The Mick Clifford Podcast

For the last month a defence forces tribunal, that was over two decades in the making, has been hearing shocking evidence about how some officers conducted themselves. Allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse have called to mind the kind of army life that might have existed in a colonial force from the nineteenth century. The Irish Examiner’s Neil Michael has been reporting on the e...

As America celebrates 250 years in existence as a nation, Marion McKeone looks at a country that is currently going through major upheaval with Donald Trump as president.  Is America as we have known it coming to an end, or just going through another transition. Journalist Marion McKeone is this week’s guest on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Andy Burnham all but certain to be the next British prime minister in the coming days, we talk to Fergus Finlay about what he can expect and what he should try to do. Fergus, who was an advisor to two governments talks about how all leaders should focus on one big idea and explains exactly how this should be done. Irish Examiner columnist Fergus Finlay is this week’s guest. Hosted on Acast. S...

Exactly ten years ago this week the UK voted to leave the EU and Brexit was born. At the time there were predictions that this could spell economic disaster for this country but that didn’t come to pass. The UK itself has not fared as well. In fact, the UK is in a bit of a mess, but exactly how much is all of that down to Brexit? Joining us this week to discuss how it happened and what the fall ou...

After the recent row between the Minister for Health and the Rotunda Hospital over consultants doing private work, a question arises as to how soon we will have a single tier health service. The move in that direction has been ongoing now for a number of years and while there might be progress it is not always obvious. Joining us this week to discuss the pursuit of a first class health system for...

The Occupied Territories Bill and the triple lock are going to be landing hot and heavy in the public square in the coming months. Both issues elicit deeply felt emotions and questions over what is this state’s role in the wider world, and what should be done about it. Irish Examiner columnist Colin Sheridan regularly touches on these matters and he is this week’s guest on the podcast.  ...

Michael Healy Rae’s revelation that he believes his brother Danny cost him and Kerry a ministry has rocked the most fabled political dynasty in Irish politics. Is this the end or just a new beginning. Mick Clifford, Deirdre O’Shaughnessy and Louise Burne discuss and dissect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The recent by-elections in Dublin and Galway took the temperature in politics right now and delivered victories to the Social Democrats and Fine Gael. But what did the elections say about the political pecking order right now and will there by any implications for Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail, who both performed badly? Also where now for the Occupied Territories Bill. This week’s guest on the podcast...

The Belfast rap trio Kneecap bring second record Fenian and their incendiary mix of Irish-language hip-hop and politics to Cork with two 'intimate' album launch shows at the Savoy Theatre ahead of a show Live at the Marquee on July 6. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the group’s journey - from their early days in Belfast to becoming one of the most talked-about acts in Irish music. Along...

Two constituencies go to the polls next Friday in byelections created by the resignations from the Dail of Pascal Donohue and Catherine Connolly, who both went on to greater things. Dublin Central and Galway West will vote for their replacements in the first by-elections since the current government assumed office after the 2024 general election.  So who’s up and who’s down, what matters what...

Fianna Fail is a century old this year and the party is celebrating the occasion this weekend with its Ard Fheis. But where stands a party that was in the twentieth century one of the most successful vote getters in the developed world. Has the new Ireland bypassed a party whose name translates as the Soldiers of Destiny? Or does it have the capacity to change and thrive with the times. Professor...

The Irish Examiner’s Louise Burne has memories of spending time in Temple Street hospital in Dublin as a child to treat a condition with which she was born. The staff were great, the environment and facilities far less so. Recently, she wrote about the children of tomorrow who will have a brand new hospital to cater for their needs. But, at the rate of progress in building the national children’s...

Tina Satchwell was murdered by her husband and her body hid in the family home where he continued to live for six years before it was discovered in a cold case Garda search. The case was shocking and tragic and journalist Barry Cummins, who has written and broadcast extensively on Ireland’s missing women covered it closely. Now he has written a book that tells the full story. Buried Secrets – The...

Roy Keane is a towering figure in Irish sport and even culture. From one of the greatest footballers to ever emerge from the country, to the man who divided Ireland over Saipan to the pundit everybody wants to see. But where did he come from, what relationship does he have to his home place and what effect has he had on the country, as it changed, as he changed.  We Need To Talk About Roy – t...

Pressure is coming on Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the wake of the fuel protests and following the resignation as junior minister of Michael Healy Rae. We examine whether his leadership is now in peril, whether he can hang on for now and, beyond that, long enough to host the presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. Or is he destined to fulfil the maxim of all political lives ending in...

On Sunday Hungary goes to the polls in an election that should be of huge interests to all Europeans and beyond. The authoritarian leader of the last sixteen years is vehemently supported by both Vladamir Putin and Donald Trump, but is deeply unpopular among EU states. This week JD Vance landed in Budapest to campaign for him in an unprecedented move. On this week’s podcast Euronews Europe Corresp...

In March 1985, IRA man John Corcoran’s body was found outside Cork city. He had been shot as an informer. In the intervening years there has long been speculation that Corcoran’s murder could have been avoided and that he was sacrificed to protect another informer for An Garda Siochana, Sean O’Callaghan. The special branch detective who was John Corcoran’s handler, JP O’Sullivan, has now written a...

A new book by Guardian Ireland correspondent Rory Carroll examines the hunt by British intelligence to capture Roger Casement and his role in assisting to foment, and ultimately attempting to call off, the 1916 Rising. The book is a unique take on the life of not just Casement but other figures who were central to the Rising and the British intelligence chief who was engaged in fighting a war agai...

In the week that was, the question that arose was – will he make it out of there intact? The subject of course was Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the quandary was his Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump at a time of living dangerously for politicians who interact with the US president. Joining us to run the rule over the occasion and what else is brewing in politics is Irish Examiner political rep...

The war in Iran is continuing and Israel is using the opportunity to pummel those it considers the enemy in Lebanon. Add to that the fact that the world economy is shivering, what is the way out of this morass?  On hand to give us some clues as to where we might go from here is an old friend of the podcast, UCD's Clinton Institute professor of international relations Scott Lucas. Scott talks...

After the Presidential election last year saw Catherine Connolly elected President and Paschal Donohoe left Irish politics for a job at the World Bank, political parties will have two by-elections to contest in May. What are the issues, who are the runners and riders and who can claim the seats? Joining Acting Political Editor Paul Hosford to run the rule over Dublin Central and Galway West are Po...

We are frequently being told that there is a constituency out there that is not being served by the mainstream political parties. Peadar Tobin believes that his Aontu party would be an ideal home for such voters. He and Mick discussed how politics is and argued over who represents what in today’s fractured firmament. Peadar Tobin is this week’s guest on the podcast.   Hosted on Acas...

Adoption was a big business in the Ireland of the middle decades of the last century, in a country where birth outside of marriage was considered a stain. That was the country into which Paul Cullen was born and ultimately adopted. He has written a page turning account of his life as an adoptee, Outsider – Survival, Family Secrets and the Search To Belong. Paul is this week’s guest on the podcast....

Rural depopulation and its impact on large tracts of the country was writ large late last year when the GAA published a report on the dangers of clubs disappearing. One of the areas that has been repeatedly referenced in terms of depopulation is the peninsula of Iveragh in South Kerry. Now Iveragh is fighting back in a manner that will resonate across rural Ireland. Joseph McCrohan, Development Of...

The failure to prepare for the floods has left communities devastated along parts of the east coast, but whose fault is it? Also, has there been any whisper in Leinster House about the fate of George Mitchel’s legacy in the wake of his presence in the Epstein papers.  And then there is the fate of the Taoiseach, Michael Martin. What dangers lurk for him, as they did for a predecessor Cork Tao...