https://tortoiseshack.ie/feed/podcast/

You might have read about activists and UCC law students, Brian O’Kane and Peadar Ó Rathaille, have been sending planning enforcement complaints to Cork City Council, to tackle non-compliant lettings of companies like Air BnB.  We talked to the two lads and got them to explain the process, how it works and more importantly how you (yes, you) can do it as well. You can get in touch with the lads he...

We did a very patron-only podcast on the news of the week where we looked at the explosion of Fine Gael angst about Leo Varadkar, the little Englander's going insane over Biden and what is happening in the US in terms of abortion. Then friend of the pod and drug decriminalisation advocate, Dr Garrett McGovern, joined us to talk about the bumpy beginning of the Citizens Assembly for Drugs. A very i...

As everyone gets carried away with the visit of a US President visit, we decided to ask our friend, Loyalist and Sharpnel cohost, Sam Mcilwaine, what people in his community think of the pomp and ceremony. We discuss the DUP's reaction, the misreading of the political temperature, how the local elections campaign is going and how to answer Joe Biden's $6 billion dollar question.

Tortoise Shack regular and Senior reporter with the Sunday Business Post, Killian Woods, came over to talk about the latest news in the Irish and international housing markets, the Patrizia fund having the craic, the problem with our housing data and a lot more.  

Join Emma in conversation with Daniel Holder, Director at the Committee on the Administration of Justice, to explore post-conflict and post-reform policing and justice in Northern Ireland. This episode examines the Agreement, asking whether it delivered transitional justice or a stopgap on legacy and the impact of the UK government's Legacy Bill.

As part of the May Day Badge Appeal Launch, Unite's Brendan Ogle chaired a conversation with Larry Spencer and Haeden Wright of the United Mine Workers of America about their experiences of a bitter industrial action for better wages and conditions for miners working for Warrior MET. 

We were joined by Mr Irish Election Projections himself, Harry McEvansoneya, to dive into the B&A opinion poll that put Fine Gael at near historic lows and Sinn Féin near a potential new high. We also discuss tax haven Ireland working for the few, the struggles of the poor REIT's vs greedy rights-wanting renters, that ahistorical Good Friday Agreement column and the moral judgement we have as...

The scenes of violence and brutality carried out by the IDF and Israeli settlers in occupied territories have shocked and appalled many in 2023. But the international community remains almost silent. Why? Joining us again is Gaza-based journalist, Issam Adwan, who describes the scenes there now following a night were Israel showered Gaza with 50 tonnes of deadly military munitions.   We also discu...

In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory & Tony chat with the artist Spice Bag, who's picture of depicting a famine eviction with modern day Gardai elicited a massive reaction. We discuss what were Spice Bag's motivations in developing the picture, the legitimacy of the parallel between the famine evictions and todays housing crisis, how all art is political, and art can express and elicit a reac...

The Good Friday Agreement sought to make real the concept of a rights-based society in Northern Ireland. Human rights commitments to be protected in legislation included the incorporation of the European Convention of Human Rights, a Bill of Rights, a Single Equality Act, an Irish Language Act, and equality duties to be placed on public authorities. Of the aforementioned commitments, the ECHR is t...

Why the Government has to Re-instate the eviction ban: the landlords' strike, mortgage arrears & how to build affordable homes for sale In this Reboot Republic, Rory and Tony discuss the on-going fallout of the Governments terrible decision to lift the eviction ban, the latest data from the RTB showing 11,000 notices to quit issued in 2022, with 84% for no fault evictions, revealing a tsunami...

On Thursday I was invited to talk at Unite the Union as part of the May Day Badge Appeal alongside MASI's Lucky Khambule and United Against Racism's Memet Uludag for the Against the Hate discussion. I was out of my depth, but thankfully the two lads were kind to me.  Buy the cool badges: https://t.co/Yt8FU9lFLp

a very member-only podcast on the Garda picture "controversy", Fine Gael's desperation to focus us all on culture wars, more war crimes in Palestine and why no one cares about the Donald anymore.  Maybe a bit too much anger. Do check out Lost in Implementation 

Lost in implementation is a limited six-part series exploring the unfinished work of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. While focus for the 25th anniversary is on celebrating the glory days this podcast will be taking a harder look at the unimplemented aspirations of 1998. Hosted by writer and activist, Emma DeSouza and produced by the tortoise shack's Tony Groves. Episode one will be with you sho...

Earlier this morning Green Party (for now?) TD, Neasa Hourigan, joined us to talk about her decision to vote against the government in relation to the temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions. It gets feisty. We discuss classism and crappy communications within the Green Party, the consistent allegations of bullying and misogyny, their achievements and or failures in Government relative to the a...

The SpyCops Scandal is arguably one of the biggest scandals that most people know nothing about. Joining us to discuss an act of political policing that has monitored and infiltrated (mostly) left wing movements is director of Ugly Mugs and undercover policing activist and host of the SpyCops Info podcast, Tom Fowler. What is uncovered is truly reprehensible.

When we heard the Govt say that they're going to delay reforming the insurance sector as it would hamper Ireland's attractiveness to international insurers, we had to do one of our regular impromptu podcasts. So In this short podcast we talk about Ireland as a Corptocracy, the ESRI getting in trouble with the Government for telling the truth about house prices, the LATEST* on CETA, what's happenin...

Policed is Back. Today we hear from Isreal about his experiences as a young Black man in Ireland. You'll also hear from Dr James Carr of the University of Limerick, who has done significant research on issues of race and policing and Bashir Otukoya, Asst Professor of Law in DCU and a member of the Government's Anti-Racism Committee.  We are deliberately launching this series with this episode in t...

Hi Folks, We've just finished recording with friend of the pod, Orla Hegarty and it is packed with tips on how to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19 over the Christmas. Orla talks about the safest ways to meet your friends and family, the solutions to the Christmas dinner table and even explains the best way to travel by car. This is a short and practical how to that I found very helpful, so I...