Róisín Meets...

Activist Grainne Healy was one of the leaders of the Yes Equality campaign, and along with Brian Sheehan and Noel Whelan she has written a book about what went on behind the scenes. She explains the book's purpose, and how she came to be so intimately involved with the historic marriage equality movement. Ireland Says Yes: The Inside Story of How the Vote for Marriage Equality was Won is available now.

Joe Duffy's three year trawl through census records and archives has resulted in a book, The Children of The Rising, that tells the untold story of the forgotten young victims of the 1916 rebellion. On this week's podcast the veteran broadcaster describes how researching the book became a “total obsession” He also talks about his early life, getting into Trinity and how he almost turned down the chance to work with Gay Byrne . Children of the Rising: The untold story of the young lives lost during Easter 1916 is available now

Author Cathy Kelly is one of a number of Irish women whose literary output ensures we punch above our weigh on global bestseller lists. But there's no rivalry between herself, Marian, Cecelia and the rest, she insists - the problem is with people who dismiss their kind of writing.

Still on a high from watching Ireland beat Germany at the Aviva, actor and comedian Deirdre O'Kane dropped in to The Irish Times studio to tell Roísín about her starring role in Fiona Loony's new play Are you there Garth? It's me Margaret. After that she opens up about her career choices, trying to crack London as an actor and the isolation of being a standup comedian. Are you there Garth? It's me Margaret is running from 13th – 25th October 2015 at The Gaiety Theatre.

This week Roísín meets radio presenter and Newstalk author Seán Moncrieff, whose new book The Irish Paradox looks at the nature of Irishness. The paradox, he says, is that we can hold two contradictory views simultaneously and believe both of them. Sean tells Roísín about his transplantation from England to Ireland at the age of 12 and how that might put him in the right place to examine Irishness. He also explains why Ireland must be the worst country on earth to conduct an extramarital affair. The Irish Paradox: How and Why We are Such a Contradictory People is published by Gill and Macmillan.

On this week's podcast Roísín meets Mary Coughlan, a singer who "emotes, purges, atones, reminisces, eulogises and laments". Mary tells Roísín about her urge to go and help the refugees on Europe's borders, her own sometimes painful life story, taking part in something called a "F**k it Retreat" and recording a new album. "Truth is very powerful... there's a great freedom in being truthful about everything". Mary's new album "Scars on the Calendar" is available now. Upcoming shows: October 2nd: Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh 8.00pm Octboer 9th: Purty Ktichen, Monkstown, Dublin 8.00pm

Laurence and Ian are best known from their roles as Elmo and Deano in RTÉ's hit drama Love/Hate. But that's behind them now and they are buzzing after last night's opening of The Night Alive, the "very dark and very funny" play in which they both star. In this roller-coaster interview, Laurence talks about his tough upbringing, Ian relives his Game of Thrones bit-part and the possibility of another season of Love/Hate is debated. The Night Alive runs from 22 September - 4 October at The Gaiety Theatre.

To mark the beginning of the Rugby World Cup, Roísín welcomes former All Black and popular rugby pundit Brent Pope. As he is one of Ireland's most well known immigrants and someone who has been outspoken about his mental health problems, it should be no surprise that Brent is interested in something called "outsider art" and is even hosting an upcoming RTÉ series to showcase some of Ireland's outsider artists. "Some people call it naive art, other people call it brute art. I like art that's uncooked by culture" explains Brent. "Nobody else apart from them and their families have ever seen it." Brent also tells Roísín about his difficulties with anxiety and lack of confidence and how he has come to terms with his mental health problems. "People need to know out there that despite people being out and about in public, they can still hurt" he says. And not forgetting about rugby, he gives his predictions for Joe Schmidt and Ireland's chances. To further mark the start of the Rugby World Cup, Paul Howard

As a young boy Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, along with his family, fled Tibet. Tied to his horse so he wouldn't fall off when he slept, he made it to India. Today, 60 years later, he is a regular visitor to Ireland, teaching Buddhism and meditation. He tells Roísín about his unusual life and times, his friendship with the Dalai Lama, the 'strange and special' belief in reincarnation and why he refers to himself as 'the lazy lama'. The recent visit of Ringu Tulku Rinpoche to Dublin was organised by Bodhicharya Ireland (http://bodhicharyaireland.blogspot.ie), the Irish arm of Bodhicharya International(http://bodhicharya.org/), a not-for-profit educational and cultural association. The organisation is raising funds for the Rigul Trust Fund to assist those affected by the recent earthquakes in Nepal. To find out more, or to donate, go to http://www.rigultrust.org/. Further information about Ringu Tulku Rinpoche is available: http://bodhicharya.org/ringu-tulku/.

This week Roísín welcomes back Niall Breslin, Bressie to most of us, whose new book Me and My Mate Jeffrey has just been released. In the book, an excerpt of which you can read in The Irish Times today, he explains his problems with anxiety, panic attacks and self-harming and the steps he took to overcome them.

For the final installment of Music Month Roísín is joined by Liam Ó Maonlaí of Hot House Flowers. Wielding his whistle and a bodhrán, Liam performs four songs. He also tells Roísín how he's only just beginning to grow up . Setlist: Siobhan ni Dhuibhir Big Fat Heart Don't Go Amhrán na Féidearthachtaí You can catch Hothouse Flowers live: Friday, 28 August at Páidí Ó Sé's Pub in Ventry, Co. Kerry, Saturday, 12 September at Iur Cinn Fleadh Festival, Newry, Friday, 18 September at Monroe’s, Dominick St, Galway.

Seo Linn are Stiofán, Keith, Daithí, Cathal, Kevin and Conor. These five young men are passionate about the Irish language, music and education. They've combined these passions in Seo Linn. Through their spirited Irish-language interpretations of popular music they want to bring music as gaeilge to classrooms, workshops and festivals (they'll be on the Oxfam stage at Electric Picnic next month). The whole band crammed into The Irish Times' rather small studio to record three songs. In between, Stiofan and Keith chat with Roísín about the Seo Linn project. Stiofán Ó Fearail: Glór/ giotár Keith Ó Briain: Glór/ giotár/ djembe Daithí Ó Ruaidh: Glór/ méarchlár/ sintéiseoir/ maindilín Cathal Ó Ruaidh: Giotár dord/ cúlghlór Kevin Shortall: Bosca ceoil/ bodhrán/ cúlghlór Conor Moore: Drumaí/ cúlghlór seolinn.com/

Music Month continues with singer-songwriter Sinéad White. She's performed at Knockanstockan, Longitude and Electric Picnic and has been described as 'a rising talent on the Irish music scene' by music blogger Nialler9. You can catch Sinéad live at Electric Picnic, where she'll perform at midnight on Saturday on the Oxfam stage in association with Abner Brown's Barbershop. Her debut album 'Finally' was released in May.

Music Month continues with Sue Rynhart, a singer-songwriter with an ethereal voice, backed by Dan Bodwell on the double bass. Praise for Crossings, Sue's debut album: “An excellent Irish album from a rare talent.” – John Kelly, RTÉ “Full of striking songs and vivid ideas” – Jim Carroll, The Irish Times “Rynhart's excellent debut release” ****- Cormac Larkin, The Irish Times “Music unclassifiable really, perhaps coming out of the jazz tradition with nods to improv and the experimental” – Bernard Clarke, Nova, RTÉ lyric fm

August is Music Month on Roísín Meets, and to kick it off Roísin met Ron Sexsmith, the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter. He tells Roísín about his life, work and influences, and performs songs from his back catalogue and his new album Carousel One which is available now.

This week Roísín meets actor and writer Kate Beaufoy, best known to many for her turns in Bracken and Glenroe as Terry, and to others as the voice of Ulster Bank, Eircom and Pantene. She recalls how her storylines in Glenroe brought her some dirty looks, and how she launched her writing career. She also talks about her new novel Another Heartbeat in the House.

This week Roísín meets Niamh Ní Dhomhnaill, whose ex-boyfriend was convicted of raping her in her sleep. His fully suspended sentence was widely regarded as lenient. Niamh tells Roísín the story of her relationship with Magnus Meyer Hustveit, how she learned of his crimes and the difficulties of pursuing a prosecution. She also tells how the response to her story has been empowering.

This week Roísín is joined by the singer and actor Maria Doyle Kennedy, who shares her approach to her art, two new tracks, and the tale of a clever ruse her husband used to get her attention at the start of their relationship.

This week Roísín meets and greets author, academic and noted feminist Emer O'Toole. They discuss how Emer has strived to shrug off some of the world'd expectations of her as a woman, and how the world has responded. They also discuss the many slang terms for breasts.

To mark the Dublin Pride Parade, Roísín meets prominent gay rights campaigners Senator Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan to talk about life after the Yes Equality campaign, their role in the gay rights movement, and Katherine's decision to run for a Dáil seat. They also have some advice for older gay people.