On this episode of The Parting Glass, I’m delighted to be joined by my latest guest, Kieran Coote.

I recently had the chance to read his book Mam and Me, and I can honestly say it’s one of the most beautiful and powerful memoirs I’ve come across. In it, Kieran shares his deeply personal experience of caring for his mam, Patricia, as she lived with dementia. It’s a story rooted in love, patience, grief, and the quiet, everyday moments that come to mean everything.

Kieran is an incredibly articulate speaker and a gifted writer, and his book captures not only the challenges of caregiving, but also the tenderness, humour, and humanity that can exist alongside it. Mam and Me paints a vivid portrait of a mother and son relationship tested by illness, yet strengthened through compassion and connection.

In our conversation, we explore what it means to care for someone you love, how memory shapes identity, and the emotional realities that often go unspoken when it comes to dementia.

I’m really grateful Kieran could join me for this one this is a conversation that stays with you.

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I was delighted to welcome Eric Lalor to The Parting Glass last week.

Actor, comedian, podcaster and a diehard Bohs man, Eric’s story goes far beyond the stage. From growing up with a deaf parent shaping his razor sharp ear for timing, to becoming a familiar face on Fair City, he’s carved out a career built on honesty, grit and serious laughs.

We get into the chaos of his worst gig, he lived to tell the tale, the buzz of his very best nights and why working with Willa White isn’t just a job, it’s a labour of love.

It’s funny, it’s raw and it’s full of heart.

This is Eric Lalor.

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In this powerful episode of The Parting Glass, we are joined by retired PSNI Detective Sergeant James Brannigan, one of Ireland’s most respected homicide investigators. James reflects on his policing career, his instinct for questioning the official story, and the experiences that shaped his approach to justice.

The conversation centres on the murder of 21 year old Katie Simpson, whose death was initially treated as suicide. James explains how he identified overlooked red flags, challenged internal resistance, and helped expose the truth that ultimately led to a murder trial.

James also discusses coercive control, how it operates long before physical violence occurs, and why it is so frequently misunderstood by investigators. He shares insight into his work with The Katie Trust https://thekatietrust.com a cross border charity he founded to support families who believe their loved one’s death was suspicious or inadequately investigated. The Trust provides independent reviews by experienced investigators and advocates for transparency, accountability, and dignity for bereaved families. This episode is a compelling and compassionate look at investigative failure, institutional blind spots, and the courage required to pursue truth when the official version does not add up.

If this episode brings up difficult feelings or if you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or coercive control, help is available.

Republic of Ireland

• Women’s Aid 24 Hour National Freephone Helpline
• 1800 341 900
• Free, confidential support for women experiencing domestic abuse, including coercive control
• https://www.womensaid.ie [womensaid.ie]

• Samaritans Ireland
• 116 123
• 24 7 emotional support for anyone struggling or in distress
• https://www.samaritans.org/samaritans-ireland/

Northern Ireland

• 24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline
• 0808 802 1414
• Free, confidential support for women and men affected by domestic or sexual abuse
• https://www.dsahelpline.org

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