iRadio's Groupchat

Valerie McHugh is joined by Eamon, founder of Gaeilgeoir Guides, to chat about the Irish language revival – and he’s calling in live from his travels in China. Eamon shares how his new Irish-learning app, Hey Rua, is built around speaking out loud, with native recordings from Connemara, Kerry and Donegal, pronunciation feedback, games, and guided everyday conversations (from ordering a coffee to s...

Valerie McHugh is joined by Miss Ireland 2025, Caoimhe Kenny, fresh home from Vietnam after representing Ireland at Miss World alongside 110+ women from around the globe. She chats about the surreal month away, the friendships she’s made, and the pride (and pressure) of stepping onto a world stage with the tricolour. She explains her work with Hygiene Hub Ireland, what hygiene poverty really means...

Valerie McHugh chats to Rory Staunton, one half of the brother duo behind Aura Sports Cream – the Irish-made, natural muscle and joint recovery cream inspired by a trip to the Austrian Alps. Rory shares how a simple pharmacy find abroad turned into a full-on business at home, built with his brother Hugh (a pharmacist) and rooted in a family history of sport and pharmacy. They talk about what makes...

For Suicide Awareness Month, Valerie McHugh is joined by Katie Anne Bobbett, who lost her dad to suicide when she was just 17. She speaks honestly about who her dad was, the “blackout” periods of grief, and the pressure of trying to keep going through milestones, friendships and even the Leaving Cert. She shares what helped most - HUG, counselling, and the support of family, friends and teachers -...

Valerie McHugh is joined by Donal Casey from Leitrim as The Traitors Ireland heads into its big finale. Donal chats about what made him sign up in the first place – a split-second “why not?” moment while recovering from an injury – and why the castle was way more intense than he ever expected. He opens up about that emotional final roundtable, the pressure of being watched, and why seeing men cry...

In this week’s iRadio Groupchat, Valerie McHugh chats with Tony about the life-changing support of Croí – and why he’s determined to give something back. Tony shares how he first discovered Croí when his daughter Aofaoine was in intensive care, and how the nearby apartment gave their family a place to rest, wash and breathe during an incredibly dark time. He also opens up about his own heart healt...

Valerie McHugh chats to Liz from Rosscahill/Connemara, who lives locally and teaches fitness classes – and who’s helping bring the Croí Night Run back for another year. Liz explains how the event started during COVID as a small meet-up at the pier, before growing into a bigger community night with Croí’s support. This year, the route moves from the pitch to laps around the harbour, with the same b...

Today we're talking about something every parent, young person, carer, teacher and anyone working with children should know about - “Think Type 1 Diabetes. Think Test.”   Type 1 diabetes can develop in children and young people, sometimes surprisingly quickly. And because some of the early symptoms - like being really thirsty, going to the toilet a lot or feeling completely wiped out - c...

On iRecommend, we are chatting all things 'The Traitors Ireland' with a fan-favourite. Sam Omukoro from Westmeath became one of the standout characters of this year's series, navigating suspicion, alliances, friendships and the constant pressure of trying to work out who you could trust.   His departure was an emotional one, particularly for Pete, who described Sam as being “like a son”...

September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, and in this episode we’re shining a light on ovarian cancer - what it is, who it can affect, and why knowing your “normal” matters. Valerie is joined by Michelle Lonergan, Cancer Awareness Nurse with the Irish Cancer Society, who explains why ovarian cancer symptoms can be vague and easily dismissed, and shares the key warning signs to look out fo...

Long queues can ruin a great night out - and Daniel Cohen knows that pain first-hand after spending nearly an hour waiting for a drink at a festival and missing acts he came to see. In this Business Spotlight, Daniel (founder and CEO of Skippio) chats about how that frustration turned into a tech solution designed to help fans order drinks faster, and what it really took to go from idea to live ev...

This conversation includes discussion of mental health and suicide, listener discretion is advised.   OCD is often talked about in terms of intrusive thoughts and compulsions – but not enough about the toll it can take on someone’s mental health, and why suicide prevention has to be part of the conversation too. Valerie is joined by Lucy, OCD advocate behind Your OCD Sister, who opens up...

If the words investing, pensions, and financial planning make your eyes glaze over, this episode is for you. Valerie is joined by Caoimhe (the Irish Numbers Girl), a qualified accountant and accounting lecturer who’s built a following by making money talk feel a lot less intimidating. They break down why investing can seem so complicated in Ireland , and what you actually need in place first — lik...

Forget the dating apps for a minute - because love might be waiting in the fields at the National Ploughing Championships. Valerie is joined by matchmaker Mairead Lockman from Love HQ, who’s bringing her “The Farmer Wants a Wife” matchmaking service to the ploughing, welcoming everyone from male and female farmers to gay farmers, and anyone curious about rural life. They chat about what actually m...

If you ever get into trouble on a mountain, a remote trail, or somewhere hard to reach, Galway Mountain Rescue could be the team that comes looking for you. They’re on call 24/7 - and they do it all as volunteers. Valerie is joined by team member Hannah Gibney to explain what call-outs can look like across Galway and North Clare, from injured hikers to missing people caught out after dark (and the...

Heart disease and stroke don’t always come with warning signs - which is why prevention matters. Valerie is joined by Aisling Harris, cardiac and weight management dietician with Croí, to break down the simple checks that can make a real difference. They chat about knowing your numbers (blood pressure and cholesterol), understanding your family history, and why heart health isn’t something to park...

If you’ve been watching The Traitors Ireland, you’ll know the castle has been full of twists, suspicion and backstabbing - and this week one GAA contestant’s journey came to an end. Valerie is joined by Saoirse Joyce, who went in as a Faithful and found herself banished after weeks of trying to figure out who she could actually trust. Saoirse chats through the casting process (TikTok application,...

Starting college can feel like a high at first - CAO night, the debs, graduation, freshers week — and then the comedown hits. Valerie is joined by Craig to talk about that sudden loneliness that can creep in when everything finally goes quiet. Craig opens up about commuting alone for the first time, how even small changes can mess with your head, and why staying busy didn’t actually fix what he wa...

As students across Ireland get ready to head back to college, the accommodation scramble is back – and for many, it’s reached crisis point. Valerie is joined by Daniel Walsh, President of USI, to explain just how serious things are, and why some students are giving up before they even start looking. Daniel breaks down what he says is a lack of state investment in purpose-built student housing, the...

Caitlin Lowry from Longford is on a mission to change Ireland’s education system. After leaving school at 14 due to severe anxiety, she taught herself the Leaving Cert curriculum independently, all while grieving the loss of her father - and has just received her results. She joins iRadio’s Groupchat to explain why self-taught students are being left behind, especially when it comes to project wor...

If you’re already dreaming of getting away as the nights get darker, this episode is for you. Valerie McHugh is joined by travel journalist Melanie May to share her top picks for autumn and winter city breaks – from warm-weather favourites like Lisbon, Seville and Athens, to crisp Central European classics like Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Krakow. They also chat Christmas markets (including Tallin...

From a TY Mini Company project to an AI-powered study app with an ambitious plan to raise €500,000, Sean Cahill and Paddy Corcoran are taking StudyTok way beyond the classroom. They tell Valerie how the idea was born while they were meant to be studying for the Junior Cert… and ended up doom-scrolling instead. That “TikTok but for study” concept turned into an app that hit tens of thousands of dow...

Childhood is changing fast - and so is the way kids play, cope and communicate. Valerie is joined by Robin Burns from Robyn’s Nest Play Therapy in Loughrea, Co. Galway to unpack why play isn’t “just for fun”, but a child’s natural language. Robyn explains what play therapy is (and who it can support), from anxiety and low self-esteem to bereavement, trauma and parental separation. They also talk a...

Heading back to college can mean fresh starts, new people… and messy love lives. From long-distance relationships to first dates, breakups, hookups and everything in between, it’s a lot to navigate. Valerie is joined by psychologist and relationship therapist Louise Carroll to talk about how to actually make long distance work (without living in “when we see each other again” limbo), and how to de...

Social media star Andrea Woods joins Leah on iRadio’s Groupchat to talk about taking the leap from TikTok to stand-up, and why she’s putting her energy into her comedy career, Crack with Andrea. Andrea chats about starting content during COVID after moving home from London, the one video that sparked it all, and what it’s like building a community of hundreds of thousands online. She also opens up...