The Parting Glass

On this episode of The Parting Glass, I’m delighted to be joined by my latest guest, Kieran Coote.
I recently had the chance to read his book Mam and Me, and I can honestly say it’s one of the most beautiful and powerful memoirs I’ve come across. In it, Kieran shares his deeply personal experience of caring for his mam, Patricia, as she lived with dementia. It’s a story rooted in love, patience, grief, and the quiet, everyday moments that come to mean everything.
Kieran is an incredibly articulate speaker and a gifted writer, and his book captures not only the challenges of caregiving, but also the tenderness, humour, and humanity that can exist alongside it. Mam and Me paints a vivid portrait of a mother and son relationship tested by illness, yet strengthened through compassion and connection.
In our conversation, we explore what it means to care for someone you love, how memory shapes identity, and the emotional realities that often go unspoken when it comes to dementia.
I’m really grateful Kieran could join me for this one this is a conversation that stays with you.
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I was delighted to welcome Eric Lalor to The Parting Glass last week.
Actor, comedian, podcaster and a diehard Bohs man, Eric’s story goes far beyond the stage. From growing up with a deaf parent shaping his razor sharp ear for timing, to becoming a familiar face on Fair City, he’s carved out a career built on honesty, grit and serious laughs.
We get into the chaos of his worst gig, he lived to tell the tale, the buzz of his very best nights and why working with Willa White isn’t just a job, it’s a labour of love.
It’s funny, it’s raw and it’s full of heart.
This is Eric Lalor.
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In this powerful episode of The Parting Glass, we are joined by retired PSNI Detective Sergeant James Brannigan, one of Ireland’s most respected homicide investigators. James reflects on his policing career, his instinct for questioning the official story, and the experiences that shaped his approach to justice.
The conversation centres on the murder of 21 year old Katie Simpson, whose death was initially treated as suicide. James explains how he identified overlooked red flags, challenged internal resistance, and helped expose the truth that ultimately led to a murder trial.

James also discusses coercive control, how it operates long before physical violence occurs, and why it is so frequently misunderstood by investigators. He shares insight into his work with The Katie Trust https://thekatietrust.com a cross border charity he founded to support families who believe their loved one’s death was suspicious or inadequately investigated. The Trust provides independent reviews by experienced investigators and advocates for transparency, accountability, and dignity for bereaved families. This episode is a compelling and compassionate look at investigative failure, institutional blind spots, and the courage required to pursue truth when the official version does not add up.

If this episode brings up difficult feelings or if you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or coercive control, help is available.
Republic of Ireland
Women’s Aid 24 Hour National Freephone Helpline
1800 341 900
Free, confidential support for women experiencing domestic abuse, including coercive control
https://www.womensaid.ie [womensaid.ie]

Samaritans Ireland
116 123
24 7 emotional support for anyone struggling or in distress
https://www.samaritans.org/samaritans-ireland/
Northern Ireland
24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline
0808 802 1414
Free, confidential support for women and men affected by domestic or sexual abuse
https://www.dsahelpline.org

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"People approach me for photos.I'll never get used to it" Ciaran Moran
From the heart of Dublin’s inner city to stages he once only dreamed of, Ciarán Moran opens up in this gripping episode about the reality behind the rise.
It’s not just about the music it’s about the journey. The graft, the setbacks, the self-doubt and the resilience it takes to keep going when nothing is guaranteed.
A raw talent with a story to match, Ciarán shares how his environment shaped his sound, his hunger, and his honesty as a songwriter.
Talks pressure, staying grounded, and backing yourself when it matters most.
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This week on The Parting Glass, we’re joined by comedian and internet sensation Simon Hennessy and things take a turn.
Simon chats about life on the comedy circuit, creating viral characters, and the brutal reality of taking a show to the Fringe Festival. Think tiny audiences, endless flyering, questionable accommodation, and the emotional rollercoaster of performing your soul to six people, two of whom are also comedians.
He opens up about the pressure of constantly being funny online, creative burnout, and the weird gap between internet success and real life gigs. We talk stand up, sketch comedy, and what it is actually like trying to turn jokes into a career without completely losing your mind.
Then the truth comes out.
Simon reveals his dark side. Beneath the lovable comedian exterior lurks a massive bully, a man who has learned to weaponise intimidation, sarcasm and pure social pressure to force innocent passers by into attending his Fringe shows. A master of psychological warfare. A menace with flyers. A comic who refuses to take no thanks for an answer.
It is a hilarious and honest chat about grafting, self promotion, imposter syndrome, and the lengths performers go to just to get bums on seats, with plenty of laughs and questionable ethics along the way.
Comedy, chaos, bullying for good, and the Fringe Festival as you have never heard it before.
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