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

• #565 Letting Prisoners Home For christmas

  On today’s show, Niall is joined by social commentator and restaurateur Paul Trayvaud for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on a topic that returns every December: temporary and early release for prisoners over Christmas.Last year, 138 prisoners in Ireland were granted temporary release during the holiday season, and projections suggest this year’s number may be even higher. With Irish prisons facing chronic overcrowding, there’s growing pressure to release lower-risk offenders early or on short-term licence. But is this the right approach?Niall and Paul explore the complex balance between compassion, public safety, rehabilitation, and the integrity of the justice system.What they dive into:Pros of Temporary or Early ReleaseFamily Reconnection: Allowing mothers and fathers to spend time with their children can strengthen family bonds—an important factor in reducing reoffending.Rehabilitation: Rewarding good behaviour with temporary release can incentivise positive conduct and support reintegration.Prison Overcrowding Relief: Ireland’s prisons are among the most overcrowded in Europe—early release can ease pressure on staff, resources, and facilities.Humanitarian Grounds: For low-risk offenders, especially those nearing the end of their sentence, time at home can be seen as a compassionate and proportionate gesture during the holidays.Cons of Temporary or Early ReleasePublic Safety Concerns: Even low-risk prisoners may reoffend, and any incident undermines trust in the system.Perception of Soft Justice: Some argue it sends the wrong message to victims and the wider public, especially if sentences seem reduced in practice.Inconsistent Monitoring: Temporary release relies on compliance—breaches can occur, and tracking all individuals effectively is challenging.Potential for Inequality: Questions arise over which prisoners qualify and whether the process is applied fairly.Should parenthood be considered a valid reason for release at Christmas? Does freeing up cell space justify releasing people early? And what message does this send about justice, rehabilitation, and community safety?We want your thoughts.📱 Comment on WhatsApp: 085 100 22 55Tune in at 12pm for a robust and engaging conversation.

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• #566 Still Love Him… But Not In Love: What Now?

  On today’s episode, Niall dives into one of the most emotionally charged dilemmas we’ve ever received. A 42-year-old mother of three has written in with a heartbreaking confession: she loves her 58-year-old husband as a partner and father, but she’s no longer in love with him. As he has aged and become less fit, she’s found herself feeling less and less attracted to him — something she admits with guilt and confusion.She’s torn between two worlds:#566 Still Love Hi But Not In Love: What Now?Her own happiness, with friends telling her she’s still young enough to start over and find passion again.Her children, all under 15, whose stability and wellbeing she wants to protect.Is fading attraction enough to justify leaving a long-term marriage? Is “still loving him” but not being “in love” a reason to stay? And how much should children’s needs weigh against a parent’s emotional life?Niall opens the lines to callers who bring a wide range of perspectives:🔹 The romantics, who argue that chemistry and attraction matter — and life is too short to deny yourself love.🔹 The traditionalists, who say marriage is about commitment, phases, and riding out the storms — not chasing youthful excitement.🔹 The realists, who believe attraction naturally changes and that relationships can be rebuilt with effort and honesty.🔹 The parents, who say the kids’ stability must come first — and breaking up the family could do long-term harm.🔹 Those who’ve been there, sharing stories of staying… and others of leaving.🔹 And the brutally honest, who say that attraction is a non-negotiable foundation of a relationship.It’s raw, emotional, and thought-provoking — a conversation about aging, desire, family, and the hard choices people face behind closed doors.Join Niall as he unpacks this dilemma with listeners from every walk of life, offering compassion, debate, and a few surprises along the way.

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• #564 Can Money Really Buy Happiness?

  On today’s episode, The Nost Niall dives into one of the oldest questions in the world: does money buy you happiness? Inspired by a listener’s email — and a headline-grabbing story about Elon Musk — Niall opens the lines and invites callers to weigh in.We explore the extraordinary news that Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire. His potential one-trillion–dollar pay packet hinges on monumental targets: delivering one million AI-powered robots and 20 million Tesla cars. If he succeeds, he won’t just be rich — he’ll be the richest person in human history.But what would life even look like at that level of wealth?Is it freedom and fulfilment… or pressure, detachment, and isolation?A listener writes in claiming that people like Musk “don’t even know what happiness is anymore,” arguing that money brings misery, insecurity and boredom, not joy. Today we put that claim under the microscope.Niall and callers explore:The Pros of Extreme WealthTotal financial freedom and the ability to take risksWorld-changing influence — funding science, innovation, charitiesAccess to the best healthcare, education, and securityThe ability to create jobs, shape industries, and push technology forwardNever having to worry about bills, retirement, or sudden expensesThe Cons of Extreme WealthEnormous pressure and public scrutiny — every move analysedDifficulty forming trusting relationshipsA life increasingly removed from ordinary routines and normal joysSecurity concerns, isolation, and the fear of being exploitedThe risk of losing purpose, perspective, or a sense of what “enough” meansSo, does becoming a billionaire — or even a trillionaire — bring you happiness, or does wealth steal more than it gives?Join The Nost Niall after 12pm as he talks to callers, debates the Musk question, and asks:Is happiness something you can buy… or something you might lose on the way to the top?Want to jump in?Send your voice notes and comments via WhatsApp: 085 100 22 55

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• #563 Your Choice? Born Then or Born Now Today

  On today’s episode, Niall sits down with journalist David Quinn to unpack a striking new global poll that reveals something surprising: nearly twice as many people say they’d rather have been born in 1975 than today. And in Ireland, the numbers are even more dramatic — 48% versus just 25%.Why are so many of us nostalgic for the past? Are we viewing 1970s Ireland through rose-tinted glasses, or was there genuinely something better about life back then?Niall and David take a deep dive into:Why people might prefer being born 50 years ago:No social media pressures or online comparison cultureA slower, less stressful pace of lifeStronger sense of community and more time spent outdoorsLower crime rates and fewer worries about housingA health service many recall as more personal and efficientAnd why others feel today is the better time to be alive:Instant communication and global connectivityA more robust economy with wider career opportunitiesAdvances in education, science, and technologyLonger life expectancy and huge improvements in healthcareLess material poverty and greater social protectionsIs nostalgia skewing our memory, or have we genuinely lost something along the way? Join us at 12pm as we explore which era truly had it better — the Ireland of ’75 or Ireland today.Want to join the conversation?Send us your thoughts or voice notes on WhatsApp: 085 100 22 55.

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• Lines of Enquiry: The Hidden Stories Behind Ireland’s Most Compelling Cases

  Check out GoLoud's brand new Irish true crime series Lines of Enquiry.The podcast is presented by retired Garda detective John Sweetman, who spent decades working on some of Ireland’s most complex and shocking investigations. Each episode revisits a real case from high-profile murders to disappearances that baffled detectives for years.In this short trailer, John shares what listeners can expect from the series and why he’s decided to tell these stories now.Listen to Lines of Enquiry — available now wherever you get your podcasts.Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EzGXohKAgAo9iu9ADiHgU?si=5cFEye46T--tg2XYODt4mA&nd=1&dlsi=6056134236a24ed1

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