Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words

On Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words this week Minister Niamh Smyth, TD for Cavan-Monaghan is shining a spotlight on sepsis awareness. Minister Smyth is joined by sepsis survivor Sophie Lanigan, her father Keith, and Cathriona Flanagan and Hannah Tormey from North East Sepsis Awareness, Minister Smyth hears first-hand accounts of the devastating impact sepsis can have on individuals and families. The discussion explores the realities of surviving sepsis, the challenges of recovery, the need for greater public awareness, and the campaign for formal recognition of post-sepsis syndrome and structured follow-up care in Ireland. From Sophie's experience of losing her limbs to Hannah's account of her daughter's battle with sepsis during her Leaving Cert year, this episode highlights the importance of early detection, survivor support, and ensuring that no one faces recovery alone. A moving conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the urgent need for change. 🎧 Listen now on Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words.

41-year-old mother of three, Valerie French, was brutally murdered by her husband, James Kilroy, at their family home in Westport, Co. Mayo, in 2019. Kilroy was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024. Since Valerie’s murder, her brother David French has campaigned tirelessly for changes to guardianship legislation in horrific cases such as this, to ensure those who kill their partner cannot automatically retain guardianship rights over their children. In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, David discusses the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill and the importance of ensuring the welfare and best interests of children remain paramount. He speaks to Senator Dee Ryan and Seanad Justice spokesperson Robbie Gallagher about Valerie, her life, the relationship, her murder and why he advocated for this change in the law. The Bill, which has been introduced to the Dáil, would allow for the removal of guardianship rights from a person convicted of killing their partner or the other parent of their child. Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said: “When you have a human story behind a piece of legislation, or when somebody is prepared to advocate from a very personal point of view, it can have a very significant impact on the Houses of the Oireachtas.” The legislation fulfils the Programme for Government commitment to examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partner or a parent of their child, as part of ongoing work to implement recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.

Senator Alison Comyn is joined by Sarah Slazenger, MD of Powerscourt Estate and Alison McNamara from Opportunities for Women to speak about domestic violence and their proposal to turn vacant town centre buildings across Ireland into safe, supported homes for those rebuilding their lives. This is an issue affecting every county. We have vacant buildings in towns and villages nationwide that could be brought back into use quickly and effectively.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan from Kiskeam in North West Cork is joined by historian Anne Twomey the co-author of Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times, to explore the crucial role women played in Ireland’s revolutionary period. From the work of Cumann na mBan to the wider contribution of women across the country, the discussion highlights how their ground breaking impact on the fight for independence was significant, yet often under-recognised. Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times is a book by the Shandon Area History Group in Cork highlighting the pivotal and often overlooked roles of Cork women during the Irish War of Independence (1916–1923). Fianna Fáil's Centenary approaches, commemorations have opened the door to new research and understanding, this episode reflects on how women are now being restored to their rightful place in Ireland’s history. A powerful and insightful listen.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words and to mark our Centenary year Senator Alison Comyn and historian Anne Twomey explore the legacy of Cumann na mBan Anne is a member of the Shandon Area History Group and co-author of the book Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times (2020) and to women discuss Cumann na mBan’s importance in securing an independent Ireland, how this has been largely overlooked but is now being brought to the fore by the work of Anne and others across the country. They talk about the pivotal role of Irish women during the War of Independence , particularly in Cork and the remarkable lengths women like the Wallace sisters and Muriel Swiney went to, running the gauntlet of curfews, gathering intelligence, transferring weapons while running households and businesses.This is a must listen, a fascinating episode about the women who worked for the cause behind the scenes.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Dublin Bay North TD Tom Brabazon sits down with community volunteer Theresa Kelly, founder of the mental health initiative It’s OK Not to Be OK. Theresa shares the powerful experiences that inspired her to act after witnessing too many people struggle in silence. What began as a simple idea, encouraging people to start a conversation has grown into a community-wide movement, with thousands of resource cards distributed, hundreds of awareness pins worn with pride and strong backing from emergency services and local representatives. Together, Tom and Theresa discuss the stigma that still surrounds mental health, why men in particular can find it hard to speak up and how a simple question “Are you OK?” can change or even save, a life. Tom also reflects on his own experience of reaching out for support and why accessible services and early conversations are so important. This is an honest, hopeful conversation about community, courage and the power of talking. If you are struggling with mental health you can contact AWARE helpline CALL 1800 80 48 48 or 01-524 0360 Or the Samaritans: Call 116 123

This is the second in our Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 podcast series on Fianna Fáil in Our Own Words. We explore personal journeys with the Irish language. Deputies Tom Brabazon TD, Catherine Ardagh TD and Naoise Ó Cearúil TD share their experiences of learning the language from school days and inspirational teachers to time spent in the Gaeltacht, on Na Blascaodaí and studying the language at university. They reflect on how their relationship with their native language has evolved over time, and the importance of Gaeltacht experiences. They discuss why the language feels more vibrant and relevant today than ever before through music, film and culture. It is a thoughtful, conversation about our love for the language and finding the confidence to speak it.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Tony McCormack TD, Fianna Fail’s Spokesperson on Small and Medium Enterprises and Michael Walsh, former Garda Crime Prevention Officer and Security Expert discuss the growing issue of retail crime, its real personal and economic impact on businesses and communities. From the frustration felt by retailers to the revolving door of repeat offending, we discuss the fact that last year alone over €1.6 billion worth of goods were stolen in this country through shoplifting and organised retail crime We look to solutions, deterrents while focusing on the Programme for Government commitment to publish Retail Crime Strategy with targeted actions to reduce this type of crime and support affected businesses. We discuss the importance of involving frontline stakeholders in the consultation process and what more can be done to protect hardworking people who simply want to run their businesses in safety.

In this episode, Fianna Fáil Senator for Kildare South Fiona O'Loughlin is joined by Sorcha McAnespy for a powerful and honest conversation about coercive control. Sorcha has developed Fig, a trauma-informed digital safety app which offers support to people experiencing coercive control. The platform helps individuals recognise patterns of abuse early, identify and document behaviour safely and access support discreetly. The focus of this podcast is simple, to raise awareness, reduce stigma and start real conversations about toxic and unacceptable behaviour in relationships. Together, Fiona and Sorcha talk about the reality of coercive control, why it can be so hard to spot and why education and early intervention are key. They examine how technology and policy can work hand in hand to prevent harm before crisis point. This episode shines a light on hidden abuse, empowering people with knowledge and making sure no one feels alone or unsure about what they’re experiencing.

This week on Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Senator Teresa Costello, herself a breast cancer survivor, marks World Cancer Day with an open and honest discussion alongside her friend Nicola Guirenne and Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland. Teresa and Nicola speak candidly about their shared journey through treatment, how their cancer diagnosis has impacted their lives and living with the ongoing fear of recurrence. Aisling highlights the importance of the triple assessment, particularly for younger women. She notes that 24% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are now under the age of 50 and that the disease can be more aggressive in younger patients. The conversation also explores World Cancer Day, advances in imaging, the growing role of AI in detecting early-stage breast cancer sooner while stressing that skilled radiographers and clinicians remain central to care.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, we’re talking about the buildings that tell Ireland’s story and the practical steps being taken to protect them. From churches and libraries to windmills, observatories and thatched homes nearly 700 historic buildings are receiving over €8 million in conservation funding in 2026. Seanad Spokesperson on Heritage Senator Mary Fitzpatrick sits down with Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD on the day he announced this funding, to chat about why built heritage matters They talk about how the Built Heritage Investment Scheme works and what it means for communities right across the country. It including €1.1 million specifically for thatched buildings. When asked what heritage meant to him Minister O’Sullivan said it was once described to him as Inherited knowledge. "So I thought that was an interesting definition but I would have always thought, and I think if you ask most people on the street what it means, they would they would consider a heritage built heritage. "So those old buildings, old castles, old churches and ecclesiastical buildings, dotted around country, and we have such a wealth of that. It's extraordinary." This is a relaxed, informative conversation on Fianna Fáil's commitment to funding restoration, supporting traditional skills and making sure Ireland’s built heritage is protected, used and valued for generations to come.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Senator Anne Rabbitte and Deputy Chap Cleere are joined by world-renowned cyberpsychologist and author of The Cyber Effect, Dr. Mary Aiken, to dive deep into the findings of the Fianna Fáil Online Safety Survey. The discussion explores the hidden pressures of "social reciprocity"—the constant digital weight of likes and unanswered messages that keeps a generation of children "always on" and sleep-deprived. Dr. Aiken explains why sleep deprivation is the common thread linking anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem in youth today. The panel also offers vital advice for parents: why confiscating a device can feel like "taking a limb" and may unintentionally isolate a child from their entire support network during a crisis. Instead of digital isolation, the conversation suggests constructive discipline and highlights the ongoing work Fianna Fáil is doing in Government to hold platforms to account and strengthen online safety across Ireland.

In this episode we discuss how the Irish language is taught in our schools, what changes can be made to improve the curriculum and the emphasis on spoken Irish over written Irish in the Leaving Cert. We also talk about how we all have more Irish than we realise and we should be practising our native language at home, with friends and in our daily routines.Senator Shane Curley is joined by Meghan Scully, Broadcaster & Author as well as Shane Moynihan TD.