The Ciara Phelan Podcast

In episode 2 of Troubled Ground, the spotlight is on Tuam, a small town in the west of Ireland where the excavation of a mass grave believed to contain the remains of up to 796 babies and children is getting underway. As excavation works begins at the site of the former mother and baby home, reporter Alison O’Reilly talks to relatives of children believed to be buried on the site who are hopi...

Episode 1 of Troubled Ground explores the historic exhumation of a mass grave at the site of the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway involving the remains of 796 infants and children. Reporter Alison O’Reilly meets with local historian Catherine Corless who first uncovered the existence of the burial site and whose work eventually led to the excavation. Forensic experts descri...

Homeless people get almost a quarter of jail sentences handed out in Cork - hear the stories of Marcin and Niall who are homeless in Cork and learn what drives this trend with Kerry Brennan of Cork Simon and other guests.  Presented and produced by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy, research by Ev Duggan and Eoin English, on location recording by Chani Anderson, editing and sound design by Ivan Rodr...

Cork's Northside appears disproportionately in our crime statistics - we investigate why, with experts including UCC criminologist Orla Lynch and Katherine Harford of Let's Grow Together.  Presented and produced by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy, research by Ev Duggan and Eoin English, on location recording by Chani Anderson, editing and sound design by Ivan Rodrigues.  Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Analysing five years of court cases in Cork throws up some interesting statistics - we explore who goes to jail in Cork with guests including retired judge Olann Kelleher.  Presented and produced by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy, research by Ev Duggan and Eoin English, on location recording by Chani Anderson, editing and sound design by Ivan Rodrigues.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

In the final episode of series 1, Ciara chats to Fine Gael Minister Paschal Donohoe who discusses coping with grief after the passing of his mother last year. He also discusses how controversy surrounding his election expenses impacted him as well as his childhood and personal challenges he sets for himself.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Television presenter Katja Mia opens up about her parents fleeing a civil war and the expectations felt by immigrants after moving to another country. She also discusses the importance of faith in her life and managing body dysmorphia.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ciara chats to Fr Peter McVerry, a Jesuit priest who has devoted his life to helping the homeless. He speaks about his childhood, his views on celibacy and marriage and how helping homeless people has changed his relationship with God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ciara Phelan talks to comedian Rory O'Connor of Rory’s Stories who discusses hitting rock bottom with addiction, what he would change about the education system, minding his well-being and helping prisoners make different life choices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: On discovering his sexuality, his thoughts on marriage and children and why he shares less about his relationship online.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social media influencer Charleen Murphy discusses the highs & lows of living her life online and what she would do differently if she was to start over.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly one week after the death of Sinead O’Connor, Ciara Phelan hosts a special edition of her podcast exploring the reaction to the news, the way the singer was portrayed during her life, and following her death, and exploring reaction to her religious beliefs. With guests Deirdre O’Shaughnessy, Suzanne Harrington and Eoghan O’Sullivan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Host of Telly Bingo, Declan Buckley chats about navigating childhood with two deaf parents, the death of his brother and the success and opportunities that arose from performing as Shirley Temple Bar who has been at the centre of Dublin’s LGBTQ+ social scene for 25 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mrs Brown’s Boys star, Eilish O’Carroll’s brutally honest story of escaping an abusive relationship, finding happiness with a woman, and revealing to her son’s that she is a lesbian will stop you in your tracks. She also discusses what life was like as a child in the O’Carroll household.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cork GAA legend Bríd Stack opens up about her recovery having suffered a significant injury while playing Aussie Rules. She discusses how she coped at the time and on reflection, what she has learned about herself. Bríd also speaks honestly about motherhood.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanne O'Riordan: On being dependently independent, what prompts her to say a decade of the rosary even though she's not religious and why she believes we shouldn't have a Minister for Disabilities.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ciara Phelan talks to Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan about his happy childhood, how he copes with his absence from his family and how he benefited from counselling in his life.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress Mary McEvoy talks with searing honesty to Ciara Phelan about her struggle with fame in her Glenroe days, how she overcame an eating disorder and how older people need to use their power to tackle ageism.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Ciara Phelan for a brand-new Irish Examiner podcast where guests will discuss some of their most personal life experiences. In each episode you will hear well-known people from all walks of life reflect on their childhood, their struggles, family life and the role that faith has played along the way.  These candid discussions will change your perceptions of some people, challenge your vi...