The Explainer

Even if you've never watched an episode of Love Island in your life, it has become almost impossible to escape the drama. This season, with Galway footballer Seán Fitzgerald swapping the GAA pitch for Majorca, viewers in Ireland are once again deeply invested in the villa's antics.  But away from the poolside chats, the series faces heavy scrutiny over its intense production schedules and a s...

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has just been declared a global health emergency, sparking alarm worldwide. It is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, a variant of the virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Complicating matters further, the epicentre lies in a war-torn region where medical workers face rebel checkpoints, dep...

New figures suggest the rental market could be experiencing historic levels of strain. Rents surged by 4.4% between December and March, marking the largest quarterly increase on record for the Daft.ie series. We’re joined by Michael Byrne, Associate Professor at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin, and author of Beyond Generation Rent,...

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is playing out this week, in the shadow of unprecedented controversy. Five traditionally participating countries, including Ireland, are boycotting this year's competition in Vienna over Israel's inclusion in protest over the country’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The Journal’s News Editor and resident Eurovision expert Daragh Brophy joins us to examine...

For decades, nuclear power has been the ultimate taboo in Irish energy policy, with proposals dating back to the late 1960s ultimately defeated by massive public opposition. But as energy bills soar and climate targets loom, some politicians are asking if it's time to rethink the nuclear option. Has modern technology answered the long-standing concerns over nuclear safety, and is it a re...

The government has announced plans to let homeowners build habitable units of up to 45 sq metres in their back gardens without planning permission, and to rent them out under the Rent-a-Room scheme. It says the move will ease the housing crisis, but critics warn it could create a wave of unregulated rentals where tenants have almost no rights. We're joined by Robin Mandal, former president of the...

The recent release of the 1926 census has sparked a huge wave of interest in Irish family history. It was the first census taken after the foundation of the State, capturing a snapshot of the country after a period of massive upheaval. But between missing records, complex transcription errors, and endless name variations, building your family tree can quickly become a daunting puzzle. Jennife...

In response to the fuel protests, the government scrambled to announce a €505 million euro support package, slashing excise duties on petrol and diesel. But with the Strait of Hormuz now blockaded by Donald Trump and global oil prices continuing to surge, will these cuts actually be felt by consumers at the pump? And what does this massive supply chain disruption mean for Ireland's food and e...

Ireland's fuel protests have brought parts of the country to a standstill this week, with blockades at refineries and slow-moving convoys on major roads - and currently with no end in sight. But the disruption has raised a much bigger question: where exactly is the legal line when it comes to protest in Ireland? Dr Illan Wall, professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University of Gal...

New CSO data shows the average age of a homebuyer in Ireland has hit 40. What does that mean for an entire generation stuck in the 'deposit trap'? And is this opening up a whole new front in the pension crisis? Rachel McGovern, deputy chief executive at Brokers Ireland, joins us to break down the wider knock-on impacts of delayed homeownership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

It has been 24 long, long years since the Republic of Ireland men's team last played in a World Cup, but suddenly, the dream is alive again. This week, Ireland faces Czechia in a high-stakes qualifier, as the nation holds its breath. How did we get here after years of disappointment? We're joined by David Sneyd, Senior Sportswriter at The 42. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

For generations of teenagers, it was the go-to high street spot for ear piercings and fashion jewellery., but now, the iconic retailer Claire's Accessories is rapidly closing its doors across Ireland, leaving staff furious and suddenly out of pocket. It follows a failed rescue attempt by an investment firm last year, which cited legacy debt, inflation, and weak consumer confidence. How did a...

Every March, our news feeds are flooded with pictures of the Taoiseach, the US President, and a very famous bowl of shamrock. It’s a massive day for Ireland on the world stage, but we usually only get to see the polished, posed moments. What is it actually like to have a front-row seat to the entire day, and to be in the Oval Office for that chaotic press scrum? We’re joined by our own Politi...

The price of oil has surged again. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to shipping. Major Middle Eastern production hubs have declared force majeure. Is Ireland looking at a repeat of the economic shocks of the 1970s, or is there still a chance for the damage to be more short-term? We’re joined by Dr Emma Howard, an economist at TU Dublin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Trump promised no more forever wars, but that didn't stop him wading into an intense bombing campaign against Iran - a conflict most Americans oppose and, crucially, one Congress wasn't consulted on. It has brought the War Powers Act back into the spotlight: what checks and balances exist, if any, to restrain a president? Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at the University of Galway and political colum...

With the EU Presidency looming and a massive funding shortfall in the Department of Defence, a new plan proposes something unprecedented: asking British and French navies to help patrol Irish waters. News Correspondent Niall O’Connor joins us to examine how this new strategy will work, what it means for Irish neutrality, and the crucial question of how we are going to pay for it. Hosted on Acast....

It’s a debate that is taking place at kitchen tables across the country: are smartphones and social media apps doing more harm than good for our children? Ireland is following in the footsteps of Australia and plans to restrict social media access for anyone under the age of 16, with a pilot for age verification technology set to roll out in the coming months. We’re joined by Philip Arneill,...

Internal HSE figures obtained by The Journal Investigates reveal that hundreds of people have died by suspected suicide within weeks of being in contact with healthcare services. Families who have lost loved ones say the system is overwhelmed, and that patients are often discharged without adequate follow-up or are left waiting in chaotic environments that are ill-equipped to handle psychiatr...

It's a heartbreakingly familiar cycle: devastated homeowners, ruined businesses, and politicians promising defences are on the way. For towns like Midleton and Enniscorthy, those promises have turned into years of waiting. With Storm Chandra bringing fresh devastation, why does it take so long to get flood relief schemes built? And could nature-based solutions offer an alternative? We're joined by...

The sound is instantly recognisable and, for many communities. can become a source of constant dread: the high-pitched whine of a scrambler bike tearing through a park or housing estate. Many are now asking: can gardaí do more to stop them? And why has the issue been left to bubble under the surface for so long? Widen the lens, and you'll also bring e-scooters into focus and why, despite legi...

The warnings are getting louder, and we're hearing more and more often that Europe is in the grips of a hybrid war. But is the rhetoric matching the reality and the actions being taken by EU countries in the face of this? News Correspondent Niall O'Connor joins us to share insights from his recent sit-down interview with Sean Clancy, an Irish general who is heading up the bloc's defence strat...

We’ve all seen the headlines about "celebrity family feuds" before, but Brooklyn Beckham’s unprecedented six-page Instagram statement attacking his parents, David and Victoria, feels different. Kate Demolder, arts and culture journalist and co-host of the Culture Pigs podcast, examines this calculated demolition of one of the world's most carefully curated family brands. Hosted on Acast. See...

It began with anger over soaring prices, but it has spiralled into what may be the most serious challenge to the Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution. Crucially, this uprising began not with students or dissidents, but with the bazaari, Tehran's merchants and shopkeepers, long considered pillars of the Islamic Republic. We're joined by DCU's Paola Rivetti to ask: is the Islamic Republic finall...

The events of Saturday night in Caracas saw Donald Trump rip up the international rulebook again, if there even was any of it left to begin with. With a new national security strategy dubbed the "Don-roe Doctrine", the US is aggressively reasserting dominance over the Western Hemisphere and beyond. Threats have already been levelled at Colombia and Mexico, while tensions over Greenland have reigni...

This week, we look back at some of our best episodes from the past year. What did we learn about how drugs like Ozempic actually work? Why are companies so determined to get people back to the office, even if the evidence shows remote work is as productive? And what happened when unknown drones were spotted over the Irish Sea? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.