Irish Cities in Crisis – a new Podcast Series by the RIAI and the Irish Cities 2070 Group
Hosted by broadcaster Matt Cooper and produced by Poddle Audio.
The RIAI and the Irish Cities 2070 Group have launched a new podcast series – Irish Cities in Crisis – hosted by broadcaster Matt Cooper, featuring contributions from architects, urban designers, planners, economists, activists and others involved in making successful, sustainable and inclusive cities.
It is inspired by the RIAI’s book Irish Cities in Crisis (2024), which was written and edited by the Irish Cities 2070 group – a collaboration of architects, urban designers, engineers and planners who develop solutions to the urban problems they encounter almost every day in their working life.
The new Irish Cities in Crisis podcast builds on the argument that Irish cities are in crisis because current planning and development systems are not delivering the well-designed environments needed for the future. It presents a wealth of ideas and achievable solutions and champions collaboration between citizens and city makers — including civil society and local, regional, and state governments — to bring about change.
Contributors from across architecture, planning, economy and community activism offer a range of solutions but are united in their view that political courage and a radical shift in the mindset are required for how we finance, govern, design and plan Irish cities. Cities must be recognised for what they are – the engines of our social, economic and cultural lives – and they must be treated with imagination and care. Great cities and towns are our future.
RIAI President Sean Mahon FRIAI said:
Our cities form the foundation of Ireland’s culture, economy, and society. Great cities do not just happen. They result from long-term vision and strategy. In Ireland, as our population numbers continue to grow, the future of our cities and urban environments becomes increasingly critical. We have such opportunity in Ireland to deliver for our current and future generations, but we need to ask tough questions and make the right choices for people. How do we ensure that urban growth benefits everyone, not just a few? How do we build cities that are resilient to environmental shocks? How do we create cities that inspire community, creativity, and well-being? This new RIAI podcast series offers clear solutions for making better cities for people.
Broadcaster Matt Cooper said:
Today's release is the culmination of many months of collaboration between myself, Poddle Audio, the RIAI and the Irish Cities 2070 Group. The Irish Cities in Crisis book is a fantastic blueprint for what urban life in Ireland could be and I hope that this podcast series brings those ideas to life for our listeners. Over the next number of weeks, I will be talking to a range of experts like architects, engineers, economists and even a neuroscientist about their solutions for the problems facing cities like Dublin, Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick. Because 64% of Irish people live in a city, they deserve to be a part of the conversation that’s so integral to their quality of life and we will also be hearing from the people experiencing them - people like you and me - to understand how individual lives are affected and generations are shaped by the places around them.
About Irish Cities in Crisis Podcast
Irish Cities in Crisis is available as a series of six episodes.
Episode one is launched on 6 November and available here, with a weekly episode added each Thursday until 11 December. Episode one is also available on Spotify and Apple.
Contributors to Episode One include
Sean Mahon, RIAI President; David Browne and Jim Coady, co-authors and co-editors Irish Cities in Crisis and Irish Cities 2070; Tony Reddy, Irish Cities 2070; Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell, co-founders Grafton Architects; Philip Halton, Irish Skate Association; Dr Carole Pollard, co-editor Irish Cities in Crisis; David McRedmond, Chief Executive An Post; Alice Charles, Leader Global Strategic Partnerships, Arup; Professor Rob Adams, former City Architect of Melbourne; Jude Sherry, Derelict Ireland and Jane Dillon, Dublin Lido Project.
About Irish Cities 2070
Led by architects and urban designers David Browne FRIAI and Jim Coady FRIAI, Irish Cities 2070 is a multi-disciplinary research group with its projects supported by the RIAI and the Irish Academy of Engineering. Their work is non-statutory and seeks to create a debate about how Irish cities should develop in the future, in the context of rapid population growth and a failing in joint-up thinking by successive Irish governments on cities. Their outstanding contribution lies in Irish Cities in Crisis, the most comprehensive study of Irish urbanism to date, and A Spatial Vision for Galway, a pioneering model for sustainable city growth. Together, these works represent a landmark in the recasting of urban development in Ireland and have already begun to shape real change.
About Poddle Audio
Poddle Audio takes its name from an enclosed river in Dublin, which joins the River Liffey before meeting the open sea. The company is founded on the belief that podcasting is, by its very nature, an inclusive and global medium that must offer opportunity for hobbyists and seasoned professionals alike. Dee Reddy is a highly experienced media executive whose 17+ year career has spanned radio, podcasting, content development, production, programming, music curation and consultancy. She has worked with a diverse range of talent and brands and appears weekly on the national airwaves; on The Last Word with Matt Cooper (Today FM) and features regularly on Ireland AM, East Coast FM, The Pat Kenny Show, The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk, as well as BBC NI and Times Radio UK.