Miriam O'Callaghan on Motherhood, Career Longevity and Her New Documentary on Ireland's Population Crash

Miriam O’Callaghan Confronts Ireland’s Demographic Shift in New Two-Part Documentary

Veteran broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan is adding a two-part documentary titled Ireland’s Population Crash to her heavy schedule, exploring the forces behind the country’s birth rate decline. The programme opens with a stark statistic: in just one decade, Ireland’s birth rate has fallen by 30 per cent, raising concerns among economists and demographers about the future workforce and the State pension system.

O’Callaghan travels to South Korea during the project to examine the long-term effects of a declining population. She observed that the country features older people interacting with robots because of a lack of younger generations to care for them, adding that she did not see a single child during her time there.

Examining the Cost and Lifestyle Factors Behind Smaller Families

As a mother of eight children, O’Callaghan looked into why contemporary families are choosing smaller households or forgoing children altogether. She noted that high housing costs, expensive childcare, and ongoing financial responsibilities play major roles in these decisions, alongside lifestyle choices and career pursuits. Ireland’s Population Crash is scheduled to air on RTÉ1, with the first episode broadcasting on Wednesday, November 4, at 9:35 p.m., followed by the second part on November 11.

O’Callaghan acknowledged having mixed feelings in the past about being defined primarily by the size of her family. She stated that while being referenced as a mother of eight used to annoy her because male broadcasters rarely face similar introductions, she has grown more relaxed about it over time.

Balancing Broadcasting Longevity and Family Life

With a career spanning almost 40 years that began as a researcher on ITV’s This Is Your Life and a BBC producer in 1987, O’Callaghan continues to anchor Prime Time and her weekend radio programme. Her professional independence drew public attention after her brother, Jim O’Callaghan, became Minister for Justice in 2025, prompting questions regarding potential conflicts of interest in political broadcasting. Rejecting suggestions that she step back, she defended her decades of work in her memoir, Life, Work, Everything.

Miriam O’Callaghan presents Ireland’s Population Crash, Wednesday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm — Photo: The Irish Times

“I worked my butt off from the age of 16, when I went to university as a law student, right up until today in my mid-60s,” she said. “And the idea that a man, any man, no matter who it is – and I love my brother – would come along and his career is more important than mine? No way. The patriarchy is dead.”

Behind the Scenes and Global Warnings

“There’s too much bad news about having babies,” O’Callaghan tells podcast presenter Róisín Ingle. If you look at TikTok and Insta, it’s all about how difficult it is and I think it’s such a wondrous gift.

Miriam O Callaghan pictured at the Neurodiversity Ireland Infinity 2026 Ball at the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin. Pic — Photo: EVOKE

She also admitted, Sure, I read it sometimes and go, She must be mad in the head, and then I realise it’s me!

I’d say I’m very annoying to live with – they don’t say I am but I’m sure I am, she told the RTÉ Guide.

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