever they may be, to addre...

Party Leaders ep1: Micheál Martin

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Fianna Fáil leader on housing, Simon Harris' role in the National Children's Hospital "debacle", stalled Cork projects and "genocide" in Gaza. In...

Election Watch: Is housing the number one issue this election?

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As polling day gets closer, the Irish Examiner and University College Cork have teamed up to present the Election Watch podcast. Have young people los...

‘My Message to the next Dail’ podcast. Imasha Costa on improving the lives of migrants in Ireland

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Imasha Costa, an Irish Examiner journalist and migrant to Ireland - sets out what she feels needs to be done by the next governme...

My Message to the next Dáil. Mike Allen on solving the homelessness crisis

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Allen – Focus Ireland’s Director of Advocacy on housing and homelesssness - sets out what he feels needs to be done by the next government, w...

The ieBusiness Podcast meets Ciaran O’Donnell, founder of Virtual FD

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Armed with his accounting qualification, Ciaran O’Donnell headed to London soon after his graduation and from there he built a varied career in the ...

My Message to the next Dáil. Jennifer Horgan on support teachers and students in our schools

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Horgan - author, Irish Examiner columnist and teacher of 20 years - sets out what she feels needs to be done by the next government, whoever ...

My Message to the next Dáil Podcast: Caitriona Redmond cost of living

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Catriona Redmond, Irish Examiner food and cost of living columnist, sets out what she feels needs to be done by the next government, whoever they may ...

My Message to the next Dáil. Padraig Hoare climate change

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Padraig Hoare the Irish Examiner’s environment correspondent and columnist, sets out what he feels needs to be done by the next government, who...

My Message to the next Dáil. Michael Moynihan on supporting small businesses

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

MIchael Moynihan a long standing Irish Examiner journalist and columnist - sets out what he feels needs to be done by the next government, whoever the...

My Message to the Dail. Chris Luke on solving the crisis in our emergency departments

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Chris Luke - a retired consultant in emergency medicine, freelance podcaster, campaigner and media commentator on health matters - set...

Election Watch: Have young people lost faith in Ireland’s politics?

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As polling day gets closer, the Irish Examiner and University College Cork have teamed up to present the Election Watch podcast. Have young people los...

My Message to the next Dáil. Fergus Finlay on disability rights

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

My message to the next Dail is an Irish Examiner 'Solutions Journalism' podcast series in which activists, commentators and subject specialists from v...