The Tonight Show

This episode shines a spotlight on Ireland’s deepening disability crisis.With over 15,000 children still waiting for an assessment of needs, and the number expected to rise to 25,000, 14-year-old disability campaigner Cara Darmody stages a powerful 50-hour protest outside Leinster House, demanding action.Joining the discussion are Lorraine Dempsey, Family Carer and Former CEO of Inclusion Ireland, Keira Keogh TD, Fine Gael member of the Committee on Disability Matters, and Paul Lawless TD, Aontú, who debate the deepening crisis, broken promises, legislative delays, and whether the latest response is too little, too late.

With air strikes ongoing and a blockade in Gaza now past ten weeks, we ask if Israel should be allowed to compete in this year’s Eurovision.We examine the Government’s approach to dangerous driving following a seven-year sentence for the man behind a fatal Monaghan crash. And with the dry spell set to continue, what impact will it have on Ireland’s water supply?Guests:🏛️ Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State, Fine Gael 🏛️ Louise O'Reilly TD, Sinn Fein📰 Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent 🏛️ Alan Shatter, Former Justice Minister🎤 Brian Kennedy, Singer-Songwriter & Former Eurovision Contestant☀️ Alan O'Reilly, Carlow WeatherMéabh White, Road Safety Campaigner & RTC Survivor

The Irish pub is under threat—can industry plans save your local? We visit one struggling pub in Co. Louth.Also—calls for a total social media ban for under-16s—is it realistic or just another headline grab?Donald Trump’s Gulf tour, a luxury jet, and claims of a “mile-high bribe”.Guests:🏛️ Ryan O'Meara TD, Fianna Fáil🏛️ Ken O'Flynn TD, Independent Ireland📰 Kevin Doyle, Head of News, Irish Independent📰 Nick Harper, U.S. News Correspondent🍽️ Adrian Cummins, CEO Restaurants Association📱 Alex Cooney, CEO, CyberSafeKids🎓 Richard Layte, TCD Professor of Sociology📰Nick Harper, U.S. News Correspondent

As the Eurovision Song Contest nears, RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst calls for a rethink on Israel’s participation, citing the war in Gaza. We’re joined by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne and Irish Independent political correspondent Gabija Gataveckaite, alongside former Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan.Also tonight – the government scrambles to find a new housing tsar after Brendan McDonagh steps away, and the Uisce Éireann funding row resurfaces. Ian Lawlor of Roundtower Capital weighs in.Plus – Cork and Waterford camogie teams make a stand on their right to wear shorts in Saturday’s Munster Final.

Host Gavan Reilly is joined by John Moran, Limerick’s first elected mayor, to reflect on his first year in office and his big housing plans.Then, political tensions rise over claims of phantom funding for Uisce Éireann — is Ireland’s housing supply being held back by infrastructure limits?Plus, live to the Vatican as cardinals prepare to elect the next Pope.Guests:🏛️ John Moran, Mayor of Limerick🏛️ Barry Ward TD, Fine Gael🏛️ Conor Sheehan TD, Labour Housing Spokesperson📰 Louise Burne, Political Correspondent, Irish Mirror🌍 Richard Chambers, News Correspondent, live from Vatican City#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis #IrishPolitics #VaticanConclave #LimerickMayor

In this episode of The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:The first chapter of Trump’s second term brought executive orders, falling approval ratings and economic turbulence. Yet the US President still holds firm control at home and abroad — and remains revered by his base. So what should Ireland and the world expect next?Guests:Katty Kay, BBC US Special Correspondent & Host of The Rest is Politics USMark Little, Journalist and Tech Entrepreneur  Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist, Sunday Times (Ireland)Hannah McCarthy, Middle East-based Journalist  Cal Thomas, Syndicated ColumnistCaro Kinsella, Irish US-based Immigration Lawyer

In this episode of The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:🚨 From Malahide to Skibbereen — new figures expose Ireland’s hidden wealth divide. Are rural communities being left behind?🚨 Plus — the referendum that never was. What happened to Fine Gael’s pledge to give Irish citizens abroad a vote in presidential elections?🚨 And with Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts shaking global aid efforts, is Ireland doing enough to protect development funding?Guests: Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State for Diaspora and Aid Michael Fitzmaurice TD, Independent Ireland Dr Karina Doorley, Associate Research Professor, ESRI#TheTonightShow

As Pope Francis is laid to rest in a simple wooden casket — a modest affair, in keeping with a humility that defined his papacy — we ask: what legacy does he leave behind? Over 12 years, Francis challenged tradition, spoke out for the poor, and confronted global issues from climate change to migration. But will the next Pope continue his reformist path, or mark a return to traditional values?Joining us for this in-depth debate are Jesuit theologian Gerry O’Hanlon, theologian and lecturer Gina Menzies, commentator with Gript Media Laura Perrins, and Alison O’Connor, columnist with the Sunday Times.Plus: as teachers struggle to afford life in the capital, we examine growing calls for a #DublinAllowance — should educators be paid more to work in the city?#TheTonightShow