At a time when there are media think pieces galore about how atomised entertainment is, how people don’t talk about TV like they used to; how the music industry is fractured beyond repair; and how young people are too stuck to their screens to engage in real-life politics, 2025 proved all that wrong.
RTÉ’s smash hit reality TV show Traitors Ireland was a ratings juggernaut that dished up endless water-cooler moments. Oasis played two triumphant Croke Park gigs, with all talk about eye-watering ticket prices forgotten in the blazing sunshine and general euphoria. And Kneecap’s frontman Liam Óg hAnnaidh aka Mo Chara’s London court appearances became mini-festivals with music mixing with politics.
And then where was Lily Allen’s tell-all album, West End Girl and presidential hopeful Maria Steen and her handbag.
These and other much-talked about highlights are picked over by Aideen Finnegan from the Irish Times podcast team and journalist Niamh Browne.
Woman’s body discovered in rural area near Clonmel in Co Tipperary
Most cases of alleged sex assault in Defence Forces sent back by gardaí
Woman arrested on suspicion of murder of toddler Daniel Aruebose released with file to go to DPP
‘You’re never going to keep everybody happy’, says NTA’s head of public transport
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.























