Candid interview between the Two Norries and Micheál Martin on his past and present

Hosts James Leonard and Timmy Long spent 80-minutes before Christmas talking to the Taoiseach about his childhood and upbringing in a working-class family in the Capwell area of Cork city

Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Two Norries’ studio with James Leonard and Tim Long.

The Taoiseach has spoken about how his grandmother helped old IRA prisoners escape from a mental hospital during the War of Independence and of how two of his uncles joined the British army while his father joined the Irish Army and boxed for Ireland.

Micheál Martin also describes how as a college student, he travelled with friends to "a tense" West Belfast during the height of the Troubles to meet members of the UDA and other groups in a bid to understand all sides of the conflict.