Let Me Explain with Seán Defoe

Lughnasadh: you’ve heard the name, but what exactly is it — and how does a Celtic harvest festival connect to Ireland’s very own “Superman”?

Sean Defoe dives into the myth behind the 1st of August, from the Tuatha Dé Danann and the fearsome Fomorians to Balor of the Evil Eye and the prophecy that finally catches up with him. Along the way, we meet Lugh: master of every craft, spear-throwing hero, and the figure at the heart of the festival.

Plus: a brilliant (and slightly outrageous) link to the Puck Fair — and a quick heads-up about our All Together Now dadhood special this Friday at 4.

What is it TDs actually get up to when they're not in the Dail?

As we mark 30 years since the birth of Dolly the sheep - where is cloning technology now? And could humans or dinosaurs be next?

Are politicians worse than they used to be, or are we all wearing rose-tinted glasses? Sean Defoe takes on the big question as a new poll suggests Fine Gael has edged back into first place, with Sinn Féin stalling and the Social Democrats still climbing.

From “Pepsi and Coke” party comparisons to what Mary Lou McDonald says about Sinn Féin’s momentum, Sean unpacks the fractured landscape and why approval ratings now look grim compared to the Haughey/Ahern/Robinson era.

He also makes the case that, for all the noise, the overall quality of today’s Dáil might actually be improving.

This week a deep dive on the likely soon-to-be Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Who the hell is he? And what does he stand for?