Brendan O'Connor

As the full tallies began to land, Brendan was joined by Sinn Féin TD, Claire Kerrane; Fine Gael Minister of State, Emer Higgins; Communications Consultant and Labour Party member, Lorna Fitzpatrick; DCU Politics Professor, Gary Murphy; newspaper columnist, David Quinn; Former Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring; and RTÉ’s Barry Lenihan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Connolly campaign mobilised artists and musicians to the cause over the summer. One of whom was her childhood friend from Shantalla, musician Mary Coughlan, who joined Brendan on the line.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Irish Olympian and European indoor gold medalist, David Gillick talks to Brendan about the excitement, heartbreak and anxiety of competing in top-level sport, and transitioning to a post-athletics career, as outlined in his memoir “The Race”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcaster and Broadcaster, Fionnuala Jones tells Brendan where the Gen Z obsession with Halloween comes from, the top costume trends for 2025 from the Kiss Cam couple to Travis and Taylor as well as tips on the best low effort pun costumes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Brendan to talk through the Sunday newspapers are Lisa Chambers, Director of Public Affairs at Consello and former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator, Oisin Coghlan, Public Policy Advisor, Jennifer Bray, Political Editor with the Sunday Times and Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at DCU .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Times Arts Journalist, Nadine O’Regan and Dave O’Callaghan, host of the Here and Back Again Podcast talk Brendan through the hits and misses from the week’s watchlist from the new Bruce Springsteen movie to the BBC adaptation of Rónán Hession novel Leonard & Hungry Paul.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musician and podcaster Niall Breslin AKA Bressie has taken a new direction with his new album of piano compositions, ‘The Place That Has Never Been Wounded’. He talks to Brendan about his early love of piano; using music to calm you down and why he feels modern culture can swindle us out of spending time with the people we love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennie Bond, former BBC Royal Correspondent joins Brendan as Prince Andrew announces that he will give up his royal titles after discussing the matter with King Charles. Jennie discusses the implications for Andrew, his wife Sarah Ferguson, their daughters and the wider royal family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Free Travel Scheme has just been extended with the launch of the Over 70s’ Free Companion pass and also a new free Leap card for the under-9s so where are we going to go with all this free travel? Travel Enthusiast Lisa Regan has ideas for intergenerational daytrips and daytrips for all around Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Examiner Food columnist, Catriona Redmond tells Brendan why we’re not making the most of our microwaves! She gives Brendan recipes for a microwave Bakewell pie, an egg muffin, and a baked potato!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.