Show overview
The week that really was has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 181 episodes. That works out to roughly 170 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 51 min and 1h 1m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 months ago, with 12 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 57 episodes published. Published by Gript.
From the publisher
The Week That Really Was" offers a different and distinctive take on the events of the week of a kind that you won't find anywhere else in Ireland. It is presented by Gript Media Editor John McGuirk, and Barrister at Law and Media Personality, Sarah Ryan.
Latest Episodes
View all 181 episodes
Ep 181Sarah's big American trip
This week, Sarah tells listeners all about her big White House trip; what it was like in the room with Donald Trump, and how the Taoiseach did. Also: A bulldozed house in Meath; Fringe migrant crime ladies; and Ireland's forbidden oil wealth
Ep 180The St Patrick's Day Wallet Massacre
This week John faces a personal crisis: An empty home heating oil tank as prices have risen 65%. Also: The man here for two years illegally now accused of serious crimes; The UCD rape case; Drag Queens at the Zoo, and Emiratis in Shannon.
Ep 179War, what is it good for?
John and Sarah discuss a great week for Irish politicians, as a new war in the Middle East stopped them from having to do any Irish politics. Also: Fuel taxes, Burkes in Jail, Stephen Kerr arrested, and a quiet start for Catherine Connolly:
Ep 178The Apology Industrial Complex
This week John and Sarah ask: When do the state apologies for historic abuse end? Why is Ireland welcoming NATO into Irish waters? Has Aontú had a bad week? Should we all be Petro-Masculinists? And is Fionnán Sheahan a monster for wearing ashes on his forehead?
Ep 177Angry White Female
Should we want our young boys to be gay so they don't harm women? The Irish Times says yes, Sarah says no. Also in the podcast this week: Macron's fertility drive, Culleton's PR disaster, Ireland's tax crisis, and Mary Lou's White House snub:
Ep 176Overstaying your visa is a crime
John and Sarah dive into the Seamus Culleton case and if Ireland looks hypocritical on immigration; discuss the Dublin Central by-election; the media's warped coverage of a Canadian school shooting; and whether Nigel Farage is right on working from home.
Ep 175The Enoch and Epstein files
John and Sarah delve into the big stories of the week, including: A big win for Enoch Burke? Are conspiracists vindicated over Epstein? Is "stolen land" real? And should politicians go to jail for telling lies?
Ep 174Flooded with nonsense
John and Sarah turn their attention wholly to the state of Ireland this week: Flooding, Housebuilding, Scrambler Bikes, Opinion polls, and Saint Brigid the Patron Goddess of Purple Haired Feminism.
Ep 173The Irish Council for Civil Fiberties
After driving away listeners with 8 mins of Beckham chat, John & Sarah rip into the big story: Misinformation circulated by the ICCL and other state-funded agencies. Also: Gráinne Seoige's call for new laws, smartphones for kids, and the usual row over Trump:
Ep 172Immigration, and Customs enforcement
John and Sarah start this week with analysis of the Government's immigration bill: Step forward, or too little too late? Also: Heated debate over that ICE shooting in America, analysis of Sinead Gibney's plan to nationalise X, and Mary McAleese's war on baptism:
Ep 171The Climate Cost Crisis
John and Sarah open 2026 with a detailed discussion on how Climate policy drives the enormous cost of living in Ireland and Europe; and how Europe is the only place on earth where Governments seek to make things more expensive. Also: Musk's AI porn, Mercosur, and God-Emperor Trump:
Ep 170Another ride around the Sun
With John still away, Sarah is joined by Keith Redmond (aka Mr. Sarah) to reflect on the turmoil of 2025 and the challenges facing Irish politicians in 2026:
Ep 169Pathologising normal
Sarah returns for the final podcast of 2025, as she and John tuck into the Micheál Martin controversy, the rise of Candace Owens, and why society seems to pathologise normal male sexuality:
Ep 168Climate, Drones, and migration
With Sarah absent for a second week, John is joined by CORMAC LUCEY, who fills an entertaining episode with discussion on the great Climate Climbdown, the Government's panic on defence, why we need to be much tougher on migration, and why politics is broken:
Ep 167Abandoned by the left
With Sarah off, John is joined by barrister and campaigner Laoise de Brún, and the conversation covers loads: Immigration, surrogacy, religion, hunger strikes, and why Laoise - a life long leftie - now calls herself a conservative:
Ep 166Tax slaves
This week John and Sarah discuss the crisis in the rental market and how government makes it worse, the crisis in hospitals and how tax makes it worse, Jim O'Callaghan's new immigration laws, Conor McGregor finding God, and Sarah's personal dating "icks".
Ep 165Simon's Folly
"A catastrophic mistake": John and Sarah discuss the departure of Paschal Donohoe and Simon Harris's decision to make himself finance minister. Also: , Enoch Burke goes back to jail, and Sarah is outraged by the tale of a Mayo Children's hospice:
Ep 164The Crooked Media
John and Sarah discuss the BBC's awful week, and RTE's relentless bias here in Ireland. Also: Are boyfriends out of fashion? Fianna Fáil's awful communications, Denis O'Brien's warning, and a big fight about Trump/Epstein:
Ep 163One of us
In this week's edition, John and Sarah reflect on Simon Harris's newfound conversion to "far right" views on immigration, the demise of Ivan Yates, the miserable state of the health service, and the latest opinion poll trends.00:00 The Departure of Ivan Yates11:58 The State of the Health Service25:03 Government's Shift on Immigration28:03 Courage in Politics29:11 Debate on Immigration30:38 Political Integrity and Morality32:05 Encouraging Political Change35:27 The Rise of Zohran Mamdani37:19 The Left's New Leadership42:11 Irish Political Landscape46:07 Public Discontent and Political Competence52:31 The Future of Political Parties
Ep 162Fallout
This week's podcast covers all the fallout to the great spoiled vote of 2025: Simon Harris's migration u-turn, Micheál Martin's jeopardy, the Galway West by-election, and the state of Ireland's right wing politics.Click here to watch a video of this episode. https://youtu.be/BIFEpzGDBiE00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections02:00 Post-Election Fallout in Ireland07:01 The Impact of Spoiled Votes15:50 Leadership Challenges in Fianna Fáil19:23 Government Performance and Legislative Initiatives28:20 Emerging Voices in Fianna Fáil30:39 Immigration Discourse and Political Responsibility36:39 Media Dynamics and Political Debate42:06 The Challenge of Left-Wing Politics46:33 Reflections on Political Engagement and Voter Sentiment