Today on The Niall Boylan Show , Niall sits down with Laura Perrins from Gript Media to tackle one of Ireland’s most divisive and painful historical debates — the legacy of the Mother and Baby Homes, and in particular, the controversy surrounding Tuam.Laura joins the show to defend the reputation of the Bon Secours nuns, arguing that much of what has been reported about Tuam — including claims of a “mass grave” and “atrocities” — has been distorted or exaggerated by the media. Drawing on the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (2021), Laura makes the case that the scandal at Tuam was the result of poverty, disease, and State neglect, not deliberate cruelty.Niall presses Laura on these claims — asking whether the nuns and the Church can truly be absolved, and where moral responsibility lies for the suffering of unmarried mothers and their children in mid-20th-century Ireland.Then, Niall opens the phone lines and asks listeners:📞 “Who is to blame for what happened in the Irish Mother and Baby Homes?”Was it the nuns, the Church, the State — or Irish society itself?Expect a heated, emotional, and deeply human conversation about history, truth, and the power of media narratives.
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58:57
#553 Does Jennie's Law Go Far Enough?
On today’s show, Niall looks at the Government’s latest move to combat domestic violence — “Jennie’s Law.”Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is set to bring the proposal before Cabinet, which would create a Domestic Violence Register — publicly naming those convicted of domestic abuse against a partner or former partner.The law is named after Jennifer Poole, who was brutally murdered by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in 2021. Her brother Jason Poole has campaigned tirelessly for greater transparency and protection for victims, and today, that fight has reached the Cabinet table.But is the law strong enough?Some campaigners say it doesn’t go far enough — arguing the register should also include people who have had protection orders taken out against them, or those accused but not convicted, since so many abusers never face trial.Niall wants to hear from you:📞 Should Jennie’s Law go further?📞 Or does public naming risk punishing the innocent?Join the debate — your call could shape the conversation on one of Ireland’s most emotional and urgent justice issues.
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#550 Is Gen Z Missing Something Without Religion?
In this episode, host Niall takes a closer look at a recent tweet by David Quinn of the Iona Institute, who argued that Gen Z would be better off if they followed religion and God. As Catholicism continues to decline in Ireland, Niall asks: are young people really missing out on something deeper — a sense of meaning, morality, or community — that religion once provided?Join the discussion as Niall explores the cultural shift away from faith, the rise of secular values, and what this means for Ireland’s future identity. Is the slow fading of Catholicism a liberation, a loss, or a bit of both?Tune in for thoughtful commentary, social insight, and a conversation that gets to the heart of Ireland’s changing soul.
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#551 No Car Insurance, No Choice?
In this episode, Niall reads an email from a listener — a father of four — who says his car insurance has skyrocketed to over €2,000 after a small accident last year. He explains that, on his modest income, he simply can’t afford it, but still needs to drive to work to support his family. Feeling trapped, he admits he’s considering driving without insurance — something he says he “hates doing,” but feels he has no choice.Niall asks the hard questions:🚗 Should driving without insurance mean an automatic jail sentence?💔 Do you have sympathy for this listener’s situation — or does the risk to others outweigh his struggles?💶 And why are insurance costs in Ireland still pushing ordinary people to the brink?Join the conversation as Niall explores the human side of tough laws, the fairness of insurance pricing, and the moral dilemma faced by thousands in similar situations.
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1:20:38
#549 Time to Legalise The Weed?
In this episode, Niall opens up the phone lines for one of the country’s most divisive debates — should cannabis be legalised in Ireland?As public opinion shifts and other countries move toward regulation, Ireland still wrestles with the question: is it time to change the law, or would legalisation do more harm than good?Callers join Niall with mixed and passionate views — some arguing for personal freedom, medical use, and tax benefits, while others warn about mental health risks, addiction, and the message it sends to young people.Expect strong opinions, honest stories, and a lively national conversation on a topic that’s lighting up debate across Ireland.
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