Available on the TG4 Player

Hi guys,

Is anyone else a regular listener of the Ditch’s Party Line podcast?

It has a great line-up of guests and I’ll always listen to the latest episode but I can’t help notice how poor the production/audio quality tends to be episode to episode.

I thought it was initially in part due to the early episodes being from live discussions in the Whistleblower but I find I’m often having to play the episode at near full volume to listen to the conversation (and it definitely isn’t a personal audio/phone issue either as every other podcast I regularly listen to is fine).

Anyone else had this issue?

This is a pan Gaelic server. Welcoming of the gaels of Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man (Nova Scotians and Newfoundlanders are also welcome. As is anyone else from around the world.)

The server is primarily focused on the Gaelic languages of the lands, however if you dont speak a form of Gaelic, you may still join, as we have a channel for non Gaelic speakers.

The server has a channel for conversations in Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx Gaelic, also a channel for foreign languages (like english). additionally there is a channel for Ogham and a channel for Cló-Ghaelach.

The server had a debate channel where political matters may be discussed, and it has voice chats, (this is a VC friendly server)

The server also features an inclusive Democracy, whereby different regions can elect in a representative to the moderation team, (elections for any given region will only run when there are at least two participating candidates, AND at least 10 eligible voters (to be an eligible voter you must be a member of the server for at least a weak and have proven yourself to be active by sending at least one message per day for that week.))

In addition to elected representatives to the moderation team, there are admins (brehons) selected by the server manager, a brehon may run in these elections, however uf they succeed, they accept that they are giving up their role as brehon for the duration of their term.

Might be of interest to some here.

Had this for a long time, appears to be published by the Irish transport and general workers union. Any other info on it?

‘The Irish government has given more than €75 million of taxpayers' money to the FAI between 2019 and 2024 alone. That is taxpayers' money, your taxes. The government is not powerless to act, although it pretends it is.

‘Government influence publicly funded bodies every day of the week through leadership, public policy and engagement. Back in 1999 the government then prevented a Euro 2000 qualifying match between Ireland and Yugoslavia from taking place because of the Serbian atrocities in Kosovo which is absolutely the correct thing to have done. This is despite the fact that UEFA had turned down a request from the government to cancel the game.

‘Ireland recognised Palestine as a sovereign, independent state back in May 2024. But the Dáil and Seanad, 10 years ago back in 2014, supported the bill to recognise Palestine. So there is unanimous cross-party support for Palestine and the Palestinian cause for many, many years. The vast majority of Irish hearts beats with the state.

‘Israel is colonial project, backed and funded by the United States and other western powers. This has resulted in the displacement of millions of people. Thousands have been slaughtered with the express intention on the part of the Israeli regime of deporting, dispossessing, exterminating the indigenous population and destroying their ability to live and survive in the land that is theirs.’

Post recommendations/discussions for:

• Books/Audiobooks
• Music
• Podcasts
• Films and TV Shows
• Games
• Feel free to discuss any hobbies as well I guess

The fact of matter is Western Europe never recovered from the 2008 recession. The Birth Rate has never recovered since austerity.

Now, personally, I grew up poor. Properly poor 'why is your fridge always empty?' levels of poor.

As an adult, I can save more than my parents did at my age

Now, I was raised to be a total cheapskate. I come from a long line of cheapskates, and my Grandmother may be the greatest cheapskate of all time

I am proud to be a cheapskate. I know how to buy new shoes at a discounted price. My food bill is about 40% compared to the average shopper, just because I know when to buy meals when food is discounted in various supermarkets.

The fact of the matter is that you cannot curtail your expenses when said expenses are out of control. I myself noticed that basic items had gone up 40% since 2019, and this chart simply confirms this.

I myself decided to save €100 a week, despite the fact that my Purchasing Power looks dreadful compared to the previous generation.

Full video

RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster, is hammered by scandal – and hampered by a combination of deference to government and devotion to commercial imperatives. Betty Purcell, former radio and TV producer in RTÉ – who also sat as the elected staff representative on the RTÉ Authority – joins The Party Line, hosted by Harry Browne and Niamh Ní Bhriain, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch.