The Mick Clifford Podcast

A new book takes us behind the closed doors of a party that remains something of a mystery. Sinn Fein to some appears to retain the closeness of a tribe rather than a political party and its policies generally don’t follow a beaten path.
But is that the case or there less to see than might be thought? Siobhan Fenton worked as an advisor for the party and her new book is titled Ourselves Alone – Sinn Fein Behind Closed Doors.
Siobhan is this week’s guest on the podcast.
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Donald Trump is visiting the country this weekend and it’s safe to say that many people, from the upper echelons of power down to the man and woman in the street, would prefer if he stayed home.
He is here to attend the Irish Open golf championship at the Doonbeg in Clare which he owns.
But what kind of welcome will he receive and will he notice anything beyond the perfect arc of Rory McIllroy’s golf swing. And is time running out for this man whom many suggest is bringing democracy into disrepute.
This week’s guest on the podcast is Clodagh Harrington who lectures on US politics in UCC.
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What would a united Ireland look like? Could we come up with imaginative solutions that would only cheese off everybody equally? Paul Howard, the creator of Ross O’Carroll Kelly has written a satirical novel set in a government department charged with planning for a united Ireland. The results are not what you might expect.
Mick interviewed Paul before a live audience in Waterstone’s Cork for this week’s podcast.

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The Dail has been recalled to delay the restoration of excise taxes in order to keep down the price of fuel. But is he government acting simply out of fear of a repeat of the fuel protests earlier this year? And what will happen if the USA’s war in Iraq continue through the winter and the price keeps rising? Are the government making it all up on the hoof? Irish Examiner political editor Elaine Loughlin is this week’s guest on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democracy is under threat right across the world, certainly in the liberal form that persisted since the end of the Second world war. Donald Trump is leading the charge for a new form of populism and his administration is now providing funds for like minded organisations in Europe. Here, in contrast, a new body has been established to promote democracy and fight mis and dis information. Caradem was co-founded by Simon Coveney, Eamon Gilmore and Catherine Heaney. Catherine, the CEO of Caradem, is this week’s guest on the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.