Timeline
THE IRELAND Podcast has grown one conversation at a time.
This timeline traces that journey - from the publication of the first episode in October 2023 to the guests, milestones and moments that have helped shape the project.
It is not a complete history, but a record of some of the moments that have defined its evolution.
2 October 2023
The Ireland Podcast launches
Episode 1 is published.
17 October 2023
Sharon Shannon
First internationally recognised guest appears (Episode 4).
31 October 2023
Bríd Rodgers
The first political guest appears (Episode 6).
21 November 2023
Jim Rooney
The first Grammy Award-winning guest joins the podcast.
11 December 2023
Shane MacGowan's Funeral
The podcast covers its first major national event.
25 December 2023
Phil Coulter
The first major musician joins the podcast without a personal introduction.
30 January 2024
Sister Rita Minehan
The first member of the clergy is interviewed.
7 February 2024
Liam Ó Maonlaí
The first major musician records music in the studio.
15 April 2024
Fiachra Trench
The first in-depth long-form music interview is published.
20 May 2024
Paul Muldoon
The first Pulitzer Prize-winning guest joins the podcast.
21 May 2024
Lillis Ó Laoire
The first sean-nós (old style) singer is featured.
29 May 2024
Tony Scullion
The first All-Ireland winner joins the podcast.
10 June 2024
James Joyce Centre
The first interview with a major Irish cultural institution.
31 July 2024
Armagh Senior Football Team
The first All-Ireland-winning team is featured.
12 August 2024
Terry Woods
The first member of The Pogues joins the podcast. The episode becomes the podcast's biggest to date.
4 September 2024
Episode 100
The podcast reaches 100 episodes.
30 September 2024
Irish Cultural Centre, London
The first episode is recorded outside Ireland.
11 November 2024
Iain Carlisle
First CEO of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland is interviewed.
30 November 2024
Steve Lillywhite
The first six-time Grammy Award-winning guest joins the podcast.
14 January 2025
James Fearnley
The first original member of The Pogues joins the podcast. The episode becomes the new audience record.
12 February 2025
Bertie Ahern
The first former Taoiseach joins the podcast.
5 March 2025
Daniel O'Donnell
First interview with Daniel O'Donnell.
16 April 2025
Mike Garson
First member of David Bowie's band is interviewed. Garson was Bowie's longest-serving band member.
26 June 2025
Lord Chris Patten
The first member of the House of Lords joins the podcast.
30 June 2025
Gary Lineker
The former English soccer captain gives his first interview after leaving the BBC.
1 July 2025
Wayne McCullough
The first Irish WBC world champion joins the podcast.
30 July 2025
Emer Cooke
First episode recorded in mainland Europe, at the European Medicines Agency in Amsterdam.
11 August 2025
Liam Ó Cuinneagáin
The first episode is recorded in a Gaeltacht.
8 October 2025
Alastair Campbell
The first former Director of Communications and Strategy to a UK Prime Minister joins the podcast.
19 November 2025
Episode 200
The podcast reaches 200 episodes.
22 January 2026
Steve Vai
The first guest with more than five million social media followers joins the podcast.
14 April 2026
Graham Linehan
The first widely polarising public figure joins the podcast.
18 May 2026
Slash Chords Explained
The first dedicated music theory episode is published.
27 May 2026
Returning to China
The first episode is recorded in Asia.
16 June 2026
Racist Attacks in Belfast
The first current affairs explainer episode is published.
9 July 2026
Jeffrey Donaldson | John Manley
The first episode to surpass 160,000 YouTube views, becoming the podcast's most-watched long-form interview.
30 August 2026
Record social media reach
Content published by The Ireland Podcast generates 2,291,427 views across social media in a single day - the largest daily audience in the project's history.
The story continues...
Ireland's story is never finished. Neither is this timeline. As The Ireland Podcast records new conversations across the island and beyond, this page will continue to document the moments that have shaped its journey.