Brendan O'Connor

RTÉ Radio 1

Brendan O'Connor has all you need for the weekend with time to pause and reflect on the week just gone. Featuring a selection of human interest, consumer and lifestyle stories, as well as keeping you up to date on the news stories that matter. Listen live Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 1pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

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100 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes100

Newest first

Yesterday · 10 min
The Watchlist
Joining Dearbhail to discuss the best shows and films arriving this week, are producer Eoin Sweeney and Director of the Dublin International Film Festival, Grainne Humphreys. Their choices include mafia prequel Gomorrah: The Origins, Enda Walsh’s coming-of-age drama, Ish, and John Creedon’s Musical Atlas of Ireland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yesterday · 8 min
Literary feuds – “She shot to fame in a film that sexualised a young girl”
Author Edel Coffey joins Dearbhail to discuss literary feuds. The conversation is prompted by a growing controversy around the memoir of celebrated author, Rachel Cusk, which details her difficult relationship with a famous actor, widely believed to be based on Natalie Portman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yesterday · 27 min
Ellen Keane: “I came back from the Paralympics and my motivation was in the bin”
Five-time Paralympian, Dancing with the Stars contestant, and coach on Ireland’s Fittest Family, Ellen Keane, tells Dearbhail about her career, training regime, and life outside the pool. She also chooses five songs that have inspired her along the way, including choices by Eminem, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yesterday · 55 min
The Newspaper panel
Joining Dearbhail to discuss the top stories in Sunday’s newspapers are Kerry Today host, Jerry O’Sullivan; Green Party Chair and Councillor for Dublin’s north inner city; Managing Director of Baggot Investments, Peter Brown; political reporter with the Irish Independent, Aisling Moloney; and Europe correspondent with Euronews, Shona Murray. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Saturday · 11 min
Summer debts: “Dog-sitting can be a great way to get a cheap holiday - if you like dogs!”
Managing Director of Rockwell Financial, Robert Whelan, joins Dearbhail to discuss how triage your summer debts by prioritising the loans that have the highest interest rates. He also has tips on how to manage a side-hustle, find free holiday accommodation, and claim back expenses from Revenue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Saturday · 29 min
Weinstein survivor, Ashley Judd: “Not all men are violent, but most men are silent”
Hollywood star and best-selling author, Ashley Judd, joins Dearbhail to discuss her career, her activism and her prominent role in the #MeToo movement. The star of ‘Heat’ and ‘Double Jeopardy’, and UNFPA Goodwill ambassador, talks about breaking the silence on Harvey Weinstein, for which TIME magazine named her one of their People of the Year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Saturday · 18 min
Viral Clare businesswoman: “I was born with resting bitch face, and I’m proud of it!”
Diane Kelly, Director and Co-Founder of LL Solutions, took to social media to share her thoughts on how difficult it is to be a woman online, constantly judged for her appearance, not her work. It struck a chord with millions of women including presenter Carol Vorderman and singer Pink, Diane shares her story with Dearbhail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Saturday · 29 min
“You don’t need a free bar two hours before the meal” - Noel Cunningham on hosting a recovering alcoholic
Hotelier and recovering alcoholic, Noel Cunningham, joins Dearbhail with advice on how to host guests who are guarding their sobriety. He speaks candidly about his own addiction, recovery and shame. He outlines the challenge of working in hospitality, where serving alcohol to others is almost unavoidable. He also offers great mocktail recipes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday · 38 min
Glen Hansard Interview - February 14th 2026
From the Brendan O'Connor archives, revisit the interview with the Oscar-winning songwriter and The Frames frontman who died on Wednesday, 29th July 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 26 · 8 min
“Camping is just THE BEST way to explore Ireland”
Glamping... wild camping... camper-vaning... With hotel prices going through the roof, Matthew McConnell, Editor at Outsider.ie, talked to Dearbhail about affordable alternatives in the camping world, and gave tips for the inexperienced. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 26 · 9 min
The Watchlist
Fionnuala Jones, Pop Culture Journalist and podcaster and Michael Doherty, RTÉ Guide Film Editor join Dearbhail to preview the latest T.V. and cinema releases including Furious on Disney+, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, on HBO, and In the Opinion of the Censor, on RTÉ One. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 26 · 29 min
Shane Daniel Byrne - “I like the way songs can change meaning over the years”
Comedian, actor, podcaster and writer Shane Daniel Byrne talks about his life and career through the prism of five songs’. He also speaks about growing up in an all-brother household, holidaying in Wexford, discovering youth theatre, coming out as gay and life totally changing when he became a stand-up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 26 · 55 min
The Newspaper Panel
Joining Dearbhail to discuss the top stories in Sunday’s newspapers are: Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Barrister and International Human Rights Lawyer; Cuan Ó Seireadáin, Political Correspondent, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta; Emma Howard, Senior Lecturer in Economics in TU Dublin and Dan Mulhall, Former Ambassador to the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 25 · 12 min
Paul Simon’s Graceland at 40
John Meagher, Music Critic and Irish Independent Senior Features Writer, explains why ‘Graceland’ was such a groundbreaking album. Simon felt he needed a change of direction in the 1980s so starting experimenting with African rhythms and township music, journeying to South Africa and making ‘Graceland’ which went onto sell 40 million copies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 25 · 26 min
“There is always violence bubbling under”
What would a united Ireland look like? And could the island end up stumbling into unity, without doing the necessary thinking and preparatory groundwork? Those are questions explored by film makers, Alan Gilsenan and John Walsh, in their film 'The Irish Question' which airs on Wednesday, July 29th on RTE 1 and on the RTE Player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 25 · 21 min
Pat Shortt: “I love grotesque, edgy madness!”
Comedian and actor Pat Shortt makes his Abbey Theatre debut in ‘Animals’ this September, based on Blindboy Boatclub’s short stories and adapted and directed by Dan Colley. He tells Dearbhail about trying to stage an “unstageable play”, his 40 years in Limerick, why hurling managers are ripe for humour and his recent month-long motorbike trip across Europe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 25 · 10 min
“You want a waxy spud for a potato salad”
Chef Domini Kemp has tips and recipes for making beautiful potato salads and coleslaws this summer, including Asian Slaw and Green Goddess Slaw. Her recipe twists include using pickles and capers and she has alternatives for people who may be a bit mayonnaise-averse! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 25 · 28 min
“People are watching Netflix while they’re driving along”
Paramedic and Community Engagement Manager of the National Ambulance Service, Ger O’Dea, explains the anatomy of a car crash. What happens from the minute they get a 999 call, the roadside care they can offer, why e-scooter crashes are a daily occurrence now and why he says ‘crashes’ instead of ‘accidents’. He issues a road safety appeal ahead of the bank holiday weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 19 · 12 min
The Watchlist
Writer Henrietta McKervey and Dave O’ Callaghan, host of the ‘Here and Back Again’ podcast join Claire to preview the latest T.V. and cinema releases including mother and baby home documentary Testimony, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, thriller Lucky and the inaugural World Cup halftime show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 19 · 9 min
“By the time you’re thirsty you're already 2% dehydrated” - Defeating Dehydration
Registered dietician Sarah Keogh talks to Claire about effective hydration, how to combat dehydration, how much water we should be drinking, the best time of day for water intake and other essential tips. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.