The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall reads out a fiery email from a listener whose wedding anniversary dinner didn’t quite go to plan.
What was meant to be a quiet, romantic evening turned into a frustrating experience when a nearby table had a crying baby that, according to the listener, never settled. She says the situation escalated further when the mother began breastfeeding at the table, leaving her feeling that the entire atmosphere of the restaurant had been ruined.
The listener believes there should be more consideration in fine dining settings, arguing that very young children don’t belong in those environments, especially when other diners have paid for a special night out.
But is she being unreasonable?
Niall opens the phone lines to hear from listeners on both sides of the debate.
Should parents take crying babies outside out of respect for others?
Is breastfeeding in a restaurant something people simply need to accept?
Or are we expecting too much control in public spaces where families have every right to be?
And the bigger question:
Should babies and fine dining ever mix, or is it time for clear boundaries?
📞 Join the conversation and have your say.

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist and founder of the The Iona Institute, David Quinn, to debate a growing and controversial question: is mainstream media really impartial, or has it lost the public’s trust?
The discussion follows a recent piece in the The Irish Times which argues that in an age of misinformation, fake news and AI-generated content, society must rely more than ever on trusted, professional journalism. The article highlights concerns about the spread of false information online, particularly through social media platforms, and suggests that established media organisations play a crucial role in protecting the “public good” by verifying facts, maintaining editorial standards and holding power to account.
But David Quinn strongly disagrees.
He argues that many mainstream publishers are far from objective or impartial, and that trust in traditional media has been eroded because of perceived bias and one-sided reporting. He questions whether telling people to rely only on “trusted media” ignores the reality that many now turn to alternative platforms precisely because they no longer trust mainstream outlets.
So Niall asks:
Where do you get your news?
Do you trust newspapers and broadcasters to tell you the truth?
Or do you believe social media platforms like X and TikTok are offering a necessary alternative voice?
Are these platforms dangerously misinforming the public…
or are they simply giving space for critical thinking and different viewpoints?
And what about funding?
The Irish State provides financial support to mainstream media, but not to independent or alternative outlets.
Is that protecting quality journalism… or controlling the narrative?
📞 Niall opens the phone lines to hear from listeners:
Do you believe Irish mainstream media is fair and balanced?
Or has it become a mouthpiece for the Government?
Join the debate and have your say.

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall opens the lines on a debate that goes right to the heart of democracy: who should be allowed to vote, and how should they prove it?
The discussion comes as Donald Trump continues to push the proposed SAVE America Act in the United States. The legislation aims to tighten voter registration rules by requiring individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, before they can vote. Supporters say it protects election integrity and prevents fraud. Critics argue it could disenfranchise legitimate voters who may not have easy access to those documents.
At the same time, Ireland takes a very different approach.
In Ireland, non Irish citizens can vote in local elections, and British citizens and residents can vote in general elections. Voters are not required to show a passport or birth certificate, and a wide range of identification is accepted at polling stations. To some, this reflects a fair and open democratic system. To others, it raises serious questions about security and national sovereignty.
So Niall is asking listeners:
Should only Irish born citizens be allowed to vote in Irish elections?
Should you have to prove your identity with a passport or birth certificate before casting a vote?
Or is Ireland right to keep the system as it is?
Is stricter voting law about protecting democracy, or restricting it?
📞 Call in and have your say.

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist Laura Perrins to discuss how one simple mistake can have devastating consequences online.
Laura shares her own shocking experience after her X account was hacked and completely wiped out, losing her profile, her content and all of her followers in an instant, all after clicking on what seemed like a harmless link. It’s a stark warning that this can happen to anyone, no matter how careful you think you are.
With online scams becoming more sophisticated, from phishing emails to fake shopping websites and cloned social media pages, more and more people are finding themselves caught out. What starts as a simple click can quickly spiral into lost accounts, stolen money or even identity theft.
Niall opens the phone lines to hear from listeners who have been hacked, conned or completely duped online.
Have you ever lost access to your social media account?
Have you been tricked into handing over personal details?
Have you ordered something online that turned out to be nothing like what was advertised?
Or worse, have you been the victim of bank fraud?
And the big question, in a world where scams are everywhere:
Do you actually trust online shopping and social media anymore?

On today’s show, Niall speaks to callers about a major High Court ruling that could have serious consequences for thousands of Irish households using so-called “dodgy boxes”.
This week, the High Court ordered Revolut to hand over the names and details of 304 Irish customers and 10 resellers to Sky, as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal streaming. These devices, which have surged in popularity, give users access to movies, TV shows and live sports for a one-off fee, but are illegal under the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000.
Up until now, Gardaí have mainly targeted sellers, but have repeatedly warned that users could also face action. With this latest ruling, many are now asking if they could be next. Those identified could face fines of up to €127,000, possible jail time, and even civil action from Sky.
Niall opens the lines to hear directly from listeners.
Are you one of the hundreds of thousands using these services, and will you continue now that there’s a real threat of prosecution? Do you agree with the courts allowing Sky access to personal banking information, or does this cross a line when it comes to privacy?
Join the conversation and have your say.