Best Gavan Reilly Podcasts (2025)

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Trump Was "Right About Everything"… Unless He’s Not 44:21

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1h ago44:21

44:21

This week on The Group Chat: Donald Trump once again dominated global headlines with a fiery address to the UN General Assembly in New York, taking aim at climate change, immigration, and even the UN itself – before sparking a medical storm by pushing an unproven link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism. Back home, Ireland’s presidentia…

1
Maria Steen falls at the final hurdle 37:32

14m ago37:32

37:32

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about how independent candidate Maria Steen came close but ultimately failed to secure a nomination to run for the presidency. Why did the coalition that supported her take so long to decisively swing behind her? And what does it mean for the race? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati…

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What our 'Charlie versus Garret' series got wrong - with Eoin O'Malley 49:59

2d ago49:59

49:59

Last year The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast released a three-part series looking back at the political rivalry between Charles Haughey and Garret Fitzgerald. That series helped to inspire DCU’s Eoin O’Malley as he set out to write a book on the same subject. Eoin talks to Hugh and Pat about the two men and what he wanted to add to the story: …

1
Can Sheridan or Steen get a presidential nomination over the line? 54:25

5d ago54:25

54:25

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: The nomination process for presidential candidates rumbles on. At the time of recording independent Gareth Sheridan has the best chance, needing two more local councils to back him. A report today looking at Sheridan’s business partner’s links with Russia may no…

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Sinn Féin Promises a “Gamechanger” in Áras Race 44:04

6d ago44:04

44:04

Sinn Féin is about to make a “gamechanger” move on the presidential election this weekend, keeping the race for the Áras buzzing. Will Gareth Sheridan make it onto the ballot through the council route? Could other independents join him? Conor McGregor has already pulled out, and Simon Harris says good riddance. In Donabate, a four-year search has e…

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Charlie Kirk: A conservative's view on the fallout from a momentous crime 44:01

7d ago44:01

44:01

Hugh talks to Michael Brendan Dougherty, senior writer at National Review, about the murder of right wing activist and Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk and the vociferous reaction that has exposed and deepened America's political divides. Michael talks about Kirk's significant influence on young conservatives, the media's portrayal of Kirk before…

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Leo Varadkar speaks his mind on reunification, Covid, Eoghan Murphy and Phil Hogan 1:00:48

9d ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Leo Varadkar's new memoir promises readers an insight into what the former taoiseach really thought about the monumental events - Covid, Brexit, the housing crisis - that he was centrally involved in. He talks to Hugh Linehan and Irish Times Britain and Ireland editor Mark Hennessy about the book and his life and times in politics. He explains why …

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Charlie Kirk shooting another example of escalating political violence in US 51:15

12d ago51:15

51:15

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The assassination of the conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk on stage at a college campus in Utah on Wednesday is the latest chapter in America’s increasingly toxic political climate. A Donald Trump loyalist, Kirk was instrumental in mobilising yo…

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Political Violence: The New Norm? 43:47

13d ago43:47

43:47

This week on The Group Chat, we look at the rise of political violence at home and abroad. In the US, the shooting dead of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through politics, while here, the Tánaiste has revealed threats made against him. We ask what this climate means for democracy and public life. Plus, with Ireland’s World Cup dreams in tatters o…

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Kelleher's rousing speech isn't enough to overcome Micheál's man 43:07

14d ago43:07

43:07

The run-in to October’s presidential election continues to pick up pace this week with the selection of Jim Gavin as Fianna Fáil’s nominee. Jack Horgan-Jones brings us behind the scenes at Fianna Fáil’s special meeting where members had to choose between newcomer Gavin and party stalwart Billy Kelleher. Could the manoeuvring that took place around …

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Starmer's Labour in disarray as the UK's divisions deepen 39:42

16d ago39:42

39:42

Keir Starmer's Labour government seems to be in big trouble, with opinion polls suggesting the possibility of a dramatic reshaping of British electoral politics in favour of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner last week has shown yet more Labour weakness for Farage to eagerly exploit. It's all happening …

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It’s all systems go for this presidential election 52:23

19d ago52:23

52:23

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With polling day expected to be October 24th, nominations are now open for the office of president and to close on September 24th. Another date to keep in mind is next Tuesday September 9th which will see a vote among Fianna Fáil’s 71-strong parliamentary party…

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We’re Back! Áras Race Stumbles On 43:37

21d ago43:37

43:37

The Group Chat is back with a brand-new season! Zara King, Richard Chambers and Gavan Reilly cut through the noise of the week’s headlines — from the crawling Race for the Áras, to the tough road ahead for new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, and the squeeze of rising grocery prices on households across Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva…

1
The broken UN, and Ireland's role: 'There's cynicism among member states towards our so-called neutrality' 41:38

21d ago41:38

41:38

The absence of a coherent international response to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine has raised questions about what used to be called the international rules-based order. Does it still exist at all, or has the reality of raw military and economic power trumped every other consideration? Against that backdrop, what role, if any, does the United Natio…

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Live at Electric Picnic: Irish Artists Making Noise for Gaza 12:51

24d ago12:51

12:51

🎪 The Group Chat live at Electric Picnic! Taken from a segment of The Group Chat's live podcast at EP, the team discuss Fontaines D.C, Kneecap, CMAT and Sally Rooney using their platform to speak on Gaza and why Ireland’s biggest cultural voices aren’t just shaping art - they’re shaping politics too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more …

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Does the Presidency matter? Live at Electric Picnic 35:20

23d ago35:20

35:20

Today we bring you a recording of a live episode that took place yesterday in the Mindfield area of Electric Picnic. Hugh talked to Ellen Coyne, Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy about the meaning of the presidency, the prospects of all the potential candidates and the political calculations being made by the big parties as the race begins. Thanks to…

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Does Jim Gavin have what it takes for a presidential campaign? 43:20

26d ago43:20

43:20

Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · It seems highly likely that former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has the blessing of Taoiseach Micheál Martin to seek a nomination to contest the presidential election for Fianna Fáil. Cork MEP Billy Kelleher is also seeking support for a nomination throug…

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Are we still living in De Valera's Ireland? 46:26

28d ago46:26

46:26

Éamon De Valera died on August 29th, 1975. Fifty years on, the Ireland of today would hardly be recognisable to the revolutionary leader, taoiseach and president who famously extolled the simple virtues, comely maidens and frugal comforts of the traditional Ireland he wished to see. But in many ways, argues Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan …

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Heather Humphreys is the likely Fine Gael candidate, but Fianna Fáil are yet to show their hand in this presidential race 36:56

1M ago36:56

36:56

Harry McGee and Ellen Coyne look back on the week in politics: · The presidential race is the only show in town with Fine Gael recovering remarkably well from the news last week that Mairead McGuinness was dropping out for health reasons. Within days of that bombshell, Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly emerged as rivals for the party candidacy, but …

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Ukraine: Possibility and peril as Trump pushes for Putin-Zelenskiy meeting 44:24

1M ago44:24

44:24

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Monday’s summit at the White House with US president Donald Trump as a “major step forward” towards ending Europe’s deadliest conflict in 80 years and towards setting up a trilateral meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and Trump in the coming weeks. The meeting, attended by European leader…

1
Crash, part three: Ireland hits rock bottom and politics changes forever 42:18

1M ago42:18

42:18

Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan bring the story of Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government to its conclusion. Following Cowen’s embarrassing appearance on Morning Ireland in late 2010, many in the country and within his own party gave up on him. For Cowen and Fianna Fáil, the writing was on the wall. But first, the country’s worsening fiscal situat…

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McGuinness's shock withdrawal throws the presidential race wide open 47:40

1M ago47:40

47:40

The surprise withdrawal from the presidential election race of Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness on health grounds has introduced even more uncertainty to an already unpredictable contest. On today's podcast Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh to assess the state of the campaign. Who will Fine Gael choose to replace McGuinness on their ti…

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Crash, part two: austerity bites and Cowen’s Morning Ireland humiliation 58:29

1M ago58:29

58:29

In part two of a three-part series on Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan continue the story. After the fateful 2008 decision to bail out Ireland’s banks, Cowen and his Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan spent the next year struggling to shore up Ireland’s worsening finances. Throughout 2009 and 2010 the mood in…

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Crash, part one: Brian Cowen and the unravelling of Ireland 52:35

1M ago52:35

52:35

Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in 2008, just as Ireland’s economy was going into free-fall. For the next three years he struggled to lead the country through some of its darkest days, with public opinion quickly souring against him and Fianna Fáil. In a new three-part series from The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast, Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy loo…

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Is Dublin one of the most dangerous cities in Europe? No. 47:23

2M ago47:23

47:23

Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Fox News and its standard of journalism were highlighted during an episode of The Will Cain Show this week that featured media commentator and author Douglas Murray talking about open borders migration. During the segment Murray claimed Dublin had gone from being on…

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What lessons does the Irish Boundary Commission hold for how borders are made – and unmade – in contested spaces? 52:04

2M ago52:04

52:04

In today’s episode, Hugh is joined by historian Dr Cormac Moore to discuss one of the most consequential but little-known episodes in modern Irish history: the Irish Boundary Commission. Based on Moore’s new book The Root of All Evil, the conversation explores the hopes, fraught negotiations, and ultimate anticlimax that defined the commission’s wo…

1
Labour backs Connolly, and Flatley jumps the shark 50:26

2M ago50:26

50:26

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The Labour Party has backed Independent TD Catherine Connolly’s bid for the Áras. And there is little appetite in Sinn Féin for Mary Lou McDonald to run for president as party figures move closer to the idea of also backing Connolly. Elsewhere, presidenti…

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'Will we live to see a Taoiseach not in Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil?' More listener questions answered 35:12

2M ago35:12

35:12

It's part two of our summer Ask Me Anything, with the panel tackling questions sent to [email protected] by listeners. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac address topics from disapora voting rights to the lack of representation of migrant communities in Dáil Eireann, the meaning of populism and the efficiency of government spending. Host…

1
'Why are there no pro-Israel voices in the Dáil?' Listener questions answered 33:43

2M ago33:43

33:43

It's summer holiday season and that means it's time to open the floor to questions from the Inside Politics audience. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac sift through the [email protected] inbox and pick out questions on the presidency, Gaza, the State's struggle to solve complex problems, and more. Thanks for listening to Inside Politic…

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Will Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin abstain from the presidential race? 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness having declared their candidacy, there will now be at least two names in the race for the Áras. But with no sign yet of a clear candidate for Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin, are any of the potential …

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Will the Government's big projects survive the next downturn? 36:20

2M ago36:20

36:20

The Government’s updated National Development Plan (NDP) proposes to spend a vast sum of money on capital infrastructure. But beyond three ‘mega projects’ there is little detail and the vagueness of the document has led to some skepticism. In part one of today's podcast Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan to discuss the NDP and whether the Government's pr…

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Do Sinn Féin need to change tack after slump in the polls? 38:36

2M ago38:36

38:36

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics: · The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on 22 per cent (down four), with Fianna Fáil on 22 per cent (no change) and Fine Gael on 17 per cent (up one). Given just 14% of voters feel Government is successfully tackling the country’s probl…

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Tariffs: Why has Donald Trump threatened the EU again? 47:35

2M ago47:35

47:35

EU negotiators thought a deal with their US counterparts on trade and tariffs was near. Then US president Donald Trump ended those feelings of optimism by threatening to apply 30% tariffs from August 1st. Is this another negotiating tactic or does he mean it this time? And what is the mood in Dublin and Brussels about Trump's threats? Jack Horgan-J…

1
Is Mary Lou McDonald about to enter the presidential race? 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

Ellen Coyne and Harry McGee join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics: · When Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked on Monday if she was ruling herself out of this year’s contest to succeed Michael D Higgins, she replied, “we’re not ruling anything in or anything out.” But could a tilt at the presidency be a potential career-ender …

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Srebrenica genocide: Why Bosnia is still divided 30 years on 39:42

3M ago39:42

39:42

This month marks 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide, when more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Serb forces in Bosnia. In today’s episode, Irish Times Eastern Europe Correspondent Daniel McLaughlin joins Hugh to reflect on his recent visit to eastern Bosnia. They discuss the enduring legacy of the atrocity, how the town is prepa…

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What's gone wrong for Keir Starmer - and can he get things back on track? 35:27

3M ago35:27

35:27

It is just over a year since Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won a huge majority and took power in London, but Starmer’s political capital is already at a low ebb. It hasn’t all been bad: most noticeably here, he has managed to repair the UK’s relationship with Ireland after the fractious Brexit years. But he has also handled the Trump administration a…

1
Why does Ireland's presidential race still have no one at the starting line? 42:06

3M ago42:06

42:06

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The drive to inject some impetus into the Irish presidential race has not yielded anything of note just yet with the starter pistol not expected to sound until Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin nominate their candidates. · The Coalition remains divided o…

1
Does the Government lack a clear plan for how to spend our money? 36:58

3M ago36:58

36:58

Money always matters in politics. Just ask UK prime minister Keir Starmer, whose attempt to cut UK welfare payments is on the rocks thanks to Labour party rebels, leaving a multibillion pound hole in his economic plan. Over here, the various departments are currently working out how much money they need to operate in advance of the Summer Economic …

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‘Daddy’ Trump meets Nato, while defence, trade and Gaza dominate EU summit 44:28

3M ago44:28

44:28

Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn join Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics: · US President Donald Trump was the main attraction at a landmark Nato summit on Wednesday with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte calling him ‘Daddy’ during their press conference. Trump got what he came for with Nato member states agreeing to an increase of 5…

1
Bombs and F-Bombs: Welcome to Trump’s World 45:34

3M ago45:34

45:34

Is Donald Trump now the Daddy of NATO? And have New York Democrats found the formula to beat a candidate picked by a Trump administration? Plus, we share some surprising and memorable moments with retiring RTÉ legend Joe Duffy as he signs off from Liveline. All that and more in the final episode of season 7 of The Group Chat. Hosted on Acast. See a…

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EU watches on as Trump changes the world 41:42

3M ago41:42

41:42

Europe correspondent Jack Power joins Pat and Jack Horgan-Jones to discuss monumental events in the Middle East, with the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities being followed by a ceasefire that may or may not be holding as you listen to this podcast. They also discuss the EU's struggle to assert influence on the global stage as it heads into a …

1
Could the Israel-Iran war completely destabilise the Middle East? 49:01

3M ago49:01

49:01

Sally Hayden and Harry McGee join Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics: · Sally Hayden joins the pod on the line from Beirut where missiles flying overhead have become a fact of daily life despite the ceasefire agreement Lebanon signed with Israel last November. With Israel’s attention now firmly on Iran, the rising death toll and…

1
How Bibi Ran Rings Around Trump on Iran 45:53

3M ago45:53

45:53

On this episode of The Group Chat, Professor Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics joins us to explain how the Iran-Israel conflict escalated so fast — and what could happen next. We also explore what government insiders are really saying about the housing crisis, and ask if €250 million is just too much for one Euromillions winner in Cork…

1
Opposition smells blood in the water over RPZ changes 35:51

3M ago35:51

35:51

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Harry McGee to talk about the ongoing fallout from the Government's proposed changes to the rights of tenants and landlords. They look at growing criticism of the finer points of the policy. Will the delay in rolling out RPZs to the whole country incentivise landlords to raise rents while they can? Do the new …

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Is there any such thing as a political genius? With Helen Lewis 39:17

3M ago39:17

39:17

You can tell an awful lot about a society by who it labels a genius. You can also learn from who it excludes from that category, who it enables and what it is prepared to tolerate from them. The tortured poet, the rebellious scientist, the monstrous artist, or indeed the tech disruptor. All of these archetypes feature in The Genius Myth, the new bo…

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Rent reform: is immediate pain worth uncertain gains? 50:23

3M ago50:23

50:23

Pat Leahy and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to look back at the week in politics: Rent reform: the announcement of Minister for Housing James Browne’s plans to change the rules around rent pressure zones dominated the week. But why was the rollout so haphazard? Adjustments to residential property tax received less attention but the changes also car…

1
The Government's Rent Gamble 44:22

3M ago44:22

44:22

On this episode of The Group Chat, the government faces growing scrutiny over its plans to expand Rent Pressure Zones nationwide ahead of the Dáil's summer break. We also discuss mounting questions for An Garda Síochána following their handling of several high-profile cases—from the shooting in Carlow to developments in the Tina Satchwell and Micha…

1
LA protests: how far will Trump go to extend his power? 44:27

4M ago44:27

44:27

US president Donald Trump's response to protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles - to send in troops - is in keeping with a broader theme of his second presidency so far - extending executive power and challenging institutional norms. But how far is Trump willing to go? TCD's Daniel Geary joins Hugh to talk about the events in LA and the p…

1
Why Europe needs to realise the truth about America - with Helen Thompson 42:33

4M ago42:33

42:33

Where does Europe fit into the 21st century? Political scientist Professor Helen Thompson returns to the podcast to talk about the big picture for the global economy and international relations in the age of Trump's second term, China's rise and Europe's relative decline. She talks to Hugh about the real significance of America's debt pile, Silicon…

1
CHI controversy: a hard decision faces the Government 42:00

4M ago42:00

42:00

Joining Hugh and Cormac McQuinn on today's podcast is Ellen Coyne, the newest member of The Irish Times political team. Together they look back on the week in politics in Ireland and beyond: The crisis at Children's Hospital Ireland deepens Growing international disquiet over Israel's conduct in Gaza Planning exemptions for "granny flats" - can suc…