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

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by Gript Media journalist Laura Perrins to revisit one of the most painful and controversial chapters in Irish history — the Mother and Baby Homes. The discussion comes after Laura Perrins argued that the blame should not rest solely with the Church, but also with the State, which she says failed to support unmarried, pregnant, and vu...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist Maria Maynes from Gript Media to discuss a major shift in Ireland’s organ donation system, and why tens of thousands are pushing back. Since the introduction of the opt-out organ donation system last June, nearly 62,000 people have already registered their decision not to donate. Under the new law, everyone is considered...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by councillor Gavin Pepper to discuss a symbol that should unite the country… but is now at the centre of a growing and deeply divisive debate. The Irish tricolour has been making headlines in recent years, with some politicians and commentators claiming its meaning is being distorted by far-right groups and used in ways that make oth...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by an economics columnist from the Sunday Times (Ireland) to discuss growing fears that the global energy crisis could begin to seriously impact everyday life in ways many people aren’t prepared for. The debate comes as the Electricity Association of Ireland has issued fresh guidance urging households to cut back on energy use, warnin...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall opens the lines on one of the most controversial cultural debates of our time: should we separate the artist from the allegations? With a new biopic about Michael Jackson hitting cinemas, criticism has emerged that the film fails to address the long running allegations of child abuse and his widely scrutinised behaviour around children. Some sa...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by callers and housing charity Threshold to discuss a controversial new proposal from the Government aimed at tackling the housing crisis. Plans are being brought forward to change planning laws so homeowners can rent out modular cabins, pods, or converted sheds in their back gardens. These units would qualify under the Rent a Room Re...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by Ash Ireland to discuss a bold and controversial move in the UK that could change smoking forever. The UK Government has announced plans to introduce a generational smoking ban, meaning anyone born after 2008 will never legally be allowed to buy cigarettes or vaping products. The legal age will rise by one year every year, with the...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by a panel of guests to debate one of the most emotionally charged and divisive issues of our time: should commercial surrogacy be legalised in Ireland? Journalist Laura Perrins has sparked strong reaction online after expressing concern about a male couple who had a baby through surrogacy, questioning the ethics of the situation and...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall opens the lines on a topic that has sparked a huge reaction online: are new age verification checks about protecting children… or something more? After receiving an email from Sony, like millions of users across the EU, asking for age verification using a passport, driver’s licence, or even facial age estimation, Niall asked listeners what they...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall opens the lines on a comment that has reignited one of Ireland’s most sensitive divides… urban versus rural. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has sparked outrage after suggesting that urban Ireland is effectively subsidising rural Ireland. Speaking on a podcast, he said: “People in rural Ireland are very quick to tell people in urban Ireland that...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by Paedar Tóibín to discuss the political storm still raging after the fuel protests, and whether the Government has truly understood the anger on the ground. While the protests may have eased for now, the fallout is far from over. Recent reports show the Government only narrowly held onto power during a confidence vote, surviving 92–...

On today’s episode, Niall tackles a question that sits right at the heart of justice, punishment, and personal responsibility: when someone breaks the law, should we be locking them up or giving them a second chance? With prisons overcrowded and the system under pressure, more voices are calling for alternatives to jail, particularly for non-violent offenders. Community service, rehabilitation pro...

On today’s episode, Niall opens up a powerful and uncomfortable conversation about conscience, compromise, and the choices we make when our livelihood is on the line. What would you do if your job asked you to cross a moral line? Would you take a life-changing bet from a gambling addict, knowing it could ruin them? If you were a Garda, could you stand in a riot line against protestors you actually...

On today’s episode, Niall is joined by social commentator Karl Deeter and Nick Delahanty for a frank and often uncomfortable conversation about Ireland’s spending on asylum seekers and refugees. With figures showing €6.4 billion spent in just four years on accommodation alone, Niall and Karl break down what that really means for the taxpayer, and what’s not included in that number, from welfare an...

On today’s episode, Niall brings a real-life dilemma to the table that has sparked a heated debate between listeners. A man gets in touch after a row with his wife over a holiday to the Canary Islands. The couple were invited by friends, two other couples with no children, and initially both agreed to go. But things took a turn when he suggested they leave their three young kids at home. His reaso...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist Laura Perrins to discuss a controversy that has sparked outrage across the world. Former U.S. President Donald Trump came under fire after posting an image depicting himself as Jesus healing the sick. The post quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions from Christians and religious leaders who saw it as deeply offensiv...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist David Quinn to discuss the political fallout from the fuel protest crisis and the growing pressure on the Government. Sinn Féin has now tabled a motion of no confidence in the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael led coalition, accusing it of mishandling the fuel protests and failing to act quickly enough as costs spiralled for ord...

On today’s episode, Niall is joined by Aontu Peadar Tóibín and Councillor Noel Thomas from Indepoendent Ireland to break down one of the most disruptive weeks Ireland has seen in years, as nationwide fuel protests brought the country to a standstill. For six days, farmers, hauliers and contractors blockaded roads, ports and even the State’s only oil refinery, triggering fuel shortages and forcing...

On today’s episode, Niall opens the lines on one of the most divisive issues facing Ireland right now, the legalisation of cannabis. Across the world, there is a growing movement towards decriminalisation, with countries pointing to research, real world trials and regulation as a better alternative to outright bans. Supporters argue that prohibition has failed, handing control of the market to cri...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by Senator Sharon Keogan to discuss the rollout of the EU Digital ID, now being trialled in Ireland and expected by many to be introduced more widely during Ireland’s upcoming EU presidency. The idea is simple on the surface, one secure digital wallet holding everything from your birth certificate and passport to banking details and h...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by TD Richard O'Donoghue to discuss the escalating farmers’ fuel protest, now entering its third day and threatening to intensify if the government refuses to come to the table. Farmers across the country say they are being pushed to the brink, with soaring diesel and energy costs making it increasingly impossible to stay in business....

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by social commentator Karl Deeter to tackle a topic that most people think… but very few will ever admit out loud. New research is challenging one of life’s biggest assumptions, that having children makes you happier. In fact, a growing body of studies suggests the opposite. While children can bring love and meaning, they also bring s...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by restaurateur and podcaster Paul Treyvaud to break down a new Irish Independent poll that claims to reveal what’s really on people’s minds. According to the poll, the cost of living, housing, and immigration top the list of concerns for people in Ireland today, followed by a long list of issues including healthcare, crime, governmen...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by Paul Lawless to discuss a controversial move by the Government that has sparked fierce debate across the country. Plans are underway to introduce legislation that would remove the public’s right to object to planning when it comes to housing asylum seekers and refugees. At the same time, it has emerged that the Government intends t...

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist Laura Perrins to tackle a debate that goes right to the heart of Irish education: is it time to remove religion from public schools altogether? The discussion follows comments from Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins, who criticised what she described as a “fundamentally flawed” system, where some children are left sitting a...