The European Network

Ireland EU50 Podcast - Patrick O'Riordan

Welcome to The European Network’s Ireland EU50 podcast. In this series we will be complementing our collection of articles that have been published over the last 18 months on The European Network website that celebrate 50 years of Ireland in the European Union. Today our guest is Patrick O'Riordan. Patrick is Head of Public Affairs at the European Parliament in Ireland and in his article for The European Network’s EU50 series [https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/ireland-eu-50-eu-me-five-reflections-on-ireland/] Patrick discusses how we Irish seem to be able to embrace bigger ideas of who we are without losing anything. We all move seamlessly from being passionate Dubs, to diehard Munster or Leinster supporters to proud Irishmen and Irishwomen without being any less of the former. Patrick believes that we shouldn’t hesitate to embrace our European identity as much as our Irishness. This series is presented in cooperation with the Irish Foreign Ministry as part of the ⁠Communicating Europe Initiative⁠ [https://www.ireland.ie/en/eu50/communicating-europe-initiative/].

Ireland EU50 Podcast - James Candon

Welcome to The European Network’s Ireland EU50 podcast. In this series we will be complementing our collection of articles that have been published over the last 18 months on The European Network website that celebrate 50 years of Ireland in the European Union. Today our guest is writer and political commentator James Candon. A self-confessed Europhile, James believes in bringing people together to build a competitive diverse Europe and in his article for The European Network [https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/ireland-eu-50-sangwidges-and-solidarity/], James wrote that Ireland in the EU has provided freedom and privilege to have one or more identities and to have strong and free debate on all political matters that impact our daily lives. James is talking with The European Network’s Brian Milne This series is presented in cooperation with the Irish Foreign Ministry as part of the Communicating Europe Initiative [https://www.ireland.ie/en/eu50/communicating-europe-initiative/].

Ireland EU50 Podcast - Brendan McKee

Hello and welcome to The European Network’s Ireland EU50 podcast. In this series we will be complementing our collection of articles that have been published over the last 18 months on The European Network website that celebrate 50 years of Ireland in the European Union. Today our guest is Brendan McKee. Brendan is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a particular passion for nationalist politics. His work focuses on unpacking the complexities of current affairs and expanding the political conversation. In his article for The European Network, Brendan discusses Ireland’s role in post-conflict development and, as the EU looks to expand Eastward, the hope is that Ireland can take a leadership role in applying these skills to helping places like Ukraine rebuild. Brendan believes that Ireland is far removed from the isolationism it existed in fifty years ago, and EU membership has brought it to a point where it can help others. Brendan is speaking with The European Network’s Brian Milne so let’s go to that interview now. You can access the article ⁠here [https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/ireland-eu-50-a-template-for-a-progressive-member/]⁠. Brendan is talking with the European Networks Brian Milne. This series is presented in cooperation with the Irish Foreign Ministry as part of the ⁠Communicating Europe Initiative⁠ [https://www.ireland.ie/en/eu50/communicating-europe-initiative/].

Ireland EU50 Podcast - Professor Pat O’Connor

Hello and welcome to The European Network’s Ireland EU50 podcast. In this series we will be complementing our collection of articles that have been published over the last 18 months on The European Network website that celebrate 50 years of Ireland in the European Union. Today our guest is Professor Pat O’Connor. Professor O’Connor is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Limerick and Visiting Professor, Geary Institute, at the University College Dublin. She is an expert in gender studies and women’s rights, which has made her a leading commentator on women’s issues and society in general. In her article for the European Network, Pat concludes that discrimination and misogyny are less obvious now but they have not disappeared and without 50 years of EU membership, it’s impossible to imagine where Irish society might be. You can access the article here [https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/ireland-eu-50-membership-and-gender-equality-lots-done-but-more-to-do/]. Pat is talking with the European Networks Frances Cowell. This series is presented in cooperation with the Irish Foreign Ministry as part of the Communicating Europe Initiative [https://www.ireland.ie/en/eu50/communicating-europe-initiative/].

Ireland EU50 Podcast - Dr Martin O'Donoghue

Hello and welcome to The European Network’s Ireland EU50 podcast. In this series we will be complementing our collection of articles that have been published over the last 18 months on The European Network website that celebrate 50 years of Ireland in the European Union. Today our guest is Martin O’Donoghue. Martin is a Historian and Author based in the University of Sheffield’s Department of History since 2020. A Recipient of the National Library of Ireland Research Studentship, Martin holds a PhD in 2017 from the National University of Ireland, Galway where his research was funded by the Irish Research Council. Martin’s research examines the dynamics of political thought and debate in modern Ireland and in his article for The European Network, Martin looks beyond the longer story of the Irish state and Europe, considering Irish links to the continent in a broad sense as well as development in the state’s political, social and economic imperatives. You can access the article here [https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/ireland-eu-50-an-island-on-the-continent/]. Martin is chatting with The European Network’s Ken Sweeney. This series is presented in cooperation with the Irish Foreign Ministry as part of the Communicating Europe Initiative [https://www.ireland.ie/en/eu50/communicating-europe-initiative/].