The Mick Clifford Podcast

STILL HOME OF THE BRAVE AT 250? Marion McKeone 02.07.2026 42min

As America celebrates 250 years in existence as a nation, Marion McKeone looks at a country that is currently going through major upheaval with Donald Trump as president. Is America as we have known it coming to an end, or just going through another transition. Journalist Marion McKeone is this week’s guest on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ANDY, WE HARDLY KNOW YA: Fergus Finlay 25.06.2026 44min

With Andy Burnham all but certain to be the next British prime minister in the coming days, we talk to Fergus Finlay about what he can expect and what he should try to do. Fergus, who was an advisor to two governments talks about how all leaders should focus on one big idea and explains exactly how this should be done. Irish Examiner columnist Fergus Finlay is this week’s guest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit Blues: Ian Cooper 19.06.2026 40min

Exactly ten years ago this week the UK voted to leave the EU and Brexit was born. At the time there were predictions that this could spell economic disaster for this country but that didn’t come to pass. The UK itself has not fared as well. In fact, the UK is in a bit of a mess, but exactly how much is all of that down to Brexit?Joining us this week to discuss how it happened and what the fall out has been is Ian Cooper, Senior Research Fellow at the Brexit Institute in DCU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HEALTHY PURSUIT: Niamh Griffin 11.06.2026 37min

After the recent row between the Minister for Health and the Rotunda Hospital over consultants doing private work, a question arises as to how soon we will have a single tier health service. The move in that direction has been ongoing now for a number of years and while there might be progress it is not always obvious. Joining us this week to discuss the pursuit of a first class health system for all is Irish Examiner Health Correspondent Niamh Griffin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MORALITY AND WARS: Colin Sheridan 04.06.2026 39min

The Occupied Territories Bill and the triple lock are going to be landing hot and heavy in the public square in the coming months. Both issues elicit deeply felt emotions and questions over what is this state’s role in the wider world, and what should be done about it. Irish Examiner columnist Colin Sheridan regularly touches on these matters and he is this week’s guest on the podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

THE HEALY RAE SPLIT 03.06.2026 28min

Michael Healy Rae’s revelation that he believes his brother Danny cost him and Kerry a ministry has rocked the most fabled political dynasty in Irish politics. Is this the end or just a new beginning. Mick Clifford, Deirdre O’Shaughnessy and Louise Burne discuss and dissect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

POLITICAL PITSTOP: Elaine Loughlin 28.05.2026 34min

The recent by-elections in Dublinand Galway took the temperature in politics right now and delivered victories to the Social Democrats and Fine Gael. But what did the elections say about the political pecking order right now and will there by any implications for Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail, who both performed badly? Also where now for the Occupied Territories Bill. This week’s guest on the podcast is Irish Examiner political editor Elaine Loughlin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

THE RISE OF KNEECAP: Dean Van Nguyen 21.05.2026 32min

The Belfast rap trio Kneecap bring second record Fenian and their incendiary mix of Irish-language hip-hop and politics to Cork with two 'intimate' album launch shows at the Savoy Theatre ahead of a show Live at the Marquee on July 6. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the group’s journey - from their early days in Belfast to becoming one of the most talked-about acts in Irish music. Along the way, we explore how Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí have used the Irish language as both a creative tool and a cultural statement, while also courting controversy through their lyrics, performances, and legal battles. On this episode, Irish Examiner assistant news editor Eoghan O'Sullivan is joined by music journalist Dean Van Nguyen, who reviewed Fenian for Pitchfork. He is also the author of Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur (Penguin Random House, 2025). Together, we look at the band’s rise, their impact, the tension between art and provocation - and what Cork audiences can expect from their live shows this summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BY ELECTION SPECIAL: Louise Burne 16.05.2026 36min

Two constituencies go to the polls next Friday in byelections created by the resignations from the Dail of Pascal Donohue and Catherine Connolly, who both went on to greater things. Dublin Central and Galway West will vote for their replacements in the first by-elections since the current government assumed office after the 2024 general election. So who’s up and who’s down, what matters what won’t. How will the results impact on party leaders? Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Louise Burne takes the temperature for this electoral event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SOLDIERING TOWARDS DESTINY: Gary Murphy 14.05.2026 43min

Fianna Fail is a century old this year and the party is celebrating the occasion this weekend with its Ard Fheis. But where stands a party that was in the twentieth century one of the most successful vote getters in the developed world. Has the new Ireland bypassed a party whose name translates as the Soldiers of Destiny? Or does it have the capacity to change and thrive with the times. Professor Gary Murphy of DCU is this week’s guest on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NEVER NEVER LAND: Children and that hospital. 07.05.2026 33min

The Irish Examiner’s Louise Burne has memories of spending time in Temple Street hospital in Dublin as a child to treat a condition with which she was born. The staff were great, the environment and facilities far less so. Recently, she wrote about the children of tomorrow who will have a brand new hospital to cater for their needs. But, at the rate of progress in building the national children’s hospital, we might well ask, will tomorrow come? Louise and Irish Examiner Health Correspondent Niamh Griffin fill us in on the story so far and whether an end is in sight.NOTE: In response to the story relayed by Niamh on this podcast, a spokesperson for CHI said, “all staff concerns are being addressed as they come up in real time in regular sessions across hospital sites.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BURIED SECRET: Barry Cummins 30.04.2026 47min

Tina Satchwell was murdered by her husband and her body hid in the family home where he continued to live for six years before it was discovered in a cold case Garda search. The case was shocking and tragic and journalist Barry Cummins, who has written and broadcast extensively on Ireland’s missing women covered it closely. Now he has written a book that tells the full story. Buried Secrets – The Murder Of Tina Satchwell and a journalist’s journey into Ireland’s most chilling cold case is the name of the book. Barry is this week’s guest on the podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ROY: Dave Hannigan 23.04.2026 38min

Roy Keane is a towering figure in Irish sport and even culture. From one of the greatest footballers to ever emerge from the country, to the man who divided Ireland over Saipan to the pundit everybody wants to see. But where did he come from, what relationship does he have to his home place and what effect has he had on the country, as it changed, as he changed. We Need To Talk About Roy – the Keanification of Modern Ireland is written by Dave Hannigan and Dave is this week’s guest on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taoiseach on the brink: Louise Burne 16.04.2026 37min

Pressure is coming on Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the wake of the fuel protests and following the resignation as junior minister of Michael Healy Rae. We examine whether his leadership is now in peril, whether he can hang on for now and, beyond that, long enough to host the presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. Or is he destined to fulfil the maxim of all political lives ending in failure. Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Louise Burne is this week’s guest.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ORBAN ON THE BRINK: Shona Murray 09.04.2026 34min

On Sunday Hungary goes to the polls in an election that should be of huge interests to all Europeans and beyond. The authoritarian leader of the last sixteen years is vehemently supported by both Vladamir Putin and Donald Trump, but is deeply unpopular among EU states. This week JD Vance landed in Budapest to campaign for him in an unprecedented move. On this week’s podcast Euronews Europe Correspondent Shona Murray describes Orban as a Trojan horse for Putin and analyses the impact of his authoritarian rule on both Hungary and the wider EU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

THE INFORMER AND HIS HANDLER: JP O’Sullivan 02.04.2026 50min

In March 1985, IRA man John Corcoran’s body was found outside Cork city. He had been shot as an informer. In the intervening years there has long been speculation that Corcoran’s murder could have been avoided and that he was sacrificed to protect another informer for An Garda Siochana, Sean O’Callaghan. The special branch detective who was John Corcoran’s handler, JP O’Sullivan, has now written a memoir about the times and the murky manoeuvres leading up to and following Corcoran’s murder. JP O’Sullivan is this week’ guest on the podcast  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A FUGITIVE AND A PATRIOT: Rory Carroll 26.03.2026 40min

A new book by Guardian Ireland correspondent Rory Carroll examines the hunt by British intelligence to capture Roger Casement and his role in assisting to foment, and ultimately attempting to call off, the 1916 Rising. The book is a unique take on the life of not just Casement but other figures who were central to the Rising and the British intelligence chief who was engaged in fighting a war against Germany as well as suppressing rebellion in Ireland. Rory Carroll is this week’s guest on the podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GETTING OUT INTACT: Micheal Martin 18.03.2026 33min

In the week that was, the question that arose was – will he make it out of there intact? The subject of course was Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the quandary was his Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump at a time of living dangerously for politicians who interact with the US president. Joining us to run the rule over the occasion and what else is brewing in politics is Irish Examiner political reporter, Tadgh McNally.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HOW IT WILL ALL END: Scott Lucas 12.03.2026 40min

The war in Iran is continuing and Israel is using the opportunity to pummel those it considers the enemy in Lebanon. Add to that the fact that the world economy is shivering, what is the way out of this morass? On hand to give us some clues as to where we might go from here is an old friend of the podcast, UCD's Clinton Institute professor of international relations Scott Lucas.Scott talks about how this might end and why so much comes back to sentiment in the USA towards a president who appears to live in his own world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mick Clifford Podcast - By-elections are looming 05.03.2026 44min

After the Presidential election last year saw Catherine Connolly elected President and Paschal Donohoe left Irish politics for a job at the World Bank, political parties will have two by-elections to contest in May.What are the issues, who are the runners and riders and who can claim the seats?Joining Acting Political Editor Paul Hosford to run the rule over Dublin Central and Galway West are Political Correspondent Louise Burne and Political Reporter Tadgh McNally.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.