Newstalk Weekend

Ireland take on England in their first game of the 2025 Six Nations. Kick-off is at 4.45pm this afternoon and joining Anton to look ahead to what is sure to be a very tight encounter is former Ireland international, Fiona Hayes.

Joining Anton to go throug the main stories form the Saturday papers is Daniel Murray, Policy Editor with the Business Post & Aisling O’Rourke, podcaster and media lecturer.

David Gillicik, alongside Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt, was in Marlay Park this morning to celebrate its success in Ireland with an incredible 9% of the Irish population now being registered for Parkrun. Joining Anton to chat about its success is Olympian, broadcaster, and VHI Park Run Ambassador, David Gillick.

Joining Anton 'In conversation' is Julian Benson, former Dancing with The Stars judge.

Having gone through the general election, government formation, and the new Programme for Government in the past few months, there is one political process yet to take place with 141 candidates hoping to win a seat in next week’s Seanad election. Joining Anton to chat about their experience and what they hope to acheive if they get elected is Linda O'Shea Farren & Dr. Dara Kilmartin, Seanad Election Candidates for the NUI Constituency.

Neil Robinson, Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Limerick joins Anton to discuss how his snoring on the night of Storm Éowyn may have saved his wife's life by forcing her to leave their bedroom to sleep in another room.

Joining Anton to discuss his new cabinet appointment is Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection & Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Nick Miller, public affairs strategist former spokesperson for Leo Varadkar; Leader of Aontú, Peadar Tóibín; and Valerie Cox, Journalist & Author.

Joining Anton for this week's Ask The Expert is Dr Mary O’Kane, lecturer in Psychology and Early Childhood Education.

Record winds have cut power to hundreds of thousands of people across the country as well as water and broadband to homes and farms. One of the biggest gusts was in Connacht where Newstalk reporter, Henry McKean found himself last night. He joins Anton to tell him about his experience.

Ryanair boss Eddie Wilson has said that abolishing the Dublin Airport passenger cap should be the new government's first initiative. Eddie joins Anton to discuss.

Today is January 25th, and on this day every year, our cousins in Scotland celebrate the life and legacy of their National Bard, Robert Burns. They do so by indulging in a bit of haggis, neeps, tatties and sometimes a dram or two. Joining Anton to chat about this tradition as well as the current state of Irish-UK relations is Paul Johnston, UK Ambassador to Ireland.

Joining Anton to run through some of the main storeis from the Saturday papers is Philip Ryan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent & Brenda Power, columnist with the Sunday Times and the Irish Daily Mail.

With record-breaking wind speeds, thousands of people across the country still without power or water, and the full extent of the damage to property yet to be determined, the cleanup and repair work continues across the country following Storm Éowyn. Joining Anton to get a sense of where things stand now is Brian Tapley, ESB Networks Regional Manager & Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather.

Joining Anton 'In conversation' to chat about getting back into the recording studio following the death of Christy Dignam in 2023 is Aslan star, Billy McGuinness.

Members of the Together for Public Alliance, a campaign group of more than 40 organisations brought together by the National Women’s Council, are calling for a public system of early childhood education and care in Ireland. Joining Anton to discuss is Orla O'Connor, Director of the National Women's Council of Ireland.

President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House tomorrow afternoon after he officially becomes the 47th president of the United States. Sean Defoe, Bauer Media’s political correspondent is over in Washington to cover events as they happen – he joins Anton to discuss.

Joining Anton to discuss the the special Fianna Fail Ard Fheis taking place today in order for members to vote on a Programme for Government is Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine & Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central; Lise Hand, journalist; and Fergus Finlay, Irish Examiner Columnist.

The long-anticipated ceasefire deal in Gaza has officially come into effect following a delay. The first three hostages to be released by Hamas have been named as Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, and Romi Gonen - they are expected to be released later today. Joining Anton with the latest is Alistair Bunkhall, Sky Middle Eastern Correspondent.

Having started her broadcasting career in the late 1970’s, Mary Kennedy can boast an impressive resume that spans the full gamut of RTÉ programming - from continuity to the newsroom, to the Eurovision Song Contest, not to mention her very own show. She has since hung up her headphones and can now be found walking the Camino. Mary joins Anton 'In conversation' to talk about it all.

Joining Anton for this week's episode of Ask the Expert is Sonia McEntee, Principal Solicitor at Sonia McEntee Solicitors and chair of the Law Society PR Committee.

An agreement has been reached that will bring to an end 15-months of war between Israel and Gaza. Joining Anton to get the latest is Riham Jafari, Advocacy & Communications co-ordinator with ActionAid Palestine based in the West Bank & Alistair Bunkall, Sky News Middle East Correspondent.

Having moved from books to screens in 2009, Sweden is now reversing this decsision and re-introducing textbooks at a cost of €104 million, with growing concerns around student fatigue and concentration at the centre but should we do the same here in Ireland? To discuss this Anton is joined by Simon Lewis, school principal and host of‘If I were the Minister of Education’ podcast.

Joining Anton to go through the top stories from the Saturday papers is TV presenter, Ciara Doherty & public affairs consultant & Irish Times columnist, Gerard Howlin.

Come this time tomorrow, TikTok will be removed from US app stores, while US tech companies will be prohibited from hosting, distributing, or updating the app but how has it come to this, why is the ban happening, and where does Monday’s inauguration of Donald Trump fit in? Adrian Weckler, Tech Editor of the Irish Independent & presenter of The Big Tech Show Podcast joins Anton to discuss.

After quitting her office job in 2021, Emma Doran, has risen through the comedy ranks to front podcasts, TV shows, and sell out venues across the country. She joins Anton 'In conversation' to talk becoming a mother at 18, battling nerves on stage, and more.

Over the past 18 months, financial institutions including platforms like Revolut, have reported such an overwhelming surge in suspected fraud offences that tens of thousands of cases remain unprocessed. Paul Dywer, CEO of Cyber Risk International and President International Cyber Threat Task Force joins Anton to discuss.

Three hundred members of the Green Party from across the country gathered yesterday for the party's Annual Convention. Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman joined Anton to discuss the future of the party following a bruising General Election, how to keep people engaged in the fight against climate change, and more.

Joining Anton to go through the Sunday papers is Michelle Murphy, Research & Policy Analyst at Social Justice Ireland; Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal; and Lynn Boylan, Sinn Fein MEP for Dublin.

Dublin based artist, Asbestos, may be best known for his street art on topics of homelessness, the lives lost during COVID, and information overload but his latest project takes marks a change of medium and an altogether more personal work. Over the next two days in the national gallery, Asbestos will erase his own chalkboard drawings in honour of his mother, symbolizing the fragility of memory in Alzheimer’s patients. He joins Anton to discuss.

Joining Anton for this week's Ask the Expert is Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor and Columnist with the Sunday Independent to answer all of your motoring questions.

Wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area have claimed at least 11 lives and forced the evacuation of 179,000 residents from their homes. Professor David Alexander, who works at the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College London joins Anton to get the latest.

CES, the annual trade show of all things tech has been taking place this week where all the latest gadgets and advances in tech have been on display. Newstalk’s own Jess Kelly was in Las Vegas to soak it all up - she joins Anton to tell him all about it.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is author and broadcaster, Barbara Scully & Craig Hughes, Political Editor of the Irish Daily Mail.

In a survey carried out by the Irish Independent, it has been revealed that more than 6 in 10 GPs across Ireland are not taking any new patients. Joining Anton to discuss the reasons why is Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, Medical Director of the Irish College of General ­Practitioners.

The EU has now voted on the Mercosur trade deal, a move Irish farmers fear will undercut them and weaken food standards, with thousands expected to bring tractors into Athlone later today in protest. Joining Anton to discuss is Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent Ireland TD & Kyle Butler, Bauer Media Journalist.

Joining Ivan to recap his career in racing following his recent retirement was Grand National-winning jockey Daryl Jacob.

Joining Ivan to preview the golden globes was film critic Brian Lloyd.

Joining Ivan with an update on the weather was Alan O'Reilly and Alex Rowley.

Joining Ivan this morning to talk government formation was James Browne.

Joining Ivan today to look at the Sunday papers was:Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor. The Irish TimesPhilip Ryan, Political Editor, Irish IndependentFrances Fitzgerald, former Minister, MEP and Member of the Gender Equality Advisory Committee to the G7

Joining Clare to preview the return of Dancing With the Stars was contestant and gymnast Rhys McClenaghan.

This morning's ask the expert was Dr. Eleanor Galvin.

Joining Clare this morning to discuss the process of giving up anonymity as a rape survivor was Paula Doyle and Ciara Mangan. Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre also joined the programme.

Joining Clare with the latest weather updates was Alan O’Reilly, Carlow Weather.

Joining Clare to recap the weekend papers is Jack Horgan Jones Political Correspondent with the Irish Times and Grainne Ni Aodha, news reporter.

Joining Clare this morning ahead of Nollaig na mBan was musician Mary Coughlan.

Brat Summer, the Oasis reunion and Taylor Swift at the Aviva 2024 was a huge year for music. It was also a great year for Irish Artists like Fontaines DC and Kneecap. Joining Emmet Oliver in for Anton was Pat Carty, freelance arts journalist. The Dublin Gospel Choir also joined them to sign off the Anton Savage show for 2024!

From Paul Mescal as Gladiator to big blockbusters like Dune Part Two. 2024 was a big year for films, especially for the Irish in the industry. Joining Emmet Oliver for Anton to reflect on some of the notable Irish films, biggest blockbusters and best and worst films of 2024 was Deirdre Molumby, Film and TV Critic