New Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack from Portlaoise joins us on this week's episode to talk about her whirlwind political year. She contested three elections in seven months but is now settling in to her new role in Seanad Eireann. She chats about the experience of the past 12 months, what being a Senator actually entails, exchanging her water bottle for a crystal glass, her mother watching Seanad TV and what it's like when Mary Lou picks up the phone. 
We also chat about the tragic case of Joe Drennan and his family's fight for justice as well as the much lighter topic of JP Cahillane's brilliant 40-year involvement with the Portlaoise Pantomime group.