Brendan O'Connor

RTÉ

Brendan O'Connor has all you need for the weekend with time to pause and reflect on the week just gone. Featuring a selection of human interest, consumer and lifestyle stories, as well as keeping you up to date on the news stories that matter. Listen live Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 1pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

  • 24 minutes 11 seconds
    “Adolescence lasts til age 32 in the brain” - Prof Brendan Kelly
    Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, joins Brendan to explain how the brain develops over the decades and why 32 is a crucial age for the brain’s re-wiring.
    10 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 7 minutes 57 seconds
    Gavin Friday - “With Bowie suddenly I had someone who understood me”
    Musician Gavin Friday joins Brendan on the 10th anniversary of David Bowie’s death to talk about what Bowie meant to him as a teenager growing up in Dublin, having dinner with his hero (and not seeing eye to eye!) and his enduring influence.
    10 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 10 minutes 10 seconds
    Darina Allen - “I have become a spice nerd!”
    Chef Darina Allen talks to Brendan about her favourite curries for these cold winter evenings, her inspiring travels to India and Sri-Lanka in search of new recipes and why using fresh spices is a game changer.
    10 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 8 minutes 6 seconds
    Radiator masterclass with architect Róisín Murphy
    Architect Róisín Murphy wades in on the Great Radiator Debate with her views on how to run a radiator, the cost benefits of turning the radiator down a degree or two, where to best position a radiator and much more.
    10 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 12 minutes 13 seconds
    “The Iran protests feel different this time”
    Channel 4 News’ Foreign Correspondent Páraic O’Brien talks to Brendan about the potential collapse of the regime in Iran.
    10 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 29 minutes 22 seconds
    Chris de Burgh & Paul Howard on their friendship
    Singer-songwriter Chris De Burgh and Ross-O'Carroll-Kelly creator Paul Howard joined Brendan to talk about becoming friends later in life, wine-related escapades and the importance of banter and laughter.
    10 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 13 minutes 5 seconds
    The Watchlist
    Previewing the very best of the big and small screen this week – including Traitors, Dancing with the Stars and soap mash-up ‘Corrie-dale’ – are Director of the Dublin International Film Festival, Grainne Humphries; and host of the Extravision podcast, Andy McCarroll.
    4 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 12 minutes 20 seconds
    “How do you match your personality type to your relationship with money?” - how to save in 2026
    Joining Dearbhail to talk through some top tips for taking control of your money in 2026 is Financial Advisor and CEO of Fairstone Ireland, Paul Merriman.
    4 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 45 seconds
    “The Trad Wife thing has very little to do with what real women did 50 years ago” Nollaig na mBan in 2026
    Joining Dearbhail to discuss the modern meaning and relevance of Nollaig na mBan (“women’s Christmas”) are activist and founder of Topical Popical, Andrea Horan; interfaith minister, singer and theologian, Rev Dr Noirin Ni Riain; and novelist and author of ‘This is How You Remember It’, Catherine Prasifska.
    4 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 55 minutes 10 seconds
    The Newspaper Panel
    Joining Dearbhail to parse through the Sunday newspapers are former Fine Gael government minister, Josepha Madigan; Professor of US and International Politics at UCD’s Clinton Institute, Scott Lucas; Publisher of TheBriefing.ie, Liz Carolan; and Political Editor with the Irish Times, Pat Leahy.
    4 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 10 minutes
    “A perfect day for a fry” Kevin Dundon’s Irish Fry masterclass
    The differences between the Full Irish and the Ulster Fry, and the little nuances that make a fry special.
    3 January 2026, 11:00 am
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