The Best Irish Podcasts for 2026
Understanding the spoken word can be one of the hardest parts of learning any language. Alongside regular opportunities for conversation, we need a steady stream of audio content to help us get familiar with the everyday sounds and vocabulary…and here’s where podcasts come in! These short audio programmes can play an incredibly useful role in helping us become more immersed in our target language, and are one of the ways we suggest to help improve your Irish listening skills.
Members of our community often ask us for podcast recommendations, so we surveyed our followers across all social media platforms to help compile this list. We placed a high value on quality of language, entertainment and consistency of episodes. We also sought to feature a diverse range of styles, interests and dialects. So here it is – The Best Irish Podcasts for 2026. Bígí ag éisteacht!
An Pod Gaeilge is produced by Tuairisc, the online Irish news service. This lively podcast explores modern life, culture, and current topics through engaging conversation. The high quality and emphasis on current affairs makes this a great option for upper intermediate learners and fluent speakers alike, and excellently demonstrates insightful, contemporary discourse through Irish. Éist anseo.
‘Idir Chroí agus Anam’ is a short podcast series presented by Tomaí Ó Conghaile in association with Northern Ireland Screen and support from Nós and Raidió Failte. In each episode, Tomaí shares open and honest conversations with guests about different wisdom traditions, their perspectives on the mystery of existence, and spiritual practices from all over the world. Guests featured include author Michael Harding, poet Siobhán de Paor and singer Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin. Éist anseo.
An Coinne Chultúir is a weekly programme from Raidió Rí-Rá that reviews albums, films, books and anything else of interest to the Irish-language community. The series has variety, fun and special guests, all the while showcasing the Irish language as a living medium for serious cultural conversation. Worth checking out, alongside the other Rí-Rá podcasts. Éist anseo.
Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh has consistently produced Fada is Fairsing at Raidió na Life studios since 2013. Inspired after spending a year teaching Irish in the USA, Lisa’s podcast focuses on Irish speakers from around the globe, as well as updates on language festivals, organisations, conferences and more. Tune in for multiple guest interviews and news. Éist anseo.
An Sruthán is a wonderful podcast of stories from Donegal-based publisher Éabhlóid. The series features recordings from anthologies ‘Bláth na dTulach’ and ‘Go Dtí An Lá Bán’, which celebrate contemporary short story writing from Ulster. Each recording is introduced by Réaltán Ní Leannánin, and then a native speaker is invited to read and discuss a story. One of the many joys of this series is buying the books and then listening to each story being read aloud. Each anthology ranges in style and theme, from love to revenge, and from hope to humour and sadness. Éist anseo.
You’ll hear Donegal accents and Ulster Irish galore in Barrscéalta, the well-established magazine show from Raidió na Gaeltachta. A diverse range of topics concerning folks up north is brought to you by presenter Michelle Nic Grianna, Monday to Friday. Be sure to watch out for Mary Aggie’s guest appearance, which are sure to test your listening skills while also delivering a good chuckle! Éist anseo.
Seachtain podcast, from the Irish Independent, does a terrific job of presenting interesting and topical issues for listeners each week through short, 20-minute episodes. Politics, music, sport, crime, language matters – it’s all covered here. Supporting articles do a good job of providing background info and new vocabulary on subjects covered. Éist anseo.
2025 thankfully saw the return of What the Focail?! for a second run after a haitus of a few years. Ciara Ní É presents an entertaining and informative podcast, interviewing various guests from the Irish language world. Listen back to chats with poet Áine Ní Ghlinn, writer-translator Antain Mac Lochlainn or grammar guru Seosamh Ó Murchú. Lean oraibh! Éist anseo.
If you’re looking for sports coverage, then look no further! An Spota Dubh is a sports programme presented by Cárthach Bán Breathnach and Cian Ó Griallais from Raidió na Life. The show provides sports fans with their weekly fix of chat and guest interviews through friendly chat and quality analysis. All the big sporting events of the week are up for discussion here. Éist anseo.
Blas is an established podcast from the BBC, covering a variety of topics, from sports to culture to current events. Presenters include Fearghal Mag Uiginn, Máire Bhreathnach and Dáithí Ó Muirí. The series functions as a great way to be entertained, test your Irish, and follow subjects that interest you. It also provides excellent content on GAA sports, arts and culture. New episodes are typically posted every week or every two weeks. Éist anseo.
Seán Ó Dubhchon reliably churns out eclectic interviews with ‘daoine mór le rá’ from the Irish language world. Episodes of Seal le Seán run from 20 to 35 minutes, which is the perfect length for anyone seeking a manageable starting point. Be sure to also check out this show’s impressive back catalogue of previous interviews. Éist anseo.
What’s notable about Aistí ón Aer is that it’s not your typical, magazine-type podcast. Here you will find an intriguing series featuring new writing from established or emerging writers, talking about a wide range of subjects. The series provides a large platform for new Irish writing to be heard, all under the stewardship of presenter Marcus Mac Conghail. Éist anseo.
Currently on hiatus, RTE’s Beo Ar Éigean with Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin and Siún Ní Dhuinn has often been a reliable choice for light entertainment. The show is enjoyable due to its spontaneous style and wide variety of topics – friendship, work, relationships, culture – as well as the feeling that you’re in the company of three people who enjoy chatting and laughing together ‘as Gaeilge’. Éist anseo.
An Domhan Thíos is an 8-episode podcast from RTÉ and Fíbín Media is an excellent entry point for both children and also older learners of Irish. The young cast of the series embrace the adventure, mystery and fun of the scenario, as they set about to uncover a mystery involving a fairy fort and a changeling from the Otherworld. Éist anseo.
How to Gael is a popular bilingual new podcast from Louise Cantillon, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin and Síomha Ní Ruairc. The three friends like to banter about their lives working and socialising ‘trí Ghaeilge’, so expect plenty of musings on work life, pop culture, current affairs and general gossip. For easy listening and the ‘cúpla focal’, this podcast is worth a spin. Éist anseo.
Bladhaire was broadcast live every Thursday and Friday from Donegal under the stewardship of host Áine Ní Bhreisleáin. The show consistently engaged listeners with its blend of entertainment discussion, live music sessions, interviews with guests, sports updates and commentary on events, such as our annual Féile na Gaeilge festival. Episodes are still available on playback. Éist anseo.
The Nobody Zone is a 6-episode, true crime series, produced in collaboration with Raidió na Gaeltachta. It tells the story of a murderer who targeted the vulnerable in the London underworld. What’s unique about ‘The Nobody Zone’ is that it was produced in five languages – Irish, English, Danish, Spanish and German! This podcast broke records on its release in 2020, becoming the most downloaded limited series Irish podcast ever. Éist anseo.
Agus sin é – The Best Irish Podcasts for 2026 as reported by the online Irish community! Fortunately, Irish language podcasts are now widely available, and we have many productions to choose from, covering politics to sports, linguistics to pop culture. There’s something out there for everyone, so please share this list with your fellow Irish learners. If you enjoyed this article, check out our 12 Best Free Resources for Learning Irish.
Bígí páirteach!
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