Another year in the history books, full of all kinds of point-scoring, in-fighting, power plays and seismic shifts. So, who won big on the political stage? Who lost in headline-making fashion? What were the standout gaffes? And just who can call themselves the “Brat of the Year” for 2025? All will be revealed as the Indo politics team hand out their coveted gongs just in time for Christmas...




Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guests: Mary Regan, Tabitha Monahan and Cónal Thomas

Another year in&nbsp;the history&nbsp;books, full of all kinds of point-scoring, in-fighting, power plays and&nbsp;seismic shifts.&nbsp;So, who won big on the&nbsp;political&nbsp;stage? Who lost in headline-making fashion? What&nbsp;were&nbsp;the standout gaffes? And just who can call themselves the “Brat of the Year” for 2025? All will be revealed as the Indo politics team&nbsp;hand&nbsp;out their coveted gongs just in time for Christmas...
 
Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guests: Mary Regan, Tabitha Monahan and&nbsp;Cónal&nbsp;Thomas

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Indo Politics Awards 2025: Conquering Connolly, tenacious Taoiseach and gaffes galore 

It’s been well over a month since April 8, when Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in Iran, but now that truce appears to be under real strain.

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This week, tensions between the US and the Middle Eastern country have escalated, with both sides exchanging strikes just as a possible breakthrough in peace talks seemed imminent.

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So, how realistic is the prospect of a peace deal at this point? And, as the situation deteriorates, how has one political figure edged ever closer to the centre of power?

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US secretary of state Marco Rubio has increasingly rowed in behind his president’s foreign-policy agenda, but who exactly is the political hawk turned Trump cheerleader? And how did he climb the Mar-a-Lago ladder to join Trump’s inner circle?

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On today’s The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD, to discuss the latest on Iran and the rise of Marco Rubio.

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­We want to earn your trust and are members of The Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

It’s been well over a month since April 8, when Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in Iran, but now that truce appears to be under real strain.
­
This week, tensions between the US and the Middle Eastern country have escalated, with both sides exchanging strikes just as a possible breakthrough in peace talks seemed imminent.
­
So, how realistic is the prospect of a peace deal at this point? And, as the situation deteriorates, how has one political figure edged ever closer to the centre of power?
­
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has increasingly rowed in behind his president’s foreign-policy agenda, but who exactly is the political hawk turned Trump cheerleader? And how did he climb the Mar-a-Lago ladder to join Trump’s inner circle?
­
On today’s The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the Clinton Institute in UCD, to discuss the latest on Iran and the rise of Marco Rubio.
­
­We want to earn your trust and are members of The Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

Iran war: How ‘Little’ Marco Rubio embraced Trump’s inner circle and why he may dethrone him 

Every time June 3 comes around, Michelle Ryan marks the anniversary of her father’s death in her own private way. She stays away from his grave.




For Michelle, her dad simply isn’t there.




On that summer morning in 2011, 52-year-old Bobby Ryan, a quarry worker and part-time DJ known by the stage name ‘Mr Moonlight’, vanished from rural Tipperary without a trace.




Almost two years later, his body was discovered in an underground run-off tank near the farmhouse where he was last seen.




The trial that followed was one of the longest in the history of the Irish State. By its conclusion, a love rivalry would be publicly exposed, a man would be jailed, and another man long buried.

In May 2019, Patrick Quirke (then 50) was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He continues to deny any involvement in Mr Ryan’s death.




On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Irish Independent special correspondent Catherine Fegan to review the case, and by Michelle Ryan, daughter of Bobby Ryan, who speaks about the experience of losing her father and her vow to contest any potential release of his killer.




We want to earn your trust and are members of The Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

Every time June 3 comes around, Michelle Ryan marks&nbsp;the anniversary of her&nbsp;father’s death in&nbsp;her own private way. She&nbsp;stays away from his grave.
 
For Michelle, her&nbsp;dad&nbsp;simply isn’t&nbsp;there.
 
On that summer&nbsp;morning&nbsp;in&nbsp;2011,&nbsp;52-year-old&nbsp;Bobby Ryan, a&nbsp;quarry&nbsp;worker&nbsp;and part-time&nbsp;DJ known by the stage name ‘Mr&nbsp;Moonlight’,&nbsp;vanished from&nbsp;rural&nbsp;Tipperary&nbsp;without a trace.
 
Almost&nbsp;two&nbsp;years&nbsp;later,&nbsp;his body was discovered in an underground run-off tank near the farmhouse where he was last seen.
 
The trial that followed was one of the longest in the history of the Irish State. By its conclusion,&nbsp;a love rivalry would be publicly exposed, a&nbsp;man would be jailed, and another&nbsp;man&nbsp;long buried.
In May 2019, Patrick Quirke (then 50) was convicted of murder&nbsp;and sentenced to life in prison. He continues to deny any involvement in&nbsp;Mr&nbsp;Ryan’s death.
 
On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Irish Independent&nbsp;special correspondent Catherine Fegan&nbsp;to review the case, and by Michelle Ryan, daughter of Bobby Ryan, who speaks about the experience of losing her father and her vow to contest any potential release of his killer.
 
We want to earn your trust and are members of The Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at <a href="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

“I will contest it”: Daughter of slain Mr Moonlight vows to block killer’s bid for freedom

­Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson apologised to one of his alleged victims at a church retreat in the mid-1990s, a court heard today. Jurors were also told second complainant wrote letter to two defendants about the secret ‘she had to keep’ The prosecution delivered its opening address in the Donaldson trial on Wednesday. The former DUP leader is on trial at Newry Crown Court for alleged historical sexual offences. The 63 year-old has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

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This Indo Daily Extra is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel where Allison Morris was in court and speaks to Ciaran Dunbar.

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We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

­Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson apologised to one of his alleged victims at a church retreat in the mid-1990s, a court heard today. Jurors were also told second complainant wrote letter to two defendants about the secret ‘she had to keep’ The prosecution delivered its opening address in the Donaldson trial on Wednesday. The former DUP leader is on trial at Newry Crown Court for alleged historical sexual offences. The 63 year-old has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.
­
This Indo Daily Extra is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel where Allison Morris was in court and speaks to Ciaran Dunbar.
­
We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at <a href="https://www.independent.ie/service/our-journalism/a/98708550.html">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

Indo Politics Awards 2025: Conquering Connolly, tenacious Taoiseach and gaffes galore

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