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The MOTH NEWS Podcast

MOTH News

MOTH News is an independent Irish news channel and platform that breaks away from the mainstream media’s herd mentality. We believe in open, unfiltered conversations where facts take precedence over agendas.

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Avg 1 hr 6 min
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Tuesday · 59 min
SEÁN QUINN: WHAT DID THE GOVERNMENT KNOW?
This week on MOTH News Live, we hear extraordinary audio from Seán Quinn's new podcast The Quinn Files. Quinn recounts a private conversation he says he had with then Taoiseach Brian Cowen during the crisis surrounding his business empire — including claims about what the Government knew about the financial position of his companies. We play the audio and ask: if Quinn's recollection is accurate, what does it tell us — and what questions still need answering? Also this week: Johnny Vedmore continues his investigation into Alan Merriman, founder of Elkstone, examining his appearance in correspondence released through the Epstein files, his business history and the relationship between Elkstone, Enterprise Ireland and Irish start-ups. We discuss the cases of Simon O'Donovan and Isobella Perrie Sullivan, both charged with explosives offences and both granted bail. Al asks whether we'd actually allow Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot into our homes as Elon Musk predicts public sales by the end of 2027. And then the darker side of AI: researchers working at the forefront of the technology are warning that superintelligence could pose an existential risk to humanity. How seriously should we take them?
September 6 · 1 hr 5 min
WHO'S PUSHING IRELAND TO SPEND MORE ON DEFENCE?
Is Ireland really a weak link in Europe's defences, and should Irish journalists be campaigning for increased military spending? This week on MOTH News Live, Johnny Vedmore looks at recent commentary from Irish Independent journalist Fionnan Sheahan about the threat posed by Russia, Ireland's military vulnerability and the case for significantly increasing defence spending. We examine the argument itself — but also ask a different question: when a prominent political journalist starts advocating for a major change in government policy, where does journalism end and political advocacy begin? Also this week, the tables are turned on Keith Walsh. Johnny and Al interview Keith about his High Court proceedings against RTÉ, his years presenting Breakfast Republic while classified as a freelancer, the subsequent Department of Social Protection decision on his employment status and why he has now taken his former employer to court. Plus, we look at Enterprise Ireland's participation in the €3 million Full Health Medical investment led by Elkstone and the questions MOTH News has put to Enterprise Ireland and Full Health Medical about due diligence.
August 31 · 56 min
THE IRISH ELITE: WHERE DOES POWER BEGIN?
This week on MOTH News Live, Johnny Vedmore investigates Ireland's elite schools. Which schools have educated some of the country's most powerful figures — and do the friendships and networks formed there continue to matter in politics, business and public life?Keith Walsh shares part of his new interview with journalist and media critic Mic Wright, author of Breaking: How the Media Works, When It Doesn't, And Why It Matters. Using one of Irish broadcasting's most notorious editorial failures as a starting point, we ask what the mistakes of the media's past should teach us about trusting and questioning the news today.The full Mic Wright interview is available now on the MOTH YouTube channel.Al then looks at an extraordinary admission from lawyers representing Andrew and Tristan Tate: some of the luxury cars and imagery used to project their “uberwealthy” online lifestyle were rented or promotional. What does that tell us about the influencer economy — and the lifestyles being sold to young men online?And finally: PFAS and our food. Following testing of Tesco own-brand products, we examine what was detected, what the science actually tells us and what consumers need to know.MOTH NEWS LIVE — Friday 28 August | 11am
August 31 · 48 min
WHO DECIDES WHAT BECOMES NEWS? with Mic Wright
Keith Walsh sits down with journalist, author and media critic Mic Wright to talk about who really decides which stories become news, and which ones don't. Mic is the author of Breaking: How the Media Works, When It Doesn't, And Why It Matters, now out in paperback, and writes the media criticism newsletter Conquest of the Useless. The conversation begins with a surprising Irish connection: Alfred Harmsworth, the Dublin-born founder of the Daily Mail, and the man who helped transform popular journalism more than a century ago. From there, Keith and Mic explore how newspapers learned to capture mass attention, the political power of media owners, the relationship between journalists and politicians, bias and groupthink inside newsrooms — and what happens when the media simply gets a story wrong. And in an age when newspapers are competing with X, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, have we really escaped the power of the old press barons, or have we simply replaced newspaper editors with algorithms? Keith Walsh in conversation with Mic Wright , author of Breaking: How the Media Works, When It Doesn't, And Why It Matters.
August 27 · 1 hr 13 min
SHAMROCRACY - THE IRISH-TOCRACY - Haughey, Magnier & the Politics of Influence
How Charlie Haughey Built a Network of PowerThis week on MOTH News Live, Johnny Vedmore looks back at the Ireland of Charles Haughey and asks how political access, business and influence became intertwined.We begin with the Taoiseach's constitutional power to nominate 11 senators and Haughey's 1987 decision to give one of those seats to a rising figure in the Irish bloodstock industry: John Magnier. Who else did Haughey bring into his circle, why did he choose them, and what does it tell us about how power operated in Ireland?Keith then looks at the horrific M9 crash that killed five teenagers, following another wrong-way motorway collision involving eight teenagers just seven days earlier. We'll hear Dr Niamh Lynch's argument that while responsibility ultimately rests with those involved, we also need to examine the circles around them: parents, Gardaí, youth justice, social media and society itself. How do children get this far into serious criminality before somebody manages to stop them?Finally, Al examines the restructuring of Diageo, where the workforce has fallen by almost 2,000 while the company continues to invest heavily in Guinness. If Guinness is booming, why are jobs disappearing?
August 17 · 1 hr 7 min
KINAHAN: WHAT DOES HE KNOW?
Daniel Kinahan is back in Ireland, in custody, and apparently determined to tell his side of the story.Following his extradition from Dubai, we examine the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his return, his claims about corruption within Irish systems, and his decision to publicly state that he is "not suicidal".What exactly is Kinahan alleging? Why is he speaking now? And if he makes specific allegations about powerful people or institutions, should journalists investigate them — regardless of who is making the claims?Johnny Vedmore also takes us into a very different corner of Irish history, tracing the Hewson family — ancestors of U2 frontman Bono — and examining how members of the wider Hewson family became influential landowners in Ireland.Finally, following the latest arrest of Andrew and Tristan Tate, we examine the growing debate around the so-called manosphere.The Irish Government wants to counter its influence on young people. But why are teenage boys listening to figures like Andrew Tate in the first place? Are young men looking online for something they're not finding in mainstream culture? And can Ireland tackle misogyny without making ordinary boys feel that masculinity itself is the problem?Join Keith Walsh, Johnny Vedmore and Al for MOTH News Live.
July 31 · 1 hr 5 min
TROUBLES AHEAD? Old Conflicts. New Questions.
This week on MOTH News Live, we examine a series of stories raising difficult questions about the future of Ireland—North and South. Following the discovery of military-grade Semtex near the border, the arrest of a trainee solicitor, and the political row over a decision to grant bail, Johnny Vedmore asks whether these are isolated events—or signs of deeper tensions that deserve closer attention. Keith Walsh then explores whether Ireland's political landscape is changing. Could recent events reshape relationships between the major parties? How are politics evolving on both sides of the border? We'll also bring you the latest developments in the Dundrum House Hotel/IPAS controversy and discuss what a new planning decision could mean for government accountability and the rule of law. Join Keith Walsh, Johnny Vedmore and Al as they look beyond the headlines and ask the questions others aren't asking.
July 24 · 1 hr
ARE WE RETURNING TO TENEMENT DUBLIN?
This week on MOTH News Live, we ask whether Britain and Ireland are quietly accepting a new housing reality. A century ago, Dublin's infamous tenements became a symbol of poverty, overcrowding and social inequality. Today, as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) continue to grow across Britain and shared accommodation becomes increasingly common in Ireland, are there uncomfortable parallels with the past?We'll explore what HMOs are, why they've become so popular with landlords and investors, and ask whether today's housing crisis is creating a generation of working people who can no longer afford a home of their own.Also on this week's programme: 💬 Cloudchatters & The Hidden Workforce Behind the Internet Millions of online conversations are happening every day,but who are people really talking to? We investigate the rise of companies like Cloudchatters, the growth of digital labour, and what it means for consumers and workers in an increasingly online world. 💶 Google's €10 Billion Question Google says it contributed €10 billion to the Irish economy last year. Johnny Vedmore examines where that figure comes from, what "economic contribution" actually means, and whether these headline numbers tell the full story. 💼 Does This Budget Really Deliver for Working People? Simon Harris says this year's Budget must deliver for working people. We ask what that promise means in practice and whether government policy is making a meaningful difference to the lives of ordinary workers.Join Keith Walsh, Johnny Vedmore and Al as they look beyond the headlines and ask the questions others aren't asking.
July 17 · 1 hr 20 min
STOP PAYING YOUR TV LICENCE?
10 Reasons Ireland Is Asking Questions📺 STOP PAYING YOUR TV LICENCE?10 Reasons Ireland Is Asking QuestionsThis week on MOTH News Live, we tackle one of the biggest questions facing Irish media.RTÉ says public service broadcasting needs sustainable funding—but after years of controversy, governance failures and declining licence fee income, has public confidence been lost?Keith Walsh presents 10 reasons why more people are questioning the future of the TV licence, while also asking the other side of the debate: if not the licence, how should Ireland fund public service broadcasting?Johnny Vedmore joins the discussion to compare Ireland's debate with the ongoing arguments surrounding the BBC licence fee in the UK.Also on this week's programme:🔎 Jeffrey Epstein's Forgotten Irish VisitJohnny Vedmore examines Epstein's little-known visit to Dublin and Waterford in 1996 with Johnson & Johnson heiress Elizabeth Johnson. What do we actually know about the trip, and why has it received so little attention compared with later visits to Ireland? We'll separate established facts from unanswered questions.🥊 Conor McGregor: One Last Fight?Following another injury and defeat inside the Octagon, Al asks whether Ireland's most famous MMA fighter should attempt one final comeback—or whether it's time to step away from the sport for good. We'll discuss McGregor's legacy, his recent controversies and whether fans still believe he can compete at the highest level.As always, we'll be looking beyond the headlines and asking the bigger questions.
July 10 · 1 hr 4 min
THE UNITED IRELAND DEBATE: Has It Already Begun?
This week on MOTH News Live, we ask whether Northern Ireland has entered a new political era.Sinn Féin has brought forward legislation calling for the Irish Government to begin preparing for a possible united Ireland through a Citizens' Assembly and a Green Paper on constitutional change. The Government has rejected the proposal—but has the debate already moved into the mainstream?🎙️ Keith Walsh sits down with Demi Laverty, who was born just before the Good Friday Agreement to a Catholic father and Protestant mother. In a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation, she reflects on identity, growing up between two communities, education, mental health and why understanding the "why" behind Northern Ireland's past is essential if lasting peace is to endure.⚖️ We'll also discuss the continuing political fallout from the Jeffrey Donaldson conviction and what it means for confidence in political leadership and institutions.🕵️ Investigative journalist Johnny Vedmore joins the programme to discuss his latest investigation into the Cardiff protests, and we ask how power, identity and public trust continue to shape politics across these islands.As the Twelfth approaches, we ask:Has the conversation about Irish unity already changed?Can Northern Ireland have honest conversations about its past?And what does the future really look like?
July 3 · 1 hr 11 min
THE NOAH DONOHOE INQUEST: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
This week on MOTH News Live:⚖️ The Noah Donohoe Inquest reaches its defining moment. After almost five months of evidence from 76 witnesses, expert testimony and detailed legal argument, the jury is considering its findings. If a verdict is returned before we go live, we'll break down exactly what it means. If deliberations continue, we'll explain what's happening, what the jury is being asked to decide, and what comes next for Noah's family.🚁 Manna, drones and the future of Irish innovation. Following Manna's decision to pause drone delivery operations in Ireland, Keith speaks exclusively to Seamus Doyle, Chair of Drone Action D15. We hear why residents fought back against drone deliveries, whether Ireland's planning system failed, and ask the bigger question: are we helping to build world-class companies only to watch them scale elsewhere?🤖 Oscar examines Meta, CPL and the hidden workforce behind AI. Reports about Irish-based contractors training artificial intelligence systems have raised serious questions about worker welfare, Big Tech and Ireland's growing role in the global AI industry.Throughout the programme we'll be asking one simple question:How do we balance innovation, accountability and public trust?
June 27 · 1 hr 13 min
DRONE AWAY: Manna and the Missing Taxpayer Millions
This week on MOTH News Live: 🚁 Manna was once held up as one of Ireland's great startup success stories. Backed by investors and supported through Ireland's innovation ecosystem, the company promised to revolutionise drone delivery. But with questions now being raised about revenues, jobs, expansion plans and the future location of its operations, we ask a simple question: When Ireland helps build a company, who ultimately benefits? Keith, Oscar and Al examine the latest developments surrounding Manna, Bobby Healy, Enterprise Ireland and the wider issue of taxpayer-funded innovation. ⚖️ Meanwhile, the Noah Donohoe Inquest is entering its final stage after five months of evidence. With the coroner now charging the jury, we discuss what happens next, what findings the jury can make, and whether the process has answered the questions that have surrounded Noah's death for more than six years. 🤖 Oscar looks at disturbing reports involving Irish-based Meta contractors, where workers were allegedly required to generate extreme prompts involving suicide, child exploitation and harmful content as part of AI safety testing. What are the human costs of training artificial intelligence, and who is responsible for protecting the workers doing that job? 💰 Plus, a wider discussion about Enterprise Ireland, Big Tech, AI, startup culture, public investment and whether Ireland is getting value from the companies it helps create.
June 24 · 54 min
Beyond the Headlines: Noah Donohoe Inquest & Jeffrey Donaldson Trial
The Noah Donohoe inquest has heard fresh evidence this week, raising new questions about events that continue to resonate across Northern Ireland almost six years later.At the same time, the Jeffrey Donaldson case continues to dominate headlines, with testimony bringing renewed focus not just on politics, but on the human impact of allegations of abuse and the people at the centre of the story.We’ll also examine Ireland’s push for tougher restrictions on children’s access to social media. Supporters argue the measures are necessary to protect young people online. Critics question whether such bans can work in practice and what they mean for personal freedoms. This week’s programme looks beyond the headlines and asks a simple question:When some of the biggest stories in the news still leave unanswered questions, where do we look for answers?
June 6 · 1 hr 10 min
NOAH DONOHOE INQUEST: "I CAN'T RECALL"
This week on MOTH News Live, we examine the latest evidence from the Noah Donohoe Inquest, where repeated claims of "I can't recall" from police witnesses have raised fresh questions about CCTV evidence, investigative procedures and the crucial first hours after Noah disappeared. We discuss: 🚲 CCTV operator evidence and the race to track Noah's movements across Belfast 📹 Questions around CCTV retrieval and investigative priorities ⚖️ The evidence of Detective Constable Nick Johnston and repeated memory gaps during questioning 🔍 Daryl Paul, Maria Nolan and what investigators were focused on while Noah was still missing Plus: 🛡️ A separate Belfast safeguarding case involving a music tutor facing serious criminal charges currently before the courts, and what it tells us about safeguarding, institutions and positions of trust. 📱 Oscar examines the rise of the Manosphere, online influencers and the growing impact of digital communities on young men. 💻 Al looks at Pornhub, MindGeek's Irish operations, Grant Thornton's resignation as auditor, and the wider questions around corporate responsibility and accountability. At the heart of today's programme is one question: Who was paying attention?
May 29 · 1 hr 9 min
NOAH DONOHOE INQUEST
“I HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE ANYONE COULD BE IN THERE.” A PSNI constable has told the Noah Donohoe Inquest that the culvert where Noah’s body was eventually found was “not a priority” during the early search operation. This week: 🚇 Why was the culvert not urgently prioritised? 🌊 Tides, search assumptions & public trust ⚖️ The Jeffrey Donaldson trial begins 💼 Elkstone, investment money & Northern Ireland 🚛 Fuel protests, builders & the realities of doing business in Ireland
May 29 · 1 hr 38 min
NOAH DONOHOE: THE TIDES, THE TUNNEL & THE TRUST GAP
New evidence at the Noah Donohoe Inquest focused on the storm culvert where Noah’s body was found — including testimony about unexplained finger tracking marks inside the tunnel that were reportedly never photographed.We’ll also examine expert evidence around the tides flowing into the culvert from Belfast Lough during the six days Noah was missing:🌊 new moon conditions🌊 strong spring tides🌊 repeated tidal movements inside the drain systemAs questions continue around process, documentation and institutional credibility, we ask:What happens when crucial evidence isn’t preserved — and public trust begins to weaken?Plus:🚔 Oscar looks at policing culture, misogyny and institutional silence following the latest sentencing of former Garda Paul Moody🕵️ A clip from Keith Walsh’s interview with Johnny Vedmore on Irish names, Nicole Junkerman and the Epstein Files📉 Al breaks down the latest from Jobbio and asks whether Manna is quietly pivoting away from Ireland toward the US
May 18 · 57 min
RTÉ RAISES MONEY FOR CONSULTANTS IN NEED
This week on MOTH News Live: ⚖️ The latest developments from the Noah Donohoe Inquest — with new scrutiny around the storm drain search, confined-space risk assessments, and questions over how key search decisions were made. 💸 RTÉ faces backlash after revelations that up to €850,000 linked to the distribution of The Late Late Toy Show Appeal charity funds could go toward consultants and administration costs. We ask: when people donate to children’s charities, where do they expect the money to go? 🇬🇧 Oscar looks at the growing controversy surrounding the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery after a damning review raised concerns about leadership, finances, and effectiveness — despite tens of millions already spent. 📉 Plus: Questions around Elkstone - are things falling apart?
May 8 · 59 min
NOAH DONOHOE: OPEN JUSTICE?
⚖️ NOAH DONOHOE: SECRECY, SURVEILLANCE & THE STATEWhy are parts of the Noah Donohoe inquest happening behind closed doors?What is Public Interest Immunity (PII)?Why does secrecy around policing and intelligence carry such weight in Northern Ireland?And does secrecy protect trust… or damage it?Tomorrow on MOTH News Live:⚖️ The Noah Donohoe inquest & PII🤖 Peter Thiel, AI tribunals & the future of journalism👁️ Palantir, surveillance technology & predictive policing📱 Could future systems monitor protests, journalists & dissent?With Keith, Oscar & Al.A car bomb outside a Belfast police station.An arrest under the Terrorism Act.And renewed focus on dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland.In this episode, we take a closer look at the New IRA — who they are, what they want, and what recent attacks tell us about their capability and intent.We also bring you the latest developments from the Noah Donohoe inquest.This week’s evidence has again turned attention to key questions around the timeline, the movement of Noah’s belongings, and how the early investigation unfolded — raising difficult issues around trust, process, and unanswered questions.This isn’t just about two separate stories.It’s about confidence in institutions, stability in the North, and how the past continues to shape the present.🎙️ With Keith Walsh, Oscar & Al
May 6 · 1 hr 19 min
WHO ARE THE NEW IRA?
Who Are The New IRA? + The Latest From The Noah Donohoe InquestA car bomb outside a Belfast police station.An arrest under the Terrorism Act.And renewed focus on dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland.In this episode, we take a closer look at the New IRA — who they are, what they want, and what recent attacks tell us about their capability and intent.We also bring you the latest developments from the Noah Donohoe inquest.This week’s evidence has again turned attention to key questions around the timeline, the movement of Noah’s belongings, and how the early investigation unfolded — raising difficult issues around trust, process, and unanswered questions.This isn’t just about two separate stories.It’s about confidence in institutions, stability in the North, and how the past continues to shape the present.🎙️ With Keith Walsh, Oscar & Al
April 26 · 59 min
RIGHT vs LEFT: FAKE NEWS
RIGHT vs LEFT: FAKE NEWS Was the fuel protest in Ireland truly political — or was it reframed? In this episode, Keith Walsh, Oscar and Al examine how a protest rooted in cost-of-living pressure quickly became a debate about identity, ideology, and legitimacy. We explore whether cultural and political framing shaped public reaction — and whether that made it easier to isolate and contain a broad, economically driven protest. Also on today’s show: ▪️ Latest developments from the Noah Donohoe inquest ▪️ The story of whistleblowers — and what happens after they speak out ▪️ A deeper look at how systems respond to pressure, both on the streets and from within ▪️ A disturbing global investigation into online abuse networks This isn’t just about left vs right. It’s about who defines the story — and what happens next. 🎙️ With Keith Walsh, Oscar & Al

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