The Indo Daily

Friday evening’s botched Ukraine deal saw Volodymyr Zelenskyy leaving Washington empty-handed after historically tense talks sent shockwaves across the globe. Now, a nightmare situation has arisen for the Ukrainian people, as the United States has paused all military aid indefinitely. As US President Donald Trump reshapes the new world order in real time, where does it leave our own Taoiseach Micheál Martin ahead of a daunting White House visit next week? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Kerry man Morris O’Shea Salazar go from boy racer to international drugs kingpin? How are the notorious Sinaloa Cartel and the Ballyseedy drugs seizure linked? And what prison sentence did Nathan McDonnell receive for his involvement in the nation's biggest-ever seizure of crystal meth? Host: Ellen Coyne Guests: Niall Donald, Jerry O’Sullivan and Ralph Riegel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DESCRIPTION: How does a former business CEO and president of the Tralee Chamber of Commerce become a convicted criminal, and why was he involved in the biggest seizure of crystal meth in Irish history? Host: Ellen Coyne Guests: Jerry O’Sullivan & Ralph RiegelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After serving four years in prison for fraud, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland is inviting people back to the Caribbean for a series of concerts with some tickets going for over $1 million. We ask why are people seriously considering returning to one of the biggest festival fiascos in history?     This podcast was first released in September 2024     Host: Kevin Doyle                   Guest: Tessa Ndjonkou See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s one of the most shocking and troubling cases in modern Irish history. The disappearance of Kyran Durnin went unnoticed by authorities for over two years. Since he was first reported missing in August of last year, gardaí have been unable to unravel the truth about what happened to Kyran. With so many questions remaining unanswered, speculation is growing. Are we getting any closer in finding out what happened to the young boy? And how does a child go missing for two years without anybody noticing? Host: Fionnán Sheahan. Guest: Conor Feehan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rent pressure zones, cabins in gardens and the appointment of a “maverick” to kick open doors’ - can this government resolve the housing crisis once and for all? Host: Tabitha Monahan               Guests: Rory Hearne, Gabija Gataveckaite and Niamh HoranSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Paul Williams, Special Correspondent with The Irish Independent, to look back at the life and career of his friend, Dr Jim Donovan, Former Forensic Science Director, and to learn how an infamous incident with The General Martin Cahill, had a dark impact on his life for nearly 40 years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual St Patrick's Day expedition to Washington will happen amid greater uncertainty about what the US President Donald Trump will do next, with all eyes the threat of harsh trade tariffs. So where does this leave the Irish political contingent who have their bags packed for Washington this March? And with Sinn Féin’s shock announcement that they will be boycotting the event, where does it leave An Taoiseach Micheál Martin ahead of a difficult meeting in The White House? Host; Tabitha Monahan, Guest; Sam McBrideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During his time as deputy state pathologist, Dr Khalid Jaber was a regular presence at crime scenes throughout Ireland, but he eventually found his own actions subject to strict forensic analysis. Last week, Dr Jaber was found guilty of professional misconduct. What led to his downfall, and what does the ruling mean for the public’s trust in the Office of the State Pathologist? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Shane Phelan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might think Mr Beast is the name of a character from a children's story or the moniker of a gangland figure but you'd be wrong. Although you might not have heard of him, he is one of the world's most popular internet personalities. The 26-year old has built a global YouTube empire around; bingeable eye-catching videos, eye watering production budgets and impressive brand deals. So why are the cracks beginning to show? This podcast was first published in September 2024. Host: Dave Hanratty | Guest: Darragh Nolan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He claimed he would end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, but a month in, and Donald Trump has started his own war of words with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is certainly not what people expected from a US-brokered peace deal. As Trump sidles up to Putin and blames Zelensky for the war, what does it mean for Europe’s relationship with the US and should Ireland reconsider its own neutrality? Host: Kevin Doyle, Guests: Declan Power, Euan MacDonaldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish dancing may appear to be a world of dazzling costumes, intricate footwork, perfect manicured hair, but when we peel back the curtains on this glamorous sport, we come to learn it is also a community synonymous with drama. A series of allegations against a high-profile member of CLRG, Irish Dancing's governing body, sees the Irish dancing organisation being thrust into the spotlight once again. The issue though, was none of the rumours were true. So who was behind this? And why? Host; Tabitha Monahan, Guest; Ellen Coyne See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five men have appeared in court charged over the “planned and organised” torture of a man at a property in west Dublin. A special court sitting on Sunday evening heard that the victim was branded nine times with the word “rat” by a custom-made cattle iron and subjected to further acts of disturbing violence. Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Robin Schiller See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malicious fake images of a female politician circulated during the general election are being investigated by gardaí. The sexually explicit photos were created using AI deepfake technology to cast a slur on the victim’s character. Fionnán Sheahan discusses this worrying development for Irish democracy, while SDLP MLA Cara Hunter shares how her own experience as a victim of a pornographic deepfake attack that nearly ruined her political career. Host: Tabitha Monahan; Guests: Fionnán Sheahan and Cara HunterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Angela Kerins, the former chief executive of the Rehab Group, found herself in front of the formidable Dáil public accounts committee in 2014, she couldn’t have anticipated what impact that hearing would have on her life. The highest court in the land would later find that the intense seven-hour grilling had gone too far. Host: Ellen Coyne Guest: Fionnán Sheahan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 1988, six members of the Official IRA made their way to North Korea to receive ‘state of the art’ training. Dressed in the uniform of the Korean People's Army, they were taught North Korean style fighting and given lectures about the great leader Kim Il Sung and the wonders of one-party rule.B ut after a drunken brawl, the trip ended in embarrassment as the group had to leave the country. The BelTel’s Olivia Peden is joined by journalist John Sweeney, author of ‘North Korea: Inside the world’s most secretive state’ - he visited the strange nation as part of a BBC panorama documentary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s a billionaire, a tech visionary, many would call him a disruptor and lately, one of the loudest voices on the far right of American politics. And it looks like Elon Musk is here to stay. But who is he really? Stories of emerald mines, complex family dynamics, and even estrangement paint a picture of a childhood that was anything but stable. Did growing up in a world of privilege, power, and racial division shape his worldview in ways we’re only now seeing play out? Host; Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Polly Dunbar See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once a promising Limerick minor football player, Ciaran Ryan forged ties in his local community that felt like lifelong bonds. A misunderstanding between Ciaran and Cian and Daragh Hayes – brothers of five-time All-Ireland champion hurler Kyle Hayes – would lead to a violent betrayal and leave Ciaran with extensive injuries.  ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan          Guest: Patrick O’ConnellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Martin Conway finds himself at the centre of two major controversies. The first, an inappropriate behaviour row, dates back to 2018. The other one happened as recently as last month, when he was arrested on Dublin’s O’Connell Street in an “intoxicated state”. Why was this story so complicated to report on? And where does it go from here? Host: Kevin Doyle Guest: Fionnán Sheahan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gino D’Acampo is known for his extrovert personality and on-screen innuendos. The Italian celebrity chef has become a regular on UK television with his cheeky chappy persona, appearing on major shows such as ITV’s This Morning, Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip and Family Fortunes. However, an investigation by ITV News found the star has been accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour spanning 12 years, allegations D’Acampo has firmly denied. Was enough done to protect junior staff on set, and are D’Acampo’s days as a regular television fixture now over? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The family of Elizabeth Plunkett, who was brutally murdered nearly 50 years ago, are calling on the Garda Commissioner to reopen the investigation into her death after learning that two men who admitted to killing her were never convicted. We go behind the story of Ireland’s first recognised serial killers. Host: Ellen Coyne Guests: Amy Molloy & Conor FeehanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Aga Khan, known for his triumphs in horse racing, dazzling wealth and development work around the world, has died this week in Lisbon at the age of 88.  The 49th hereditary imam or spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims, his name also became synonymous with success as a racehorse owner, with the thoroughbred Shergar among his most famous.   Shergar won the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the King George, before being kidnapped in February 1983 from Ireland's Ballymany stud farm.  On todays Indo Daily Revisited we look back at one of the world's greatest sporting mystery's: Who kidnapped Shergar?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Still less than a month into his second term, US President Donald Trump has wasted no time whatsoever in avalanching all before him with a dizzying blitz of enough policies and initiatives to make your head spin. But then, that’s the point. Flood the zone, cause panic and confusion, and hope that some policies do in fact land. With an international outcry on his hands surrounding his comments on Gaza, threats of trade-wars and Elon Musks ‘hostile takeover’, can the president hold firm on his increasingly bold and alarming strategy? Host; Fionnán Sheahan, Guests; Lorcan Nyhan and Scott Lucas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Verona Murphy may have had a rocky start to her new role as Ireland’s first ever female Ceann Comhairle, but one look at her past suggests she is a woman who is unafraid to fight her corner. Host: Kevin Doyle                                         Guest: Gabija GataveckaiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Boyzone, to Westlife, to The X Factor and beyond, Louis Walsh is undoubtedly one of Irelands most successful music moguls of all time. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, the Mayo native had an ear for talent and an eye for a story, helping him shape pop music history—one headline at a time. But Walsh was no stranger to bending the rules to get his acts noticed and has come under renewed flack after his appearance on a new docuseries ‘Boyzone: No Matter What’ chronicling the rise of one of Irelands greatest pop exports, and for better or worse, his hand in their success. Walsh also seemed to be a master at drumming up publicity: in the documentary, he reveals that he fed stories about Boyzone to tabloids to keep them in the public eye – including rumours, such as one that Baby Spice and Stephen Gately were dating. If they “got the front page,” he said, he was happy. "Most of the time Louis said 'write what you want', there were times when he said 'don't write certain stuff' but 99% of the time he said 'do what you want',” former journalist Rav Singh added. "He needed stories, I needed press, it worked for both of us,” Walsh said. “He would call me up and I would give him things on the group, we kept the band in the papers basically." Was his puppeteering of the press a necessary evil, or can the highs and lows of Boyzone act as a cautionary tale to a music industry still under scrutiny for how it treats its young stars. Today on the Indo Daily Fionnán Sheahan is joined by journalist Ann Marie Hourihane and culture writer Louise Bruton, to discuss how a small-town manager built a global sensation, and ask: would it have worked any other way? *This article was updated at 12.50pm on July 28th 2025 . A previous version included: "“In the documentary, [Mr Walsh] reveals that he used to sell stories about Boyzone to tabloids to keep them in the public eye, including ­rumours, such as one that Baby Spice and Stephen Gately were dating. If they “got the front page”, he said, he was happy.” The Irish Independent is happy to confirm that Mr Walsh did not seek payment from journalists for these stories, but was instead seeking to persuade the journalists to publish his stories in the interests of his clients. The Irish Independent apologies for any confusion caused.*See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It all began in December, when an ex-girlfriend of Irish independent journalist John Meagher sent him screenshots of a fake dating-app profile using a photo of him. This would lead him on an extraordinary journey to find out who his catfish was – the answer to which would shock everyone involved. ­ Host: Ellen Coyne.  Guest: John MeagherSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1980 the former Baroness de Rothschild, Jeannette Bishop May, disappeared without a trace in Italy. Then 14 months later, her and her secretary’s bodies were discovered on an isolated mountain range. Why are their deaths now the centre of a new Italian murder investigation? ­ Host: Kevin Doyle                                         Guest: Josephine McKennaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of The Indo Daily is coming from our sister podcast The Big Tech Show with Adrian Weckler. What is DeepSeek AI? How did it wipe over a trillion dollars off the US NASDAQ Index? And why are experts urging users to be cautious? Founder and CEO of Galvia AI, John Clancy, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘We are so back’ are the words presumably muttered by RTE 2FM higher ups, as they launched their baby-faced, influencer clad new presenting line up in recent days. But hold on a minute... Influencers on the radio, have we not had this debate before? Well despite industry and public concern and comment, RTE have held firm on their long-term strategy for our national youth broadcaster. But how important is RTE 2FM as a cultural institution, and do the youth audience they so heavily crave even care about what goes out on our radio waves? Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guests; Melanie Finn and Cassie Delaney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Dáil disruption Sinn Féin’s key tactic as it looks ahead to five more years in opposition? And does Mary Lou have an eye on the Áras? ­ Host: Kevin Doyle                                         Guests: Louise O’Reilly and Gabija GataveckaiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent months a new force has emerged in the online world. Meet the 'Guinfluencer’ - Fans of the stout who review pints, comment on ‘domage’ and ‘shtick’ among other characteristics the black beverage holds. With stout shortages over Christmas causing chaos in the UK, and ‘G’s being split like they are going out of fashion, it feels like what was once the everyman's stout has reached peak public hysteria. But now, whispers are growing louder that Diageo, the global drinks giant and owner of ‘The Black Stuff’, might be looking to sell off the legendary stout. Why now, and what does that mean for the future of the company and its St James’s Gate brewery? Host; Fionnán Sheahan, Guests; Donal O’Donovan and Turtle Bunbury See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is driving the escalating feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? Where will it end, and what role does social media play in the case that has grabbed the attention of Hollywood and the world? Host: Tabitha Monahan Guest: Aoife BarrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 20 years since Ray Burke swapped the corridors of power for Arbour Hill prison. So how did the former justice minister end up on the wrong side of the law? We explore one of the biggest political scandals in the history of the state. Host: Fionnán Sheahan | Guest: John Dowling See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman dubbed ‘The GAA catfish’ is now the subject of an official police probe after the PSNI received a complaint alleging harassment. The infamous catfish, who is believed to be from Armagh, is believed to have deceived up to 40 people including a number of Ulster GAA players. Who is the GAA catfish, how did she trick so many county players, and why did they fall for it? Host: Ciarán Dunbar Guests: Niamh Campbell & Kurtis ReidSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

715,000 homes without power, record-breaking gusts of 183kmh and widespread serious damage to homes and property across the country – Storm Éowyn has landed in Ireland. How long will the clean-up take? ­ Host: Dave Hanratty                                    Guests: Alan O’Reilly & Mark MadiganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry is set to receive a reported 8 figure sum as part of a settlement with Rupert Murdoch's tabloid empire. This agreement also included a formal apology from News Group – but was it worth it and will the press leave the couple alone once and for all? Host: Fionnán Sheehan Guest: Sophie PeachySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A “subversion of the Irish Constitution” is how new Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the chaotic scenes in the Dáil on Wednesday. What caused the embarrassing behaviour? Who was to blame? And is this a taste of what we can expect for the next five years in Irish politics? ­ Host: Kevin Doyle                          Guests: Tabitha Monahan & Eoin O’MalleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's only been 48 hours but Donald Trump's second presidency is already taking on a very different hue to his first. So how will life in the US change under the returning president and what effect will his "golden age of America" have on Ireland and the world?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arise, Minister Michael Healy-Rae, who can also be proud of his brother Danny as he somehow technically finds himself on both sides of the new government. The sons of the late Jackie Healy-Rae are poised for a big political year, but how have they managed to endure so strongly? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guests: Mark Tighe and Jerry O’Sullivan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conor McGregor boarded his private jet to Washington in time for the second inauguration of US president Donald Trump, with new legal concerns casting a shadow. With more legal writs than professional fights in his recent history, what does the future hold for the MMA fighter? Host: Tabitha Monahan Guests: Catherine Fegan, Shane Phelan and Luke Thomas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a 53-year-old French woman got scammed by a digital suitor claiming to be Brad Pitt, the consequences were as dramatic as a Hollywood film. The woman, known as ‘Anne’, lost her life savings and ended up the subject of public mockery and abuse. So how did she fall for the imposter and what are the growing risks in looking for love online? Host: Ellen Coyne Guests: Catherine Field & Saoirse Hanley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HMS Maidstone, an ex-Royal Navy Ship, was used in the early 1970s to hold internees. In January 1972, a group of IRA prisoners swam 270 meters through an ice-cold Belfast Lough in a bid to escape, greasing themselves in butter to squeeze out of the ship’s portholes. They then hijacked a double-decker bus before slipping across the border, humiliating the authorities.  Today’s Indo Daily comes from our sister podcast ‘The BelTel’. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by James Durney, author of ‘Jailbreak: Great Irish Republican escapes’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Depending on who you ask, Trump's impending inauguration is either a win for freedom or a threat to democracy itself. As the US president-elect gears up for his second turn in the Oval Office, we ask: what does it mean for Ireland and the world at large? Host: Tabitha Monahan | Guests: Richard Curran and Larry Donnelly See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can the proposed ceasefire in Gaza actually last? What are the obstacles still in place that could derail the attempts to bring peace to the region? And just how long might it take to rebuild Gaza? Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: John DowningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As white smoke appears over Leinster House this week - who will be the ministers in the incoming government and what role might controversial Independent TD Michael Lowry have had in its formation? Host: Kevin Doyle | Host: Fionnán SheahanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 2005, the O'Brien family set out for what was supposed to be a wonderful holiday to Florida. However, tragedy struck when 15-year-old Lynsey O'Brien fell from the ship's balcony. Her death would shatter the family's life as they knew it. ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan                           Guest: Imelda O’BrienSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fierce clash between GAA president Jarlath Burns and former Derry manager Rory Gallagher has led to the threat of legal action and a split in public opinion. Was Burns right to raise his concerns about Gallagher’s potential appointment to a new gig? Host: Kevin Doyle Guests: Colm Keys, Fionnán Sheahan, and Tessa Fleming See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Robert Holohan went missing in January 2005, the investigation into his disappearance became one of the largest in the history of the state. Volunteers travelled from across the country to help find the 11-year-old boy from Middleton but the truth behind his disappearance lay closer to home. Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the grim conclusion of that search and the beginning of a tragic story that would divide and devastate a community. Host: Ellen Coyne | Guest: Ralph RiegelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are bringing Indo Daily listeners an episode from The Sunday World's excellent new food and lifestyle podcast 'Under the Grill' this weekend. In each episode Kevin Dundon and Caoimhe Young sit around the kitchen table with some of Ireland’s best loved personalities. Today Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh joins the team in the kitchen in this week’s episode, in association with Philadelphia. The singer is a born entertainer and not only when it comes to music – making dinner for 20 to 30 people wouldn’t knock a sparkle off her. The Dubliner chose bread & butter pudding for childhood dish on the already popular podcast series. Hosts: Kevin Dundon & Caoimhe Young Guest: Niamh KavanaghSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barely a fortnight into 2025 and we're already seeing what must surely be one of the most unlikely showdowns of the year, as Claudine Keane goes head to head with Sinn Féin. She claims that prominent party figures are inciting online “hatred” towards her family, as they attempt to reignite controversy around husband Robbie's short-lived stint at Maccabi Tel Aviv. Host: Kevin Doyle | Guest: Mark Tighe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.