NEW Philanthropy Ireland Podcast: Stories Can Change Everything

New podcast from Philanthropy Ireland capturing the conversations behind Irish giving. 

Philanthropy is often most powerful when it’s personal. Behind every act of giving lies a story; of success, values, challenges, and the desire to create change. With that in mind, Philanthropy Ireland has launched a brand-new podcast series that brings these stories to life. 

Hosted by Vincent Wall, the Philanthropy Ireland Podcast will be released monthly, featuring candid conversations with philanthropists. Our aim is simple: to inspire more people to engage in giving, in ways big and small. 

The first two episodes set the tone for the series, offering an inside look at the journeys of two remarkable Irish philanthropists; James Murphy and Dr. Declan Ryan. Their experiences could not be more different, yet both reflect the transformative power of giving with purpose. 

James Murphy – Doing Good with What We Have 

In episode one, we meet James Murphy, co-founder (with his wife Maria) of the Lifes2Good Foundation. Following the €150 million sale of his business in 2017, Murphy recalls a pivotal moment: “That was far too much money for me, personally, to have and to keep and to invest.” 

Instead, he chose to channel that wealth into structured philanthropy. The foundation’s first five years focused on women and children in vulnerable situations, including funding the now-national Consent Programme at University of Galway. “Every student that goes into third level education has to go through the consent program… it is just such an incredible success,” Murphy explains. 

What stands out is how he applies a business lens to philanthropy: clear strategies, measurable outcomes, and strong governance. Yet family is central too. His son now chairs the foundation board, and each of his children has been encouraged to take part. As Murphy puts it: “It’s more important to do good with what we have and show by example to the next generation.” 

Declan Ryan – Venture Philanthropy in Action 

Episode two turns to Dr. Declan “Dec” Ryan — aviation pioneer, co-founder of Ryanair, and founder of The One Foundation. In 2004, Ryan committed to a bold approach: a “spend down” model of giving, intentionally deploying over €85 million across ten years to causes including youth mental health, immigrant integration, and social leadership. 

Ryan is frank about what drove him: “When Ryanair floated, it just made me realize how much cash we had… I just knew my family didn’t need that much.” Influenced by Chuck Feeney, he embraced venture philanthropy, applying business discipline, metrics, and risk-taking to maximise impact. 

Among his proudest achievements is supporting Jigsaw (formerly Headstrong), now a leading youth mental health service. “Sometimes you have to have a go,” he reflects. “Jigsaw is now hugely successful, nearly part of the HSE.” 

Ryan also speaks powerfully about inclusion: “The Irish were so well taken care of abroad, and then when it comes back to our little square patch, we forget. It wasn’t that long ago it was ‘no dogs, no Irish.’” His words are a timely reminder of both the responsibilities and opportunities of giving in today’s Ireland. 

Why Listen? 

These first two conversations capture what this new podcast series is all about, lifting the lid on the personal journeys, philosophies, and hard-earned lessons behind philanthropy in Ireland. From Murphy’s focus on family and structure to Ryan’s bold, venture-driven model, they reveal different ways of approaching the same question: how can we use what we have to make a difference? 

As Ryan neatly puts it: “The easiest measure of success is when they don’t need us anymore.” 

Subscribe and Stay Connected 

This is just the beginning. The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast will release new episodes every month, spotlighting more voices from Ireland’s philanthropic community. 

Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for updates, and don’t forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. 

Together, we hope these conversations inspire more people to step into giving — in their own way, at their own scale, and with their own story.