The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

In this episode, Niall opens the phone lines to discuss the news that Paddy Power is closing many of its high street betting shops, as the rise of online gambling apps continues to dominate. With Ireland now spending a staggering €9 billion a year on gambling, Niall dives into the deeper issue — are we facing a national addiction crisis? He asks listeners: 👉 Has online betting gone too far? 👉 Sh...

Niall is joined by financial analyst Karl Deeter to dig into a shocking new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) that exposes what many Irish households already feel in their pockets: we’re being ripped off on electricity. The IEA found that residential electricity prices in Ireland are now three times higher than the wholesale cost. In plain English, that means energy companies are c...

Today on The Niall Boylan Show, Niall sits down with veteran Irish Examiner journalist Fergus Finlay, whose recent explosive column has reignited a 25-year-old debate about Ireland’s most protected — and most controversial — public fund. Every year, without question, tens of millions of euro are quietly ring-fenced for one purpose: horse and greyhound racing. No scrutiny. No debate. No accountabil...

Host Niall talks to Paul Tryvaud opens the lines to listeners to debate a hot topic sparked by the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which went live on 12 October 2025 for 29 European countries. Migration and Home Affairs The system digitally records non-EU nationals’ entries and exits (passport data, facial image, fingerprints) to better detect overstays and identity fraud. Migration and Home Aff...

Coming up at 12pm, Niall is joined by Laura Perrins from Gript Media to unpack a hot political moment: Independent TD Catherine Connolly was asked whether she’d hire a former criminal for a role in Áras an Uachtaráin — but she refused to be drawn, saying only that she supports rehabilitation. That raises the big question: Would you give someone who’s served time for a serious crime a second chance...

In this week’s episode of Niall Talks, Niall sits down with psychotherapist and author Stella O’Malley — alongside live callers — to unpack one of the most talked-about new proposals coming from Brussels: the EU’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030. The European Commission’s draft plan aims to reshape gender recognition laws across all 27 member states. Under the proposed framework, children coul...

In this fiery and funny episode of Niall Talks, Niall sits down with Larissa Nolan, journalist with the Irish Mirror, to dig into her provocative new column: “Forget spoiling votes or re-running the election — let’s get rid of the role of president altogether.” As the country gears up for another expensive, drama-filled presidential race, Larissa argues it might be time to ask the unthinkable — do...

In this episode, Niall talks to Sarah Ryan and a range of callers about an emotional email from Ann, a single mother in Ballyfermot, who says her 15-year-old son keeps getting stopped by the Gardaí when he’s just out with his friends. She believes it’s not about what they’re doing — but where they’re from. Ann says if her son lived in Blackrock or Malahide, it wouldn’t happen. So today we’re askin...

In this episode, Niall talks to property expert Karl Deeter about the controversy surrounding presidential candidate Catherine Connolly, who admits she did represent banks in court — but won’t say whether that included home repossession cases. Niall asks: why are people so shocked at the idea of a barrister representing a bank? Is it just part of the legal system — or is it morally questionable wh...

In this episode, Niall sits down with former presidential election candidate Nick Delahaunty to tackle a provocative question: Is spoiling your vote a betrayal of democracy — or its purest expression? As Independent Ireland claims that a spoiled vote is “undemocratic,” Niall and Nick explore whether choosing not to vote or spoiling your ballot might actually be the most honest reflection of politi...

In this fiery episode, Niall is joined by Pauly Tryvaud — social commentator, chef, and outspoken restaurant owner — for a no-holds-barred discussion about youth unemployment, government responsibility, and personal accountability. Before diving in, Pauly can’t resist unleashing a passionate rant about the latest budget, calling out what he sees as waste, hypocrisy, and a government “totally out o...

In today’s episode, Niall dives into the newly announced national budget — and it’s safe to say, not everyone’s impressed. Listeners call in to share their frustrations about a government that seems out of touch with the financial pressures faced by ordinary families. Joining the conversation is Peadar Tóibín, leader of Aontú, who argues that the budget fails to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, w...

On today’s episode, Niall is joined by Jason Osborn from Gript Media to tackle one of Ireland’s most debated topics — the TV licence fee. With countries like Australia, France, Denmark, and Finland scrapping theirs altogether, is it finally time for Ireland to do the same? As households already fork out for Sky, Netflix, Disney+, and other subscriptions, many are asking why we’re still paying for...

Today Niall ytalk In this explosive episode, Niall dives into the political storm shaking Ireland as Jim Gavin dramatically withdraws from the 2025 Presidential Election. Joining him is John McGuirk from Gript Media, offering sharp analysis on what’s being called the biggest fiasco in modern Irish politics. They unpack how Micheál Martin’s handpicked candidate has walked away, leaving the Taoiseac...

Today with Niall — Tensions flare in Dublin as pro-Palestine protestors are arrested for attempting to block the Port Tunnel — for the second time since Friday. The Gardaí moved in quickly, but the debate is far from over. In this episode, Niall opens the lines to listeners to tackle a thorny question: do protestors have the right to block major routes in the name of their cause? Some callers defe...

But making college free—or even significantly reducing fees—comes with trade-offs. In this conversation, Karl and Niall weigh the advantages and disadvantages: What you’ll hear in this episode: ✅ Potential benefits of free college: Increased access: Reducing financial barriers could open higher education to students from lower-income backgrounds who might otherwise be deterred. Social equity: Edu...

In this episode, Niall opens the phone lines and asks a hot-button question: should vaping be treated the same as smoking — with the same stigma and the same strict laws? With vaping now seen as “cool” among younger people, it has quickly become a public health and social issue. Unlike cigarettes, many vapers have no hesitation using e-cigs in public spaces, restaurants, or even indoors — as if it...

In this episode, host Niall speaks with Nick Delehanty, independent candidate and small-businessman, about his bid for the presidency: the hurdles, the strategy, and where he currently stands. Nick shares his journey — from his runs in last year’s local and general elections, to attempting to secure the support of six to ten county councils as proposers and seconders in his quest to get on the bal...

In this episode, host Niall sits down with Niamh Uí Bhriain (Gript Media) for a deep-dive on where Ireland currently stands in the fight over euthanasia and assisted dying — and exactly why Niamh strongly opposes legislative change in this area. We begin by mapping out the legal backdrop: under Irish law both euthanasia and assisted suicide remain illegal, and aiding or abetting a person’s death i...

In this episode, Niall sparks a heated conversation after mentioning he knows parents who chose to homeschool their three young children. Their reason? As Christian parents, they don’t want their kids’ heads “filled with liberal nonsense.” To unpack this divisive issue, Niall is joined by Elaine Mullaly, alongside educators and a host of callers. The discussion covers the pros and cons of homescho...

In this episode, Niall is joined by Laura Perrins from Gript Media to dive into one of the most debated parenting topics: discipline. The conversation started after Laura posted on X, “Smarter parents know what is better parenting, usually. Smart parents don't usually hit or shout at their children which does impact personality later on.” Niall and Laura unpack whether shouting really leaves a las...

Host Niall is joined by schoolteacher Eric Nelligan to debate whether children should have mobile phones in school. The conversation focuses on Northern Ireland’s new pilot scheme, launched by Education Minister Paul Givan, which requires pupils in nine schools to lock their phones away during the day as part of a wider push to keep devices off school grounds. Niall and Eric weigh the pros and con...

In this episode, host Niall sits down with John McGuirk from Gript Media to unpack the growing debate around the EU’s push to introduce a digital ID by the end of 2026. While some countries, like Germany, have already committed to rolling it out, others remain divided. Switzerland only narrowly approved the measure in a recent referendum, and in the UK, resistance is strong, with many questioning...

The number of secondary students given exemptions from studying Irish has reached a new record high of 60,946, according to the latest figures from the Department of Education and Youth. The figures show the number of exemptions from studying Irish has almost doubled in the past seven years, leading to fears among some that Irish is losing its compulsory status in schools. The latest figures from...

Today on the show, Niall talks to Daragh Cassidy from Bonkers.ie about Ireland’s soaring energy costs. SSE Airtricity has just announced a 9.5% hike in its standard electricity prices from next month, adding around €150 a year to the average bill. This is the company’s second increase in 2024, after April’s rises of 10.5% for electricity and 8.4% for gas. Irish consumers are already paying some of...