Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

Gold Hat Productions

Boost

Boost

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 original thinker with a fascinating backstory, who donated a kidney to a stranger and then led a crusade to transform organ d...

Remembering Giants: George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, and Aunt Susan's Extraordinary Life

George Foreman’s death robbed the world of one of the great sporting figures. It was also a reminder of a time when boxing ruled the world. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look back on the time when Muhammad Ali and Foreman were kings. And Joe remembers his aunt Susan who died this week and who lived an extraordinary life.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 ac

Mar 25, • 43:23

The Truth About Stakeknife: Legendary journalist Martin Dillon on the real stories of the Troubles

Martin Dillon knew Rosemary Nelson. He says he has only met a few people like her in his life. He describes her as someone with "overarching respect for human life". Nelson was a solicitor and in March 1999, she was blown up when a car bomb exploded as she drove to work. On Free State today, the legendary journalist Martin Dillon joins us to talk about the women whose lives were destroyed and lost during the Troubles. In his new book The Sorrow and the Loss, Dillon looks at the shadow cast by th

Mar 22, • 1:08:00

The Battle for Adolescence: How Conor McGregor and Andrew Tate Are Shaping a Generation

The former England football manager Gareth Southgate warned this week that “callous, manipulative and toxic influencers” are having a dangerous effect on the lives of young men. The Netflix drama series Adolescence has captured the public’s imagination because of what it says about the dangers of social media and the corrupting influence of certain figures who warp the brains of young people. Donald Trump, meanwhile, invites them to the White House. On Free State today, Joe and Dion explain why

Mar 20, • 40:45

Conor McGregor and The Burkes: Coming To America (Be Very Afraid)

Conor McGregor’s appearance in the White House for St Patrick’s Day was another insight into Trumpworld. McGregor was claiming to speak for Ireland while the Burkes went to Washington but were left to shout and roar outside. McGregor may seem to have no chance of running for president but Ireland would need to take heed of the forces that have brought Trump to the White House. On Free State today Joe and Dion look at the dark money that has bolstered the elites in Britain and the US. They d

Mar 18, • 46:06

Life and Death in the Ring. With legendary boxing writer Donald McRae

When Donald McRae was a young sportswriter, Hugh McIlvanney told him one night at a bar in Las Vegas that as he made a life covering boxing, “ambivalence will be your constant companion”. McRae found the romantic in boxing and particularly in boxers. He was drawn to fighters and trainers rather than promoters and advisers. His gifts as an interviewer meant that men like Tyson Fury revealed their vulnerabilities to him. But, as he writes in his new book, The Last Bell, even “the zealots grow wear

Mar 15, • 57:10

When Trumpish Eyes are smiling. Micheal Martin goes to the White House.

Micheál Martin walked out of the Oval Office feeling triumphant. He had left the lion’s den - or the bully’s lair - without humiliation. Donald Trump demands craven obedience and while history might look differently on those who humoured him, the Taoiseach wasn’t thinking about history. On Free State today, Dion and Joe ask if Micheál Martin had any choice but to laugh along as Trump played his hits? Was his responsibility to those in Ireland who depend on American firms for employment more impo

Mar 13, • 53:45

The trouble with Simon & Micheal. The end of Irish neutrality, the RTÉ/FF/FG pact and standing with Israel.

The Irish establishment is softening people up to sacrifice the country’s neutrality. But why? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how countries throughout history have been organised to prepare for war. They trade on anxiety and fear to push towards increased militarisation. Joe looks at Simon Harris’s recent interview with RTÉ about Israel and why the government is looking to retreat from whatever position it said it would take.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a

Mar 11, • 45:58

Colum McCann on Trump, Gaza and the secrets at the bottom of the ocean

Colum McCann won’t look back. His life as a writer has always drawn him to the edge. In an exhilarating conversation on Free State today, McCann talks about what is needed to change the world at this time of peril. He speaks about his new novel Twist and how the connected world we take for granted exists precariously in the darkness of the ocean. This new colonialism demonstrates why the real power today rests with the tech companies rather than any nation. With a mother from Derry, he rec

Mar 8, • 54:27

I Fought The Law (and the law lost): Kneecap, Roy Keane, and Steve Coogan. With Trevor Birney.

When Trevor Birney was arrested by the PSNI in 2018, he was thrown in a police cell and told an incredible tale. His documentary No Stone Unturned had named the man many believed was responsible for the Loughinisland Massacre in 1994. Birney was told by the police that this man’s business was being damaged by the documentary and for this reason they could charge him with breaching the Official Secrets Act. On Free State today, Trevor Birney tells the story of how he fought the law and won. He ta

Mar 6, • 53:08

Trumpworld: Hell for Zelensky, paradise for bullies, rapists and woman haters

Volodymyr Zelensky walked into a trap when he sat down beside Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday. He was surrounded by bullies who were emboldened by the knowledge that totalitarians around the world had their backs. Trump and JD Vance toyed with Zelensky, dismissing him as a weak man when he has shown more courage than they ever did. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at Trumpworld, the planet inhabited by the world’s worst men. The billionaire class - including Vladimir Putin - will

Mar 4, • 53:52

Shooting Crows - Trevor Birney on Mass Murder, State Collusion and Press Freedom

On the evening of June 18, 1994, Ireland stopped. At the Giants Stadium in New York, Ireland were playing Italy in the first match of the World Cup. Across the country, people were making plans to watch the game.In The Heights Bar in Loughinisland Co Down, the small community had gathered on a Saturday evening with the added excitement of the game. In Belfast and other places there were fears of sectarian killings, but not in Loughinisland. In Loughinisland, the Troubles were something that happ

Mar 1, • 48:52

Trump & the Gaza Riviera. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This

When Donald Trump shared an AI video of Gaza, the world responded as it often does to Trump’s behaviour, with a mixture of disbelief, shock, resignation and laughter. “Gaza 2025…What’s next,” read the caption before delivering a vision of what’s next. "Donald's coming to set you free,” the video’s song’s declared, “bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza's finally here.” There were no more Gazans either in the video as Trump relaxed on a lounger sipping cockt

Feb 27, • 38:45

From student priest to IRA commander. The momentous life of Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane.

Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane’s life could be a metaphor for The Troubles. When he was 16, Bik McFarlane left Belfast to train as a priest in North Wales for two years. But with the nationalist community under siege, he cut short his studies and joined the IRA. During the hunger strikes, he was the commander of the IRA in the H-Blocks, with the unenviable task of being the man whose duty it was to let Bobby Sands and others die. But this was not the whole of Bik McFarlane’s life. On Free State today,

Feb 25, • 50:03

The art of the deal. Donald Trump and his Charlie’s Angels.

It was a week when decades happened. By the end of it, Steve Bannon was doing a Nazi salute, as Trump continued his policy of siding with the strongmen and rewarding their acts of war and aggression. On Free State, Dion and Joe look at what comes next. As Germany prepares for elections this weekend, will there be a further sense that whenever things have hit rock bottom there is further still to fall. But what explains Donald Trump? Joe looks at the story of Trump’s election, the sycophant

Feb 22, • 48:28

The lonely death and burial of Joe Lynskey. From Cistercian monk to lover and hitman.

At the age of 16 Joe Lynskey joined a monastery with the intention of becoming a Cisterian monk. He spent six years in Mount Melleray monastery in Waterford but he decided to leave the order. He joined the IRA instead. He became a founding member of the Provisional IRA and the intelligence officer for the Belfast Brigade. They called him ‘the Mad Monk’ but he also reclaimed the youth he had abandoned to the monastery and pursued women. On Free State today, Joe and Dion tell the story of how Joe

Feb 20, • 34:30

The Disappeared. From 1920 to 1998. How the memory of the murdered has become a game of whataboutery.

The last episode of Free State ended with Joe and Dion arguing while guest Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc kept the peace. Today, they continue the conversation about how Ireland deals with the trauma of the wars fought on this island over the past 100 years. What would have become of Michael Collins if he hadn’t been killed? Would he have continued to simply be a fine finance minister as some Fine Gael politicians said or would he have taken a turn in another direction? Joe and Dion continue to

Feb 18, • 39:51

The Restless Dead: How the Irish establishment turned the good old IRA into a propaganda opportunity with historian Padraig Óg O’Ruairc

The story of the disappeared in Irish history is long and murky. Why are some of the tales wrapped up in myth and others part of the barbaric recent past? On Free State today Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc joins Dion and Joe to talk about his book The Disappeared. Dion and Joe turn on each other as they interrogate the past and examine these tragic stories. Why do the restless dead haunt Irish history and what is needed for a proper reckoning with the darkest acts of the past?Free State with Joe Brolly and

Feb 15, • 1:07:34

The Shamrock My Father Wore - For God, Ulster & Elon. How the Irish far right embraced loyal Ulster.

As Elon Musk and Donald Trump take control in America, what is the consequence of resistance? Musk campaigns against the unelected bureaucrats even though he is unelected too. Meanwhile he delivers dog whistles and simple fascist salutes for the far right. But what does it matter in Ireland? On Free State today we look at the international network supporting the far right movement in Ireland north and south. What is its purpose and who is behind it? There’s also an attempt to see if Deep Seek ca

Feb 13, • 49:09

America’s War Game: How the Super Bowl Became a Weapon of Mass Destruction.

On Sunday evening, Donald Trump became the first sitting American president to attend the Superbowl. His attendance, in the eyes of many, sealed the union between American Football and American Nationalism. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how the NFL became part of the US war machine. From Vietnam to Iraq, the sport embraced militarisation but insisted that sport and politics should never mix. At the same time, Britain escalated the wearing of a poppy from a muted tribute to war dead i

Feb 11, • 39:26

Conquering Hill 16. Paddy Cullen & the Dublin revolution

There are times when, as a great writer said, the past beats inside us like a second heart.The death of Paddy Cullen was, for so many people, one of those moments. It transported them back to the days of Heffo’s Army and the rivalry with Kerry which were the foundation for a million sporting dreams.On a Free State Special, Joe remembers the Paddy Cullen he knew, a member of that Dublin team who weren’t just extraordinary players, but exceptional men.He recalls his encounters with Paddy Cullen an

Feb 8, • 40:04

Assassinating Peter Robinson: How an IRA hired hitman almost took out the DUP hardliner. With Unionist historian Aaron Edwards.

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 unionism’s 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 ta

Feb 6, • 44:21

The Decline of the Loyal Family. How Ulster Protestants were sold out by their leaders. With Unionist historian Aaron Edwards.

CS Lewis wrote that there would be no better to place to live than Northern Ireland ‘if only I could deport the Ulstermen’. 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 defea

Feb 4, • 45:25

Joseph O’Connor: Free State Special

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 O’Connor 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 O’Flaherty who led that resistance i

Feb 1, • 1:13:53

Is there a world after Gaza?

When President Donald Trump said he wanted to ‘clean out’ 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 Mishra’s new book The World After Gaza and what it means. They also consider the response to President Higgins’ speech at the Holocaust Memorial

Jan 30, • 57:38

Poitín for dogs, cows and Gaelic football. The launch of Starship Gavin & the alcoholic Alsatian

What does giving poitín 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 Gavin’s 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

Jan 28, • 47:33

Storm Eowyn and the silencing of Joe Brolly

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 Eowyn’s 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 Ni

Jan 25, • 49:11

MAGA with a fada - Michael Lowry, Micheál Martin and how corruption won the best seat in the 34th Dáil.

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. Micheál Martin called it a ‘subversion of the constitution’. But Micheál 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 an

Jan 23, • 57:35

Donald Trump, Making America Great Again Again.

As Donald Trump spoke about pursuing America’s ‘manifest destiny into the stars’ 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 isn’t 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

Jan 21, • 42:03

Say Nothing? Gerry Adams, Jean McConville and the Price sisters. How Disney turned a tragedy into a cartoon.

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 isn’t history at all? On Free State today novelist Timothy O’Grady joins Dion and Joe to talk about the flaws in Patrick Radden Keefe’s

Jan 18, • 1:03:53

Chris Mullin, a very unBritish coup. How an Englishman saved six Irishmen & transformed modern Britain in the process.

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

Jan 16, • 46:57

The lonely crusade of Chris Mullin. The man who freed the Birmingham 6 and planted a bomb under the British legal establishment.

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

Jan 14, • 48:33

How to Get Ahead in Horseracing, Gaelic football and journalism. A Free State Saturday Special

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

Jan 11, • 1:25:12

Another Bloody Sunday: Bono, saving the world one song at a time

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. “In America, the land of the free, we saw in the past election that freedom is universally valued but not universally defined,” Bono said as he

Jan 9, • 46:50

Enoch Burke or Bono? The choice is yours.

Last weekend at the White House, Joe Biden bestowed America’s highest civilian honour on a group of what he called “truly extraordinary people”. "Let me just say to each of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you've done to help this country,” he added. Shortly afterwards, he placed the Medal of Freedom around the neck of one of those “truly extraordinary people” - Bono. But is there a parallel universe where Bono would have turned down the medal, appalled by the US’s support of the ge

Jan 7, • 53:11

Luke Littler, Donald Trump and the Death of the American Dream

We’ve 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 O’Toole in the West End with Jeffrey Bernard. The boys also look at Luke Littler’s 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

Jan 4, • 1:18:14

We are the champions. A journey into the minds of multiple All Ireland winners

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 they’ve hosted, Philly McMahon and Ger Brennan. While Joe’s mother also has some words of encouragement for Dion.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion

Jan 2, • 1:32:46

Jimmy Carter, Rebirth and Drink. A Free State New Year’s Eve Special

On New Year’s Eve, Dion and Joe call a temporary ceasefire. Joe talks about Lola’s 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

Dec 31, 2024 • 55:22

Colm Tóibín: Free State Special

Colm Tóibín is one of Ireland’s 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 can’t talk about it with users in America. He also talks about becoming one of Oprah Winfrey’s favourite writers as well as a Tik

Dec 28, 2024 • 1:01:47

Free State St Stephen’s Day (or is it Boxing Day?) Special

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.

Dec 26, 2024 • 53:35

Free State Christmas Eve Special

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.

Dec 24, 2024 • 1:30:57

Eoghan Murphy: From Idealist to Fine Gael’s Minister for Homelessness. A Free State Saturday Special

When Eoghan Murphy became minister for housing, he wanted to change everything. He wanted to declare housing an emergency. He wanted a constitutional right to housing. He got neither as the conservative elements won out. Instead he became the face of the housing crisis, the minister for homelessness. On a Free State Weekend Special, Eoghan Murphy talks to Dion about failure and dealing with pressure. He breaks down as he remembers the darkest moment when politics turned him into someone he didn’

Dec 21, 2024 • 1:06:15

Fantasemitism. Israel, Ireland and why when everyone is an antisemite, no one is.

In 2018, the Israeli foreign ministry summoned Ireland’s ambassador in the country to their offices. Ireland was debating the Occupied Territories Bill so the ambassador was ‘reprimanded’ and told the legislation was ‘hypocritical and antisemitic’. This week Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar described Simon Harris as ‘antisemitic’ as Israel closed their embassy in Dublin. On Free State, Dion and Joe look at what this slur is designed to do and why it has been so effective in silencing the c

Dec 19, 2024 • 54:33

Tax Breaks, Horseracing, Greyhounds and the GAA: Where Do Ireland’s Priorities Lie?

How important is the GAA in Irish life? How important is it to our politicians? Is it something they cherish or does it provide merely a photo opportunity and a chance to act as if they care? On Free State, Joe and Dion look at the Revenue Commissioners’ probes into county boards. Everyone should be tax compliant but what does the treatment of small sums of money tell us about how the GAA is really valued.Joe looks at the tax breaks given to other sportspeople and the money that has come the way

Dec 17, 2024 • 35:13

The moral dilemma of Luigi Mangione, CEO killer. Hero or villain?

Luigi Mangione was eating a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania when an employee recognised him and called the police. Mangione was arrested and subsequently charged with the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson. Google had to take down bad reviews of the McDonald’s where he was turned which flooded the internet. Mangione has become a folk hero to many, a social bandit taking up the cause of the oppressed and exploited in a world where they are forgotten. In the US, half a millio

Dec 12, 2024 • 45:58

Rebel without a clue. The curious schizophrenia of Michéal Martin

Micheál Martin will be Ireland’s next Taoiseach. He returns to the most important position in Ireland at a critical time in Irish life.But during the election campaign he spoke about how the IRA waged a war ‘on its own people’. What does this tell us about his worldview and how he views the north? On Free State, Joe and Dion disagree about Micheal Martin’s comments and what they reveal about the man. Joe looks at why the origins of the Troubles dispute Martin’s statement. Dion rev

Dec 10, 2024 • 51:33

The true cost of being Conor. Conor McGregor & the race for our young men.

In the court where he faced Nikita Hand, Conor McGregor had money but he didn’t have power. On the streets where some continue to idolise him, McGregor still has power. On a Free State Weekend Special, Joe and Dion look at the fight for those who are influenced by McGregor and the work being done by many to offer another way. The decision to award costs to Nikita Hand following the verdict in the high court case was another blow to McGregor. Joe considers the judge’s ruling and why there is litt

Dec 7, 2024 • 46:13

Parenting with Joe & Dion. With contributions from Jim Gavin & Greg Wallace.

Over the past 18 months Free State has wrestled with the big issues in Ireland and across the world. But today they confront the most intractable of them all: how to get a crying baby to sleep. Reluctantly Joe shares some of the old Brolly secrets about how to soothe an infant in distress. What does Joe Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden tell us about the morality of world leaders? They also consider what’s next for Jim Gavin. A man who can persuade a GAA Congress to do exactly what he wants is capa

Dec 5, 2024 • 53:02

Pardon Me, President Biden & what the election results tell us about Ireland

The General Election was a glorious example of democracy at work. Ireland showed that it is a place where ideas are debated, policies fiercely contested and, at the end of the counting of votes, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael remain in power (and the far right crash). On Free State today Joe and Dion look at what the election results tell us about Ireland. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are on the verge of returning to power but are they now just the Irish Political Party? While other parties want th

Dec 3, 2024 • 51:06

“Great question Miriam. And thank you for asking it.” A Free State election eve special.

More than a million people tuned into RTE’s final election debate and if he could Simon Harris would have thanked every one of them. Instead he thanked Sarah McInerney and Miriam O’Callaghan for every question as he tried to recover the ground he has lost. Harris’s encounter with the woman in Kanturk Charlotte Fallon has defined the election campaign. But what has really led to Fine Gael’s slump? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at what the establishment parties took for granted durin

Nov 28, 2024 • 52:37

Conor McGregor for President 2025. Make Ireland Great Again.

Conor McGregor believes he lives in a world without rules, a world where he hears only the laughter of his entourage and answers to nobody. Like Andrew Tate, he is mainstreaming misogyny and violence to an audience of young men who idolise him. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the world McGregor lives in and how he came to believe the law doesn’t apply to him. McGregor has boasted about running for president. Will the verdict in the court case make any difference to his appeal? Or

Nov 26, 2024 • 46:52

Should RTÉ be independent? Or is free speech a thing of the past? Free State Weekend Election Special

How does RTÉ influence politics in Ireland? During an election campaign dominated by photoshoot which are just government press releases on camera, is power being questioned as it should? On Free State today, Dion and Joe ask what does press freedom mean in Ireland? They argue about Sinn Féin’s independent review into RTE’s coverage of Gaza. Joe also looks at the history of censorship by the establishment in Ireland, while Dion learns that the Dungiven WhatsApp group have been keeping an eye on

Nov 23, 2024 • 46:25

What Has Britain Ever Done For Us?

When Paul Mescal said meeting King Charles was ‘not on his list of priorities’, some were appalled. We should be thanking the British not booing them, one commentator said. On Free State today, Dion and Joe argue about what the British have ever done for us. Why is the history of Empire still concealed from so many? And do we all have a reckoning with history? History remains with us too. The British colonisation of Palestine isn’t in the past as the Israeli government have c

Nov 21, 2024 • 52:19

The Godfather, the Garda commissioner & the McGahon dynasty. Another Free State Election Special

What does the selection of John McGahon as a general election candidate tell us about Fine Gael and their attitude to power? On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the controversy, what it tells us about Irish politics and how power has been acquired in Ireland through the generations. Will people continue to vote as their forebears vote or has that vanished in Ireland today? Joe also considers the new Derry manager and why the professional managerial cartel could spell doom for the GAA.Free

Nov 19, 2024 • 48:40

The Monk’s Manifesto, abolishing extradition and winning the egg and spoon race: A Free State Election Special

What are the election candidates’ favourite biscuit? Who is the best runner? Who can pour the best pint? Given the photo ops that have marked the election campaign so far these would seem to be the issues convulsing Ireland. On a Free State Saturday special, Dion and Joe ask if these stage managed stunts are what will decide the election. Or will the issues that matter to people like housing and the cost of living take over? Joe reveals the contents of The Monk’s election manifesto, includi

Nov 16, 2024 • 54:15

Hello Again Mary Lou. Part 2.

What is Mary Lou McDonald’s vision for a United Ireland? On the second part of a Free State Special, Mary Lou McDonald talks about the Ireland she believes in and the 32 county country she imagines.With half a million new voters added to the register this year, McDonald outlines how she wants to change Ireland. She explains what led Sinn Fein to alter their policy on immigration and why the far right protestors were not disenchanted Sinn Fein voters. Mary Lou also talks about her difficult

Nov 14, 2024 • 42:11

Hello Mary Lou. A Free State Special with the leader of the opposition, Part 1 (no hamsters were harmed in the making of this podcast)

Mary Lou McDonald is promising change but will Sinn Fein be able to deliver? On the first Free State election special, Mary Lou McDonald joins Dion and Joe for a major podcast interview.She talks to Dion and Joe about the challenges facing her party and why she believes the media is hostile to Sinn Fein. Will Dion indulge in ‘IRAing’ or are these legitimate questions to be asked of the leader of Sinn Fein? When does IRAing come to an end and normal politics begins? When it does wi

Nov 12, 2024 • 42:24

Rick Perlstein on Donald Trump and the Dukes of MAGA. A Free State Saturday Special

When historian Rick Perlstein is asked what awaits America under Donald Trump’s second presidency, he quotes Clubber Lang in Rocky III - Pain.On a Free State Special, Perlstein talks to Dion and Joe about the long rise of the right in the US. Through his books Nixonland and Reaganland, Perlstein has chronicled the Republican Party and their journey to the world beyond truth.He tells Dion and Joe how Trump is now ready to take full control of American democracy and what will happen to that democr

Nov 9, 2024 • 51:27

Trump’ll fix it for you, and you and you…

How do you destroy democracy and will anyone notice if it happens in America? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how Donald Trump became US president again. Was it the economy, stupid, was it the weakness of Kamala Harris or did America embrace the hateful elements Trump has tapped into.Joe Biden’s role in Trump’s return can’t be overlooked. What will Trump do with the power which is coming his way and which he is ready for this time. Are there any warning for Ireland in what has happened

Nov 7, 2024 • 48:53

The Last US Election? Donald Trump & Project 2025

America gets ready to vote but what is really at stake? Kamala Harris doesn’t have a radical plan to tackle the inequality that plagues America. Donald Trump might have a radical plan, but it looks a lot like fascism. On Free State Dion and Joe look at the polarisation of America, Trump’s Project 2025 plan which attacks democracy at its heart and why Trump might not care about the polls. Joe also reveals a letter to his new baby from a surprising sourceFree State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning

Nov 5, 2024 • 44:49

The Perilous Life of the Penis (and associated scandals)

What drives people to behave recklessly? What is it that motivates men to send dick pics without a thought to the consequences? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the anatomy of scandals and how they unfold. They move on to disagree about the developments in the Brian Stanley affair. They also consider the new drama Say Nothing and argue about the damage it may or not do to Sinn Fein.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG

Oct 31, 2024 • 43:04

Sinn Féin set to lose seats as their part in the assassination of JFK revealed. And Mary Lou denies involvement in the crucifixion of Jesus.

Are you happy with the Ireland you live in? Are you happy with the Ireland your children are going to grow up in? When the General Election is called, it won’t be a parlour game, but a chance to shape Ireland for the better. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the media coverage of the crises that have engulfed Sinn Fein and how it affects the opportunity for change. Will the election be shaped by these issues or will the need for radical change in housing, health and education dominate? W

Oct 29, 2024 • 25:23

Free State Interviews: Dion talks to author Roddy Doyle

Roddy Doyle is the great chronicler of Dublin in our time. On the latest Free State special, he talks to Dion about working with Roy Keane, the housing crisis and an encounter in a toilet with Liam Gallagher. Doyle’s new book The Women Behind the Door has been nominated for an A Post Irish Book Award. Doyle talks about his long journey with the main character Paula Spencer from the seminal series Family to today. He remembers the abuse he and his mother received at the time. He also explains why

Oct 26, 2024 • 1:05:36

Sinn Féin ate my hamster

What is at the heart of the media response to the Sinn Fein ‘omnicrisis’? On Free State today, Joe and Dion debate the coverage of Sinn Fein. Is it just a new form of IRAing, a way of denying Sinn Fein a platform to talk about how they would change Ireland or are these serious issues being covered seriously by the media.Joe argues that the talk of glove puppets and unseen controllers insults those in the north who have voted and relied on Sinn Fein, while Dion believes there are legitimate quest

Oct 24, 2024 • 28:36

The Day of the Dead

The world is divided into the bereaved and unbereaved. On Free State today, Dion talks about the death of his mother, the enduring pain of loss and how some sadness has deepened with time. Dion and Joe ask the question we all will face-how do we keep going when death visits us? They talk about the rituals we have to cope with death and they also make up after a weekend falling out.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG Productio

Oct 22, 2024 • 40:35

Johnny Sexton. Part 2. House of Pain

What is the difference between winning and losing? In 2023, Ireland lost another World Cup quarter final to New Zealand, but was this different to their other failures? In the second part of the Johnny Sexton interview, he talks to Dion and Joe about how Ireland had only one goal in 2023 and what failure felt like. He speaks about other obsessives, the agonies he put his body through and why he responded so well to the black and white philosophy of Joe Schmidt. Sexton explains why loyalty w

Oct 17, 2024 • 36:03

Johnny Sexton. Running into brick walls. Part 1

What drove Johnny Sexton? What did he have that separated him from other players?On a Free State Special, one of the world’s great rugby players joins Dion and Joe to talk about obsession, falling out with people and Irish rugby culture.He explains why telling the truth in his autobiography was difficult and he gets to the bottom of a story involving Tadhg Furlong and duck eggs.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG Productions.For more o

Oct 15, 2024 • 40:36

Free State Interviews: Dion talks to author Robert Harris

"Almost nobody in the world who has ever got power has wanted to lose it,” author Robert Harris tells Dion during this special episode of Free State. Harris was once a political journalist and he became close to Tony Blair but absorbed the change in Blair as he moved from everyman to a messianic figure. Dion and Harris discuss what drives politicians and how they are different from the rest of us. Dion also solves a mystery that has bothered him for nearly 20 years.Free State with

Oct 12, 2024 • 58:33

Genocide Pictures, in association with Hollywood studios present: How Israel saved Gaza

In 2002, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the US congress as the drums for war in Iraq beat louder and louder. “If you take out Saddam I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region,” Netanyahu said. He supported the decision to invade Iraq. “The choice of Iraq is a good choice, it’s the right choice.” Netanyahu was horrifically wrong but he had established his credentials with the neocons. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how the Israeli government ha

Oct 10, 2024 • 34:52

Making genocide respectable. How the Western media colluded with Israel.

Since the horrors of October 7, Israel has waged war on the people of Gaza with genocidal intent. The slaughter now has spread to Lebanon with the west offering little but hollow words and repeating the mantra that Israel has the right to defend itself. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how it reached this point and how the media has failed not only Palestinians but the world. There’s also the latest in parenting with Joe Brolly and the tragedy of Aidan O’Shea.Free State with Joe Brolly and Di

Oct 8, 2024 • 48:48

Embracing Racism: Fine Gael’s Plan To Win the Election

If you are building a bike shed in the Oireachtas or the new children’s hospital, Ireland is a good place to live. But what about those marginalised who ask: what does Ireland stand for? Whether it is Gaza, Lebanon, housing or asylum seekers, the ruling elite recoils from action that would have meaning.On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how Ireland is entering a dark place, unable to resist the impulse of right wing movements across Europe of blaming the country’s problems on immigrants an

Oct 3, 2024 • 34:30

Surviving a newborn, Lebanon burning & how Kristofferson beat the Devil.

How do you reason with a 13-day-old baby? On Free State, Joe deals with the after effects of a night trying to soothe an unsoothable newborn while Dion feels like he’s taken a role in Falling Down. They look at Israel’s attack on Lebanon. Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of the country. Will the west do anything to stop them after the sickening failure to stop the slaughter in Gaza? They reflect too on the death of Kris Kristofferson, a singer of integrity with a relentle

Oct 1, 2024 • 43:55

What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?

In one of the most personal episodes of Free State, Joe talks to Dion about his childhood growing up surrounded by violence and trauma. He talks about how it shaped who he was as a TV personality and a barrister who wanted acclaim and recognition. But too much was never enough so he reached a point where he knew it would have to change. He speaks honestly about the decision to seek help and how even then he wanted to manipulate the situation. Instead he found a new way of looking at life an

Sep 26, 2024 • 44:04

Parenting with Joe Brolly

Today’s Free State is the podcast you didn’t know you needed. Joe provides tips on nappy changing, getting babies to sleep and dealing with the unreasonable demands of a newborn baby. Joe was in Belfast last week. He saw the families protesting over the Legacy Act lay out the shoes of their loved ones. It was an act of memory and honour. It was a reminder of the trauma endured by so many. Dion and Joe also reflect on last week’s episode and an extraordinary message from the son of William Strath

Sep 24, 2024 • 35:18

Mona Lisa: John Finucane, the man behind the mask. Part 2

When the British government announced a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, the news was met with the same noises from the usual chorus. On Free State, Joe tells the real story of the Finucane family, a story of a mixed marriage and children raised to be non sectarian. Pat Finucane was murdered in 1989, a brutal time in what Heaney called ‘the man-killing parishes’ that Northern Ireland had become. Joe and Dion argue about what it means to speak honestly about those times. Joe accuse

Sep 19, 2024 • 50:46

Mona Lisa: John Finucane, the man behind the mask. Part 1

On Free State today we celebrate life. Joe spent the weekend on the maternity ward and he speaks with joy and wonder about the experience of being present as a new life come into the world. He is equally in awe of those who work in hospitals and provide guidance and inspiration during the darkest hours before the dawn. One of those who contacted Joe this week was John Finucane. John Finucane watched loyalist terrorists murder his father when he was eight years old in 1989. Joe reflects on his fr

Sep 17, 2024 • 36:22

Trump, Kamala and two nice Jewish boys

Donald Trump was undermined by his own narcissism in his presidential debate. Kamala Harris took him apart with a lawyer’s precision. On Free State, Joe considers how he would deal with Trump in a debate but also how the genocide in Gaza is being normalised. Dion and Joe look at the story of the Two Nice Jewish Boys podcast and how they joked about ‘erasing’ Gaza. What does it tell us about the human condition when two ordinary Israelis can speak like this? What does it tell us about suffering w

Sep 12, 2024 • 49:02

Poisonous Patriotism: Lords, Anthems & broken lives

The Tánaiste Micheál Martin condemned the booing of God Save The King by Irish fans before Ireland played England on Saturday. The Daily Mail called for England manager Lee Carsley to be sacked before the game because he said he wouldn’t sing the anthem.On Free State today, Joe and Dion wonder why this plastic patriotism is indulged and why real patriotism can transform a country. Dion was at the Aviva on Saturday. Joe can’t understand why he was there - or why he doesn’t get better seats.

Sep 10, 2024 • 43:01

The coal man’s son

What is more rewarding? Winning or glory? If you are Donald Trump or the modern GAA coach then nothing matters except winning. But can we as Trump said, get tired of winning? Is the story of the coalman’s son, Tommy Loughran, the moment when people had enough? On Free State today, Joe and Dion talk about the decision to give a marking job on Tommy Loughran to two players in an U-14 match. Why has Gaelic football gone this way? Joe doesn’t believe the suggested rule changes will save it and

Sep 5, 2024 • 38:58

From Elon to Enoch: The entrepreneurs of hate

Enoch Burke is in jail again. He is unwavering in his beliefs but is he a pawn in other people’s games? On Free State, Dion and Joe look at foot soldiers like Enoch Burke and what they are doing for their beliefs. Brazil has banned X as they attempt to protect their country. Elon Musk insists free speech is the cornerstone of democracy but is free speech on social media, the instrument that will destroy democracy while promoting fascism? Joe is not an Oasis fan. He recalls the night he tried to

Sep 3, 2024 • 48:26

Will they ever get tired of walking backwards? Kicking the Brits out, Part 2

On August 31, 1994, the Provisional IRA announced that “there will be a complete cessation of military operations. All our units have been instructed accordingly”. It was a statement that brought joy, tears and relief to so many in Northern Ireland who had endured violence. So much that would follow came from the ceasefire and the delicate negotiations that brought it about. As the 30th anniversary of the ceasefire approaches, Joe and Dion consider the people who made that possible, the role of

Aug 29, 2024 • 46:07

Kicking The Brits Out, Part 1

More than 30 years ago, Bill Clinton said he still believed in a town called Hope. At the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama said hope is making a comeback. Is this just a tagline for a bad movie or if Kamala Harris was elected would she make a difference in Gaza and in fixing structural inequality in the US? On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the choice in the US presidential election and ask if it is a choice at all. They also ask if there is a chance of real change in Irela

Aug 27, 2024 • 43:05

Keep a light at the window. The rise and fall of Douglas Beattie

When Doug Beattie sank a bayonet into Taliban fighter during a hellish fight for survival in Afghanistan, he could never escape his actions. Yet the trauma of killing also brought an empathy that was missing in other unionists leaders. On Free State today Dion and Joe look at the fall of Doug Beattie. Joe recalls his day with Beattie when he talked emotionally about how it feels to take a man’s life. They consider how a life marked by conflict at an early age, shaped a leader until he was u

Aug 22, 2024 • 48:03

Tommy guns, car chases & All Irelands. The life and times of a great Irish man.

Funerals matter in Ireland. They are an expression of community. On Free State today, Joe recalls the extraordinary life of Colm McCusker and why his funeral told so much about the man. Colm McCusker was 91 when he died and he didn’t waste a minute during a life packed with love and family, but also car chases, tommy guns and All-Irelands. Joe also prescribes a surprising cure for Dion’s boredom.This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% of

Aug 20, 2024 • 39:32

Drinking with Loyalists, Part 2. Conor McGregor is not at war. While he sails his yacht in the Med, it’s your kids who go to prison.

As people are sentenced to years in prison for their part in the riots, what is the real purpose of the pogroms? There are those who will say it is a cry for attention from the dispossessed but what do those in control want? On Free State, Dion and Joe look at how countries are being destabilised by astroturf movements designed to seem like community-driven groups. They explore the funding of those like Tommy Robinson who encouraged riots while in a five star hotel in Ayia Napa. They ask why the

Aug 15, 2024 • 54:43

Drinking with Loyalists, Part 1. Ulster (and Coolock) says No

At their best, the Olympics represent all that is good about humanity. For Ireland the Olympics brought an outpouring of spontaneous joy and happiness, at least until the homecoming parade. But the hate and fear that is being weaponised across Ireland and Britain won’t be combated by two weeks in Paris.On Free State, Dion and Joe discuss the far right pogroms and what needs to be done to stop them. While communities have stood up for the marginalised, the Coolock Says No leaders are drinking wit

Aug 13, 2024 • 40:58

The surprising truth about Pat Spillane, part 2

For Pat Spillane, the golden years with Kerry were about a lot more than winning. The game for him was, in Danny Blanchflower’s words, about glory. It was also, sometimes, about holidays. On part two of his conversation with Joe, Pat recalls the brilliance of Mick O’Dwyer, how he motivated a team of geniuses and the lock-ins across the north that were a central part of Kerry’s challenge matches.This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off

Aug 8, 2024 • 39:01

The surprising truth about Pat Spillane, part 1

This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20Free 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.

Aug 6, 2024 • 39:20

Celebrating Sam with the Orangemen: Part 2

From Croke Park to the Olympics, the boys of Armagh have been making their mark. Like Daniel Wiffen, Joe is a former pupil of St Pat’s in Armagh and naturally he has his own accomplishments to add to the honours board. Including one few people felt they needed to know. Joe also explains why Armagh’s All Ireland is so important and considers how much credit Kieran McGeeney deserves for the triumph.This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% o

Aug 1, 2024 • 37:12

Cups, cops and complainers. Celebrating Sam with the Orangemen

Unforgettable things have happened here. These words were used to describe the history of West Cork but they also could be a fitting description of the history created in Croke Park by Armagh. But some people don’t see it that way. On Free State today, Joe and Dion ask why certain unionist politicians can’t lead.In Armagh a PSNI officer faces sanction for flying an Armagh flag from his patrol car. This was a joyous act which would be unremarked upon nearly anywhere else. Why are unionist le

Jul 30, 2024 • 47:15

The Boys from the County Armagh. Some Orangemen have culture.

Is there hope for America and the world if Kamala Harris becomes president? Or is the deterioration in the US terminal? On this episode of Free State, Joe talks to Dion about the Joe Biden he knows, how he can never forgive him for what is happening in Gaza and why Biden resisted leaving for so long because he knows no other life outside politics. There is a now a chance that Donald Trump will be defeated but there are more important orangemen on Joe’s mind this week. Ahead of Sunday’s All-

Jul 25, 2024 • 48:44

The GAA is more important than money. For everything else there’s Mastercard.

America has Donald Trump’s Republican convention; Ireland has the All-Ireland hurling final. America has Hulk Hogan; Ireland has Tony Kelly. On Free State, Dion and Joe discuss the cultural importance of the All-Ireland final. What is it that makes hurling compelling? Why is sport at its most powerful such an important unifying force? As Joe Biden departs, America is more divided than ever. On All-Ireland final day we are reminded of what connects us, it is a day when even Cork people are welcom

Jul 23, 2024 • 35:42

Big hair, bowler hats & bonfires. Can Orangemen survive the modern world?

As tricolours burned on the bonfires in the north before the Twelfth of July, the Irish far right stayed silent. What does that tell us about their allegiances?Why are there so many Israel flags flying in loyalist areas in the north? What does that tell us about their allegiances?On Free State, Dion and Joe look at what is next for unionism as their world shrinks. How much longer can they be defined by what they don’t like? And, after the GB News live coverage of the Twelfth, the boys wonder who

Jul 18, 2024 • 35:17

Crosshairs and Crossbars: Trump’s Close Call & Southgate’s England Misfire

Across Ireland, people celebrated when Spain beat England in the Euros final. Even Dion was happy, but a few were appalled at the carry on. On Free State today, Joe and Dion wonder why people are still policing celebrations and examine England’s failings, cultural and sporting. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump has been called a crossroads for America. The reality is different. There may be no turning back for America. Joe and Dion discuss why Joe Biden can’t win the election. Those wh

Jul 16, 2024 • 36:55

Never say never again part 2. What we talk about when we don’t talk about Joe Biden

When Keir Starmer visited Northern Ireland, it was a moment when it was possible to believe that things will start moving again. Casement Park will be built, maybe in time for the Euros in 2028 and the childish stunts of the recent past might not be tolerated with Hilary Benn as Secretary of State. Joe talks about why it’s important to distinguish between a politician like Gregory Campbell and honourable unionists. Joe explains why the SDLP would run a candidate against Sinn Fein even if it

Jul 11, 2024 • 35:48

Never say never again, part 1. The fall of the House of Paisley (and Harte)

In France, the far right have been rejected. In Britain, the Conservatives are gone. Keir Starmer visited the north this week and there is a new hope in Ireland that change is coming. But what about Derry? In Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the fall of the House of Paisley (and Mickey Harte). What do the election results tell us about Northern Ireland? And Joe explains why the election of one MP signals the end of the old destructive ways of doing politics.This episode of Free State is sp

Jul 9, 2024 • 41:32

And then there were four, part 2. The football factory - how science is replacing humans with robots.

Sport is too important to fall into the hands of cultural vandals. The death of Mícheal Ó Muircheartaigh was a reminder of the role sport plays in Irish life.Nothing elevates a community like sporting joy and community is central to all that is good in Irish life. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how sport has been turned into a commodity. From Buenos Aires to Bellaghy, sport has had the joy removed. Who, apart from Mickey Harte, is to blame?This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscape

Jul 4, 2024 • 30:59

And then there were four, Part 1: The last days of the Dublin empire.

What is wrong with Gaelic football? Joe insisted that Dion watch the All Ireland quarter finals last weekend and will he ever forgive him? On Free State, Joe reflects on the decline and fall of Dublin and explains what they need to do next. Joe and Dion also remember Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Joe recalls his days training with him in Dublin. They also ask a critical question in these troubled times: when were white shoes first worn in Mayo?This episode of Free State is sponsored by

Jul 2, 2024 • 45:41

Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Derry, from Death Row to Croke Park. Part 2

What is your greatest fear? How much do we all dread humiliation? Derry were humiliated three times in the championship but are still alive. They’ve been to the bottom. Now, the only way is up and they have nothing left to fear. On Free State today Joe and Dion look ahead to Derry’s game against Kerry and what may be another upset. Are Derry now All-Ireland contenders? Could Kerry be upset by another northern team. And Dion explains why, as a member of the Kerry diaspora, he doesn’t need to

Jun 27, 2024 • 31:44

From death row to Croke Park. Derry, Mayo and milking the cows in Killala Part 1.

How much credit does Mickey Harte deserve for Derry’s win over Mayo? On Free State, Joe tells Dion how Derry pulled off what many felt was the shock of the season. Was it really a shock? Joe didn’t think so and neither did the local rat catcher in Mayo. Dion wonders if Mayo are like the Scottish football team but Joe explains why they’re more like England. And who are the snipers Mickey Harte is talking about?This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.

Jun 25, 2024 • 36:40

The Irish Elections: How the elites persuade sheep to vote for wolves.

At the American Ambassador’s residence in Dublin last week, there was an extraordinary event. Many of the main architects of the peace process gathered to talk about how it was done and what the world can learn from it as the horrors of Gaza continue. Joe was among the invited audience and it reminded him of a time when politicians were serious. On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the recent election results. What do they mean for Sinn Féin and the country? As Nigel Farage hijacks the

Jun 20, 2024 • 1:06:50

Jungle Book. The essential survival guide for Gaelic footballers. Featuring Brian Mullins and an All Star cast

Will Joe be wearing a half and half scarf when Mayo play Derry? On Free State, Joe explains to Dion why he will be desperate for a Derry win when the two counties play. He remembers his many memorable encounters with the great Brian Mullins, one of which ended with Joe promising to seek professional help. He didn’t follow up on this promise.This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20Free State

Jun 18, 2024 • 38:51

Mickey Harte, football manager. Oh Lord it’s so Harte to be humble, Part 2

As Derry fall apart under Mickey Harte, what are those closest to the squad saying? Who else - if anyone- is responsible for the fall in recent months? On Free State, it’s Mickey Harte week with a forensic analysis of where it went wrong at Derry and if anything can be done to save their summer.Dion also triggers Joe by mentioning a name that may upset him even more than Mickey Harte. A beautiful partnership hangs by a thread…This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://ww

Jun 13, 2024 • 29:36

‘Oh Lord, it’s so Harte to be humble.’ Part 1

Who will Mickey Harte blame next? Was it inevitable that it would fall apart at Derry? On Free State today, Joe and Dion talk about the fall and fall of Mickey Harte. Joe explains why Harte is an intruder in the county and how it went to pieces. They look at why the Derry County Board have betrayed the values of the GAA by bringing Harte in. But a county like Offaly with their rock ‘n’ roll U-20 hurlers have captured its essence.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Productio

Jun 11, 2024 • 31:50

The unbearable agony of Palestine. Part 2. With Gideon Levy

Gideon Levy says he is an Israeli patriot. But he is a patriot in a land where truth is seen as treason. In Part 2 of his Free State interview, Gideon Levy provides a frightening insight into Israel today. As Israeli government censorship looks to silence the truth about Gaza, he tells Joe and Dion what happens to those who write honestly about the plight of the Palestinians. He talks about how in Tel Aviv recently, a woman on the street called him a traitor. And he explains why the r

Jun 6, 2024 • 34:50

The unbearable agony of Palestine. Part 1. With Gideon Levy

When Gideon Levy was a teenager growing up in Israel he was devoted to the ‘nationalistic religious orgy’ in the country. Today, as a journalist working for Haaretz, he has been described as the ‘most hated man in Israel’. His fearless determination to record the suffering of the Palestinians has seen him banned from reporting in Gaza by the Israeli government since 2006.On a two part special, Gideon Levy joins Dion and Joe on Free State. He talks about how, even as the atrocities mount in Rafah

Jun 4, 2024 • 35:15

Big Bad Bill. The greatest captain of them all. Captain Class Part 4.

As a young man, he fled the racism of Louisiana. His father could take no more: violence or exile was the next step. He began what at first was an unpromising basketball career before becoming the most inspirational leader in the history of the NBA.On the final part of The Captain Class, Joe and Dion look at the extraordinary life of Bill Russell. Russell was the man who shaped the Boston Celtics even as he was being racially abused by his own fans. He had no interest in fame or the trappings of

May 30, 2024 • 37:58

Are Leinster cursed or just losers? What causes great teams to become serial failures? Captain Class Part 3

When Leinster missed a drop goal in the final seconds of the European final were they just unlucky? Or were they, like Mayo, missing chances or losing three finals in a row because something fundamental was missing? On Free State today, Joe and Dion continue their exploration of the great teams and captains in sport.Is team spirit just an illusion glimpsed in victory or is there another reason why these team succeed and others experience relative failure? They look at what the great te

May 28, 2024 • 48:46

The Roy Keane Conundrum - The Captain Class Part 2

Roy Keane drove Manchester United and Ireland on through the force of his personality. He was the most important player in Alex Ferguson’s side but was he a man apart or the invisible essence of the team? On Free State today, Joe and Dion debate Roy Keane and where he belongs in the captain class. They look at those who led a different way, who didn’t let heart attacks or jibes about being a water-carrier stop them leading.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in a

May 23, 2024 • 36:22

The Captain Class Part 1

What is it that unites the greatest teams in sport?What is the factor that ensures a team remains successful over a prolonged period?When the American journalist Sam Walker began to study the greatest teams in sport, he found a common denominator that shocked him.On Free State today, Joe and Dion discuss Walker’s book The Captain Class and the individuals who drove the greatest teams, even if, in one case, it resulted in his testicle being ripped out.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning i

May 21, 2024 • 34:08

Winners & Losers

The Ulster final was a study in winning and losing. A perfect example of the question everyone in sport has wrestled with for generations: what makes one team win and another team lose?What makes one team confident as they reach the dying moments of a game while another becomes tense, tight and anxious?What separates Dublin from Mayo or Donegal from Armagh? What distinguishes Alex Ferguson from David Moyes?On Free State today, Dion and Joe look at the difference between winning and losing. Joe t

May 16, 2024 • 46:51

Superman. An American football story. Joe Klecko, quarter back killer

Joe Klecko always had mayhem on his mind. Klecko, the legendary defensive linemen for the New York Jets, is regarded as the strongest man in the history of American Football.When Joe Klecko was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he invited Joe Brolly to Cleveland to be part of the event.On Free State today, Joe Klecko talks to Joe about his life on the front line of the most demanding sport of all. But it came easy to a man who once wrestled a bear and another time pulled the doors off Burt Reynold

May 14, 2024 • 31:47

Roger Casement Part 2. The Mission.

Roger Casement’s executioner described him as ‘the bravest man it fell to my unhappy lot to execute’. In part 2 of a special Free State on Casement, his biographer Roland Philipps explains the doomed and heroic final act of Casement’s life when he was driven by an obsessive desire for Irish freedom. He talks to Dion and Joe about the love affair which helped to condemn an impractical romantic. If Roger Casement’s life had ended after he had exposed the barbarity in the Congo, he would

May 9, 2024 • 39:43

Roger Casement And The Temple Of Doom Part 1

When Roger Casement was hanged in Pentonville Prison in 1916, he died an Irish hero and a traitor to the British Empire.On Banna Strand in 2016, President Higgins described Casement as “not just a great Irish patriot, he was also one of the great humanitarians of the early 20th century”.On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the many lives of a man who so impressed a tribe of cannibals with his courage that they didn’t eat him. Casement’s lives were varied, and some of them were secret,

May 7, 2024 • 34:31

Jimmy’s Winning Matches (Again)

What drives Jim McGuinness? Why does he inspire such devotion and how does he command such loyalty?On Free State, Joe explains his own complicated relationship with Jim McGuinness.In a world where GAA managers are conformist and conservative, McGuinness is a man apart. Is this why he was able to dismantle Derry? And Joe reveals what he was shouting at Mickey Harte from the stand.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free Stat

May 2, 2024 • 44:10

Anyone For the Last Few Choc Ices? The Life and Turbulent Times of Christy Moore. Part 3

Christy Moore has been a giant in Irish life. In the final part of the Free State special he talks to Joe and Dion about the songs and the people who have guided him along the way.He plays the songs whose success surprised him and he talks about the ones that were censored. What word led the BBC to ban ‘St Brendan’s Voyage’? How did a review of ‘The Time Has Come’ lead to it being taken off the airwaves? He also tells the extraordinary story of how he was given the lyrics to ‘Back Home In D

Apr 30, 2024 • 37:16

They Never Came Home. The Life and Turbulent Times of Christy Moore. Part 2

When the Stardust Families were on their own, Christy Moore stood with them. On Part 2 of the Free State Special, Christy Moore remembers the dark days of the tragedy in 1981. When Christy found himself in court in 1985 charged with contempt because of one line in his song about the fire ‘They Never Came Home’, the Stardust Families stood with him. Christy also talks about the impact his father’s death had on him and the rest of his family. He also turns the tables on Joe and has a few ques

Apr 25, 2024 • 30:35

Don’t Forget your shovel if you want to go to Tulsk. The life and turbulent times of Christy Moore. Part 1

Christy Moore has been the voice of the nation for more than fifty years.Christy has been on the side of the underdog, called out the establishment and has never taken a backward step. In the first part of a Free State special, Christy Moore joins Dion and Joe to reflect on his extraordinary life. Christy recalls his own parents’ time in politics, his involvement with the hunger strikers and why he still finds a live show such a special and unpredictable place.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion

Apr 23, 2024 • 46:00

United Ireland or Bust? Part 2

When it comes to a united Ireland, economists might know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Except they’re not even sure of the price. On Free State, Dion and Joe consider the report which said a united Ireland could cost €20 million a year for 20 years and look at all it didn’t say.Are these numbers being used to scare voters in the south by an establishment which fears becoming irrelevant in a united Ireland? Or do they show the need for a conversation that everyone can be part

Apr 18, 2024 • 46:09

United Ireland or Bust? Till debt do us part.

Ireland’s new Taoiseach Simon Harris says he belongs to a generation more familiar with Berlin and Paris than Belfast or Derry. To the Irish citizens of Belfast and Derry, it may have been a surprise but not a shock to hear the Taoiseach speak of them as if they were a strange and distant people. Or maybe they’ll be relieved he didn’t say Londonderry.On Free State today, Joe and Dion talk about a united Ireland. Ireland is the only country with a constitutional aspiration for unity so why do the

Apr 16, 2024 • 35:43

Jurgen Klopp, Mickey Harte and the real glory in the GAA

The power of the GAA is best seen when the people who are its lifeblood support a cause. The sense of a community united for the greater good is what makes the GAA different and special. On Free State, Joe and Dion talk about how the GAA makes a difference and why it contrasts with the one-way street of fandom in the Premier League. Joe explains the importance of the 65 Roses Day, the Fundraising Day for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, and the phenomenal work the charity is doing. Joe also explains why

Apr 11, 2024 • 40:02

The GAA & The Wall Of Love. Birth, life, death, funeral expenses & why an English statistics professor was “blown away”

The Late Late Show special on the GAA demonstrated what makes the association special. The people and the communities are where the real glory is found in the GAA, not in the fleeting fame of All-Irelands A UK academic currently studying the GAA spoke of how the association ‘blew his mind’. On Free State today, Joe talks to Dion about how it felt to be back in RTÉ for the Late Late, his Eoin McLove moment and the ties that bind GAA people in life, death and everything in between.Free State

Apr 9, 2024 • 32:29

Trading My Soul: Part 2

They were “young, dumb and full of c**”. The ambitious young men who became traders in the city of London would have been drug dealers if they grew up where Gary Stevenson grew up. And the drug dealers would have been traders if they’d gone to the same public schools as the people he worked with in Canary Wharf.On Free State today Gary Stevenson tells the story of how these insanely ambitious young men have shaped the world we all inhabit. He tells of one trading floor boss who was literally bar

Apr 4, 2024 • 38:48

Trading My Soul: The Man Who Blew Up the Financial System

Gary Stevenson was once the most profitable trader in the world for one of the planet’s biggest banks. He was a working class boy from east London who grew up in the shadow of Canary Wharf. He then went to work in the skyscrapers that had loomed over him and promised him escape.Gary made a fortune. But as he made that fortune, he realised that the game was rigged. On Free State today, Gary Stevenson joins Joe and Dion to talk about his stunning book The Trading Game, his journey to the top of Ca

Apr 2, 2024 • 34:35

MIGA: Simon Harris, Making Ireland Great Again

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 Dion explain why it requires more than tub thumping about taking back the flag to make Ireland great again. And why Harris’s coronation as Fine Gae

Mar 28, 2024 • 42:04

Politicians, pundits & parakeets. Leo Varadkar and his anticlimactic rise & fall

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 departure tell us about the problems in Ireland today? And is the fate of a parakeet marooned somewhere in England another example of how the trivial

Mar 26, 2024 • 33:30

‘Davy Tweed, bloody mother fucking asshole.’ Part 2

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 utterly alone. She talks about how that changed. How Tweed crumbled as the survivors took him on in court and in the community. Amanda explains why she

Mar 21, 2024 • 41:48

‘Davy Tweed, bloody mother fucking asshole.’ As told by his step daughter Amanda Brown.

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 explains what connected the public figure Davy Tweed to the private monster.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in associati

Mar 19, 2024 • 34:47

Dreaming of Emma Little-Pengelly

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 future doesn’t have to be a nightmare. In the spirit of fearlessness, Dion shares with Joe a dream he has - not a nightmare - and immediately regr

Mar 14, 2024 • 41:18

Ceili dancing, cúpla focal & the clash of the sash. The conversion of the DUP

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.When Little Pengelly visited St Paul’s GAA club in West Belfast, it was not just an important gesture, to those who know the history of the area and th

Mar 12, 2024 • 33:07

“The Bloody Protestants” Part 2: Northern Ireland’s Match of the Day…

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 public inquiry. This on the day the inquest was told that surveillance of a leading suspect had mysteriously been suspended on the day

Mar 7, 2024 • 36:28

“The Bloody Protestants” Part 1

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 thought Brexit was a good idea for the north and who want to stop Casement Park.They also remember Maisie’s Garden Centre whose human rights were trampled

Mar 5, 2024 • 37:23

Ulster says No to Casement Park: Part 2

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 ways when the GAA found itself billed below the Pigeon News and topless darts. Those days are gone and as Jarlath Burns takes over the GAA presidency, Joe

Feb 29, 2024 • 31:10

Ulster says No to Casement Park: Part 1

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 redeveloped stadium will be a shining beacon on the hill in Belfast. A sign of progress and reconciliation. Is this why it angers some people so much?Like the

Feb 27, 2024 • 46:18

RTÉ The Musical: Part 5

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.RTE’s future is a story that is much bigger than the national broadcaster. It’s not just about the media but about who governs Ireland.For more on Fre

Feb 22, 2024 • 40:45

RTÉ The Musical: Part 4

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 and journalists in RTE were censored during the Troubles. Dion and Joe disagree about Section 31 which banned Sinn Fein from television and radio.

Feb 20, 2024 • 40:10

And God gave his only son Bono to the world. Part 2

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 process sandwich?For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See

Feb 15, 2024 • 33:11

And God gave his only son Bono to the world. Part 1

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 explains why her censorship represents another nail in the coffin for the modern U.K.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touc

Feb 13, 2024 • 36:38

Ulster Says YES - Part 2

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 for Bryson now that politics isn’t working out.Joe and Dion disagree about the media in the south’s response to Michelle O’Neill’s election, while Dion

Feb 8, 2024 • 34:25

Ulster Says YES - Part 1

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 journeys to this point. It is a moment of real significance where history may now become just that - history. It is a moment where Ulst

Feb 6, 2024 • 39:27

KNEECAP Part 2

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 was so recently suppressed.Dion also finds a strong reason called Conor Bradley for a border poll. And things get heated when the lads discuss Israel an

Feb 1, 2024 • 35:53

KNEECAP Part 1. Get your Brits out for the lads. Kneecappings, Klopp & Gerry Adams on ketamine.

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 rise of Kneecap and what it tells us about a community in the north that is confident, daring and not afraid of winding up the humourless.They also look at

Jan 30, 2024 • 33:44

SuperValu GAA: Part 2

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 also discuss the proposal that a future United Ireland should join His Majesty’s commonwealth. Fasten your seatbelts…Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion F

Jan 25, 2024 • 37:49

SuperValu GAA: Brands are burrowing into the GAA’s culture. If they are not checked, soon they will become the culture.

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 GAA protect what is precious?Joe also describes his day at the All Ireland club finals, his meeting with President Higgins and the president’s an

Jan 23, 2024 • 36:09

Who wants to be a (Swiss) billionaire? Part 2

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 people have been persuaded that the problem is the refugee child looking for shelter in a Roscrea hotel. The real problem lies elsewhere and sport is

Jan 18, 2024 • 39:15

Who wants to be a (Swiss) billionaire? From Ireland..

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 socialists could complain.On Free State today, Dion and Joe discuss JP McManus, false philanthropy and wonder if he wouldn’t be better off simply paying h

Jan 16, 2024 • 47:42

The Lonely Crusade Of Sally Hayden, The African Queen, For Those Seeking Refuge on the World's Deadliest Migration Route

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 countries.Sally reports from some of the most dangerous places in the world yet seems oblivious to danger. From Ballinrobe to Rosslare, hearts are hardening an

Jan 11, 2024 • 1:01:44

Bullseye: Luke Littler, the 5 year old grandmaster, the baby Jesus & other child prodigies

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 this winter?Joe is also intrigued by cheating in chess and wonders about the various uses for anal beads.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is

Jan 9, 2024 • 42:40

Review of 2023. Gaza, doubting priests, disloyal managers, Irish funerals & a fairytale ending

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 life and loss. They remember those who passed away in 2023 like Hughie Russell, Liam Hinphey, Shane MacGowan and Johnny Flaherty as they reflect o

Jan 4, 2024 • 57:17

Blazing Saddles: A country music odyssey through Trump land

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 is merchandising potential in Mickey Harte condoms.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For

Jan 2, 2024 • 38:38

Best Of ‘Free State’ Volume 2

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 man who named him.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://frees

Dec 28, 2023 • 35:37

Best Of ‘Free State’

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 daughter Dixie LeeFree State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestat

Dec 26, 2023 • 38:55

POSH Part 2: with Paul Howard, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly & Roddy Collins

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 sabotaged Stevie Collins European title fight and kept the secret for over 25 years.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in

Dec 21, 2023 • 45:10

POSH: The tongue twisting world of Dublin 4 with Paul Howard, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly & Roddy Collins

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 exists.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodca

Dec 19, 2023 • 41:20

Deep Fake, The Many Masks Of Al Foran: Part 2

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 Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com&

Dec 14, 2023 • 43:16

Deep Fake, The Many Masks Of Al Foran: Part 1

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 inhabit the people he mimics and what links Christopher Walken to Eamon Dunphy.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in ass

Dec 12, 2023 • 39:15

Fantasy: Ireland is in flames. Reality: Ireland is not in flames

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.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/T

Dec 7, 2023 • 41:01

The Twilight Zone (An Imaginary World Where Ireland is At War)

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 previously unknown fact uncovered by the conspiracy theorists: Did you know that Joe Brolly wanks dogs?Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is

Dec 5, 2023 • 38:12

In Dublin's Fair City

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 out kids don’t hate “others” unless they have been taught to hate them.Why can’t the same happen in Ireland?Free State with Joe Brolly and Di

Nov 30, 2023 • 45:27

God save Ireland, said the heroes - Dublin Riots

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 why Conor McGregor has nothing to offer Ireland.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more

Nov 28, 2023 • 38:31

Derry Girls

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 and Joe talk too about Hillsborough and the fight for justice when the British establishment tried to smear them. They look at the state of the British

Nov 23, 2023 • 37:19

The Thick Of It

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 British establishment. Joe also can’t tell the difference between Dion and a humanoid just out of its box.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is

Nov 21, 2023 • 49:54

Wounded Child No Surviving Family - Part 2

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 people of Gaza by the Israeli government is changing that view but too slowly. Is this why those like Barack Obama who speak in riddles prosper. Joe offer

Nov 16, 2023 • 54:28

Wounded Child No Surviving Family (WCNSF)

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 become such a risky thing to do?Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: htt

Nov 14, 2023 • 1:10:32

The Secret Life Of David Gough Part 2: Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

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://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 9, 2023 • 26:20

Blue Moon. The Secret Life Of David Gough

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 Dion about his journey. Joe also tries to get David to apologise for the yellow card that led to his sacking from RTÉ, with surprising results…Free State

Nov 7, 2023 • 31:24

The Unbearable Lightness Of Living. Michael Lewis talks life, love & the death of his beloved daughter Dixie Lee.

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 story and what kept him going.In May 2021, Michael Lewis’s daughter Dixie was killed in a car accident in California. Dixie was nineteen years old. H

Nov 2, 2023 • 41:38

Who wants to be a billionaire? The rise and fall of crypto king Sam Bankman Fried

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 to Joe and Dion about why sport in America has become as violent as it was for gladiators in the Roman Empire and why he would give up sex

Oct 31, 2023 • 40:48

Netenyahu And The Coffin Of Peace

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 and Tony Blair were resolute in working with those who wanted peace. Unfortunately today in Gaza, the leaders in the U.K. and US have turned their fac

Oct 29, 2023 • 1:14:05

The Nuclear Tiger And The Hungry Alleycat

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 for peace and how it was lost a generation ago with catastrophic consequences. There is also a moment of light relief when they consider the sliding d

Oct 26, 2023 • 1:03:55

Oh What A Lovely Genocide

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 Palestinians will not destroy Hamas. On Free State this week, Dion and Joe discuss how Israel is breaching international law, anti semitism and why Joe Bi

Oct 24, 2023 • 1:05:35

The Israeli Death Star: The Tragedy Of Palestine, Gaza and Israel

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 there are voices, even after the horrors of October 7th, calling for restraint. The Hamas slaughter was their 9/11 but the lesson from history is that a ne

Oct 19, 2023 • 1:02:45

Dancing Among The Corpses

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, sane voices in Israel and around the world are being drowned out.On the first part of a two-part Free State this week, Joe and Dion look at how ange

Oct 17, 2023 • 59:49

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - Part 2

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 his book collection. “How can an IRA man read Tolstoy & Hardy?” he asked. “An IRA man is just a man like any other” said McDermott. He

Oct 12, 2023 • 30:35

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Late in the night following Bloody Sunday, a young reporter arrived in Derry. ‘If you want to know what’s going on here,’ John Hume told him, ‘he’s the person you should be talking to you. He’s called Martin McGuinness’. It was the first time this young reporter called Peter Taylor had heard the name. For 50 years Taylor made establishing the truth in the north his goal. He talked to everyone.Peter Taylor is this week’s guest on a two-part special on Free State. From IRA leaders suspecting

Oct 10, 2023 • 46:12

Fellas! Are you having any fun?

In the end, Pat Gilroy will remember the fun more than the winning. What is sport for except those moments shared among a team that will never be forgotten? In this episode of Free State, Joe and Dion talk to Pat about what is being lost in sport as backroom teams swell and clubs and counties are being drained of finances by professional management teams who have no bond with them. Pat recalls the words of Kevin Heffernan as he reminded him of what their club St Vincent’s was all about

Oct 6, 2023 • 35:25

Derry Boys: Mickey Harte & The Caravan Of Fools

When the news broke that Mickey Harte was the new manager of Derry, some accepted it as part of how the modern GAA operates. But for others it struck at the heart of the GAA. In a powerful and emotional episode of Free State, Pat Gilroy is back with Joe and Dion to talk about Mickey Harte and loyalty. What is the GAA about? What do we want? Is the association becoming a sham, where there are more barter accounts than at RTÉ?Are the old ideals of loyalty, amateurism and doing good for i

Oct 3, 2023 • 31:22

Hate. The Shit Magnificent Seven - Part 2

Matthew Collins was dead inside. This is where hatred led - to a library with mothers cowering in fear, sheltering from an attack from his far right group. The sound of hatred was the sound of a pregnant woman crying and begging for mercyHis life changed that day when he realised that violence is always where hatred leads. Hatred of asylum seekers, Jews, people of colour, the trans community, Muslims, librarians…anyone will do. In Part Two he talks to Dion and Joe about the violence and why

Sep 28, 2023 • 31:05

Hate. The Shit Magnificent Seven - Part 1

Once upon a time, Matthew Collins would have been standing with the mob outside Dáil Éireann erecting gallows and spitting hate. This unexceptional teenager fell under the spell of older Neo Nazis and became, in his own words, a vile violent hater, who wanted nothing more than to smash someone, anyone, in the face with a hammer.Matthew joins Joe and Dion on Free State this week for a two-part interview. He explains why he once had those feelings, the hold the far right have over their suppo

Sep 26, 2023 • 31:20

Unquiet Graves - Part 2: Smiling Like You’ve Never Been Gone

For the families of those murdered by security forces collusion, the truth was all they had left.In Part II of Unquiet Graves, Joe and Dion look at the fight for truth from the families affected by the Legacy Bill. The truth would not set them free but it would provide some peace. It would honour the memory of the dead. They hope to see them some day, walking in, smiling like they’ve never been gone.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.

Sep 21, 2023 • 36:56

Unquiet Graves - Part 1

The past lives in everyone traumatised by the Troubles. The Legacy Bill has layered misery and anxiety on top of suffering and injustice. For the families who are haunted by the graves of their loved ones, the Act will bring only silence. The families want the truth about the past, the truth about state collusion and murder.On Free State, Joe and Dion look at the stories of those families whose lifelong search for justice is in peril. They explain why the Legacy Bill was a death rattle of Britis

Sep 19, 2023 • 36:12

Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Boys - Part 2

With around 35% of people north and south supporting the Sinn Fein movement, Dion & Joe wonder why there isn’t a single person from a Republican background in the mainstream Irish mediaOn Part 2 of ‘Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Boys’, we discuss how change is coming in Ireland and why politicians will be followers not leaders. Also can Joe Brolly be persuaded to agree with himself?Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Fre

Sep 14, 2023 • 29:03

Wrap The Green Flag Round Me Boys - Part 1

Is ‘Ooh Ah, Up the Ra’ the best the Irish establishment can do in the face of the existential threat posed by Sinn Fein? In the week that Michéal Martin said Sinn Fein were “infecting” the people of Ireland, Dion and Joe discuss the FG/FF Culture wars against Sinn Fein. They reflect on the family dynasties that replaced the British in Ireland: WT Cosgrave in his top hat, Charlie Haughey on his stallion. And there is a special bonus for our Fine Gael listeners…Free State with Joe Brolly and

Sep 12, 2023 • 31:21

Who says there’s no talent in Longford?

Is the Rose of Tralee a national embarrassment or does it represent something precious? On this week’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at Irish culture and what makes it different. There’s also Pele’s (and Joe’s) lack of concern about erectile dysfunction as well as a cost busting alternative to Viagra.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/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestate

Sep 5, 2023 • 52:25

Roddy Collins Is A Wanker - Part 2

In Part Two of Roddy Collins is a W****r, Roddy Collins talks to Joe and Dion about his failed attempt at an IRA hold up as a teenager, his days going AWOL with Vinnie Jones and the love story that has shaped his life.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/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.comTwitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See a

Aug 31, 2023 • 34:56

Roddy Collins Is A Wanker - Part 1

Don’t mess with the Cabra boys. In the first of a two-part interview, Roddy Collins joins Dion and Joe on Free State. He talks about the confidence trick they played on Chris Eubank, the deeply superstitious middleweight champion of the world. He remembers growing up in Cabra, his uncle Terry, Reggie Kray, banjoeing ‘The General’ Martin Cahill and much more.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepo

Aug 29, 2023 • 36:15

Death On The Mediterranean

Stalin said one death is a tragedy, a million deaths are a statistic. On Free State this week, Dion and Joe discuss the tragedy of tens of thousands drowning in the Mediterranean. They wonder how we lost touch with our own humanity and why people fall for the same tricks of hate peddled for centuries. They also ask why did four of our own MEPs vote against a resolution that would have ramped up search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean?Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is

Aug 22, 2023 • 1:00:50

Hate, Housing & Happiness - Pat Gilroy’s Roadmap to Utopia

Fresh from Dublin’s triumph in the All Ireland final, Joe and Dion welcome an old friend back to Free State. Pat Gilroy returns to talk about why the most vulnerable have always been a target throughout history and why inequality is at the root of society’s problems. Pat also explains what a GAA World Series would look like and outlines his radical solution to the Dublin housing crisis…Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Fr

Aug 15, 2023 • 43:43

Don’t Cry For Me, Falkland Islands

Donald Trump continues to demonstrate how reality can be hijacked by lies. This week Dion and Joe look at how America and Britain have been lost to populism while wondering why the Falkland Islands are more loved in Britain than Northern Ireland. Joe also undertakes not to sue his own podcast…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/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.

Aug 8, 2023 • 45:45

Unleash the superhero within: How to become a multi millionaire, a wonderful lover and a complete a**hole.

Can you sustain an orgasm for 15 minutes? Joe and Dion help you unleash the superhero within and they disagree about the power of the mind. Joe also remembers a fiery encounter with Enda McNultyFree State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/To get in touch with the podcast: info@freestatepodcast.comTwitter: @dionfanning @JoeBrolly1993 @freestateirl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor

Aug 1, 2023 • 42:29

The Surprising Truth About Champions feat. Philly McMahon & Ger Brennan

What makes a champion? Philly McMahon and Ger Brennan talk to Joe and Dion about what they were prepared to do as they helped to shape that great Dublin team. Philly tells the extraordinary story of his father’s life on the run while Ger explains why he was drawn to the priesthood before taking another path. They speak about hate and glory and the power in finding a thing - whatever it is - that is bigger than you.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in associatio

Jul 25, 2023 • 1:16:31

RTÉ The Musical - Act 2

You’ve got to pick a pocket or two...You can say what you like about Ryan Tubridy but do not question his soul, his love for the decent people of Ireland and, in particular, the decent people of Louth. In Act II of RTÉ The Musical, Joe and Dion look at the evidence the Toy Man, his agent Noel Kelly and the RTÉ executives provided to the Oireachtas committees. They also extend an invitation to Ryan Tubridy…Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association wi

Jul 20, 2023 • 52:20

RTÉ The Musical - Act 1

Show me the (taxpayers) money...What does the RTÉ scandal tell us about Ireland? Joe and Dion explain why this was always about more than Ryan Tubridy’s salary. The Late Late Show’s decline from the glory days of Gay Byrne shows how RTÉ has been captured and why it can’t be a public service broadcaster and an advertising agency at the same time.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/To

Jul 18, 2023 • 47:00

The Inglorious 12th

Do you know the words to The Sash? Is it culture or hate that sees effigies of politicians including Leo Varadkar burned on bonfires? This week Joe and Dion discuss the Twelfth of July, the role it plays in the siege mentality of the DUP and how to change it. Also is it better for RTE to have Gregory Campbell on the airwaves or Noel Kelly’s clients? And Dion finally persuades Joe to talk about cricket.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMc

Jul 11, 2023 • 52:39

The Sportswriter

Richard Ford, the Pulitzer Prize winning author, joins Joe and Dion on this week’s Free State.Before he became a novelist, Richard was a sportswriter. He talks to Dion and Joe about why he will defend America when people attack it, his views on President Biden and an extraordinary and hilarious encounter with Muhammad Ali in 1969.We also find out what happened to Joe’s own unfinished Great Irish Novel, a novel inspired by the works of Richard Ford.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a

Jul 3, 2023 • 59:43

The Ultimate Gunfighter

Humans have always been drawn towards violence but is there a limit to the licence to thrill? Violence has always been a part of sport but now with events like Power Slap, sport is a tiny part of violence. Where will it end? Dion and Joe welcome back an old friend and ask, as Saudi Arabia takes over sport, could public executions one day become a pay per view event?Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://fre

Jun 26, 2023 • 50:53

The Headless Men

What happens if you speak out against the tribe in Unionism? Is there only free speech for Catholics in Northern Ireland? Joe and Dion argue about commemorations and discuss the Irish language and the secret meeting Joe attended with concerned Protestants. Also do people in the south need to do more to make unionists welcome?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/To get in touch with th

Jun 19, 2023 • 44:55

Our Friends in the North

Dion and Joe debate and disagree about friendships and links between the north and south. They recall some fascinating incidents from the Troubles, including the forgotten heroism of Major Mike Guerin of the Light Air Defence regiment of the Royal Artillery, a real life Bruce Willis. And if a young man gets an excruciating tattoo after losing a bet in Vegas, you might think he would do it for a greater cause than Joe Brolly. Dion also reveals that some of his best friends are Protestants.Free St

Jun 13, 2023 • 29:33

The Reverse Cowgirl

How do you achieve the perfect orgasm without a sexual partner? What precisely is the reverse cowgirl? Where can you buy an orgasmatron? Dion & Joe explore these crucial questions. They also look at how a tiny group of Eton posh boys hijacked the U.K., handed out billions to their pals and used an entire kingdom as their reverse cowgirl. As a bonus, Joe gives an apology masterclass. Enjoy.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For mor

Jun 6, 2023 • 59:09

Searching For God

What does it mean to confront addiction? Do we still have a stereotype when it comes to imagining what somebody with a drink problem looks like? This week Dion and Joe talk about drink and what is left when you drain the pool. Dion takes Joe through his own story of recovery and explains why war stories are for amateurs.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/To get in touch with the pod

May 30, 2023 • 37:38

The Roman Catholic Breeders Association

Birds do it, bees do it, but nobody does it like northern catholics, even the educated ones. Once again the demographic changes in the north have been framed in terms of a trope that Catholics are out breeding Protestants. In this week’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at the history of the Unionist view of Catholics in the north, how it fed into the south and why it persists. Also, why would anyone want to randomly hit Joe Brolly?Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Productio

May 23, 2023 • 55:02

The Lonely Passion of Patrick Gilroy

Before Dublin became the greatest Gaelic football team ever seen, they were the best known failures in Irish sport. Pat Gilroy was the manager who turned Dublin around. He joins Joe and Dion to talk about his years at Trinity with Joe, the players he wanted to dump who went on to become multiple All-Ireland winners and why he disagrees with Joe on the importance of psychology in sport. He also explains why they had to hand out pictures of Seán Cavanagh in the Dublin dressing room.Free State with

May 16, 2023 • 50:03

The Trouble With Supremacists

What unites the US Republican Party, Brexiteers and the DUP? This week, Joe and Dion look at the magical thinking that has replaced reason among those who once believed they were born to rule in Washington and London - and how the DUP showed them the way. Behind the three-word slogans, the bluster and the demonisation of minorities, what insecurities are driving the supremacists? And what would your reaction be if, as Joe once did, you answered the door to the Reverend Ian Paisley?Free Stat

May 9, 2023 • 59:30

Curb Your Enthusiasm Father

If you were offered a lift on Air Force One would you take it? Joe talks to Dion about his time with Joe Biden in Ireland and the extraordinary empathy shown by the president when visiting end of life patients at the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. He also gives some fascinating insights into what happened behind the scenes during the president’s visit. Finally, brace yourself for a cringeworthy & hilarious encounter between Brolly and a priest in Dublin City centre. No wonder Dion calls him Larry D

May 2, 2023 • 35:48

Ooh Aah, Up Which Ra? - Part 2

In the second part of Ooh Aah, Up Which Ra, Dion and Joe wonder what being honest about history really means and if Ireland wants to be Austria or Germany. Joe talks about Martin McGuinness and how many people were angered by what he wrote after McGuinness’s death and he also recounts an eye-opening experience at an Old Firm game.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/To get in touch wi

Apr 25, 2023 • 41:23

Ooh Aah, Up Which Ra?

When the Irish women’s football team qualified for the World Cup, their achievement was overshadowed by a video of them singing ‘Ooh Aah, Up the Ra’. In this week’s episode Dion and Joe talk about why the song triggered such debate and if there are double standards involved, not just when certain groups are criticised and others aren’t, but in talking about the IRA itself. What does the issue tell us about Irish identity and how we understand our history? And Joe and Dion find they can agree on

Apr 18, 2023 • 38:14

The Nigerian Prince

Charles Anyaegbunam had a privileged upbringing in Nigeria as a Nigerian prince. His first meeting with Joe Brolly took place either during an escapade around Ireland or an escapade around Florida. He talks to Dion and Joe about his son, the rapper Rejjie Snow, his own view on racism in Ireland and the time himself and Joe tried and failed to buy the Jacksonville Jaguars.Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https

Apr 11, 2023 • 47:51

The Optimism Muscle

Do you know where to find your optimism muscle? In this week’s episode Joe and Dion look at how the 21st century has become a factory and why a banal uniformity has invaded so many areas of life, including sport. With stories of John Morrison, Eamonn Coleman, Stan Bowles, Phil Lynott & Thin Lizzy, Dion and Joe wonder if all that was missing from their lives was an attitude of gratitude? Joe also explains his quest to find that optimism muscle...Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fannin

Apr 4, 2023 • 37:02

Smile Or Die

Everybody wants to be happy but what if simply wanting to be happy is as crazy as simply wanting to live on Mars? In the first episode Dion and Joe examine how vulnerable people have been exploited by wellness gurus and in a time of uncertainty why those who offer easy and misleading answers have thrived. There's also an exiting executive position in the sporting world to discuss...Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free S

Mar 28, 2023 • 43:23

This is Free State Podcast

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

Mar 16, 2023 • 0:31