Claire Byrne, the host of Today with Claire Byrne, which airs on RTÉ Radio 1 from Monday to Friday, delves into the age-old question that has seemingly gained more relevance in the current times – “What is the secret to true happiness?” Her panel of mental health experts, Dr Harry Barry and Dr Ann-Marie Creaven, are tasked with unravelling the answer to this query, albeit with limited success. For Dr Barry, the term ‘happiness’ itself is flawed, presenting as an unrealistic golden state of being that people are encouraged to incessantly pursue, rather than being acknowledged as a transient emotion amidst a spectrum of others, including guilt, regret, shame, and sadness. This paints a quite accurate picture of what many politicians might be experiencing in light of successive referendum failures.
Obsession over achieving a state of constant happiness, in Dr Barry’s opinion, sets people up for disappointment as it’s a feat impossible to attain. Rather, he suggests finding pleasure in everyday simple things like nature. The conversation takes a lighter, playful turn despite its philosophical undertones, highlighted when Dr Barry humorously points out the lack of substantial evidence proving a correlation between exercise and increased happiness.
The injection of humour provides a welcome relief during a generally gloomy week, especially on a show like Byrne’s which is usually packed with serious and informative content. Byrne’s happiness shines through as she appreciates her guests, “You both always bring positivity to my show,” she remarks, with genuine warmth in her voice.
However, there is still limited cheer in the Government circles, even though the defeat in the rugby seems to dishearten people more than the referendum outcomes. Intriguingly, few Cabinet members volunteer to dissect the severe setback received on the family and care amendments. Therefore, to fill the void, the show, Drivetime, brings in members of the Fianna Fáil Oireachtas, who went against the party line and voted against it.
Cormac Ó hEadhra encounters an explanation by Senator Lisa Chambers about her opposition towards the proposals, despite claiming little involvement in the debates or campaigns. However, when apparent involvement in a Yes-Yes canvass in Dublin is exposed, the Senator’s response remains elusive, choosing not to reply to Ó hEadhra’s invitation for a return on air.
Subsequently, TD Éamon Ó Cuív is spoken to, who defends his decision not to express public disagreement with his party leader, Micheál Martin’s approval for the amendments, stating; “It would be like standing on a railway line and telling the train to stop.” Indicating his reservations about the hurried pace of the measures, the deputy further expressed that his concerns had not gone unnoticed.
On the contrary to these somewhat restrained guests, there is more audacity shown by No-No campaigner and former justice minister for Fine Gael, Alan Shatter. He criticised the Government for attempting to deceive voters with “political BS”, before gaining momentum and demanding a new party grounded in common sense, truth and reform. Despite his unlikely prospect of significant change, Shatter’s fervent display may have held more sway than preceding Ministers’ attempts on the day of the vote.
On RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline on Monday, Joe Duffy seeks reasons from his audience as to why they voted contra the reform. The wide-ranging responses dispel the idea that the suggested amendments’ failure was solely a result of conservative backlash to Ireland’s liberalisation, yet sheds light on the considerable scale of refusal. Some contributors, like Sarah, aired grievances regarding the eradication of the word “mother” from the Constitution, arguing that it’s part of a broader trend of gender-neutral language being inserted at the cost of female terminology.
While concerns from the gender-identity perspective are taken into cautious consideration by Duffy, touching momentarily on the subject of transgender rights, another prevalent apprehension is the vagueness of the suggested amendments. Geraldine criticises this lack of clarity, expressing that she sought tangible information rather than emotional pleas. She believes that people were hesitant to express their reservations, not wanting to appear heartless. Karen, on the other hand, supports wider and more accepting constitutional descriptions of family, found herself perplexed by the wording. Concurrently, James was distraught over the possibility of the State’s hands-off approach in the care amendment, shifting the responsibility onto families. Taking into account these myriad concerns, the defeat of the referendums is understandable. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone’s needs and desires, but infuriating everyone is quite an accomplishment.
Following the ensuing debate, the loss of Charlie Bird, a former journalist at RTÉ, directed the conversation elsewhere. Tuesday’s episode was dedicated to Bird’s memory, his heroic career and inspiring activism during his fight with motor neuron disease sparked a torrent of raw emotions his friends and audience shared. The mourning and admiration for Bird were not just limited to the Liveline programme but extended to shows such as News At One (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays) where Bryan Dobson, typically composed and unshaken, was visibly moved whilst reminiscing about his old acquaintance.
The late journalist’s story is colourfully painted by Bird himself. His interview with Brendan O’Connor, broadcast just a few days before his death, was replayed on various shows. Despite his illness impairing his speech, necessitating voice technology, his sincerity and contemplative nature shone through. Despite his struggles with diminishing mobility, Bird openly discussed his acceptance of his illness and mortality. As he aptly put it, “The truth is I live each day as though it could be my last.” It’s a poignant, insightful dialogue; Bird continued to inspire till the very end. Though living each day as it comes may not guarantee happiness, it’s nonetheless a beneficial way to approach life.