Newstalk Daily

• Cracks in the System: The Human and Financial Cost of Ireland’s Defective Block Crisis

  In Donegal and across Ireland, families are still living in homes that are literally falling apart, victims of a defective block crisis that shows little sign of solution. Walls split, roofs sag, and the emotional toll on homeowners is extraordinary. For Professor Paul Dunlop, the story is personal: his own home is condemned and due for demolition, and he recently received grant approval to rebuild. In this episode of Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty talks to Paul, who combines the perspective of a scientist and a homeowner. He's been at the forefront of research that has rewritten the understanding of Ireland’s defective blocks, showing that pyrrhotite — not mica, as originally thought — is the primary culprit behind the crumbling concrete in Donegal homes. Paul explains how these findings highlight the gaps between scientific evidence and outdated government standards. Beyond the science, Paul discusses the profound psychological impact of the crisis, not just on himself but on the thousands of families caught in temporary accommodation, facing debt, uncertainty, and a seemingly endless wait for proper redress. The government’s revised scheme has raised grant caps and extended timelines, but critics argue it still falls short of covering full rebuild costs. Paul reflects on the long road ahead, the frustration of being forced to fight both bureaucracy and public misunderstanding, and the hope that evidence-based solutions can finally provide justice for affected families.

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• Erin Patterson and the Mushroom Murders Part 2: The Explosive Evidence the Jury Never Heard

  When Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering three family members with a mushroom-laced beef Wellington, the story gripped not just Australia but the world. It was a case of family, food, betrayal - and a courtroom drama that has only grown more extraordinary. Ciara Doherty admits she was hooked from the very beginning, and in our original podcast listen back here, she explained why she couldn’t look away. Today, she returns to the case with Irish journalist Aisling Moloney, reporting from Australia, to unpack the stunning new details that have finally come to light. From allegations that Patterson tried to poison her estranged husband with pasta, curry and even cookies, to the devastating victim impact statements at this week’s pre-sentencing hearing at the Victoria Supreme Court, Ciara and Aisling take listeners through the chilling twists the jury never heard, the extraordinary public reaction, and what happens next when Patterson returns to court for sentencing. 📧 Have thoughts on today’s episode? Email us: [email protected]

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• Is Homeschooling Ireland’s Quiet Education Revolution?

  Today on Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty explores a fast-growing alternative to traditional education in Ireland: homeschooling. With more parents asking “how does homeschooling work in Ireland?” and whether it can really replace the classroom, we look at what life outside the school gates actually looks like. Ciara is joined by Anna Uí Dhálaigh, who, together with her husband Peadar, has been homeschooling their three children in Ireland for several years. Anna explains how her family approaches unschooling, why they chose to step away from conventional schools, and what home education means in practice - from creative writing at the kitchen table to gymnastics, reading and sports. In this podcast we tackle some of the biggest questions parents have: – Is homeschooling regulated in Ireland, and how are children assessed? – Do homeschooled kids become socially isolated, or do they thrive in new ways? – What are the financial and logistical challenges of home education? Anna also works with the Home Education Network (HEN Ireland), supporting other families who want to explore homeschooling. You can find more at henireland.org. We’d love to hear from you — are you considering home education in Ireland, or do you have your own homeschooling story to share? Email us at [email protected].

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• Why the Anti-Woke Warrior Can’t Make Her Mark

  She arrived as a disruptor, a self-styled “anti-woke warrior,” poised to revive one of the world’s oldest political parties. Nine months into her leadership of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch’s tenure has left many observers asking: why isn’t it working? In this episode of Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty is joined by Dorian Lynskey, co-presenter of the Origin Story podcast and author of Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World, to dissect Badenoch’s leadership, her political narrative, and the challenges facing a party in crisis. Following the Conservative Party’s historic defeat last year, Badenoch was seen as the combative, straight-talking figure who could reconnect with the grassroots. She promised national revival, pushed an anti-establishment, anti-“woke” agenda, and projected toughness — but nine months on, the party is still losing councillors, defecting members are swelling the ranks of the Reform Party, and polls put her far behind Labour and Reform. Dorian and Ciara examine how Badenoch has crafted her story, from presenting herself as a truth-teller to the grassroots to leveraging her identity as a Black British woman in a conservative, culture-war context. They explore the gulf between performance and policy, the lack of clear strategy or new ideas, and the pitfalls of focusing on media gestures over governance. From her controversial statements about Nigeria to her disastrous performances against Keir Starmer at PMQs, Badenoch’s leadership raises questions about character-driven politics, populist positioning, and the ways in which modern conservatism balances ideology, identity, and spectacle. Listen in to understand why Kemi Badenoch has struggled to convert media presence into political traction, what her leadership says about the Conservative Party today, and whether she has the profile and strategy to appeal beyond her party’s right-wing base. Search for Origin Story wherever you get your podcasts to hear Dorian Lynskey and Ian Dunt explore the real stories behind the most misunderstood and abused ideas in politics.

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• Ink and Identity: The Healing Power of Tattoos After Cancer

  What if a tattoo could help you heal? Not just physically, but emotionally - restoring confidence, reclaiming identity, and transforming the way you see your own body. In this episode of Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty speaks with Adam Daly, a researcher at Dublin City University and one of only three people worldwide studying therapeutic tattooing. Adam’s work explores how cancer survivors use tattoos as tools for healing, self-expression, and empowerment. The stories he shares are both moving and strikingly creative. Adam himself has used tattoos to shape his own identity. Growing up in a DEIS school, he began inking his body as a teenager entering third-level education, adopting a persona that helped project confidence. His first tattoo was a small beating heart on his bicep, which moves when he flexes. Over time, his ink evolved from cartoon-like designs to more naturalistic floral motifs, each piece representing growth, change, and self-expression. Through interviews with survivors and tattoo artists, Adam explains how tattoos can be reconstructive or decorative. Reconstructive tattoos, like 3D nipple tattoos post-mastectomy, restore body confidence and intimacy. Decorative tattoos, meanwhile, range from symbolic ribbons and dragons to eye-roll emojis, bicycles, hearts, and even a striking zipper revealing part of the brain to mark a tumour’s removal. Survivors describe how these designs help improve body image, return a sense of control, and even reignite feelings of confidence and sexiness. One woman chose a tattoo of a gun firing at the exact spot where her tumour had been, boldly reclaiming her body. Adam likens our bodies to picture books — and therapeutic tattooing as the act of turning the page. The ink becomes a visual narrative, a way for survivors to write new chapters in their lives after cancer. With warmth, curiosity, and humour, the podcast explores the broader cultural conversation around tattoos, discussing why society often misunderstands them. Far from rebellion, these tattoos are acts of restoration, resilience, and reclamation. Listen now for a deeply personal, moving exploration of how ink can help survivors reclaim their bodies, rewrite their stories, and carry forward their identities - one tattoo at a time.

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