RTÉ Radio 1

As we’ve been hearing this morning, thousands of commuters throughout the country have been forced onto the roads as their usual rail journeys have been beset by the Iarnrod Eireann strike.

More industrial action is planned for the 7^th and the 21^st of September – coinciding with the All-Ireland Hurling and Football finals.

But how reliant should we be on the rail network – and is it something we can do without? Perhaps it is time to concentrate on our network of motorways?

Joining Sean was John O’Sullivan of Dublin Coach and Colman O Raghallaigh from West On Track which is campaigning for investment on our rail network.

Statesman and businessman, today former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds will be laid to rest.

Sean was joined in studio by one men who knew him well, musician Paddy Cole. Valerie Cox reported from the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook.

Our reporter Brian O’Connell, who is in our Cork studio, spent time in a GP surgery last week in Limerick where people are experiencing increasing delays for essential treatments.

If Mass attendances are anything to go by, traditional organised religions hold less appeal for people as more and more turn away from the prayers and beliefs they were reared on.

But in the absence of religion, to whom and to where do people turn to seek comfort when times are tough?  Where do we find solace in a secular world?

Well to discuss this, Sean was joined in studio now by Pat Storey, Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare and Michael Nugent, Chairperson of Atheist Ireland and on the line from Clare is Fr Harry Bohan, Parish Priest in Sixmilebridge in County Clare.

You may remember last April we spoke to Mary Walsh, mother of Sara Walsh who, following a bleed on her brain during a biopsy for a tumour, had to be put into an induced coma. Sara was moved from the National Rehabilitation Hospital earlier this month to the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook but finding a long term nursing home for Sarah is proving difficult.

Mary was in studio with me to give us the latest.

Joining Sean for a roundup of the weekend’s sport were journalist Orla Bannon; GAA analyst, David Brady and former Kerry footballer, Darragh O’Se