The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

Niall Boylan
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Niall Boylan is online, and nobody can hold him back. Subscribe to The Niall Boylan Show and access premium content by visiting https://niallboylan.com

  1. 21h ago

    #002 Put Me In A Bag, Thirty Quid for a Seat and Leaving The Toilet Door Open

    In this episode of Don’t Call Me Darling, Niall and Karen Boylan sit down for an honest, funny and occasionally uncomfortable chat about marriage, death, relationships and the strange habits couples develop over time. They begin with funerals, from the famous dancing pallbearers seen online to the very different traditions of an Irish wake. Why do Irish people stand beside an open coffin and say things like, “He looks so peaceful,” or, “I never saw her looking so well”? Niall and Karen also ask whether couples should discuss their own funeral wishes, including whether they want to be buried, cremated or laid to rest beside each other for eternity. They also discuss budget airlines, hidden charges and why a cheap flight suddenly costs three times the advertised price once you add a seat, a bag and the privilege of sitting beside your own husband or wife. Marriage counselling is also up for debate. Does it actually work, or is needing a third party to explain how to love, trust and communicate a sign that the relationship is already in serious trouble? Niall and Karen also discuss the husband who does not want children, but may have forgotten to mention that fairly important detail to his wife. Can a marriage survive when two people want completely different futures, and should something as serious as having children ever be left until after the wedding? They also take a look at the old junk gathering dust in attics across the country. Could that forgotten ornament, battered toy, old record or box of family clutter actually be worth a fortune, and how much valuable treasure is being thrown into skips every year? And finally, have couples become far too comfortable around each other? From leaving the bathroom door open to cutting toenails in the sitting room, Niall and Karen ask whether complete comfort is a sign of true love or the fastest way to kill romance. Expect plenty of laughter, disagreement, personal confessions and the kind of conversations every married couple has, but usually only behind closed doors. Real marriage, real stories, real laughs and real truths..

    #002 Put Me In A Bag, Thirty Quid for a Seat and Leaving The Toilet Door Open

  2. 21h ago

    #837 Is Working for the State Like Winning the Lottery? With Cormac Lucey

    In this episode, Niall speaks to economist and Irish Sunday Times columnist Cormac Lucey about the growing divide between working in Ireland’s public and private sectors. Recent figures indicate that, during one working year, Gardaí took an average of approximately 18 sick days each, HSE employees, including nurses and doctors, averaged about 15 days, while teachers averaged roughly eight days. The figures are recorded differently across the various public services, so direct comparisons must be treated with caution, but they still raise questions about absenteeism, sick pay and accountability. In many private sector workplaces, repeated absences would be closely examined and could eventually place an employee’s job at risk. Private employees currently have a statutory entitlement to only five paid sick days, paid at 70% of normal earnings and capped at €110 per day. Public servants generally have far more extensive sick leave arrangements, with some schemes allowing lengthy periods on full and half pay. Cormac argues that this is only one part of a much wider difference between the two sectors. In his latest column, he says public sector workers benefit not only from superior sick pay, but also from greater job security, stronger pension arrangements and a substantial earnings premium. Drawing on new CSO figures, Cormac points out that public administration and defence experienced the lowest level of job destruction across the economy between 2020 and early 2026. By comparison, workers in accommodation, food, entertainment, agriculture, construction and other private industries faced much higher rates of job loss and replacement. The CSO recorded more than 113,000 jobs being destroyed across the economy during the first quarter of 2026 alone. Cormac’s central argument is that public sector pay cannot be judged by salary alone. A permanent employee with an extremely low risk of redundancy, a more generous attendance regime and a pension supported by future taxpayers may have a far more valuable overall package than a private employee earning the same headline wage. Supporters of public servants will argue that Gardaí, nurses, doctors and teachers perform difficult and essential jobs, frequently under pressure, and that higher absence rates can reflect stressful, dangerous or physically demanding working conditions. Critics say the system is too protected, too costly and largely insulated from the realities faced by workers whose businesses can close, whose jobs can disappear and whose pensions depend on what they personally manage to save. So who really has the easier working life in Ireland? Are public servants properly rewarded for essential work, or have better pay, pensions, sick leave and job security created two very different classes of employee? Niall discusses it with Cormac Lucey.

    #837 Is Working for the State Like Winning the Lottery? With Cormac Lucey

  3. 21h ago

    #836 Is Climate Policy Just Another Excuse to Tax Us?

    In this episode, Niall speaks to businessman and commentator Paul Treyvaud after new figures revealed that the State collected a record €5.9 billion in environment related taxes during 2025. According to the Central Statistics Office, the amount collected increased by 7% in just one year, with ordinary households paying the largest share. Families contributed almost €3.5 billion, representing 59% of the entire environmental tax take. Energy taxes accounted for €3.9 billion, or almost two thirds of the total. These include taxes and levies connected to petrol, diesel, home heating fuels, electricity and carbon emissions. Carbon tax receipts alone increased by 10% to almost €1.2 billion, while the Public Service Obligation levy on electricity consumers rose sharply. A further €1.9 billion was collected through transport related taxes, including motor tax and Vehicle Registration Tax. By comparison, taxes directly associated with pollution and resources, including the plastic bag and landfill levies, raised just €30 million. Supporters argue that environmental taxes are necessary to reduce emissions, encourage people to make cleaner choices and help finance Ireland’s transition towards renewable energy. They say tackling climate change will inevitably cost money, but failing to act could carry an even greater economic and environmental cost. Critics argue that the system has become less about protecting the environment and more about generating revenue. They say families cannot simply stop heating their homes, driving to work or buying food, and that environmental charges imposed on farmers and businesses are often passed directly to customers through higher prices. Niall asks Paul whether these taxes are genuinely changing behaviour and reducing emissions, or whether green policies have become a convenient way for the Government to take billions from households without increasing income tax or VAT. Are environmental taxes a necessary investment in the future, or is Ireland’s €5.9 billion environmental tax bill simply another enormous rip off? Call the show and have your say.

    #836 Is Climate Policy Just Another Excuse to Tax Us?

  4. 3d ago

    #835 No Passport? No Worries? Its Ireland And You're Welcome

    Not Suitable For Broadcast: Niall Boylan and Larissa Nolan Round Up the Week Niall Boylan is joined by journalist Larissa Nolan for a lively, unfiltered look back at the biggest, most controversial and downright strange stories of the week. They debate whether Gardaí need stronger legal protection when pursuing suspects on e scooters, scramblers and other vehicles, and ask whether criminals are exploiting officers’ fear of ending up before the courts. They also examine new figures showing that more than 6,300 people have received Jobseeker’s Allowance for over a decade. Should welfare remain an unconditional safety net, or should payments be reduced when people repeatedly refuse suitable work, training or community placements? The discussion turns to politics and identity following British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s claim that his country has taken several wrong turns since the 1980s. Has Ireland genuinely progressed through liberalisation, or has it discarded traditions, values and policies that once held society together? Niall and Larissa also discuss the revelation that more than 16,000 people arrived at Dublin Airport without valid passports or travel documents between 2020 and 2025, while fewer than 1,000 of the thousands of deportation orders signed during that period were enforced. Has Ireland lost control of its immigration system? Other major stories include doctors facing Medical Council proceedings over views expressed during the Covid pandemic, while politicians responsible for lockdowns, school closures and healthcare restrictions face no equivalent professional process. They also explore age discrimination against workers over 50 and proposals to replace highly paid private legal aid solicitors with salaried public defenders. Then things get lighter, although possibly no less controversial. Should legendary singers such as Frankie Valli, Paul McCartney, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Cliff Richard and Barry Manilow know when it is time to leave the stage, or do performers have every right to continue as long as audiences keep buying tickets? Niall and Larissa also celebrate older artists such as Angus Young and Debbie Harry, who still appear capable of delivering the goods. Finally, they look at a best man whose AI generated wedding speech accidentally exposed the fact that he had not read it, and a student who tattooed a supermarket loyalty card barcode on his arm for convenience. Serious stories, strong opinions, plenty of laughs and absolutely no filter. This is Not Suitable For Broadcast.

    #835 No Passport? No Worries? Its Ireland And You're Welcome

  5. 4d ago

    #834 Cheating: Can You Accidentally Sleep With Someone?

    In this episode, Niall speaks to callers about a deeply personal email from a male listener who has discovered that his wife cheated on him during a weekend away with friends. He became suspicious after one of her friends posted a photograph from a bar on Instagram. In the background, his wife could be seen wrapped around another man. The photograph was quickly deleted, but not before one of his friends took a screenshot and sent it to him. When confronted, his wife broke down and admitted that she had slept with the man. She says she was extremely drunk, deeply regrets what happened and is pleading with her husband to forgive her. The couple have two young children and a great deal at stake, but he is devastated and does not know whether he can ever trust her again. Niall asks callers whether a one-night stand should automatically end a marriage. Can trust ever be properly rebuilt after infidelity, or will suspicion and resentment always remain? Does being drunk explain what happened, or is it simply an excuse? Should the welfare of the children influence his decision, or would staying together in a broken relationship only make matters worse? Would you give a cheating partner a second chance, or is infidelity something a relationship can never truly recover from?

    #834 Cheating: Can You Accidentally Sleep With Someone?

  6. 4d ago

    #833 RTÉ Pleads Poverty While Executives Earn a Fortune

    In this episode, Niall speaks to Cllr Albert Deasey and restaurateur Paul Treyvaud about executive pay at RTÉ and whether salaries at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster should be capped at €100,000. RTÉ is once again seeking additional public funding after the current multiannual package, worth approximately €725 million, runs out. At the same time, its latest annual report reveals that nine of the organisation’s ten highest earners are members of management, with total remuneration packages approaching or exceeding €300,000. Director General Kevin Bakhurst topped the table with total remuneration of €339,538, including pension contributions and allowances. He was followed by Deputy Director General Adrian Lynch on €293,627, Chief Technology Officer Richard Waghorn on €291,160, Director of News and Current Affairs Deirdre McCarthy on €285,063, presenter Claire Byrne on €280,000, former Chief Financial Officer Mari Hurley on €276,344, Director of Video Steve Carson on €276,282, former Director of Human Resources Eimear Cusack on €274,721, Commercial Director Gavin Deans on €269,055 and Director of Audio Patricia Monahan, also on €269,055. Mr Bakhurst is also awaiting government approval for a recommended €20,000 salary increase, a proposal that remains under review by the Department of Public Expenditure. Nobody is suggesting that salaries across the private sector should be capped. However, should different rules apply to an organisation that relies heavily on taxpayers, continues to seek additional financial support and repeatedly says it cannot make ends meet? Niall asks whether all salaries at RTÉ should be capped at €100,000. Would such a limit finally force the broadcaster to live within its means, or would it prevent RTÉ from recruiting and retaining experienced executives, journalists and broadcasters? Is €100,000 more than enough for anyone working at a publicly funded broadcaster, or is executive pay simply the unavoidable cost of attracting high-quality staff?

    #833 RTÉ Pleads Poverty While Executives Earn a Fortune

  7. 5d ago

    #832 Over 50 and Unemployed: Is Your Career Effectively Over?

    In this episode, Niall speaks to social commentator and podcaster Elaine Mullally about age discrimination in the workplace and whether workers over 50 are being unfairly overlooked. Approximately 80% of workers over the age of 50 say they have experienced or witnessed age discrimination, including being denied interviews, passed over for promotions or subjected to stereotypes about their energy, adaptability and ability to learn new skills. Ireland is currently close to full employment, yet many older workers say that losing a job after the age of 50 can leave them struggling to find another opportunity, regardless of their experience or qualifications. If a candidate over 50 and a fit 25-year-old applied for the same position, and both had the necessary skills, who would you hire? Supporters of the older candidate argue that experience, maturity, reliability and workplace knowledge should count for more. Others believe younger applicants may be more energetic, adaptable and motivated to build a long-term career. Are employers making sensible business decisions, or are they dismissing valuable workers simply because of their age?

    #832 Over 50 and Unemployed: Is Your Career Effectively Over?

  8. 5d ago

    #831 Doctors in the Dock For Covid, But What About Politicians?

    In this episode, Niall speaks to Larissa Nolan, Communications Officer with Aontú, about the Irish Medical Council’s pursuit of doctors over public comments and professional opinions they expressed during the Covid pandemic. A number of doctors have faced fitness-to-practise inquiries or misconduct allegations after questioning lockdowns, mask mandates, PCR testing, Covid vaccines and other Government policies. The controversy raises serious questions about professional freedom, civil liberties and whether doctors should be punished for expressing views that challenged the official position at the time. Aontú has called for these Medical Council proceedings to be paused until Ireland’s official review of the pandemic response has been completed. Party leader Peadar Tóibín highlighted the case of Dr Patrick Morrissey and argued that the State itself has major questions to answer before doctors are judged. He pointed to prolonged lockdowns, school closures, the treatment of nursing-home residents, people dying in isolation, the impact on young people and families experiencing domestic violence, and the absence of a comprehensive vaccine injury compensation scheme. Aontú councillor Peter O’Donoghue has also argued that doctors who acted in good faith and expressed different professional opinions now face the possible destruction of their careers before the Government’s own decisions have been fully examined. If doctors are being held accountable for what they said during the pandemic, should politicians also face a disciplinary court over decisions they made that may have caused serious harm? Should elected representatives be judged for lockdowns, school closures, healthcare restrictions and vaccine policies that may now be viewed differently with the benefit of hindsight, or is accountability at the ballot box enough? Niall discusses the issue with Larissa Nolan from Aontú.

    #831 Doctors in the Dock For Covid, But What About Politicians?
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About

Niall Boylan is online, and nobody can hold him back. Subscribe to The Niall Boylan Show and access premium content by visiting https://niallboylan.com

Information

  • Creator
    Niall Boylan
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    943
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Niall Boylan Podcast

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