How Magill Magazine Exposed A Darker Side To Institutional Ireland
Summary
Kevin Rafter discusses his new book, *Fearless*, which examines Ireland in the 1980s through the lens of McGill magazine and its founding editor, Vincent Brown. The episode highlights the publication’s role as an alternative voice during a period of significant social transition, featuring stories on the Kerry Babies tribunal and the political scandal involving tapped phones. It also reflects on the era’s long-form journalism, the magazine’s financial precarity, and Brown’s polarizing legacy as a media proprietor.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Vincent Brown and the book 'Fearless'
McGill as a window into 1980s Ireland
Vincent Brown's role as proprietor and editor
Brown's influence on magazine covers and stories
Phone tapping at McGill and Colm Tóibín's fear
Tóibín's editorial style and the social context of gay identity
Gene Kerrigan and the Kerry Babies tribunal
Long-form journalism and the miscarriage of justice
Kerrigan's novel-length article and analysis of the report
Judge Lynch's complaint and McGill's response
Contrasting 1980s patience with modern media speed
McGill's circulation and the Peter Berry diaries
The profile of McGill's readership
Vincent Brown as a polarizing figure and entrepreneur
Closing remarks and sponsor
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