Liveline

Liveline

Kieran Cuddihy takes your calls and gets to the heart of the discussions that matter to the people of Ireland. 

00:00
00:00

Episode's summary

In this episode of Lifeline, host Ciarán attempts to solve a unique logistical challenge for John Brennan, who has an animatronic T-Rex stuck in London. The half-tonne, four-metre-long dinosaur was donated by a Chinese company following an exhibition at the Excel centre and needs transport back to Ireland for use in charity events. The program features expert insights from Dave McGowan regarding the transportation of oversized items, such as planes and train carriages, and concludes with a successful connection to Simon Reid of Reid Transport. The episode also touches upon recent developments regarding local funding challenges for large-scale projects and the opening of a new crematorium in Sligo.

Chapters

Click on a chapter to go directly to that moment

Highlights

My problem is that I have a dinosaur stuck in London. I'm trying to get him home.

00:00:25 · John Brennan introduces the central problem of the episode regarding an abandoned animatronic prop.

Half a tonne.

00:02:29 · The estimated weight of the animatronic dinosaur is revealed, highlighting the scale of the transport task.

We moved a plane from Shannon Airport up to a rural village in the west of Ireland in its growth.

00:03:26 · Dave McGowan describes his experience with extreme heavy-lift logistics.

Yes, Ciarán, we can get the dinosaur from London back to Ireland.

00:05:55 · Simon Reid confirms that his company is capable of executing the requested transport.

Nothing screams positivity like a crematorium, David.

00:10:51 · The host makes a humorous remark following Dave McGowan's discussion about shifting focus to a new business venture.

Episodes

5237-

Rexit - "I have a dinosaur stuck in London"

In this episode of Lifeline, host Ciarán attempts to solve a unique logistical challenge for John Brennan, who has an animatronic T-Rex stuck in London. The half-tonne, four-metre-long dinosaur was donated by a Chinese company following an exhibition at the Excel centre and needs transport back to Ireland for use in charity events. The program features expert insights from Dave McGowan regarding the transportation of oversized items, such as planes and train carriages, and concludes with a successful connection to Simon Reid of Reid Transport. The episode also touches upon recent developments regarding local funding challenges for large-scale projects and the opening of a new crematorium in Sligo.

16 Oct 2026
5236-

"You're sitting there and next there's rocks through the window"

In this episode of Liveline, a caller named Sean shares his harrowing experience with drug debt and violent intimidation following his son's involvement in drugs, describing the escalation from small payments to significant financial extortion and physical threats. The discussion expands to include perspectives from addiction recovery experts and government officials regarding the need for community support and systemic change to combat organized crime. The episode features a heated debate regarding the impact of drug-related crime and the radical proposal to legalize drugs to eliminate the violence associated with illegal debt collection. The conversation also highlights the experiences of activists like Vivian, who faced extreme intimidation, and Sharon, who shares the personal devastation of losing family members to addiction.

16 Oct 2026
5235-

"My fear is he's going to end up on a mortuary slab"

This episode explores the devastating impact of drug-related crime, grooming, and intimidation on families. Through personal accounts from mothers like Sinead and Sarah, the discussion highlights the cycle of criminality, the psychological toll of drug debt, and the extreme measures parents feel forced to take to ensure their children's survival. The conversation further examines the systemic failures in state intervention, the lack of accountability for business owners facilitating drug deals, and the complex intersection of addiction and organized crime. Speakers emphasize that no community is immune to these networks, noting how poverty and a lack of opportunity contribute to an escalating crisis of violence and intimidation.

15 Oct 2026
5234-

"There are far too many civil servants doing nothing"

This episode of Live Line features a debate over ongoing strikes by nurses and teachers. Callers discuss the impact of inflation on wages and poor working conditions for nurses, while others express skepticism regarding teacher pay and criticize the motivations of civil service unions. The discussion further explores the complexities of public sector pay negotiations, contrasting teacher salaries with nursing workloads. Speakers critique trade unions for seeking pay parity during economic booms and call for greater government accountability and productivity within the civil service.

14 Oct 2026
5233-

"I was asked to participate in a murder"

Ciarán Cudahy and criminologist Robert Cullen discuss the cycle of drug-related debt, intimidation, and violence, exploring the 'credible messenger' model as a way to mediate community conflicts. The conversation examines the social implications of current drug laws, the complexities of addiction, and the biological drives behind substance use. The episode features a heated debate regarding drug policy, crime prevention, and the effectiveness of the prison system. While Robert argues that prohibition fuels violence and that prison is criminogenic, Chris advocates for more robust policing and harsher penalties to deter criminal activity.

14 Oct 2026