Eurovision Israel boycott hits right note, but renaming Herzog Park feels tone deaf

Eurovision Israel boycott hits right note, but renaming Herzog Park feels tone deaf

Author: The Irish Times December 5, 2025 Duration: 45:50

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:


·       Ireland, along with Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands, will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel’s participation. RTÉ said in a statement on Thursday that it would be “unconscionable” for Ireland to partake in the event given the “appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”.


·       Far more contentious was the proposal to rename Rathgar’s Herzog Park in south Dublin. Named in honour of Belfast-born Chaim Herzog, Israel’s president from 1983 to 1993, who spent his early childhood in Dublin. Perhaps including the Irish-Jewish community in the process might have dampened a lot of the controversy that has erupted this week.


·       Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Ireland this week, but it was drones more than diplomatic ties that made the headlines. It exposed the gaps in our national security, especially with Ireland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from next July, when a lot of state leaders will be visiting these shores.


·       And will the Government’s new infrastructure plan to accelerate the delivery of vital projects bear fruit before the next general election?


Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:


·       Patrick Freyne’s continuing vendetta against Kevin the Carrot, a row over state pensions could destabilise Germany’s new coalition, and the sudden death of ‘low-key national treasure’ Hugh Wallace.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each week, Irish Times Inside Politics cuts through the noise to bring clarity to the forces shaping Ireland. Guided by host Hugh Linehan, the conversations here go beyond the headlines, offering a deeper, more considered understanding of the political landscape. You’ll hear from the newspaper’s own journalists, who provide grounded insight from the front lines, alongside a range of independent political thinkers and analysts. Occasionally, politicians themselves join the discussion, offering their perspective directly. The result is a nuanced and thoughtful examination of power, policy, and public life that values context over quick reactions. This isn't about partisan soundbites; it's about unpacking the how and why behind the day's debates and long-term shifts. For anyone looking to move past surface-level reporting and grasp the real stories unfolding in Leinster House and beyond, this podcast serves as an essential weekly briefing. The Irish Times brings its tradition of thorough journalism to the audio format, creating a space for analysis that is both accessible and substantive. Tune in for a consistently informed and engaging take on the issues that define the nation's future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Irish Times Inside Politics
Podcast Episodes
How is Catherine Connolly viewed in Europe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:05
As Catherine Connolly is inaugurated as Ireland’s 10th President on Tuesday, Inside Politics asks how the country’s European partners will be preparing for her presidency.What issues from the Connolly campaign may have r…
Is it possible to have a coherent debate on immigration? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:09
Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· With renewed criticism from left-wing Opposition leaders of Tánaiste Simon Harris, over remarks he made about migration numbers in I…
How does Micheál Martin quieten dissenting voices in Fianna Fáil? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
Ellen Coyne and Naomi O’Leary join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:· In the wake of Catherine Connolly’s emphatic presidential election win, could there now be a legitimate prospect of a left-wing governme…
What would a united Ireland actually involve? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
This week’s Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan explores what a united Ireland would actually involve, Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole and Belfast Telegraph journalist Sam McBride have written a new book that…
How outspoken will Connolly be as president? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan for the final episode of Election Daily for this campaign. They look at the impact of Connolly's victory on left-wing politics, wonder if Ireland is about to have a more outspoken president t…
Election Daily: The highs and lows of a strange campaign [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:24
Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the final day of campaigning before voters go to the polls.They look at how the Connolly campaign has managed to create momentum that sustained her pus…
Election Daily: Will the 'spoil the vote' campaign be felt on Friday? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:04
What does a two-horse race look like in our PR-STV electoral system? What happens when you throw a zombie candidate and a 'spoil your vote' campaign into the mix? And what about turnout? Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan nerd o…
Election Daily: Who came out on top in the final debate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:40
The two remaining candidates in the presidential election came into the final televised debate of the campaign needing different things.Well behind in the polls, Heather Humphreys needed to come across convincingly while…