Free State is a podcast for the curious that stimulates, provokes, challenges and entertains, while never taking itself too seriously. Free State covers topics from sport to politics, love to loss, the human condition and how to fix the world, with guests from across the planet including Nigerian princes, former Prime Ministers, ex convicts, footballers, boxers and extraordinary people from every walk of life. Free State is presented by Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning. Brolly is a barrister, an ...
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Hosted by Dion Fanning, Ireland Unfiltered features stripped-back, honest conversations with some of the biggest names in Irish entertainment, sport, politics and media. Fanning also speaks to notable international figures on some of the most important issues affecting Ireland today. Ireland Unfiltered will be available every Tuesday. Together with Carlsberg Ireland.
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And then there were four, Part 1: The last days of the Dublin empire.
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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. The…
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Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Derry, from Death Row to Croke Park. Part 2
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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 Al…
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From death row to Croke Park. Derry, Mayo and milking the cows in Killala Part 1.
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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 …
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The Irish Elections: How the elites persuade sheep to vote for wolves.
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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…
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Jungle Book. The essential survival guide for Gaelic footballers. Featuring Brian Mullins and an All Star cast
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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 e…
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Mickey Harte, football manager. Oh Lord it’s so Harte to be humble, Part 2
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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 …
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‘Oh Lord, it’s so Harte to be humble.’ Part 1
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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 …
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The unbearable agony of Palestine. Part 2. With Gideon Levy
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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…
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The unbearable agony of Palestine. Part 1. With Gideon Levy
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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 Israel…
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Big Bad Bill. The greatest captain of them all. Captain Class Part 4.
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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.…
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Are Leinster cursed or just losers? What causes great teams to become serial failures? Captain Class Part 3
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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…
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The Roy Keane Conundrum - The Captain Class Part 2
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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 did…
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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 i…
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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 f…
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Superman. An American football story. Joe Klecko, quarter back killer
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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 …
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Roger Casement Part 2. The Mission.
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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 wh…
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Roger Casement And The Temple Of Doom Part 1
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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 …
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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 shouti…
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Anyone For the Last Few Choc Ices? The Life and Turbulent Times of Christy Moore. Part 3
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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 ‘T…
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They Never Came Home. The Life and Turbulent Times of Christy Moore. Part 2
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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.…
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Don’t Forget your shovel if you want to go to Tulsk. The life and turbulent times of Christy Moore. Part 1
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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,…
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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 th…
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United Ireland or Bust? Till debt do us part.
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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 Londonder…
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Jurgen Klopp, Mickey Harte and the real glory in the GAA
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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 th…
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The GAA & The Wall Of Love. Birth, life, death, funeral expenses & why an English statistics professor was “blown away”
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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 t…
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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 t…
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Trading My Soul: The Man Who Blew Up the Financial System
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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…
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MIGA: Simon Harris, Making Ireland Great Again
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Simon Harris has risen without trace. Who is he and what he stands for are questions that have rarely been asked. Harris has been described as ‘the white Obama’. He was called the TikTok Taoiseach and hailed as a great communicator. But behind the empty phrases, something is happening in Ireland which needs real leadership. On Free State, Joe and D…
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Politicians, pundits & parakeets. Leo Varadkar and his anticlimactic rise & fall
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Leo Varadkar’s resignation was described as a ‘political earthquake’. Some said the political world had been turned upside down. But beyond the parlour games of the political class, does it matter at all? On Free State, Joe and Dion ask what has Varadkar achieved? Did he lead a government or a pr agency. What does the giddiness surrounding his depa…
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‘Davy Tweed, bloody mother fucking asshole.’ Part 2
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Davy Tweed knew exactly how to control those he abused. He did it in a million different ways, big and small. In Part 2 of her interview on Free State, Amanda Brown recalls how Tweed would dehumanise and humiliate her along with the rest of her family. She tells Dion and Joe how she was isolated and how every one of his victims believed they were u…
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‘Davy Tweed, bloody mother fucking asshole.’ As told by his step daughter Amanda Brown.
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Davy Tweed was an Irish international rugby player. He was a unionist politician. He was a monster. On Free State today, his step daughter Amanda Brown talks about the hell she experienced at the hands of Tweed and her slow, courageous journey to freedom. She tells Dion and Joe about the mental, physical and sexual abuse she endured. And she explai…
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History is a nightmare from which Ireland is always trying to awake. On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at how the future is being grasped in the north. But this is a story about the whole island and why the leadership shown by Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly will ripple across the country. Ireland’s history is always with us but the …
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Ceili dancing, cúpla focal & the clash of the sash. The conversion of the DUP
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Northern Ireland was once a land divided by symbols. Since Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly became First Minister and deputy First Minister it is a place energised by them. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at the leadership shown by O’Neill and Little Pengelly and how those like the Allosaurus (Jim Allister) are on the brink of extinction.…
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“The Bloody Protestants” Part 2: Northern Ireland’s Match of the Day…
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As he locked up Bellaghy Wolfe Tone GAA Club in May 1997, Sean Brown was murdered by loyalist gunmen. The sense of injustice has deepened since the British Government passed the Legacy Act last year. This week, a High Court judge Mr Justice Kinney was so appalled by the behaviour of the state that he pulled the plug on the inquest and recommended a…
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The Maze Prison is a central part of Northern Ireland’s history. But there was once a plan to make it a shared monument to a brighter future. On Free State, Joe and Dion tell the story of the plan to turn the Maze prison into a National Stadium for the three main sports (and ice skating). They show how it was brought down by the same forces who tho…
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Ulster says No to Casement Park: Part 2
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People were denied the truth in the north during the troubles and that denial of truth extended to sport. The coverage of the GAA reflected the nature of Northern Ireland at the time. On Free State, Dion and Joe look at how the north is changing and why sport is too. The resistance to Casement Park’s redevelopment is the death rattle for the old wa…
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Ulster says No to Casement Park: Part 1
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Why is Casement Park so divisive? When Ravenhill and Windsor Park were redeveloped in the north they had cross community support. What is it about a GAA stadium that enrages a certain faction of unionists? On Free State today, Joe and Dion look at the issue of Casement Park and explain why it is linked to the days of naked sectarianism. The redevel…
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The RTE scandal is not about pay-offs, flip-flops or Ryan Tubridy’s salary, it’s a story of how the media was manipulated in Ireland. From the Troubles to Gaza one point of view has always been given an easier ride than the other. On RTE The Musical Part 5, Joe and Dion look at who has been platformed by the national broadcaster and who is excluded…
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RTE can’t escape scandal. The controversies of the last six months have demonstrated how the organisation operated in the dark. But there is a bigger story. On Free State, Joe and Dion look at how RTE was captured. How free and fearless journalism has been replaced by cronyism. They trace the story of decline back to the 1970s to see how journalism…
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And God gave his only son Bono to the world. Part 2
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Having dealt with the question ‘What is Bono?’ on today’s Free State, Dion and Joe ask the more important question: why? Why God why? They look at how Bono’s endless hot air became a comfort not a challenge for the elites. What was Bono’s plan to combat ISIS? And they ask the most important question - how did Bono become the butter in the peace pro…
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And God gave his only son Bono to the world. Part 1
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What is Bono and who is he for? On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe look at Bono’s activism, what he has said and, as importantly, what he hasn’t said. Is he a symbol of all that is wrong with the world? Is he a false god of philanthropy or has he achieved something meaningful? They also discuss the Kneecap case against Kemi Badenoch and Dion expla…
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How close are we to a United Ireland? The unionist voices that said ‘no terrorists in government’ and no Sinn Fein First Minister have been marginalised. How will they respond to what is coming next? Joe recalls his own encounters with Jamie Bryson and explains why he would be a good convert to Catholicism. The boys also suggest another career path…
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Michelle O’Neill’s election as First Minister of Northern Ireland made worldwide headlines. On today’s Free State, Joe reflects on the importance of O’Neill’s election and considers what it means for the nationalist community. Joe and Dion look at the generous speeches of O’Neill and the deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly and consider their…
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Northern Ireland prepares for a Sinn Fein First Minister, but why has it taken so long? On today’s Free State, Joe and Dion look at how culture was used as a tool of oppression in the north. As Kneecap the movie demonstrates the Irish language is now part of a vibrant culture among young nationalists. The language has more power because of how it w…
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KNEECAP Part 1. Get your Brits out for the lads. Kneecappings, Klopp & Gerry Adams on ketamine.
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Anarchy is always a threat to the establishment. Joyous anarchy unsettles them even more. Kneecap are annoying many of the right people as they aim for world domination. Their film has angered the Daily Mail and the DUP and also won the audience award at Sundance which has angered them even more. On today’s Free State, Joe and Dion consider the ris…
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If you can’t spot the sucker at the poker table it’s you. Today’s 'Free State' tells the story of how the GAA surrendered to corporations and how people became products. Dion and Joe consider the new RTÉ uniforms which could be part of any sponsorship deal. Joe reveals he has been beside himself with worry over the health of King Charles. The boys …
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SuperValu GAA: Brands are burrowing into the GAA’s culture. If they are not checked, soon they will become the culture.
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The GAA occupies a special place in Irish life. But that special place is what makes it so attractive to sponsors. Today Joe and Dion look at the plan to sell the naming rights of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and rename it SuperValu Park. Dion vaguely recalls his only visit to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh. And, in a world where everything is for sale, how does the…
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Who wants to be a (Swiss) billionaire? Part 2
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Sportswashing works. From the English Premier League to the World Cup to golf, sport is being transformed by countries whose main interest is transforming their image. On Free State today, Dion and Joe ask what is the real cost of sportswashing and is it an inevitable consequence of a broader issue? Society is divided and while inequality grows peo…
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Who wants to be a (Swiss) billionaire? From Ireland..
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When JP McManus donated €32 million to the GAA last month, people were falling over themselves to hail his generosity. JP didn’t need to do this, they said. What a gesture from a man who truly loves the GAA. Put the envy to one side and celebrate these millions which will make a difference to every club in Ireland. Only begrudgers, the petty and so…
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The Lonely Crusade Of Sally Hayden, The African Queen, For Those Seeking Refuge on the World's Deadliest Migration Route
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On today’s Free State, Dion and Joe are joined by Sally Hayden, a remarkable journalist covering the story of our time. Sally’s book My Fourth Time, We Drowned exposed the incompetence and corruption in the EU’s treatment of the most vulnerable in society, desperate families crossing the Mediterranean and leaving poverty and war in African countrie…
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