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Latest

‘A missed opportunity’: Covid boosters available to millions but HSE advice causes confusion
People age 18 to 49 are not being offered the booster, and some are being turned down when they do.
This week
26th November 2023 - 2nd December 2023
The Explainer: Out of control - how did an attack in Dublin lead to riots and looting?
We’re joined by several members of The Journal’s newsroom to examine how Thursday unfolded, and to discuss the political and social fallout of the events.
Last week
19th November 2023 - 2nd December 2023
The Explainer: How has David Cameron made a surprise return to British politics?
We’re joined on this week’s episode by Dominic McGrath, PA Media political correspondent, to dissect the former UK prime minister’s unexpected comeback. What is Cameron’s background, what could he achieve in the role – and what exactly is the end goal here?
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Ireland's Best Drives: Feast your eyes on this truly stunning Wicklow day trip
It’s just a stone’s throw from Dublin and we guarantee you won’t regret spending a day driving around Wicklow.
Last month
November 2023
The Explainer: What caused dozens of overdoses in Dublin recently?
This week on The Explainer, we’re joined by Dr Austin O Carroll, a GP who specialises in addiction services, to look closer at what happened and find out more about these synthetic opioids. We also examine where all of this fits into the concerns around fentanyl and the possibility of its arrival in Ireland.
Poll: Have you ever attended a League of Ireland match?
Sunday’s final saw record attendance.
The Explainer: Israel and Gaza - what are the big questions that need to be answered?
We’re joined by our Assistant News Editor Stephen McDermott to give you a clear overview of the basics of what we’re seeing today – from who Hamas are to how Israel came to be a state.
The Explainer: How has Taylor Swift become (arguably) the world’s biggest music star?
Arts and culture journalist Louise Bruton explores how Taylor Swift became the powerful force in the music industry that she is today. We look at why the billionaire pop star is re-recording her albums, her many feuds, and the history of how she rose from a country music singer to the most streamed artist in the world.
This year
2023
The Explainer: What can be done to stop damaging flooding in Ireland?
We’re joined by Dr Mary Bourke, a flood risk management expert and assistant professor of Geography at Trinity College Dublin. She delves into the reasons why flooding – just like strong winds or extreme temperatures – can never be fully stopped, but outlines the solutions Ireland could consider in order to mitigate against the worst impacts on people’s homes and livelihoods.
Average price for a packet of cigarettes now €16.75 after 75 cent tax hike
This compares to 50 cent in the previous seven Budgets.
The Explainer: What's really on the new SPHE curriculum?
Teachers say the new Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum for secondary schools is long overdue, but some elements of the course have sparked controversy and misinformation. So what will children really be taught? Eoghan Cleary – a secondary school teacher, assistant principal and SPHE & Wellbeing Coordinator – joins us on this week’s episode to explain all.
Poll: What's your favourite way to eat potatoes?
The question might require a lot of soul-searching.
The Explainer: Lough Neagh has been hit by an algal bloom disaster - what’s happening?
The algae has left wildlife dead and led to questions over the safety of drinking water at Lough Neagh. Shauna Corr, environment correspondent and columnist with news outlets including The Irish Mirror and Belfast Live joins us to look at the history of the lake, the real-life impacts of the algal bloom, and what the local response has been.
Former Stardust boss denies 'throwing doorman under the bus' over locking of exit doors
A large number of eyewitness accounts, some graphic, of people attempting to escape the club during the blaze were put to Mr Butterly.
Former Stardust manager gives evidence for the first time at inquests
Eamon Butterly is seen as crucial in determining the events of the night and the circumstances that led to the largest fire disaster in the history of the State.
The Explainer: How will Ireland's new publicly funded IVF scheme work?
Medical journalist June Shannon joins us on this week’s episode to explain how the scheme will work, who is eligible, and how you avail of it. She also details how exactly IVF works and shares her own experience of the process.
The Explainer: How has the Rose of Tralee festival survived for so long?
Joining us this week is our own Carl Kinsella, who was at the festival earlier this week, and the Irish Independent’s Kirsty Blake Knox. They explore the history of the festival and changes over the years, its relevance in today’s world, and look at what’s next for this year’s winner. Also – if they were a Rose, what would their talent be?
The Explainer: Why is there so much talk about a farmers' party in Ireland?
This week on we’re joined by journalist and organic beef and dairy farmer Hannah Quinn Mulligan to look at the growing talk of a farmers’ party in Ireland. What are the types of policies they would implement? And what are their chances of success?
The Explainer: A forgotten crisis - what is happening to the Rohingya minority fleeing Myanmar?
We delve into the prosecution faced by the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, and the treacherous journey many make across the Andaman Sea in search of asylum and a better life. We speak with Michelle Cicic, head of the regional office for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) in south-southeast Asia Pacific, as well as Lilianne Fan and Hassan bin Roshid from the Geutanyoë Foundation.
The Explainer: Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr and could he be the next US president?
This week on The Explainer, we speak with US correspondent with the Business Post Marion McKeone to delve into Kennedy Jr’s campaign so far. What are his rallies like, and what is he like as a person? Is he in with a chance of becoming US president, or are we simply looking at Trump vs Biden in 2024?
The Explainer: What next for Ireland's women's football team?
Sinéad O’Carroll is joined by The 42′s Gavin Cooney for a wide-ranging discussion on women in football. What does Ireland’s performance at the World Cup say about the future of the team? And did they catch the public’s imagination enough to keep the fanbase growing from here? More widely, is enough being done by sports organisations to support women in sport?
The Explainer: Do Barbie and Oppenheimer mark the return of the summer blockbuster?
This week, presenter Laura Byrne is joined by journalist and author Aoife Barry, who takes us through the hype machine behind Barbie and how this rubbed off on Oppenheimer. Did it translate into box office success? Also, how will the strike by actors and writers in the US impact film and television over the coming months?
The Explainer: What is the Nature Restoration Law and how will it work in Ireland?
This week on The Explainer, we’re joined by Lauren Boland, climate reporter with The Journal, to examine what precisely this legislation is all about and why it sparked so much anger. Do environmentalists think the now-watered-down law will have any impact? And how does Ireland fit into the picture?
The Explainer: How do Oireachtas committees work, and how did Tubridy end up in front of one?
Presenter Laura Byrne is joined this week by Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News, to look behind the scenes at Oireachtas committees, from the grandstanding to the selection process, as well as to analyse previous appearances by John Delaney, Angela Kerins, and – of course – Ryan Tubridy.
The Explainer: What does Ireland’s ‘unprecedented’ marine heatwave tell us about our climate?
Presenter Laura Byrne is joined on this week’s episode by Lauren Boland, reporter with The Journal, and Maynooth University’s Dr Gerard McCarthy They examine the impact of the heatwave, what it means for marine life, and look at wider oceanic climate trends impacting Ireland, such as an increasingly unstable Gulf Stream.
The Explainer: What is hydrogen power, and could it replace coal, oil, and gas?
James Carton, assistant professor in Sustainable Energy with DCU and an academic advisor to the United Nations on hydrogen, joins us on this week’s podcast to discuss this lesser spotted form of energy. How do you make it? Where could it be used instead of fossil fuels? Could it be part of a clean energy future, or does it amount to simply greenwashing?
The Explainer: Hard cash and soft power - what is going on in the world of golf?
The world of golf has been upended in recent days. The story of why is one that involves a lot of money, antitrust concerns, and a new – but perhaps murky – future for the world of golf, one in which Saudi Arabian soft power has come to the fore. Gavin Cooney, sports writer with The42, joins us to explain all.
The Explainer: What is it like to sit the Leaving Cert in 2023?
Luke Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Studyclix, joins us on this week’s episode to give the lie of the land for anyone whose own memory of sitting the exams might be fading. We look at the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic on the exams, and share advice for students and parents alike.
The Explainer: 16 years on, what is happening with the Madeleine McCann case?
Joining us on this week’s episode is journalist Robbyn Swan, author of Looking for Madeleine and who featured in the Netflix series The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, to look over the history of the investigation. Are police making progress? Who is the suspect who has been linked to the case?
The Explainer: What's behind Ireland's love affair with the Late Late?
Mark O’Brien, head of DCU’s School of Communications and associate professor in journalism history, and Kirsty Blake Knox, writer with the Irish Independent, delve into the show’s history, examine its enduring popularity, and ask what its new presenter must do to keep it going strong.
Jury told of 'utmost importance' to families and wider public of Stardust inquests
Pen portraits have concluded and the court is now preparing to hear background facts and evidence.
'Treasured memories': Stardust portraits come to a close - but families face a long road ahead
The jury has heard detail of the lives of all 48 people who died in the 1981 fire. The court will soon begin to hear evidence.
'I think a part of all of us died that day': Final pen portraits read to Stardust inquests
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said “there was extreme sadness, of course, but occasional humour, which was equally moving given the loss that has been experienced.
The Explainer: Interview - HSE doctor speaks about her evacuation from war-torn Sudan
We sit down with Dr Sulafa Salama, a Sudanese doctor working in St James’s in Dublin, who was trapped in Khartoum when the fighting broke out. We’re also joined by Dr Aia Mohamed, assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin, who speaks to us about how her father was visiting Sudan when the fighting broke out.
Quiz: How much do you know about European currencies?
Test your knowledge.
The Explainer: Why are supermarkets suddenly cutting the prices of milk, butter and bread?
We’re joined by Caitríona Morrissey, news editor with the Irish Farmers Journal. She gives us the background to these recent price drops and explains how cuts to ‘loss leaders’ might have little impact on your overall shopping basket.
The Explainer: How does Ireland and the EU fight wildfires?
Marcin Pater, an emergency response officer at DG ECHO’s Emergency Response Coordinate Centre, and Pádraic Fogarty, campaigns officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust explore the issue of wildfires from both an Irish and European perspective. What is being done to help country’s battle these fires, and what type of impact have we seen on the ground in Ireland?
IRA threatened to attack Dublin cocktail party marking 1953 coronation, official records show
The files reveal a range of issues, including a reassurance that the London Embassy would not be decorated for the event.
The Explainer: How is Revolut changing and what does it mean for its customers?
Joining us this week is Daragh Cassidy of Bonkers.ie to look what’s next for Revolut – is it on track to dominate Irish banking, or will it remain nothing more than a handy app for splitting a bill? Should we start viewing it as a traditional bank? And what do the latest changes mean for its customers?
The Explainer: What is happening in Sudan?
Joining us on this week’s episode to explain more is Jehanne Henry, a human rights lawyer based in East Africa. She was an advisor to the transitional government in 2020-21, and previously held the role of associate director in Human Rights Watch’s Africa division.
The Explainer: Everything you need to know about the trial of Gerry Hutch
Frank Greaney, courts correspondent with Newstalk and Today FM, joins us on this week’s episode to delve into the case. We examine the origins of the feud, explain who exactly The Monk is, look at key moments from the trial, and explore the origins of the Special Criminal Court.