Data centres have become a hot topic, consuming 23% of Ireland's power and a staggering amount of water.

Ireland has a huge number of them per head of population compared to other EU countries, and people are increasingly concerned about the environmental and energy impact.

Local communities around the country including Kilmeaden, Co Waterford and Naas Co Kildare are beginning to rally against new centres.

Research published last month digs into the reality of data centres in Ireland and one of its writers Patrick Bresnihan is the guest on today's episode.

Economic benefits of data centres have been 'exaggerated', report claims

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Brenda Dennehy was well known in Cork through her work on 96fm and Red FM and her social media presence.

But her bubbly, "stone mad" persona hid her silent struggles with alcohol and prescription medication – until the pressure of holding it all together became too much, and she suffered a very public humiliation when she was judging a charity fundraising event. Videos of her slurred speech and being escorted from the venue circulated online and she received abuse and death threats.

A subsequent overdose on Xanax resulted in admission to CUH, but it was only losing her job at Red FM after falling asleep during a live show that brought her back to rehab.

During her second stint in rehab she feared she would almost die while detoxing from Xanax. After the "longest, worst night of her life", she wrote in her diary that she would make "the mother of all comebacks".

Since that day she has worked on some of the UK's top TV programmes, run five marathons and launched her own podcast The Comeback in which she interviews other people who have hit rock bottom. The death of her beloved father Dano in 2024 threatened to unbalance her, but she has maintained her sobriety.

Now, she has written a book, also titled The Comeback.

Listen to today's episode of The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: A Cork publican’s story of addiction and recovery

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Sharon Lynn lost her brother Martin in an unprovoked one-punch attack outside his own front door in Dublin in 2023. His killer has never expressed any remorse.

Cian Gallagher was killed in a similar attack in Tallow, Co Waterford in 2022. After his assailant punched him, he boasted to passersby that he had knocked him out "like Conor McGregor". Cian never woke up – he spent eight days in intensive care at Cork University Hospital before he died.

Both men died in entirely unprovoked attacks. Both were non-violent, contributing to society positively.

Their siblings are now campaigning for a focus on these random attacks, emulating the Australian model. They want to see awareness campaigns, a focus on prevention, and guidelines for consistent sentencing.

In today's episode they share their families' struggles with the criminal justice system; the reality of trying to grieve while undergoing gruelling court proceedings; and how the attacks shattered their belief in justice.

They talk about masculinity, and how their experiences have highlighted the contrast between good men and those who glorify violence.

Sharon and Bryan are the guests on today's episode of The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast.

See Ann Murphy's reporting in the Irish Examiner for more on this story.

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