The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast

Irish Examiner
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Looking for a deeper understanding of the stories that matter? The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast takes you inside the best Irish Examiner reporting — from Cork courts to global affairs and powerful personal stories.  With award‑winning journalists and exclusive voices you won’t hear anywhere else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago

    What's going on with data centres in Ireland, with Patrick Bresnihan

    Data centres have become a hot topic, consuming 23% of Ireland's power and a staggering amount of water. Ireland has a huge number of them per head of population compared to other EU countries, and people are increasingly concerned about the environmental and energy impact. Local communities around the country including Kilmeaden, Co Waterford and Naas Co Kildare are beginning to rally against new centres. Research published last month digs into the reality of data centres in Ireland and one of its writers Patrick Bresnihan is the guest on today's episode. Economic benefits of data centres have been 'exaggerated', report claims Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Oct 27

    Addiction, rock bottom and the comeback with Brenda Dennehy

    Brenda Dennehy was well known in Cork through her work on 96fm and Red FM and her social media presence. But her bubbly, "stone mad" persona hid her silent struggles with alcohol and prescription medication – until the pressure of holding it all together became too much, and she suffered a very public humiliation when she was judging a charity fundraising event. Videos of her slurred speech and being escorted from the venue circulated online and she received abuse and death threats. A subsequent overdose on Xanax resulted in admission to CUH, but it was only losing her job at Red FM after falling asleep during a live show that brought her back to rehab. During her second stint in rehab she feared she would almost die while detoxing from Xanax. After the "longest, worst night of her life", she wrote in her diary that she would make "the mother of all comebacks". Since that day she has worked on some of the UK's top TV programmes, run five marathons and launched her own podcast The Comeback in which she interviews other people who have hit rock bottom. The death of her beloved father Dano in 2024 threatened to unbalance her, but she has maintained her sobriety. Now, she has written a book, also titled The Comeback. Listen to today's episode of The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: A Cork publican’s story of addiction and recovery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Oct 23

    One punch attacks killed their brothers – now Sharon Lynn and Bryan Gallagher are fighting back

    Sharon Lynn lost her brother Martin in an unprovoked one-punch attack outside his own front door in Dublin in 2023. His killer has never expressed any remorse. Cian Gallagher was killed in a similar attack in Tallow, Co Waterford in 2022. After his assailant punched him, he boasted to passersby that he had knocked him out "like Conor McGregor". Cian never woke up – he spent eight days in intensive care at Cork University Hospital before he died. Both men died in entirely unprovoked attacks. Both were non-violent, contributing to society positively. Their siblings are now campaigning for a focus on these random attacks, emulating the Australian model. They want to see awareness campaigns, a focus on prevention, and guidelines for consistent sentencing. In today's episode they share their families' struggles with the criminal justice system; the reality of trying to grieve while undergoing gruelling court proceedings; and how the attacks shattered their belief in justice. They talk about masculinity, and how their experiences have highlighted the contrast between good men and those who glorify violence. Sharon and Bryan are the guests on today's episode of The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast. See Ann Murphy's reporting in the Irish Examiner for more on this story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Oct 20

    Who was Mallow shooting victim Paul ‘Bosco’ O’Connor, with Liz Dunphy

    On Thursday, discovery of a man’s body in a quiet recreational area outside Mallow town raised alarm. The man, who had been shot at point blank range in what’s suspected to be an execution-style killing has since been identified as Cork city native Paul ‘Bosco’ O’Connor. Gardai have made one arrest in their investigation into his death. Irish Examiner Southern Correspondent Liz Dunphy is today’s guest. Man murdered in Mallow may have been killed in professional 'execution' hit Mallow murder investigation after Cork man Paul ‘Bosco’ O’Connor found dead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Oct 16

    Author Louise O’Neill on the grief of her break-up, recovery and her 100 date experiment

    Author Louise O’Neill became a household name in the wake of her seminal novel Asking for It which opened up conversations around rape culture and misogyny in Ireland. A former Irish Examiner columnist and a prolific novelist, her life was thrown into disarray in 2023 by a high-profile breakup she describes as “humiliating”. In her new memoir, A Bigger Life, Louise describes being “set alight, and turned to ash” by the relationship breakdown, and charts her unorthodox return to dating – inspired by a conversation with her father. “I really felt like, I have been humiliated enough. I was like, I really don't feel in any way able or ready for this. And I did say to my dad, I was like, I just, I don't want to do this. “And, of course, what I meant by that was like, I'm afraid. You know, I'm afraid that if this happens again, I won't be able to survive it the second time. And then he said he said, Okay, Lou, you know, if you want a bigger life, you have to take bigger risks.” The experiment she conducted took in 100 dates in four countries, in which she met all sorts of men in pursuit of sexual chemistry and rediscovered her faith in human nature. In this episode Louise tells Deirdre about the grief she experienced at losing a version of her life; the unanswered questions that sundered her relationship; re-establishing her relationship with her own desire, and her unapologetic pursuit of sexual pleasure. As for her new singles’ travel agency – you heard it here first. Listen to the Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Oct 14

    Houses raided after horrific Waterford arson attack kills four, with Neil Michael

    Gardai have raided two homes in the Waterford area as part of their investigation into the horrific arson attack on a family home in the Birchwood estate on Tuesday morning. Couple Philip and Kim English and their sons, 12 year old Callum and 8 year old Jayden, were killed in the fire, while their two other children remain in critical condition in hospital. The attack is believed to be part of a campaign of drug debt-related intimidation which began when Philip English reportedly undertook to pay the debt of an associate. Reporter Neil Michael is today’s guest on the podcast, with updates from Waterford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Oct 13

    Ciara Reilly on her fears for her daughter’s future, the Government’s inability to plan and the public sector strikes

    ”We do wish that our children will go before us because we are so terrified at what they will face and how they will have to do it alone." As public sector strikes loom this week, it’s clear that many teachers and parents have lost faith in the government’s ability to tackle educational needs. Teacher Ciara Reilly’s daughter Doireann has special needs. Ciara and her husband Gav have spoken out about the lack of services available for Doireann on previous occasions – despite what Ciara describes as their privileged situation, Doireann has access to no public therapies. In today’s episode Ciara talks about the Government’s inability to plan for the real challenges in education, how money is thrown at problems that should have been planned for in advance, and how she knows there is no plan for her daughter and thousands like her when their parents are no longer able to care for them. “We live every day of our life now assuming Doireann will be with us until we cannot l care for her. And like this is a phrase you're hearing a lot of in media circles and I think I would I'm happy to say it about myself. “Like, as parents of children with need, we think about our longevity constantly. I am not a morose person, but I think about my mortality every single day.” “And you know, we say amongst ourselves, "let me live a day longer than the child will themselves". “And we do so we do contemplate, and this is very dark, but I think it's this is the way people need to hear this. And I'm only brave enough to say it because I hear people further down the road say this, and I can empathize and I relate and I commend them. ”We do wish that our children will go before us because we are so terrified at what they will face and how they will have to do it alone." Ciara Reilly: More money for education is good, but large classes impact everyone The Deirdre O'Shaugnessy Podcast: Inside the fallout from the SNA allocation controversy Ciara Reilly: Definition of need has changed to save money on SNAs Ciara Reilly: Budget makes private care slightly more affordable, temporarily HSE will not publish report showing that 4,200 people need residential disability placement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Oct 9

    The disappearance of Mallow chef Patsy O'Sullivan: "He was gay. We couldn't openly say it – we all knew, but it was never said."

    'Flamboyant' Mallow chef Patsy O'Sullivan vanished in 1992 at the age of 35. His family learned recently after three decades of searching, that he had been living with his husband in London since 1994, having taken his husband's name, Aldridge. Patsy died in 2024, leaving their questions unanswered, but thanks to his carer Tina, they have been united with the Aldridge family, who can fill in the missing pieces of his life. Before his disappearance Patsy had been hospitalised with mental health issues, but his brother Jerry's biggest fear was always that somebody else had harmed his soft, gentle brother. Patsy's family were aware of his sexuality, but it was never acknowledged or discussed. In today's episode, Jerry recalls the "physical and mental" abuse Patsy received due to his sexuality – and remembers avoiding his brother's company in public for fear of the abuse that would be directed at him. Declan Flynn had been murdered because of his sexuality in Fairview Park in 1982, and it was a crime in Ireland to be gay until 1993. Jerry O'Sullivan is Deirdre's guest on today's episode of the Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast. Family of Cork man found dead in London after 34 years say they now have closure Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Looking for a deeper understanding of the stories that matter? The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast takes you inside the best Irish Examiner reporting — from Cork courts to global affairs and powerful personal stories.  With award‑winning journalists and exclusive voices you won’t hear anywhere else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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