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Free State is a podcast for the curious that stimulates, provokes, challenges and entertains, while never taking itself too seriously. Free State covers topics from sport to politics, love to loss, the human condition and how to fix the world, with guests from across the planet including Nigerian princes, former Prime Ministers, ex convicts, footballers, boxers and extraordinary people from every walk of life. Free State is presented by Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning. Brolly is a barrister, an ...
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Simon Harris has risen without trace. Who is he and what he stands for are questions that have rarely been asked. Harris has been described as ‘the white Obama’. He was called the TikTok Taoiseach and hailed as a great communicator. But behind the empty phrases, something is happening in Ireland which needs real leadership. On Free State, Joe and D…
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Leo Varadkar’s resignation was described as a ‘political earthquake’. Some said the political world had been turned upside down. But beyond the parlour games of the political class, does it matter at all? On Free State, Joe and Dion ask what has Varadkar achieved? Did he lead a government or a pr agency. What does the giddiness surrounding his depa…
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Davy Tweed knew exactly how to control those he abused. He did it in a million different ways, big and small. In Part 2 of her interview on Free State, Amanda Brown recalls how Tweed would dehumanise and humiliate her along with the rest of her family. She tells Dion and Joe how she was isolated and how every one of his victims believed they were u…
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Davy Tweed was an Irish international rugby player. He was a unionist politician. He was a monster. On Free State today, his step daughter Amanda Brown talks about the hell she experienced at the hands of Tweed and her slow, courageous journey to freedom. She tells Dion and Joe about the mental, physical and sexual abuse she endured. And she explai…
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History is a nightmare from which Ireland is always trying to awake. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how the future is being grasped in the north. But this is a story about the whole island and why the leadership shown by Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly will ripple across the country. Ireland’s history is always with us but the …
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Northern Ireland was once a land divided by symbols. Since Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly became First Minister and deputy First Minister it is a place energised by them. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at the leadership shown by O’Neill and Little Pengelly and how those like the Allosaurus (Jim Allister) are on the brink of extinction.…
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As he locked up Bellaghy Wolfe Tone GAA Club in May 1997, Sean Brown was murdered by loyalist gunmen. The sense of injustice has deepened since the British Government passed the Legacy Act last year. This week, a High Court judge Mr Justice Kinney was so appalled by the behaviour of the state that he pulled the plug on the inquest and recommended a…
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The Maze Prison is a central part of Northern Ireland’s history. But there was once a plan to make it a shared monument to a brighter future. On Free State, Joe and Dion tell the story of the plan to turn the Maze prison into a National Stadium for the three main sports (and ice skating). They show how it was brought down by the same forces who tho…
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People were denied the truth in the north during the troubles and that denial of truth extended to sport. The coverage of the GAA reflected the nature of Northern Ireland at the time. On Free State, Dion and Joe look at how the north is changing and why sport is too. The resistance to Casement Park’s redevelopment is the death rattle for the old wa…
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Why is Casement Park so divisive? When Ravenhill and Windsor Park were redeveloped in the north they had cross community support. What is it about a GAA stadium that enrages a certain faction of unionists? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the issue of Casement Park and explain why it is linked to the days of naked sectarianism. The redevel…
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The RTE scandal is not about pay-offs, flip-flops or Ryan Tubridy’s salary, it’s a story of how the media was manipulated in Ireland. From the Troubles to Gaza one point of view has always been given an easier ride than the other. On RTE The Musical Part 5, Joe and Dion look at who has been platformed by the national broadcaster and who is excluded…
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RTE can’t escape scandal. The controversies of the last six months have demonstrated how the organisation operated in the dark. But there is a bigger story. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how RTE was captured. How free and fearless journalism has been replaced by cronyism. They trace the story of decline back to the 1970s to see how journalism…
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Having dealt with the question ‘What is Bono?’ on today’s Free State, Dion and Joe ask the more important question: why? Why God why? They look at how Bono’s endless hot air became a comfort not a challenge for the elites. What was Bono’s plan to combat ISIS? And they ask the most important question - how did Bono become the butter in the peace pro…
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What is Bono and who is he for? On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe look at Bono’s activism, what he has said and, as importantly, what he hasn’t said. Is he a symbol of all that is wrong with the world? Is he a false god of philanthropy or has he achieved something meaningful? They also discuss the Kneecap case against Kemi Badenoch and Dion expla…
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How close are we to a United Ireland? The unionist voices that said ‘no terrorists in government’ and no Sinn Fein First Minister have been marginalised. How will they respond to what is coming next? Joe recalls his own encounters with Jamie Bryson and explains why he would be a good convert to Catholicism. The boys also suggest another career path…
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Michelle O’Neill’s election as First Minister of Northern Ireland made worldwide headlines. On today’s Free State, Joe reflects on the importance of O’Neill’s election and considers what it means for the nationalist community. Joe and Dion look at the generous speeches of O’Neill and the deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly and consider their…
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Northern Ireland prepares for a Sinn Fein First Minister, but why has it taken so long? On today’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at how culture was used as a tool of oppression in the north. As Kneecap the movie demonstrates the Irish language is now part of a vibrant culture among young nationalists. The language has more power because of how it w…
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Anarchy is always a threat to the establishment. Joyous anarchy unsettles them even more. Kneecap are annoying many of the right people as they aim for world domination. Their film has angered the Daily Mail and the DUP and also won the audience award at Sundance which has angered them even more. On today’s Free State, Joe and Dion consider the ris…
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If you can’t spot the sucker at the poker table it’s you. Today’s 'Free State' tells the story of how the GAA surrendered to corporations and how people became products. Dion and Joe consider the new RTÉ uniforms which could be part of any sponsorship deal. Joe reveals he has been beside himself with worry over the health of King Charles. The boys …
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The GAA occupies a special place in Irish life. But that special place is what makes it so attractive to sponsors. Today Joe and Dion look at the plan to sell the naming rights of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and rename it SuperValu Park. Dion vaguely recalls his only visit to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh. And, in a world where everything is for sale, how does the…
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Sportswashing works. From the English Premier League to the World Cup to golf, sport is being transformed by countries whose main interest is transforming their image. On Free State today, Dion and Joe ask what is the real cost of sportswashing and is it an inevitable consequence of a broader issue? Society is divided and while inequality grows peo…
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When JP McManus donated €32 million to the GAA last month, people were falling over themselves to hail his generosity. JP didn’t need to do this, they said. What a gesture from a man who truly loves the GAA. Put the envy to one side and celebrate these millions which will make a difference to every club in Ireland. Only begrudgers, the petty and so…
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On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe are joined by Sally Hayden, a remarkable journalist covering the story of our time. Sally’s book My Fourth Time, We Drowned exposed the incompetence and corruption in the EU’s treatment of the most vulnerable in society, desperate families crossing the Mediterranean and leaving poverty and war in African countrie…
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Luke Littler was magnificent as he reached the world darts championship final. On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe look at a special kind of sporting talent. They ask what Littler has in common with David Clifford, Wayne Rooney and Jesus Christ. Does it matter if Littler now fulfils his potential or is the beauty of sport about the joy he brought t…
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On today’s brand new episode, Joe and Dion intended to look back on 2023 and anticipate 2024. They celebrated the return of Ryan Tubridy and wondered if Jim McGuinness can pull off the same trick at Donegal again. But as they remembered those who died in 2023, Joe and Dion go on a meandering journey of their own. They talk about their memories of l…
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On today’s Free State, Joe is looking for America as he takes a belated honeymoon across the US. From Music Row in Nashville, Joe and Dion talk about the magic of country music and the endless possibility in America. They also ask what 2024 holds for Donald Trump and why he is also a product of the American dream. They also wants to know if there i…
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On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe select more of their favourite moments from 2023. They choose from their most enjoyable guests to those occasions where they bitterly disagreed. And, of course, the revelation late in the year about Joe and dogs. One of our highlights was the contributions of ‘Resting Bitch Face’ who to this day is hunting the ma…
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This week on Free State, Dion and Joe have selected their favourite moments from the first eight months of the podcast. From hallucinating ten Joe Brollys to the priest who thought one Joe Brolly was bad enough. There is also the extraordinary moment when Moneyball author Michael Lewis talked about how he kept going following the death of his daugh…
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Paul Howard and Roddy Collins are back for the second part of the Free State Christmas Special. Roddy remembers how he tried to take a bit of the Dublin southside culture back to the northside with predictable results. He also recalls his first encounters with Paul, then known as the Milky Bar Kid, and how a very young Paul Howard accidentally sabo…
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Roddy Collins and Paul Howard join Dion and Joe for the 'Free State' Christmas special. They explain how Medjugorje is a good place to go on the lash, their time on the road together with Steve Collins and the rise of the D4 accent. And Joe is surprised to discover that a place he thought was a figment of Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s imagination actually…
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On today’s episode, Al Foran recalls the good and bad in the celebrities he has encountered. He takes us inside the mechanics of creating an impression and talks about the movie greats from Brando to Denzel Washington. Dion also recalls a day in Barnsley when Roy Keane went full Joe Pesci. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat P…
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This week's Free State welcomes figures from politics, sport and entertainment. From Donald Trump to Katie Taylor to Tyson Fury, Al Foran has an unparalleled ability to make people feel as if they are listening, not to an impression, but to the person themselves. Al joins Joe and Dion to talk about making it in a new media world, how he has to inha…
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Why has Ireland caught the attention of Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk? In today’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at how the stability of the state can be threatened by the powerful preying on the public’s irrational fears. And, as Conor McGregor continues to rain hate down on innocent people, Joe considers if there is a different path. …
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What attracts people to conspiracy theories? In an uncertain world is it certainty or do they offer excitement missing in their lives? In today’s Free State, Joe and Dion enter the twilight zone, the fantasy land where Ireland is at war with the other. They look at what drives these theories, the anger of those who believe them and discuss one prev…
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How do we combat hate? What happened in the Dublin Riots was driven by far right agitators but how do we fight their message? Dion and Joe ask how should we treat those on the margins of the hate movement. Finland has become a world leader in combating hate and misinformation using a curriculum that starts when their kids are five years old. Turns …
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Last Thursday, Joe Brolly was returning to the Stardust Inquest when he witnessed the events unfolding on Parnell Square. On Free State today he talks about what he saw and how humanity and courage revealed themselves at this most frightening moment. Dion and Joe reflect on the riots that followed, how the hate movement needs to be dealt with and w…
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Five Derry girls went to the Stardust nightclub. Only four came home. How do people keep going when their lives change tragically in a moment? What is it that defines the human spirit? On today’s Free State Joe talks about the Stardust Inquest, the resilience of people in the worst of circumstances and the quiet heroism that has been revealed. Dion…
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What is more mind altering, a trip to Amsterdam or trying to track the lies and deception of the Tories in Britain? On this week’s Free State, Joe has all the information on a hallucinogenic trip - maybe too much information - in Holland. The Covid Inquiry, Suella Braverman’s propaganda and the return of David Cameron tell us everything about the B…
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When did ‘ceasefire’ become a dirty word? In the second podcast this week on the destruction of Gaza, Dion and Joe look at how language has been weaponised during the conflict. How did a desire for a ceasefire come to mean that you are, at best, hopelessly naive and, at worst, a Hamas sympathiser? The barbarity of what has been inflicted on the peo…
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Around the world people are marching in their millions for peace and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. On Free State, Joe and Dion have a difficult conversation about war, peace and propaganda which reflects the difficult conversations people are having everywhere. They ask why are these conversations so difficult and how did calling for peace becom…
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David Gough felt sure he would live a life where love was denied to him. But a poem changed his life. In part 2 of Free State, David Gough talks about the sliding doors moment in his life and how it changed everything. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG. For more on Free State: https://f…
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David Gough is the most famous and the best referee in Ireland. He grew up in a religious and staunch GAA family and like everyone he wanted to fit in. He was an altar boy and a Gaelic footballer but one day, when he was 15, he saw the front page of a newspaper and it changed everything. David is this week’s guest on Free State. He tells Joe and Di…
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During the rise of Sam Bankman-Fried, Michael Lewis got closer to him than anybody else. But the fall of the crypto baby gave the Moneyball author a different story. When people turned on Bankman-Fried, Michael Lewis knew they would turn on him too. In the second part of his interview on Free State, Michael Lewis talks about why he took on the stor…
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On this week’s Free State, Michael Lewis, the author behind Hollywood blockbusters Moneyball, The Big Short and The Blind Side, joins Dion and Joe. Michael's new book Going Infinite charts the rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried who within two years of discovering crypto was worth $22 billion. In the first part of a two-part interview, Michael talks…
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Where is the way out of the horror in Gaza? When the Shankill Road bomb killed ten people in Frizzell’s fish shop 30 years ago there seemed to be no way out of violence and destruction in the north. But a year later there was a ceasefire and by 1998 a peace process that was the envy of the world. It happened because world leaders like Bill Clinton …
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How much is enough? With the threat that things will worsen even more in Gaza, what will it take for those with influence to intervene. The US and President Biden are friends of Israel, as they should be, but now they need to be friends of Palestine too. What is stopping them? On this episode of Free State, Joe and Dion look at what might be needed…
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The world is watching as terror and suffering come to the people of Gaza once more. In this terrible war, there is also a propaganda war. This war is waged to distract and deflect from slaughter and genocide. After the savagery of Hamas on Oct 7th, there is an understandable need among Israelis for a response but indiscriminate attacks on Palestini…
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As Israel commits war crimes in Gaza, can anyone persuade the country’s government to stop the slaughter? On part 2 of this week’s Free State, Joe and Dion recall their own trips to Israel and their experiences in the country. It is a land where fundamentalism, hatred and fear have twisted all hopes for a peaceful existence. Within the country ther…
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The Israeli government - emboldened by politicians in the west - is committing war crimes. Gaza is a human catastrophe where the horrors will echo through history. There is a primal need within so many Israelis for action to avenge the horrific massacre of the innocents by Hamas. But how is the cycle of violence broken? In the bloodlust for revenge…
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In the second part of 'On Her Majesty’s Secret Service', Peter Taylor discusses the attempts of the British establishment to censor & intimidate him. He describes the central importance of the hunger strike and how it changed everything. He recalls a day spent locked in a cell in the dreaded H Blocks with a young Eamonn McDermott & marvelling at hi…
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