Tim Minchin“I’m addressing issues that pop music tends to dance around, or pretends don’t exist, like the fact that you’re going to die.”

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Tim Minchin casually slips in the phrase ‘craft over truth’ during his conversation with Ray D’Arcy and the comedian, musician, actor and writer probably thinks he’s getting away with it. But Ray lets it go for a short while and then pulls him up on it. Minchin’s first solo studio album, Apart Together, is full of songs that draw their inspiration from …

Coming Out in 2020“One of the main reasons was I didn’t want to repeat myself so many times to people.” 

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Lee O’Reilly’s coming out happened on Instagram, which sounds very 2020, but, he told Ray D’Arcy, he didn’t do it that way because of Covid:  “The main reason for doing it, well, there were loads of reasons for doing it, but one of the main reasons was I didn’t want to repeat myself so many times to people.”  So it was an efficiency …

David Baddiel“You might try and do something in the past that might fix a few things in the future.”

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Time travel just isn’t what it used to be. That’s the view of comedian and writer David Baddiel, who chatted to Ray D’Arcy about their shared love of time travel and David’s sci-fi novel for kids, Future Friends. Neither Ray nor David made serious claims to be Time Lords, but you get the feeling that, given the chance, they’d have …

Grandfathers Against Racism“For me to be able to take a stand with these men, it’s a privilege and an honour.” 

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Benny McCabe and Kevin Cronin, part of a group called Grandfathers Against Racism, spoke to Ray D’Arcy on Tuesday. The group originally came together in 2018, to respond to the referendum to repeal the 8th amendment to the constitution. They met up once a week, they didn’t have loudspeakers and they didn’t chant, Kevin explained to Ray, they chose a location and unfurled their banner. Two years ago, …

Enda O'Doherty“My Friday night drink would have been a pint glass of vodka and after a while I used to drink Benylin with that.”

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Ray D’Arcy doesn’t begin his chat with motivational speaker, endurance athlete, teacher and now author, Enda O’Doherty, with the washing machine on the back going up Mount Kilimanjaro story. Instead, Ray, taking his lead from Enda’s new book, I’m Fine!, starts with the alcohol addiction and Enda’s years as a high-functioning alcoholic. And some of the numbers Enda shares with Ray are truly mind-boggling:  Enda: “I was drinking about four bottles of …

Carer Jane Johnstone“We were already on our knees, being honest, Ray, so there was an awful lot of anxiety as to what restrictions were going to be announced.”

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Back in May, Jane Johnstone, who was taking part in David Brophy’s choir, featured in the TV programme, Unsung Heroes, spoke to Ray D’Arcy about her two sons Evan and Daniel, who both have special needs. Jane has been caring for her sons by herself since her husband, Rod, died six years ago. And Jane spoke to Ray again today. Like most of the country, Jane …

Dawn O'Porter“The more we all share about what this year did to us all, the easier it’s gonna be.”

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Writer Dawn O’Porter needed some persuading to publish her latest book Life in Pieces: Thoughts from a Year that Changed Us, she told Ray D’Arcy. It started as a deeply personal blog, written in lockdown and never intended for wider publication. Dawn says it was her go-to stress relief along with a glass of wine at the end of a busy …

Actor Shaun Williamson“I thought I’d self-educate myself. And when Trivial Pursuit came out in 1985, I was hooked.”

As heard on The Ray D'Arcy Show

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Shaun Williamson – Barry from EastEnders – has written a book about his journey into the world of quizzing and along the way, he writes about being in the BBC’s uber-soap, what it was like making Extras with Ricky Gervais, acting with David Bowie, and oh yes, he also reveals that he has a long-lost son. It’s like an EastEnders super-celebrity Christmas special. With quizzes. Shaun joined Ray D’Arcy on a dodgy connection on …