The Parting Glass

What happens when a 13-year-old boy gives his dad the courage to change his life forever?
On this episode of The Parting Glass, I'm joined by Finglas man Mark Dunne and his son Ross for an incredibly honest, moving and uplifting conversation about family, identity, acceptance and finding the courage to be yourself.
Mark grew up in a BIG family, one of twelve children, and has always been the outgoing life and soul of the party. A proud dad of three, Mark spent years living a life that, on the outside, looked happy and settled. But there was one part of himself he had never found the courage to share.
Five years ago, his then 13-year-old son Ross sat him down and told him he was gay. What Ross didn't realise was that his honesty would inspire his dad to confront a truth he had kept hidden for years. Mark was gay too.
At 44, Mark finally came out to his children, family and friends and began living life on his own terms.
We talk about the fear of coming out later in life, the reactions of family and friends, the freedom of finally being yourself, and finding love again. Now engaged to his first boyfriend, Stephen, Mark shares the excitement of planning their future while navigating a long-distance relationship.
Mark also opens up about becoming a voice of support for others in the LGBTQ+ community, sharing his everyday life, humour and honesty with his growing TikTok following, The Life of Mark.
And Ross joins us to share his side of a story that proves sometimes the courage of a child can change a parent's life.
One conversation. Two coming-out journeys. A whole lot of courage, love and acceptance.
A powerful reminder that it's never too late to be who you truly are, and never too late to find happiness.
This is one conversation you won't want to miss.
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From the Gaiety Theatre to the White House, Claire Malone has lived a life that sounds like a dream. But behind the applause is a story of grief, anxiety, sacrifice and resilience.
In this deeply honest episode of The Parting Glass Podcast, Claire opens up about growing up in Drumcondra with a mother living with manic depression, and how performing became both her escape and her calling.
Her journey would take her from the Gaiety Theatre box office to touring internationally with The Commitments, sharing stages with huge names and even performing at the White House. Along the way, she built a successful career as a wedding singer, created the award-winning band Gossip and ran her own events company, Create Your Night.
But success came with a price.
Claire speaks candidly about losing her mother to a brain tumour at just 27, leaving Dublin for Carlingford, losing friendships, becoming a wife and mother, navigating anxiety, and the enormous pressure of trying to keep every part of life moving at once.
She also reflects on motherhood and her IVF journey, the realities behind the image of a successful performer, and the moments when ambition, family and personal happiness collide.
This is not simply a story about a woman who made it. It's about what happens behind the scenes when the person everyone expects to keep smiling is struggling too.
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In this moving episode Paddy Hickey, dad of Ollie Hickey, opens up about his son’s courageous battle with muscular dystrophy and the impact the condition has had on Ollie, his family and everyone around them.

Paddy speaks honestly about the realities of living with muscular dystrophy, the challenges Ollie faces, and the strength, determination and resilience his son continues to show. The conversation gives a powerful insight into life for a family navigating a devastating condition while doing everything possible to support their son and create a brighter future.

A major focus of the conversation is the importance of raising awareness and funding research. Paddy discusses the incredible efforts behind Walk4Ollie and Rock for Ollie, initiatives created to bring people together, raise vital funds and keep Ollie’s story and the fight against muscular dystrophy in the public eye.

The episode also highlights the work of MDI (Muscular Dystrophy Ireland) and the importance of supporting organisations that provide essential services, advocacy and support to people living with muscular dystrophy and their families.

Above all, this is a story about family, love, courage and community and about turning an incredibly difficult journey into something positive by helping raise awareness and give hope to others affected by muscular dystrophy.

Listen, share and help spread Ollie’s story. Every conversation helps raise awareness, and every bit of support can make a difference.

Want to get involved on the next Charity Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ireland ? Join Walk4Ollie on 26th September 2026 walking the Grand Canal Route from North Wall at 6.45am finishing in Ferns Lock Enfield 5pm followed by Rock4Ollie plenty of bands rocking up and the main man himself on the drums !

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Caoimhe Butterly is one of Ireland's most fearless human rights activists. For more than two decades, she has stood on the frontlines of some of the world's most dangerous conflicts, working alongside communities in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond. In 2002, she was shot by Israeli forces while working as a human rights observer in the West Bank, yet her commitment to justice never wavered.

In this powerful conversation, Caoimhe reflects on the childhood experiences that shaped her understanding of oppression, her work aboard Gaza solidarity flotillas, and the friendships and alliances she has built with activists around the world, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. She shares the near-death experiences that tested her resolve, the deep support she received from her parents throughout her journey, and how becoming a mother has transformed the way she thinks about risk, courage, and survival.

Raw, moving, and utterly compelling, Caoimhe speaks about what keeps her going, why Palestine remains at the heart of her work, and why bearing witness to injustice is more important than ever.

This episode is not to be missed, an unforgettable conversation with an extraordinary woman whose courage, compassion, and unwavering solidarity continue to inspire people around the world.
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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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