The Claire Byrne Show
News & Politics Podcasts
Claire Byrne explores the big stories through the lens of real life.
This podcast brings context, consequences and clarity to the issues shaping Ireland today.
Covering politics and current affairs alongside the human stories behind them, Claire asks the questions people are thinking, but don’t always hear answered.
From housing and health to work, family life, well-being and culture, you’ll hear smart, engaging discussion and moments of light relief - connecting the dots between what’s happening and what it means for you.
Location:
Ireland
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
Claire Byrne explores the big stories through the lens of real life. This podcast brings context, consequences and clarity to the issues shaping Ireland today. Covering politics and current affairs alongside the human stories behind them, Claire asks the questions people are thinking, but don’t always hear answered. From housing and health to work, family life, well-being and culture, you’ll hear smart, engaging discussion and moments of light relief - connecting the dots between what’s happening and what it means for you.
Language:
English
Email:
digital@newstalk.com
Episodes
This week's 'Debrief'
4/24/2026
Welcome to The Debrief, where we look back at some of the big stories of the week. Today Claire was joined by Chief Economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs and Columnist with the Currency.ie, Dan O’Brien, Author and Journalist, Caelainn Hogan and Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Liam Herrick.
Duration:00:23:08
BBQ how to clean quick!
4/24/2026
With good temperatures ahead today, many of us will be making a dash to the barbecue, but seeing as we haven’t touched it for over six months, we all have to face the dreaded cleaning.
So are there any quick and easy ways to help us through it? Well to share some tips, Claire spoke to Head of Operations at The Orchard Home and Garden Centre, Ray McLoughlin.
Duration:00:07:53
Chickenpox warnings
4/24/2026
Letters are being sent from some schools warning about outbreaks of chickenpox. So, what do you need to know? Claire asked Christine Loscher, Professor of Immunology at DCU.
Duration:00:10:21
Could summer events and gigs be in jeopardy?
4/24/2026
Peter Aiken, who owns music promotor company Aiken Promotions, has said that shows will likely be cancelled ‘left, right and centre’ because of rising oil costs.
So are rising costs hurting the music scene? Claire discusses this with Kneecap manager, Daniel Lambert and Dave Browne from Picturehouse.
Duration:00:11:58
Why pain isn’t just physical and what we can do about it?
4/24/2026
Over 80% of us have back pain at some point. But a lot of us just live with it, thinking of it as wear and tear. All to discuss with Physiotherapist Lowry O’Mahony.
Duration:00:09:20
A weekend sports preview with Eoin Sheahan
4/24/2026
We look ahead to a busy weekend of sport with Eoin Sheahan.
Duration:00:14:09
Do you have a sporting regret in your life?
4/24/2026
Does everyone have some sort of competitive or sporting regret in their life? And if so, how can you ever get over it? To chat about this Claire spoke to Dr Stephen McIvor of TU Dublin Sports Sciences.
Duration:00:08:50
We get the latest on the war in the Middle East
4/24/2026
Donald Trump says the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks after talks at the White House. For more on this Claire spoke to Channel 4 News Presenter Matt Frei.
Duration:00:10:33
What’s been trending online this week?
4/24/2026
So what’s been trending online this week? All to chat about with Entertainment Journalist Olivia Fahy.
Duration:00:09:00
Ireland set to be hotter than Barcelona!
4/24/2026
Finally some good weather news! Sunshine is on the way and it is seriously needed. Here to give us more good news is Meteorologist and founder of Ireland’s Weather Channel Cathal Nolan.
Duration:00:03:44
DCC spending 10m on offices set for demolition
4/24/2026
Dublin City Council has set aside more than €10m to refurbish its Wood Quay office building, despite plans to demolish the complex and replace it with housing in 2029. So is this money wasteful or a necessary evil? Claire askes Aodhan O’Riordain, Dublin MEP for the Labour Party.
Duration:00:15:25
The oil tanker Captain stuck in Strait of Hormuz
4/24/2026
We have heard a lot about the Strait of Hormuz and the impact that the blockade and conflict is having on energy prices and the world economy. But what is it like to be literally stuck there?
Captain Raman Kapoor, from India, has been stuck in the vital waterway along with 23 other crew members ever since the US and Iran launched joint attacks on Iran on February 28th. Captain Kapoor spoke to Claire from the ship this morning.
Duration:00:09:33
Why so many of us feel we never have enough time!
4/23/2026
Dr Dale Whelehan Assistant Professor of Psychology at Trinity College, believes we all must properly interrogate why we never seem to have enough time. And if we accept that the workday has expanded, why is that employees who are on the cusp of burnout are told they need to manage their time better? All to discuss with Dr Whelehan.
Duration:00:11:59
A call for a timber industry book to be removed from schools
4/23/2026
The Sitka spruce, a tree that has become one of the country's most polarising environmental issues, has now become a controversial topic within primary schools.
The children’s book, Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree was distributed in schools by the Society of Irish Foresters, Seefa, and the Irish Timber Council. We get reaction to this with Oisin O’Neill, Nature Advocacy Officer Irish Wildlife Trust.
Duration:00:08:32
A deepening crisis for people in Ireland living with neurological conditions
4/23/2026
A major new report reveals a deepening crisis for the 860,000 people in Ireland living with neurological conditions. The report questions whether care has become a "postcode lottery", with some living in "limbo".
We find out more now with Magdalen Rogers, Chief Executive of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland and also we heard from Brenda who who was diagnosed with Parkinson's three years ago.
Duration:00:10:57
Writing Matilda the Musical
4/23/2026
Matilda the Musical will be taking place at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from 15 September to the 18 of October 2026. Claire spoke toWriter of Matilda the Musical, amongst many other things, Dennis Kelly.
Duration:00:12:06
Going Green: What is supposed to go in your brown bin?
4/23/2026
Are you unclear as to what is supposed to go in your brown bin? Are does it feel like too much hassle? Well help is here with Conor Walsh is secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association, and he joins me now.
All with thanks to Repak.
Duration:00:08:54
Ask The Expert: Enduring Power of Attorney
4/23/2026
As our families get older, the question of an Enduring Power of Attorney may come into play, so what exactly is it? And what is the process behind it? To discuss all this, I’m now joined by Director for the Decision Support Service, Aine Flynn.
Duration:00:07:35
Stark social and economic disadvantages facing Dublin’s South-West Inner City
4/23/2026
Poverty and deprivation in the South-West Inner City of Dublin is having profound and life-long impacts on the people who live there. From low participation rates in school, to poor physical and mental health.
Speaking to Claire on this was Assistant Professor in Economics, Trinity College Dublin Dr Barra Roantree who has studied what is happening in the area a d f Sporting Liberties JJ O’Mahony, who asked Barra to do the research.
Duration:00:13:50
Your bad habits are destroying your charging cables
4/23/2026
It’s time to embrace passkeys, or risk getting hacked. The warning comes from The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, who say we’re all too vulnerable. Here to help us through it is our Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly. We also hear how our bad habits are destroying our charging cables.
Duration:00:11:56