Bonus Episode: Phantom Publics and the Reality of the Edogbo Racist Abuse We have a special bonus World Service podcast for you all today. The show you’re about to hear caused quite a stir amongst our members over the past week, many of whom suggested it should be released free to air. So here it is. Edwin Edogbo made his debut for Ireland against Italy earlier this month. The experience was marred by online racist abuse he suffered on Irish Rugby channels, culminating in comments on X being blocked by the IRFU. The reaction to this was one of anger, outrage and despair. Since then, we’ve been taking a look at from who and from where these comments originated, and the story is a little more complicated. Mark speaks to Dr Eileen Culloty, Associate Professor in the School of Communications in DCU where she’s also Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy & Society about the rise in co-ordinated online attacks, the numbers involved, and the idea that what we are now paying such attention to are ‘phantom publics’. Do these posts reflect where we are as a society and did they receive appropriate media coverage? Thanks to our members, we get the opportunity to delve a little deeper on stories like this. Please support independent journalism and join us today for just 5 euro a month at secondcaptains.com. --- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus Episode: Phantom Publics and the Reality of the Edogbo Racist Abuse (🎙️@SecondCaptains) #Racism #OnlineAbuse #Edogbo

'It's not right' - Ireland's Edogbo doing well after horrible abuse Meanwhile, Bundee Aki has returned to Ireland camp despite still being banned.

'It's not right' - Ireland's Edogbo doing well after horrible abuse (✍️@rugby_ie) #Ireland #Edogbo #BundeeAki

Standing with Edwin Edogbo on what should have been a life highlight, keep on progressing and playing, congratulations on your debut, well deserved #IRFU #6Nations #Edogbo

Debuts for Edogbo and Ward could add some pop for Ireland The two young forwards look like the kind of athletes who might make an impact.

Debuts for Edogbo and Ward could add some pop for Ireland (✍️@rugby_ie) #Debut #Edogbo #Ward

‘He’s going to get better and better’ - Edogbo building momentum with Munster The lock delivered a big performance in Toulon.

‘He’s going to get better and better’ - Edogbo building momentum with Munster (✍️@rugby_ie) #Edogbo #Munster #Rugby