The Irish Taoiseach Podcast

Iain Dale talks to Gavan Reilly, political correspondent for Virgin Media News and a presenter on Newstalk about the life and career of Ireland’s 15th Taoiseach, Micheál Martin who for two and a half years from June 2020 until December 2022, and is now Tanaiste, deputy to Leo Varadkar. He remains leader of Fianna Fáil.

Iain Dale discusses the life and career of Ireland’s 14th, and youngest, Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, with the Group Political Editor of Independent Newspapers in Dublin, and Varadkar’s biographer, Philip Ryan. Leo Varadkar served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and is currently serving a second ter, which began on 17 December 2022.

Iain Dale talks to John Downing columnist for the Irish Independent about the life and career of Enda Kenny, Ireland’s 13th Taoiseach, who served from 2011-2017. John Downing’s biography of him is titled Enda Kenny: The Unlikely Taoiseach.

Iain Dale talks about the life and career of Ireland’s twelfth Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, with Theresa Reidy, lecturer in politics at University College Cork.

Bertie Ahern served as Taoiseach between 1997 and 2008, and was the second longest serving Taoiseach in the history of the Republic of Ireland. Iain Dale discusses his life and career with journalist and author Mick Clifford, who, in 2009 co-wrote a book titled BERTIE AHERN AND THE DRUMCONDRA MAFIA

Iain Dale talks to the Irish Independent’s Ireland Editor Fionnan Sheahan about the life and career of Ireland’s tenth Taoiseach, John Bruton, who served in the office from 1994-1997.

Iain Dale discusses the life and political career of Ireland’s ninth Taoiseach, Albert Renolds, with former civil servant. Government adviser, minister and member of the Dail and Senate, Martin Mansergh.

Iain Dale speaks to Associate Professor of Political Science at Dublin City University, Eoin O’Malley, about the life and career of Ireland’s eighth Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, who served for two terms, 1981-82 and 1982-87.

Iain Dale talks to Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at Dublin City University, about the life and career of Ireland’s most colourful and controversial Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey, who served as Taoiseach three times, from 1979-1981, 1982 and 1987-92. Gary Murphy’s recent biography of Ireland’s seventh Taoiseach is called HAUGHEY and is published by Gill Books.

Iain Dale talks to Deirdre Foley, Irish Research Council Fellow at University College Cork, about the lefe and career of Liam Cosgrave, who served as Taoiseach from 1973-77.

Iain Dale talks to Irish Times columnist Stephen Collins about the life and career of Ireland’s fifth Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, who served two terms in office - 1966-73 and 1977-79.

Iain Dale talks to Bryce Evans, professor of modern history at Liverpool Hope University, about the life and career of Ireland’s fourth Taoiseach, Sean Lemass. Bryce has written a biography of Sean Lemass called ‘Democratic Dictator’.

Iain Dale talks to Sheffield University’s Caoimhe Nic Dhaibheid about the life and career of Ireland’s third Taoiseach, John Costello. Costello served as Taoiseach for two terms, 1948-51 and 1954-57

Iain Dale talks to Eamon de Valera’s biographer David McCullagh about the life and times of Ireland’s most long serving Taoiseach.

Iain Dale and Dr Ciara Meehan, reader in politics at the University of Hertfordshire, discuss the life and career of the first post civil war leader of the Irish government, W T Cosgrave. The Irish Taoiseach podcast examines the life and political career of each of the 15 men who have held the office of Taoiseach (Prime Minister) since the civil war of 1922. Through interviews with journalists, academics, ex-politicians and historians, Iain will trace the development of the Irish state through the lens of the men who rose to the top of Irish politics. The Irish Taoiseach will be released every Monday across a total of 15 weeks. The series follows the highly acclaimed podcast, The Presidents and Prime Ministers, also hosted by Iain Dale, which accompanied his books of the same titles. The 100 podcasts covered each of Britain’s first 55 prime ministers and America’s 45 presidents. Iain Dale said: “I could not be more pleased to launch The Irish Taoiseach podcast. For the last thirty years, I have tried to widen people’s interest in politics and political knowledge through my political books, publishing and broadcasting – and I’m aware that In Britain, we know far too little about the politics of our closest neighbour, the Republic of Ireland. The style of the podcast is very conversational, and my aim is to allow my guests to talk freely and accessibly. The podcast series is meant to appeal to those with a knowledge base of zero, but also to diehard fans or critics of the Taoiseach in question. Over the next 15 weeks, I hope it will encourage listeners to read more widely about both Irish politics and each Taoiseach, as each man is a fascinating character.”

The Irish Taoiseach is a series of 15 podcasts about each of the 15 men who have served as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland since 1922. Political broadcaster Iain Dale interviews Irish historians, academics and journalists about each Taoiseach in sequence, starting off with W T Cosgrave and Eamon de Valera and concluding with Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin. This podcast series follows Iain Dale’s hugely successful PRESIDENTS & PRIME MINISTERS podcast on British prime ministers and American presidents.