Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words

41-year-old mother of three, Valerie French, was brutally murdered by her husband, James Kilroy, at their family home in Westport, Co. Mayo, in 2019. Kilroy was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024.
Since Valerie’s murder, her brother David French has campaigned tirelessly for changes to guardianship legislation in horrific cases such as this, to ensure those who kill their partner cannot automatically retain guardianship rights over their children.
In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, David discusses the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill and the importance of ensuring the welfare and best interests of children remain paramount.
He speaks to Senator Dee Ryan and Seanad Justice spokesperson Robbie Gallagher about Valerie, her life, the relationship, her murder and why he advocated for this change in the law.
The Bill, which has been introduced to the Dáil, would allow for the removal of guardianship rights from a person convicted of killing their partner or the other parent of their child.
Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said:
“When you have a human story behind a piece of legislation, or when somebody is prepared to advocate from a very personal point of view, it can have a very significant impact on the Houses of the Oireachtas.”
The legislation fulfils the Programme for Government commitment to examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partner or a parent of their child, as part of ongoing work to implement recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.

In this podcast, we look at the role that Fianna Fáil has played in Ireland's political life. From the foundation of the party, through its achievements and to its future, our panelists discuss where Fianna Fáil came from, the people that built it up and its legacy in Ireland today. With An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Shane Moynihan TD, Dr. Brian Murphy, Dr. Eoin O'Malley, Dr. Sinead McCoole, Anne Twomey

Senator Alison Comyn is joined by Sarah Slazenger, MD of Powerscourt Estate and Alison McNamara from Opportunities for Women to speak about domestic violence and their proposal to turn vacant town centre buildings across Ireland into safe, supported homes for those rebuilding their lives.
This is an issue affecting every county. We have vacant buildings in towns and villages nationwide that could be brought back into use quickly and effectively.

Recorded at Fianna Fáil’s National Councillors’ Conference in Mullingar, County Westmeath this episode brings together two voices from different generations of public service.Cllr Mary Bohan, the longest-serving Fianna Fáil councillor in the country, and Cllr Rachel Hartigan, one of the party’s newest and youngest councillors, share their personal journeys into politics. They discuss why they chose to run for election, what drew them to Fianna Fáil, and how the party’s values continue to shape their work in their communities.They speak with Deputy Shane Moynihan, the Chairman of our Centenary Committee and recall the funniest and unusual gifts and requests they have received. From experience to fresh perspective, this conversation reflects Fianna Fáil’s deep roots in local communities and its ongoing commitment to public service over the past 100 years.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan from Kiskeam in North West Cork is joined by historian Anne Twomey the co-author of Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times, to explore the crucial role women played in Ireland’s revolutionary period.
 
From the work of Cumann na mBan to the wider contribution of women across the country, the discussion highlights how their ground breaking impact on the fight for independence was significant, yet often under-recognised.
 
Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times is a book by the Shandon Area History Group in Cork highlighting the pivotal and often overlooked roles of Cork women during the Irish War of Independence (1916–1923).
 
Fianna Fáil's Centenary approaches,  commemorations have opened the door to new research and understanding, this episode reflects on how women are now being restored to their rightful place in Ireland’s history.
A powerful and insightful listen.
 

The second edition of our 100 Bliain podcast series takes a look at Fianna Fáil’s role in the development of Irish agriculture and looks ahead to its future. 
Shane Moynihan TD, Chairperson of the Centenary Committee is joined by former Tánaiste, Minister for Agriculture and TD for Donegal South-West, Mary Coughlan and Chairman of the Brett Group, Jimmy Brett. 
Drawing on their political and commercial expertise, our panel discusses the transformative moments in the development of Irish agriculture, the strength of the Irish agrifood sector, the role of women in agriculture, the value of the small farm and the future challenges which lie ahead.
A fascinating listen on the past, present and future of farming in Ireland.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words and to mark our Centenary year Senator Alison Comyn and historian Anne Twomey explore the legacy of Cumann na mBan
Anne is a member of the Shandon Area History Group and co-author of the book Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times (2020) and to women discuss Cumann na mBan’s importance in securing an independent Ireland, how this has been largely overlooked but is now being brought to the fore by the work of Anne and others across the country.
They talk about the pivotal role of Irish women during the War of Independence , particularly in Cork and the remarkable lengths women like the Wallace sisters and Muriel Swiney went to, running the gauntlet of curfews, gathering intelligence, transferring weapons while running households and businesses.This is a must listen, a fascinating episode about the women who worked for the cause behind the scenes.

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Dublin Bay North TD Tom Brabazon sits down with community volunteer Theresa Kelly, founder of the mental health initiative It’s OK Not to Be OK.
Theresa shares the powerful experiences that inspired her to act after witnessing too many people struggle in silence.
What began as a simple idea, encouraging people to start a conversation has grown into a community-wide movement, with thousands of resource cards distributed, hundreds of awareness pins worn with pride and strong backing from emergency services and local representatives.
Together, Tom and Theresa discuss the stigma that still surrounds mental health, why men in particular can find it hard to speak up and how a simple question  “Are you OK?” can change or even save, a life.
Tom also reflects on his own experience of reaching out for support and why accessible services and early conversations are so important.
This is an honest, hopeful conversation about community, courage and the power of talking. 
 
If you are struggling with mental health you can contact
 
AWARE helpline CALL 1800 80 48 48 or 01-524 0360   Or the Samaritans:  Call 116 123 

In this episode of Fianna Fáil: In Our Own Words, Aindrias Moynihan TD and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee discuss the future of the Irish language in modern Ireland.
The conversation explores our ongoing investment in strengthening Irish-speaking communities.
 Deputy Moynihan highlights a landmark affordable housing scheme in Gaeltacht Mhúscraí, County Cork, designed to support Irish-speaking families and help preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the area.
Senator Clifford-Lee  emphasises the importance of engaging students from primary school and the growing role of digital media, from podcasts to social media influencers in making the language vibrant and accessible beyond traditional Gaeltacht regions.
Join us for an insightful conversation on how policy, community and culture can work together to ensure the Irish language continues to thrive for the next generation

This is the second in our Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 podcast series on Fianna Fáil in Our Own Words.
We explore personal journeys with the Irish language.
Deputies Tom Brabazon TD, Catherine Ardagh TD and Naoise Ó Cearúil TD share their experiences of learning the language from school days and inspirational teachers to time spent in the Gaeltacht, on Na Blascaodaí and studying the language at university.
They reflect on how their relationship with their native language has evolved over time, and the importance of Gaeltacht experiences.
They discuss why the language feels more vibrant and relevant today than ever before through music, film and culture.
It is a thoughtful, conversation about our love for the language and finding the confidence to speak it.