Episoder
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In 1981, the FBI raided the New York apartment of a 27-year-old Englishman who they believed had been commissioned by the Provisional IRA to murder a unionist politician. On Free State today, Aaron Edwards continues his journey inside the psyche of unionism and reveals the details of that extraordinary story. He talks to Dion and Joe about unionismâs reluctance to change. The goodies and baddies might be different but the attitude is the same. Is it a philosophy or a state of mind? Aaron also talks about his next gripping book and Joe manages to achieve the impossible and rudely interrupt himself.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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CS Lewis wrote that there would be no better to place to live than Northern Ireland âif only I could deport the Ulstermenâ. On Free State today Joe and Dion talk to the world-renowned historian Aaron Edwards about the predicament of unionism today. Is unionism a philosophy or an anxiety? Do unionist politicians have a strategy or are they trapped by parochialism? Edwards talks about his own upbringing on the hardline loyalist Rathcoole Estate in Belfast and why every victory gets turned to defeat.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mangler du episoder?
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What were the challenges in being part of the resistance to the Nazis? What was the peculiar torment for women who took on the Reich? On a Free State Special, Dion talks to author Joseph OâConnor about his gripping new book The Ghosts of Rome. It continues the story of the Rome Escape Line, the extraordinary group that smuggled allied soldiers into the Vatican and away from the Nazis. He also looks back on the extraordinary life of the Kerryman Monsignor Hugh OâFlaherty who led that resistance in Rome but cared most for horses and the Kerry footballers. It is an extraordinary interview with one of Irelandâs greatest writers.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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When President Donald Trump said he wanted to âclean outâ Gaza, where was the condemnation from world leaders? People might dismiss it as just another crazy thing Donald Trump says but it was more revealing that that. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how the world is being reshaped by the response of the west to Gaza. They consider Pankaj Mishraâs new book The World After Gaza and what it means. They also consider the response to President Higginsâ speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day and why his words were necessary and humane
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What does giving poitĂn to a cow who has just calved have to do with the new rules in Gaelic football? On Free State today, Joe explains how Jim Gavinâs plans will allow Gaelic football to embrace chaos again. A game that has been coached to the brink of extinction will be reborn by a return of the skills that made people love it in the first place. Dion wonders if you can ever go back, but also offers some tactical tips to conceal his ignorance. Joe explains why the coaches who have driven risk from the game will be the ones who are punished and why original thinkers will triumph. And they wonder if the priest with the alcoholic Alsatian who could hold his drink might also have something to offer the Football Review Committee.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Storm Eowyn swept across Ireland on Friday morning as winds of biblical force shook the nation. 32 counties were joined in a red alert and in towns, villages and cities people sheltered from the storm. But perhaps Storm Eowynâs greatest show of force was to silence Joe Brolly, as he was among hundreds of thousands who lost electricity and internet. On Free State today, Dion looks back on episode three, the remarkable interview with Charles Anyaegbunam about his life of privilege in Nigeria and his son the rapper Rejjie Snow.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Who is Michael Lowry and what does he want? On Wednesday, the sitting of the Dail had to be abandoned after the opposition collectively resisted attempts to allow those supporting the new government to speak also as opposition. MicheĂĄl Martin called it a âsubversion of the constitutionâ. But MicheĂĄl Martin has said many things in the Dail, especially about the effective leader of those independents, Michael Lowry. On Free State today, Dion and Joe examine the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal and what it said about Irish politics. They look at Lowryâs rise and how he operated. They also discover how Ben Dunne confused a renovation of the Ilaac Centre with the building of a house for Michael Lowry. An accounting error anyone could make. They also answer the pressing question: how long does a crow bear a grudge?
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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As Donald Trump spoke about pursuing Americaâs âmanifest destiny into the starsâ at his inauguration, Elon Musk gurned happily in the background. Trump wants to make Mars great again but what will happen to America? On Free State, Joe and Dion look at the ending of the American dream disguised as making the country great again again. They explain why this isnât a transfer of power but a heist. The tech bros like Musk are eyeing up an entire country. They also look at what it means for Ireland if the American Empire is coming to an end.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The success of Say Nothing has sparked a worldwide interest in the disappearance and murder of Jean McConville, the role of the Price sisters and the relationship Gerry Adams had with the IRA. It has also led people to ask questions about the Troubles, trauma and what they would have done if they had been part of a community under siege? But what if the history isnât history at all? On Free State today novelist Timothy OâGrady joins Dion and Joe to talk about the flaws in Patrick Radden Keefeâs book. They ask what impact it has if many elements of the story are told from the perspective of people opposed to the peace process? They consider too how the TV series managed to turned the darkest act of the Troubles into a cartoon.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Chris Mullin has lived a life less ordinary. He was a fearless investigative journalist who became a Labour MP determined to speak, not just truth to power, but to go in search of the truth, however uncomfortable it was. In the second part of his chat with Joe and Dion, Chris explains how the establishment were forced to confront a reality they had tried to suppress once the Guildford Four were released in 1989. Two years later the Birmingham Six were free. If the death penalty had still been in operation they would have been hanged as many other innocents were. The man who was described by The Sun as a âmouthpiece for IRA sympathisersâ, explains how his doggedness helped transform the British legal system. He talks about A Very British Coup, his novel which predicted the future, as well as his friendship with Tony Benn. Chris served as a minister under Tony Blair and he talks about how a messianic fever took hold in Blair leading to the disaster that was the invasion of Iraq.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On November 21 1974, five men were taken off a train in Heysham, Lancashire questioned as they went to catch a ferry to Belfast. Earlier that evening two IRA bombs had exploded in Birmingham killing 21 people and injuring 182. It was the largest loss of life in England since World War II. The five men who were questioned were subsequently arrested and charged, along with a sixth, Hugh Callaghan. All were innocent. All were beaten and forced into signing confessions. All were sentenced to 21 life sentences for crimes they didnât commit. They would have remained in prison without the persistence and courage of one man. On Free State today, Chris Mullin talks to Dion and Joe. The journalist and MP whose crusading work would eventually lead to their release recalls the mood of the time and how he was demonised by the right wing media in Britain. He also talks about his extraordinary quest to find the IRA bombers who had planted the bombs. He explains why that dangerous mission was essential to proving the innocence of the Birmingham Six.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The phrase Calm The Jets has a special meaning for Joe Brolly. So when he saw a horse with that name was racing on Friday evening, he decided to follow a hunch. On a Free State Special, Joe and Dion look at those with an independent mind and how they are needed more than ever in the media and public life. They recall the day they spent with Peter Taylor and how it led to a friendship between the great journalist and Joe.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In two weeks, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president in Washington. There is a new order in America but where does it leave those close to the old establishment? Many are scurrying to be onside. Meta are abandoning fact-checking, Jeff Bezos is censoring cartoonists at the Washington Post and Elon Musk might be outstaying his welcome at Mar-a-Lago. âIn America, the land of the free, we saw in the past election that freedom is universally valued but not universally defined,â Bono said as he received the medal of freedom from Joe Biden.
What does this even mean? On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how the world is changing and how Bono will change with it.
Few serious people would claim that freedom was universally valued by everyone at the last presidential election but does this tell us something about how Bono has operated in the US and around the world? In Ireland, in Derry, there are families of those who lost loved ones in Bloody Sunday who are angry with Bono for U2âs song and who were angry again when he received the medal of freedom. But does it just prove that when it came to âSunday Bloody Sundayâ, Alan Partridge was right?
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Last weekend at the White House, Joe Biden bestowed Americaâs highest civilian honour on a group of what he called âtruly extraordinary peopleâ. "Let me just say to each of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you've done to help this country,â he added. Shortly afterwards, he placed the Medal of Freedom around the neck of one of those âtruly extraordinary peopleâ - Bono. But is there a parallel universe where Bono would have turned down the medal, appalled by the USâs support of the genocide in Gaza? Would that not have been the act of a truly extraordinary person? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at why Bono would never have done that, why he has operated more often in tandem with the powerful rather than confronting them.
His career has been about making the billionaire class comfortable with their wealth rather than upending the system. Has this worked out well for the causes he has championed or has it worked out even better for Bono and those who follow his version of entrepreneurial capitalism?
The boys also consider the latest developments in the case of Enoch Burke and why even a snow day couldnât stop him.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Weâve reached that special time of year when Dion tries to get Joe interested in cricket. He opens with a hard sell this time but will Joe, who recently revealed his in-depth knowledge of the great Australian side of the 1990s, bite? Dion recalls a night watching Peter OâToole in the West End with Jeffrey Bernard. The boys also look at Luke Littlerâs pursuit of a world title and ask where are the great writers on darts? This leads them to reflect on the time the great Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford joined them. They recall his lessons about life, boxing and loss.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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It is a time of resolution and new beginnings but what do you do when your resolve shatters immediately? Joe wonders about a spectacular resolution fail and what led to the person giving up what clearly gave her and others pleasure. The boys also look at the qualities needed to succeed in sport as they remember two of the most compelling guests theyâve hosted, Philly McMahon and Ger Brennan. While Joeâs mother also has some words of encouragement for Dion.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On New Yearâs Eve, Dion and Joe call a temporary ceasefire. Joe talks about Lolaâs christening and they look back on the extraordinary life of Jimmy Carter. During a time of year when many people wrestle with drink and addiction, Dion also reflects on his own struggles. They also go back to an episode from their early podcasts which will resonate with many at this time of year.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Colm TĂłibĂn is one of Irelandâs greatest living writers. He joins Dion on this Free State Special for a wide-ranging chat on Ireland today, what he believes is keeping Sinn Fein out of government and the time he spent with Alan Black, the only survivor of the Kingsmill Massacre. He considers happiness and introspection, the rise of Ozempic and the reason why you canât talk about it with users in America. He also talks about becoming one of Oprah Winfreyâs favourite writers as well as a Tik Tok sensation and why he wouldnât be on any social media site owned by a fascist.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Lola is enjoying her first Christmas but Joe breaks away to look back on another Free State highlight. In another crucial history lesson, Dion educates Joe on the origins of Spiced Beef and the boys wonder when is it ok to call it Boxing Day.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On Christmas Eve, Joe and Dion reflect on the meaning of Christmas and if that meaning can include calling someone a c***? Joe remembers a memorable Christmas Eve in Dungiven. They also look back on how they began the podcast and why Dion brings out the worst in Joe.
Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.
For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Se mer
