The Party Line

Gardaí extracted false confessions and protected their own. Politicians and developers rigged the planning system.
And journalist Frank Connolly helped expose the corrupt players and the class interests they represented.
We discuss why the stories in Connolly's new book, 'Exposed', are deeply relevant to today's Ireland.
The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch.
You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch
'Exposed: Scandals that Rocked the Irish State' by Frank Connolly https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/exposed/
'Comment: A reflection on An Garda Síochána and whiny proceduralism' https://www.ontheditch.com/comment-a-reflection-on-an-garda-siochana/
'Garda suspended following anti-corruption probe' https://tinyurl.com/yxpay94p
Music by Fionn Dempsey
Recording by Emmet White
Email theditchpartyline at gmail
ontheditch.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland was a crucible for colonial mass murder.
The brilliant playwright and actor Donal O'Kelly has been reflecting on what his award-winning show 'Catalpa' left out of the history it depicts – including genocide, and the value of direct action to resist it.
Plus: Kate Shanahan RIP, and The Ditch takes a victory lap three years after it was attacked over its Niall Collins reporting.
The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch.
You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch
'SIPO launches inquiry into Collins land deal' https://www.ontheditch.com/sipo-launches-inquiry-into-collins-land-deal/
'Eoin O’Malley: Working in a university, I’ve seen how ideology has overtaken the pursuit of truth' https://tinyurl.com/43fp2xvr
'International academics call off Irish event in protest at Palestinian visa refusals' https://www.ontheditch.com/international-academics-call-off-irish-event/
'It is wrong to boycott Israeli universities' https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2023/11/07/it-is-wrong-to-boycott-israeli-universities/
'The Catalpalyst: The Reading List' https://www.afri.ie/category/the-catalpalyst-the-reading-list/

Music by Fionn Dempsey
Recording by Emmet White
Email theditchpartyline at gmail
ontheditch.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime journalism is a massive and growing phenomenon in Irish media – much bigger, if you look at international comparisons, than Irish crime.
Maynooth author and researcher Cian Ó Concubhair has been talking to reporters about whether and how they view such reporting as having a role in democracy.
The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch.
You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch
'Enterprise Ireland: cocktail networking for the arms industry in the French embassy' https://www.ontheditch.com/enterprise-ireland-cocktail-networking-with-the-arms-industry-in-the-french-embassy/
'Paul Williams: New generation of wannabe Generals or Monks are out-of-control thugs who simply don’t value life' https://tinyurl.com/yuecftz4
Lisa-Marie Berry, 'Naming and faming not naming and shaming' https://villagemagazine.ie/naming-and-faming-not-naming-and-shaming/
Cian Ó Concubhair and Glory Anumudu, 'The Role of Crime and Security Journalism in Irish Democracy' https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/The%20Role%20of%20Crime%20and%20Security%20Journalism%20in%20Irish%20Democracy.pdf
Music by Fionn Dempsey
Recording by Emmet White
Email theditchpartyline at gmail
ontheditch.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How relevant is the search for 'good Israelis' to the struggle for Palestinian liberation?
As the world's attention turns to Israel's internal politics in advance of October elections, Gaza journalist Eman Mohammed brings powerful insights into what we can expect and what it ultimately means – and we also dig into the letter and spirit of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement.
The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Niamh Ní Bhriain and Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch.
You can also watch here: https://youtu.be/Y4VcW4WGArE
'Weapons manufacturer linked to Gaza genocide lobbied Department of Finance on "unintended impact" of economic sanctions' https://www.ontheditch.com/weapons-manufacturer-linked-to-gaza-genocide/
'How Biden Enabled Israel’s Aggression Toward Gaza—and Iran' https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/07/27/how-biden-emboldened-israels-aggression-toward-gaza-and-iran
Eman Mohammed on Substack: https://substack.com/@emanit
The Stokely Carmichael quote that Eman refers to: "Dr King's policy was that nonviolence would achieve the gains for black people in the United States. His major assumption was that if you are nonviolent, if you suffer, your opponent will see your suffering and will be moved to change his heart. That's very good. He only made one fallacious assumption: In order for nonviolence to work, your opponent must have a conscience. The United States has none."
Music by Fionn Dempsey
Recording by Emmet White
Email theditchpartyline at gmail
ontheditch.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FIFA and its boss Gianni Infantino are irredeemably corrupt – but is UEFA in any position to preach?
Writer and researcher Andy Storey breaks down the football power play on The Party Line, a podcast from The Ditch – hosted by Harry Browne and Paulie Doyle of The Ditch.
You can also watch here: https://youtu.be/uYiuF6V69gQ
'Official Ireland wants a diaspora of visitors and investors' https://www.ontheditch.com/comment-official-ireland-wants-a-diaspora-of-visitors-and-investors/
'Soccer has given Europe a rare geopolitical victory' https://www.afr.com/world/europe/soccer-has-given-europe-a-rare-geopolitical-victory-20260804-p60lcl
'Gianni Infantino’s demise isn’t enough – Fifa must fundamentally change' https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/gianni-infantino-fifa-exit-resign-sacked-replacement-b3025815.html

Music by Fionn Dempsey

Recording by Emmet White

email theditchpartyline at gmail
ontheditch.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.