Brendan O'Connor

Dublin actor Aidan Gillen has appeared in everything from Love/Hate to The Wire to Game Of Thrones. His latest show is Stuart Carolan’s ‘Tall Tales & Murder’ on RTÉ One. His talks Brendan through his life and career through the prism of five songs ranging from Art Garfunkel to The Rolling Stones to Fairport Convention.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to pick out the week's best offerings on the big and small screen are: Nadine O'Regan, Arts and Features writer with the Irish Times and Dave O'Callaghan, Host of the 'Here and Back Again' podcast. Some of the productions they discuss are: Digger, Celebrity Traitors UK, Kill Jackie and East of Eden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan is joined by writer, director and actor Sharon Horgan, who talks about her latest TV series 'Youth'. Drawing from her own experience, she talks about ageing, dating in your 50's, and being part of the 'sandwich generation'.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster, Musician and Punk, Tom Dunne, charts the arrival of Punk to Ireland, why it took root in Belfast and Cork before Dublin, he talks about some of the amazing punk bands that came out of Ireland and what Punk’s legacy is.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and global thinker Naomi Klein has a knack for capturing the zeitgeist in her previous books like ‘No Logo’, ‘The Shock Doctrine’ and ‘Doppelganger’. Her new book is ‘End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World’ in which she suggests powerful elites are weaponising modern crises to build private escape routes for themselves while urging everyday people to reject doom and collectiv...

Registered Dietician Orla Walsh helps decipher all the different yoghurt types on offer in supermarkets and their various health claims. She says most people should be trying to incorporate this superfood into their diet to boost bone, heart and gut health.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef, teacher, TV presenter and co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Rory O'Connell talks us through what makes a food a comfort food? And why do the foods we grew up with have such a hold on us? His Comfort Food recipes include Rice Pilaff with Chicken, Courgettes and Coriander and Pumpkin, Leek, Fennel and Tomato Soup.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: ESRI research professor, Alan Barrett; Anglo Celt managing editor, Linda O’Reilly; public policy advisor, Oisín Coghlan; Irish and Sunday Independent political editor, Mary Regan; RTE Soccer Correspondent, Tony O’Donoghue and Belfast Telegraph correspondent, Allison Morris.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Magician and mentalist Keith Barry joins Brendan to select 5 songs that have influenced his life. Keith talks about his late father Ken who died last year; on becoming a celebrity magician in Dublin & LA; shutting down a Bangles concert with a giant flame trick and explains how the music of Fergus O'Farrell's Interference makes him cry.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Culture journalist and host of ‘The Bellissimo Files’, Sarina Bellissimo joins Brendan to talk through the best new offerings on the big and small screen. Her choices include divorce drama, ‘War’, Brad Pitt’s survivalist epic ‘Heart of the Beast’ and Aidan Gillen’s latest series ‘Tall Tales and Murder’.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Louise O’Neill joins Brendan to discuss her first memoir ‘A Bigger Life’. It details a dramatic break-up, which led her to completely reconsider her life and priorities. From returning home, to travelling in Thailand, to dating her way across Europe, she outlines the huge mix of emotions she went through from joy to embarrassment to unexpected tears.  See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Poet Enda Wyley joins Brendan with a selection of autumnal poems, including classics by John Keats and Seamus Heaney, and lesser-known gems by Vona Groarke and Ru Borsen.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Ireland and Munster Rugby Captain, Peter O’ Mahony joins Brendan to discuss his amazing grandmother, his lifelong temper, and his extraordinary playing career. Marking the publication of his memoir ‘All In’ he talks about what he learned from coaches Joe Schmidt, Andy Farrell and the late Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef and Restauranteur Marco Pierre White joins Brendan to discuss his pivot from restaurants into curating a hotel, his ongoing quest to recreate his childhood and how kitchen culture has changed during his career. He also talks about his long and complex relationship with Gordon Ramsay. He also tells us how to cook the perfect steak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute; Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Times; Finian McGrath, Former Independent TD and former Minister of State for Disability Issues and Dr Barra Roantree, Economist at Trinity College, Dublin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Mark Little, tech entrepreneur and journalist, has written a new book 'The Last Good Day on the Internet' in which he charts the initial innocence of the internet and its 'shared playground' feel to the rise of the algorithm to the AI age we're currently living in.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a new book by the brother of the late Princess Diana, Charles Spencer makes various claims highlighting King Charles' cold-heartedness at the time of Diana's death. Jennie Bond, Journalist and former BBC Royal Correspondent also recalls the tension between Diana and the Royal Family while she was alive and its impact on the next generation of royals.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Joining Brendan to pick out the week's best offerings on the big and small screen are: Esther O’Moore Donohoe, writer and podcaster and John Maguire, Business Post Film Critic for the Business Post. Among some of the TV shows and films they preview are Sharon Horgan's 'Youth', Matthew McConaughey's 'Brothers', the new BBC series of 'Strictly Come Dancing', Saoirse Ronan's 'Bad Apples and Shaun The...

Aisling Rogerson, founder of The Fumbally Café and the widow of the late Manchán Magan, talks about how all of Manchán's life's work culminates in the final book of his trilogy, 'Seeing What's Happening', with its focus on connecting to the spirit and having the right relationship with nature. She also talks about first meeting him on Inis Oirr 12 years ago, their long-distance relationship and co...

Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Director of Communications (for 11days!) and co-host of The Rest is Politics US spoke to Brendan about his childhood on the Jersey Shore and how he ended up mixing with the elite. He talked about the mistakes America has made that he believes led to the era of Donald Trump, and offers some solutions. Anthony’s latest book “All the wrong moves” is out now.&nbs...

Rachel Morrogh, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre spoke to Brendan about the impact of Nikita Hand’s interview on other survivors of sexual violence, she talked about how difficult it can be for a survivor to come forward to ask for help and she outlined the many ways to get support.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikita Hand, who won her case in 2025 when a civil jury in the high court found that Conor McGregor assaulted her by raping her, joined Brendan to talk about her new book ‘Not the Perfect Victim’. She spoke about the trauma she’s lived with since, the difficult decision to seek justice and coming face to face with McGregor in the courtroom. She hopes her book will offer hope to other survivor...

Joining Dearbhail to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are Irish Examiner political correspondent, Louise Burne; Executive Director of TASC, Dr Shana Coen; commentator and CEO of the Iona Institute, David Quinn; Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Mary Immaculate College, Prof Niamh Hourigan. They're joined from Doonbeg by RTE reporter, Brian...

Joining Dearbhail to pick out the week's best offerings on the big and small screen are arts journalist, Zara Hedderman and RTE Guide movies editor, Michael Doherty. They discuss season 6 of 'Slow Horses', new reality show 'Apocalypse' and 'The Random Driving Test' - in which PJ Gallagher challenges people to re-sit their driving test. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chartered physiotherapist, Aisling Frawley discusses the true value of warming up before sustained exercise. She talks Dearbhail through some key warm-ups for anyone going for a run, playing a match, or heading to the gym. She also provides tips on warming up as we age.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.