RTÉ Radio 1

Brendan O'Connor

News EN ↓ 245 episodes

Brendan O'Connor has all you need for the weekend with time to pause and reflect on the week just gone. Featuring a selection of human interest, consumer and lifestyle stories, as well as keeping you up to date on the news stories that matter. Listen live Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 1pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.rte.ie

Author

RTÉ Radio 1

Category

News

Podcast website

www.rte.ie

Latest episode

Nov 1, 2026

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Episodes

Death of Ciara Mageean - "The Irish athletic community are mourning a beautiful person today" 01.11.2026

Athlete and Broadcaster David Gillick and RTE Sport's Des Cahill pay tribute to the Irish Olympian and European Champion Ciara Mageean whose death was announced this morning after a battle with cancer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Newspaper Panel 01.11.2026

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are:  Oisín Coghlan, public policy advisor, Louise Burne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner, Peter Brown, Managing Director The Irish Institute of Financial Trading, Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Trump has squandered all his good opportunities in these midterms" 01.11.2026

Author, Tech Entrepreneur and former RTÉ Washington Correspondent, Mark Little, previews Tuesday's US midterm elections, explains why he thinks they're more consequential than a US Presidential election would be and outlines how the various final scenarios would affect America and the wider world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I had no intention of being a chef, I just opened a restaurant to pay the bills" 01.11.2026

Food guru Rick Stein joins Brendan to share some of what he's learned since starting out in the business. His new book 'Rick Stein’s Cookery Course' draws on 60 years of cooking, with everything anyone could need to know, including how to joint a rabbit and why he likes his beef from a castrated male!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Watchlist 01.11.2026

Writer and podcaster Esther O'Moore Donohoe and host of the 'Here and Back Again' podcast Dave O'Callaghan join Brendan to discuss the biggest new shows and films this week. Their previews include: 'Dexter: Resurrection', 'Nocturne' starring Stephen Graham, 'Wild Horse Nine', 'Primetime' with Robert Pattinson and George Michael: The Faith Tour.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Dr Maureen Gaffney - "The biggest predictor of a long and healthy life? Your close relationships. 31.10.2026

Clinical Psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney has spent six decades in the world of psychology, writing bestselling books 'Flourishing' and 'Your One Wild and Precious Life'. Her latest book is 'About Life: Notes on Staying Grounded in Unsettled Times', based on lessons she's learned from her personal and professional life on how to live your best life.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Hector Ó hEochagáin - "My brain surgery involved scooping around my pituitary gland" 31.10.2026

Hector Ó hEochagáin joined Brendan to talk about facing brain surgery last summer, having had a small tumour removed. He's marking 30 years of TG4 with his new South American adventure series. HIs latest book, Irish Words for Every Occasion: Conversations in Irish for every day of your life, is the last in a trilogy designed to get people talking rather than worrying about the modh coinníollach.&n...

"I felt that I got grabbed and hugged by my mother in Knock Basilica" 31.10.2026

Actor John Connors is starring in the new RTÉ series, The Galway Bay Murders. He talks Brendan through his life and career through the prism of five songs ranging from Patsy Cline to Damien Dempsey to DMX. He also speaks about losing his father to suicide, being segregated into a traveller class in primary school, going to anger management classes as a child, his love of boxing, his close bond wit...

Twixmas Travel Tips 31.10.2026

If you feel that Christmas sometimes drags, Communications Consultant and Travel Enthusiast Lisa Regan has travel ideas for breaking up the 'Twixmas' period by taking a break to cities like Paris, Copenhagen, Tallinn or London. Or the potential blue skies in Spanish cities like Malaga or Seville   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Watchlist 25.10.2026

Zara Hedderman, Arts and Music Journalist, and Brian Lloyd, Freelance entertainment journalist and host of the Screenland Podcast join Brendan to discuss the biggest new shows and films this week. Their previews include: Dr Marie Cassidy Investigates Ireland's Last Witch Trial, Slow Horses, Norm: The Tale of Norm McDonald, The Lowdown, Wildwood, The Devils.  See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

John Creedon - “I got a crash course in tying laces before boarding school” 25.10.2026

John Creedon joins Brendan to discuss the five songs that have been there at turning points in his life. He shares a special recording of his late father Con singing. He remembers what Rory Gallagher meant to a generation of Cork teenagers and brings us all back to the styles and sounds of Ireland's discos in the late 70's and early 80's See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Newspaper Panel 25.10.2026

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times. Brenda Power Columnist with The Daily Mail and the Sunday Times. Hazel Chu, Deputy Leader of the Green party and Dublin City Councillor, and Larry Donnelly law lecturer, NUIG & Legal Counsel of Democrats Abroad. Updates from Tel Aviv from Channel 4's Matt Frei.&nbs...

The Newspaper Panel 25.10.2026

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times. Brenda Power Columnist with The Daily Mail and the Sunday Times. Hazel Chu, Deputy Leader of the Green party and Dublin City Councillor, and Larry Donnelly law lecturer, NUIG & Legal Counsel of Democrats Abroad. Updates from Tel Aviv from Channel 4's Matt Frei.&nbs...

James McClean - "This is a conversation I've never had before" 24.10.2026

Former Irish International James McClean joins Brendan to talk about his critically acclaimed autobiography 'The Walls'. Brendan and James have a wide-ranging chat about trauma, therapy, politics, fatherhood and his long marriage to Erin, who he has known since they were teenagers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No fashion victims - easy ways to wear this season's trends 24.10.2026

Stylist and personal shopper Cathy O Connor talks Brendan through the trends landing in the high street this season. From terracotta tinted sunglasses to embracing maximalism, she gives tips on how to look up to date without being a slave to fashion and above all still feeling like yourself.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katriona O' Sullivan - "We all need to plan out the joy in our lives!" 24.10.2026

Psychologist and author Professor Katriona O' Sullivan asks why aren't we having more fun?? She joins Brendan to talk about how joy and pleasure have taken a back seat in our modern world, and how we need to factor "joy planning" into our lives.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Maggie Roche on the perfect pie 24.10.2026

Chef Maggie Roche from the Little Acorn Stór talks Brendan through making the perfect pie at home. She has delicious recipes for savoury, veggie and sweet pies.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Newspaper Panel 18.10.2026

Joining Brendan to discuss the main stories in Sunday's newspapers are: Liz Carolan, Publisher of the Briefing.ie; Professor Rónán Collins, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, at Tallaght University Hospital; Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor of the Irish Examiner and Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst. Naomi O'Leary, Irish Times Europe Correspondent, joins from Paris wi...

Clodagh McKenna - "How about chocolate beef chilli served in a pumpkin?!" 18.10.2026

Chef and businesswoman Clodagh McKenna joins Dearbhail to talk about her tenth cookbook, Clodagh At Home, and her new ITV1 show, Clodagh: Cooking At Home. She talks about life on Broadspear Farm, its seasons, her beehives, what to do with pumpkins and why her pal Richard E. Grant loves her tarte tatin.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I’m a Celebrity, don’t you know who I am?!” 18.10.2026

In the same week that Kelly Clarkson had an online spat with an expensive toyshop, claiming they suggested she couldn't afford a $15k animatronic bird, Fionnuala Jones, entertainment journalist, brings us through other examples of celebrity entitlement and celebrity 'Do You Know Who I Am?' moments over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Watchlist 18.10.2026

Grainne Humphries, Executive Director of the Dublin International Film Festival and John Maguire, Film Critic at the Business Post join Dearbhail to discuss the biggest new shows and films this week. Their previews include: The Diplomat, Crystal Lake, Nobody Wants This, Chasing Millions, A Want In Her, NAZA, Whalefall and John Le Carre: A New Life.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Kyle MacLachlan - "The role of Trey in Sex and the City? My wife said I had to say yes!" 17.10.2026

Kyle MacLachlan has acted in so many productions from the groundbreaking Twin Peaks to the era-defining Sex and the City. He tells Dearbhail about his early acting life, how meeting director David Lynch changed everything for him, his years with Linda Evangelista, playing golf with Paul McGinley and why he's currently a TikTok sensation. These are stories from his new memoir, Fictional Selves.&nbs...

"I thought I was a fairly unshockable court reporter til I started attending domestic abuse cases" 17.10.2026

Mary Carolan is the legal affairs correspondent for the Irish Times. She joins Dearbhail to talk about Dolphin House, a specialised District Court, just on the edge of Temple Bar, that only hears family law matters. She explains the differences between Barring Orders and Protection Orders and shares her insights from attending the court.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pagan Priestess' Guide to Samhain 17.10.2026

Pagan Priestess Deirdre Wadding, founder of Coire Sois/The Irish School of Spirituality guides Dearbhail through the Celtic season of Samhain. She explains its mythology, why it's a festival of remembrance and where some of its customs come from.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Writing my books and musical is the therapy that gets me through my incurable cancer diagnosis" 17.10.2026

Author Emma Heatherington joins Dearbhail to talk about her latest novel ‘Together for Christmas’, cracking the code of romantic fiction, and her shock of receiving an incurable cancer diagnosis. The writing never stops and she is learning to live in the moment. She speaks about her love of country music, ghost writing songs for country artists and creating her own musical.  See omnystudio.co...

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