Best Declan Conlon Podcasts (2025)

1
That interview, Fianna Fáil's review and thorny issues for the Government 53:28

Play Pause

3d ago53:28

53:28

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to look back on the week in politics: Next week Fianna Fáil will get the long-awaited review into the circumstances around Jim Gavin's disastrous presidential campaign. Has the wait taken the sting out of the issue for Micheal Martin? The Government is worried about political fallout if it fails to vote a…

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Rugby’s stylistic direction of travel - is it for the best? 36:22

4d ago36:22

36:22

With Leinster and Leicester squaring off in Europe this week, Jimmy Gopperth - a former outhalf for both sides - joins ex-teammate Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Johns. We look back at an interesting time in Leinster’s history, the years when they were coached by Matt O’Connor. We also chat about Irish rugby’s tactical evolution in the last 10 years, as …

1
Eoin Lenihan on how Ireland was 'vandalised' 1:03:40

5d ago1:03:40

1:03:40

Eoin Lenihan joins Hugh to discuss his bestselling book Vandalising Ireland. In the book Lenihan sets out his argument that the choices made by successive governments, on issues from migration to the economy, have destroyed the country. He points to an alliance between the political establishment and the media, academics and NGOs, all intent on str…

1
Munster fall as Leinster fail to impress in Europe 40:10

7d ago40:10

40:10

Round one of European action has been and gone as Leinster won in unconvincing fashion over an understrength Harlequins side, Munster fell away to Bath, Connacht lost to Ospreys and Ulster hammered Racing at home in Belfast. Are Leinster leaving it till too late in the season to kick into gear? Is Munster’s defeat terminal to their European ambitio…

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Does Ireland's neutrality leave room for increased defence spending? 44:04

8d ago44:04

44:04

The appearance of drones of unknown origin in Dublin last week around the time of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit again highlighted the security challenges of the present day and Ireland's lack of capability to act in its own defence. Neutrality remains a popular policy, as again demonstrated recently by the election of Catherine Co…

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Eurovision Israel boycott hits right note, but renaming Herzog Park feels tone deaf 45:50

10d ago45:50

45:50

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Ireland, along with Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands, will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel’s participation. RTÉ said in a statement on Thursday that it would be “unconscionable” for Ireland to partake in the event given th…

1
Ireland's path to World Cup redemption + European preview 33:15

12d ago33:15

33:15

Two years out from the World Cup, Ireland now know who they are playing after Wednesday’s draw. The fixture dates come next February as World Rugby look for spikes of ‘hype’, a tactic which divides the opinion of our panel. Nathan Johns is joined by Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan to look at Ireland’s draw and preview the upcoming European action…

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What people don’t understand about the art of political communication - with Terry Prone 57:06

12d ago57:06

57:06

Terry Prone is a legend in Irish political communication. Her memoir, I’m Glad You Asked Me That, looks back at her remarkable career. On today’s Inside Politics podcast, she talks to Hugh Linehan about the early days of political interviewing on TV, her experience of working with both Garret Fitzgerald and Charles Haughey, her ringside seat at som…

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Why are Irish rugby tickets so expensive? 37:20

14d ago37:20

37:20

During the November window, the IRFU released their financial accounts for the previous year. Inevitably, they were asked about rising ticket prices for games at the Aviva Stadium. Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley reported that the cost of a ticket has increased by 80 per cent in the past 12 years. Why does rugby charge more for the i…

1
Jim O'Callaghan's explicit message on migration 45:24

17d ago45:24

45:24

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk through the week in politics: Jim O'Callaghan's message on migration The Taoiseach's fondness for overseas trips New data showing a rise in eviction notices Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Is international rugby becoming unwatchable? 41:44

18d ago41:44

41:44

There have been postmortems aplenty on the state of Irish rugby after the November window. But what of the international window as a whole. Officiating is arguably a hot a topic as it ever has been - and not in a good way. Stylistically, law tweaks have more and more teams striving for efficiency and playing in similar styles, ones which are not al…

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Could a left alliance transform Irish politics? 53:24

19d ago53:24

53:24

When Catherine Connolly was elected president with the support of every left-wing party, it sparked new hope on the left that greater cooperation between Sinn Fein, Labour, the Greens, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit could reap further electoral dividends. How realistic is that hope? And how would a left alliance actually work? Hugh t…

1
Saturday Shambles wraps up Ireland's November window 46:03

21d ago46:03

46:03

Saturday was shambolic. Chaotic. Insert your choice of adjective here. A rugby match took over 130 minutes to complete. Seven cards were handed out - one rescinded. Somewhere in between, South Africa bullied Ireland, Andy Farrell’s side ultimately doing well not to lose by a heavier margin. What to make of all the chaos, and of Ireland’s November w…

1
'The world looks very different from here' - Denis Staunton's global briefing 41:56

22d ago41:56

41:56

Denis Staunton has reported from Washington, London and Berlin. Now, as Irish Times China Correspondent, he is using his new vantage point to make sense of this turbulent era as it looks from outside the Western world. In a new newsletter exclusively for Irish Times subscribers, he writes about what’s happening in geopolitics, why it matters and ho…

1
Is Simon Harris fit for the role of Minister for Finance? 48:05

24d ago48:05

48:05

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · As Paschal Donohoe departs for pastures new at the World Bank, will his absence weaken Government? And does Simon Harris possess the right skillset for the role of Minister for Finance? It might not matter if the qualified doctors who have run the Department of Heal…

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Ireland vs South Africa: rugby’s biggest rivalry? 40:48

25d ago40:48

40:48

South Africa come to town this weekend with two World Cup winners’ medals in the back pocket of plenty of squad members. Yet one of the few frontiers this side under Rassie Erasmus has yet to cross is winning in Dublin. Daniel Gallan is a South African journalist for Rugbypass and the Guardian. He joins Nathan Johns to explain just how Rassie has d…

Declan Conlon Podcasts

1
Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

The Irish Times

1
The Counter Ruck

The Irish Times

1
That interview, Fianna Fáil's review and thorny issues for the Government 53:28

1
Rugby’s stylistic direction of travel - is it for the best? 36:22

1
Eoin Lenihan on how Ireland was 'vandalised' 1:03:40

1
Munster fall as Leinster fail to impress in Europe 40:10

1
Does Ireland's neutrality leave room for increased defence spending? 44:04

1
Eurovision Israel boycott hits right note, but renaming Herzog Park feels tone deaf 45:50

1
Ireland's path to World Cup redemption + European preview 33:15

1
What people don’t understand about the art of political communication - with Terry Prone 57:06

1
Why are Irish rugby tickets so expensive? 37:20

1
Jim O'Callaghan's explicit message on migration 45:24

1
Is international rugby becoming unwatchable? 41:44

1
Could a left alliance transform Irish politics? 53:24

1
Saturday Shambles wraps up Ireland's November window 46:03

1
'The world looks very different from here' - Denis Staunton's global briefing 41:56

1
Is Simon Harris fit for the role of Minister for Finance? 48:05

1
Ireland vs South Africa: rugby’s biggest rivalry? 40:48