haven’t changed everything,” he said, noting that at least the phone number remains the same. Despite the familiar time slot, Liveline is now under intense scrutiny. The show is one of the few non-news programmes kept in place, and its new host arrives amid controversy over his move from Newstalk. Discussions Turn Dark as Racism Hits the Headlines The theme of change continued into Cuddihy’s most striking interviews of the week—though the tone was far from hopeful. On Tuesday, Portlaoise resident Naeem Iqbal recounted how his friend Abdur and another man were attacked by a group of men and women last Friday, describing the incident as part of a growing “wave of racism” targeting migrants. Iqbal, who ran for local office in 2019 and 2024, said he has seen a “very different change in attitude” in Ireland, noting racist abuse on social media and vandalised campaign posters. Though he described Ireland warmly as his home, he voiced serious concern about the rising volume of anti-migrant rhetoric online. Cuddihy then checked the live text feed—and what he saw reinforced Iqbal’s point. “This is possibly a dispiriting thing to say,” he admitted, “but the Liveline WhatsApp number is absolutely overrun with racist comments .” Debate Continues: Is the Flag Being Hijacked? Sensing a topic that resonated with listeners, Cuddihy revisited the issue the next day. Andrea, a teacher from Co Meath, said she was alarmed by the growing number of Tricolours hung on lamp-posts, arguing that the national flag was being misused as an anti-migrant symbol. For balance, Cuddihy brought on Christopher, who denied that displaying the flag was racist. He instead called it a “sign of hope” for people who feel ignored—though he also complained about “busloads” of outsiders arriving in local communities and claimed that the “mainstream media” refuses to cover the issue. Cuddihy pushed back gently. “I’ve lost count of the number of debates I’ve had about immigration,” he said with a sigh—while simultaneously adding another one to the list. Despite the grim tone, this was the moment Cuddihy appeared to truly settle into his new role, after days dominated by discussions about failures in healthcare for children with special needs. Drivetime’s New Team Finds its Rhythm Meanwhile, the revamped Drivetime launched in its new 4pm slot with co-presenters Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin , who seemed comfortable from the outset. Hannon handled a sensitive interview with rape survivor Dylan Gallagher with care and empathy, drawing out his story of abuse by a cousin. Both hosts praised Gallagher’s courage, with Hannon calling him “a really impressive person.” The duo balanced this heavy segment with lighter conversations, including a discussion with Dublin Bus chief executive Billy Hann about public transport frustrations, and a lively chat with journalist Édaein O’Connell about the ups and downs of single life. There were moments when their on-air rapport felt slightly forced, but their ability to shift smoothly between serious and casual topics left a positive early impression. David McCullagh Faces a Tougher Test Elsewhere on Radio 1, David McCullagh stepped into the slot previously helmed by Claire Byrne—who has since moved to Newstalk—with Today starting an hour earlier at 9am. McCullagh now shoulders the challenge of delivering two hours of current affairs to listeners still recovering from the typically heavy tone of Morning Ireland.