The Ireland Podcast

Mary McAleese served as President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. Born in Belfast, she became the first President of Ireland from Northern Ireland and held office through some of the most significant years of the peace process.

In this conversation, recorded at Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille, Co. Donegal, Mary reflects on her life, her presidency and the people and events she witnessed at close quarters.

She discusses John Hume and Gerry Adams and the conversations that helped shape the peace process; David and Daphne Trimble; Ian Paisley; the Omagh bombing; and the relationships and encounters that took place away from public view.

Mary also recalls Queen Elizabeth II and the extraordinary journey towards the Queen’s historic 2011 state visit to Ireland, including their shared interest in the ancient sporting traditions of hurling and shinty.

The conversation ends in Irish, as Mary talks about her affection for Gleann Cholm Cille, the Irish language and Oideas Gael - and shares some fond memories of Fender’s father, Seán Ó hEaráin, a classmate of hers at Oideas Gael.

Recorded at Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm Cille, Co. Donegal on Wed 29th July 2026.

Full episode on YouTube which includes subtitles for Irish section at the end. Subscribe to The Ireland Podcast so you don’t miss future conversations.
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Who was Glen Hansard away from the stage?

Following Glen Hansard's funeral at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, this episode captures the thoughts and memories of friends, collaborators and fellow musicians on the day they gathered to say goodbye.

Created as both a tribute and a historical record, these conversations preserve first-hand reflections while they were still fresh. Together, they form a mosaic of Glen Hansard's life - revealing not only the celebrated musician, but the generous, humble and deeply human person remembered by those who knew him best.

Contributors include:

• Victoria Mary Clarke
• BP Fallon
• Barry Donovan
• Mick Cronin
• George Morphy
• and others.

Interviewer: Fender Jackson
Recorded: Tuesday 4 August 2026
Locations: St Patrick's Cathedral & The Lord Edward, Dublin
Thumbnail photograph: Conor Masterson. Used with permission.

With sincere condolences to Glen's family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched.
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On Monday 3 August 2026, hundreds of people gathered at the Baroque Chapel, Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Royal Hospital Kilmainham, to pay their final respects to Glen Hansard.

Rather than recounting Glen's remarkable career, this episode documents something more immediate: the memories of the people who came to say goodbye.

Friends, fellow musicians and admirers reflect on the man they knew, his generosity, his humility, his artistry and the lasting impact he had on their lives. Together, their stories paint a deeply personal portrait of one of Ireland's most beloved musicians.

Interviewees include Michael Fayne, Vojta Cimpl, Athos Chambers, Loren, Barry Donovan, Lloyd Chambers, Ravinol (Ravi) Chambers and Conor Masterson, whose shot the cover photograph.

Recorded at 3:41pm on Monday 3 August 2026, this episode preserves a unique moment in Irish cultural history as people gathered to honour Glen Hansard's life and legacy.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
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Why has Ireland become one of the world's strongest supporters of Palestine?

In this episode, Zoe Lawlor, Chairperson of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), discusses why so many Irish people identify with the Palestinian cause, Ireland's policy of military neutrality, accusations of antisemitism, Zionism, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and whether peace between Israelis and Palestinians remains possible.

The Ireland Podcast has no political or religious agenda. Its purpose is to provide a platform for respectful, long-form conversations that help listeners better understand different perspectives on Ireland and the issues that shape it.

Topics include:

• Why Ireland has become one of Palestine's strongest international supporters
• The origins and aims of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
• Israel, Gaza and the humanitarian crisis
• Hamas and the attacks of 7 October 2023
• Zionism and anti-Zionism
• Antisemitism and anti-racism
• Ireland's policy of military neutrality
• The BDS movement
• The prospects for a two-state solution
• Whether lasting peace is still achievable

The Ireland Podcast is a long-form interview series exploring Ireland through conversations with politicians, academics, journalists, artists and public figures. Guests are invited to explain their own views in depth, with the aim of recording the island's stories, ideas and debates.

Relevant Links
https://www.ipsc.ie/
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Ten years after the Brexit referendum, what has actually changed?

In this final episode of our three-part series, Professor Katy Hayward looks beyond the politics of 2016 to examine Brexit's long-term consequences for Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

We discuss:

• Has Brexit been an economic success or failure for Northern Ireland?
• Has Brexit made a united Ireland more likely?
• Who, if anyone, has benefited?
• Has Brexit strengthened or weakened the Union?
• How has it changed relations between Britain, Ireland and the European Union?
• Why does the Windsor Framework continue to matter?
• What happens if a border poll is eventually called?
• How will historians judge Brexit in fifty years' time?

Along the way, Prof. Hayward offers one of the most memorable explanations of the Windsor Framework you'll ever hear - describing it as a mythical creature: "a pony dressed up with a little glitter in its mane, an ice cream cone on its head... it shouldn't really exist."

Whether you supported Leave or Remain, this conversation aims to explain rather than persuade.

This is Part 3 of a special three-part series on Brexit.

Relevant Links
https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/post-brexit-governance-ni/
https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/brexit-and-beyond/
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