Newstalk Weekend

Private Sean Rooney, who died in Lebanon, has been described by his best friend as “one of a kind”. The 24-year-old soldier was shot dead while serving with the 121st Infantry Battalion on a UN peacekeeping mission on Wednesday night. A team from the Defence Forces will travel to Lebanon today to help in the investigation. Newstalk's Chief Reporter, Barry Whyte, spoke to Sean's best friend, Christopher O'Neill, to hear of the devastating loss for Sean's friends and family.

Joining Tommy Bowe for this week's installment of Ask the Expert is Dr. Mary O’Kane, Lecturer in Psychology and author of 'Perfectly Imperfect Parenting: Connection Not Perfection' to answer your questions on parenting and child development.

Today marks a significant day in the political calendar as Micheál Martin hands over the office of Taoiseach to Leo Varadkar as the former becomes Tánaiste, in a deal cemented during the 2020 government formation talks. Newstalk's Sean Defoe joins Tommy Bowe to discuss.

This weekend of course will see plenty of sporting action, with Sunday’s much-anticipated World Cup final between Argentina and France. Joining Tommy Bowe to discuss this and all the rest of the weekend's sporting action is Off The Ball’s, Cathal Mullaney.

As Michael Martin stands down as Taoiseach in a long-anticipated government reshuffle, Tommy Bowe is joined to reflect on his time in office and what impact this changeover will have by Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly, the party’s spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and by Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire.

Joining Tommy Bowe to discuss the second installment of Harry & Meghan's Netflix series is Newstalk's, Sinead Ryan.

Philip Ryan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent & Stefanie Preissner, writer and podcaster, join Tommy Bowe to go through the main stories from today's papers.

Joining Tommy Bowe to Kickstart Your Weekend is one of Ireland’s most treasured TV personalities, Marty Morrissey. Marty will be hosting the 'Marty Party' in venues up and down the country early next year – tickets available at ticketmaster.ie

Joining Anton for this week's installment of Ask the Expert is Dr. Eleanor Galvin to answer all of your health-related questions.

The first installment of Harry and Meghan’s documentary was released on Netflix this week with a second installment due in the next few days. But what exactly was divulged by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and how will the royal family take it? Joining Anton to discuss this is broadcaster, Sinead Ryan & Richard Fitzwilliams, royal commentator.

Joining Anton is Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and TD for Dublin Fingal. Together they discuss the ongoing housing crisis as well as the tabling of a motion of no confidence to be debated in the Dáil next week.

Whether you think dogs are better than cats, cats are better than dogs or Gila monsters are better than bearded dragons, chances are you have one animal you think is the bee’s knees. But are we guilty of thinking about animals with a misplaced sense of admiration? Are there much-loved animals out there whose cutesy exterior belies a nasty underbelly? Wildlife expert Éanna Ní Lamhna joins Anton to discuss.

John Lee, Executive Editor at DMG Media Ireland & writer and broadcaster Barbara Scully joined Anton today to go through the main stories from today's papers.

Joining Anton to Kickstart Your Weekend is former Ireland international, and Ireland AM anchor Tommy Bowe.

We’ve all felt the cold snap this week with a winter weather advisory for Ireland in place until 9am on Monday morning. Joining Anton for the latest is Met Éireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy.

Joining Anton to Kickstart Your Weekend was the inimitable and irreplaceable Mario Rosenstock.

The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act came into effect this week, meaning all tips including service charges will go to staff and can’t be used towards making up basic wages. So how has the system fared in its first weekend? Is tipping a measure of inequality? Or is it a system based on reward and punishment - or simply on merit? Anton was joined by Jean McCabe, Deputy Chairperson of Retail Excellence and owner of Willow.ie, and Jim Elliott, Irish-American comedian.

Back in 1975, our next guest made his first TV appearance as a teenager on a talent show called New Faces. Over the next five decades he made his name as an actor, singer, and comedian. Now he’s the author of a new book called “Rising to The Surface”. Here's Lenny Henry on The Anton Savage Show.

Row, row, row your boat gently down the Liffey! This morning, an ambitious challenge is taking place on Dublin’s River Liffey to merrily raise money for water-related charities. Joining Anton fresh from their canoe was a competitor, Gerry Coonan.

Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at the Independent and Brenda Power, columnist at the Sunday Times and Irish Daily Mail had joined Anton today to discuss the main stories from today's papers.

A solidarity rally will be held in Fermoy today as a response to an anti-immigration protest that took place on Wednesday following the arrival of asylum seekers at an accommodation center in the town. For more on that Anton was joined by Kate O’Connell from Fermoy and Mallow Against Racism Group.

Northern Ireland would vote decisively against a united Ireland if there was a Border poll, latest Ipsos opinion poll shows. For more on that Anton was joined today by Doug Beattie, Ulster Unionist Party Leader.

Brian Burke, RTÉ Super Garden Judge joined Anton to answer your gardening questions.

For this week's installment of 'Ask the Expert', Anton is joined by retail strategist, Miriam Simon, to get some consumer advice amidst the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

The Late Late Toy Show was the only show in town last night with more than one million viewers expected to have tuned in from all corners of the globe. Last night’s extravaganza was Wizard of Oz-themed and here to chat through some of the show’s best bits over the years are broadcaster, Sarina Bellissimo, and presenter Anna Daly.

The Raise the Roof national rally for housing is being held in Dublin today in an effort to highlight the urgent need for an effective housing policy that meets the needs of everyone in the country. To discuss, Anton is joined by People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West, Paul Murphy & Dr. Rory Hearne, Assistant Professor in Social Policy at Maynooth University & author of the recently released book, 'Gaffs'.

This weekend the Green Party is holding its annual party conference, in Athlone. Joining Anton to discuss is Catherine Martin, the Party’s Deputy Leader and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and TD for Dublin Rathdown.

Joining Anton to go through some of the top stories hitting the headlines is Larry Donnelly, University of Galway Law Lecturer and Political columnist with the journal.ie & campaigner, Ailbhe Smyth.

Joining Anton to discuss the legal implications regarding Sinead McSweeney - Twitter's Global Vice President for Public Policy - securing a temporary High Court injunction preventing Twitter from terminating her employment is barrister, Peter Leonard who specialises in employment law.

Joining Anton to 'Kickstart Your Weekend' is comedian and actor, Pat Shortt. Pat and his daughter, Faye, will be performing in ‘WELL’ all across the country until April 14th 2023 – tickets and dates are available at patshortt.com

Joining Anton for this week's installment of Ask the Expert is Dr. Eleanor Galvin.

Joining Anton to preview FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is Off the Ball's John Duggan.

Today, November 19th, is International Men's Day, which aims to celebrate the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and communities. But according to a recent Men’s Attitudes Now (MAN) Survey, based on the ‘Man Box’ concept – that is, a defined set of socially conditioned characteristics and behaviours seen as typifying a ‘real’ man - men and boys tend to adhere to these traits to avoid ridicule, violence, and social exclusion. To discuss this and what it even means to be a man, Anton is joined by Brent Pope, rugby analyst and mental health advocate, alongside writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh.

Today the Fine Gael party is gathering in Athlone for its Ard Fheis, coming one month before Leo Varadkar will assume the role of Taoiseach on December 17th. To discuss this, the legacy of Vicky Phelan, the war in Ukraine, and more, Anton is joined by Minister for Further and Higher Education, and TD for Wicklow, Simon Harris.

Anton is joined by Chef Richard Corrigan, who has just opened 'The Park Café' in Ballsbridge, to discuss some of the challenges facing the hospitality sector right now and what people can expect from his latest venture.

Joining Anton to go through some of the top stories hitting the headlines this week is Gina London, leadership communications expert, and Sunday Independent columnist & Gerard Howlin, public affairs consultant, political commentator, and former senior government adviser.

Joining Anton to kickstart your weekend is Ireland AM presenter, Alan Hughes ahead of his production of the panto - 'Snow White and Sammy & Buffy' at the National Stadium' 'Snow White and Sammy & Buffy' will open on Tuesday, December 13th at The National Stadium in Dublin. Tickets available at panto.ie.

Joining Anton to discuss Twitter temporarily closing its office in Dublin as more staff have chosen to leave, as well as the growing fears that the company may not be able to stay operational is Ciara O'Brien, Business and technology journalist at The Irish Times.

Joining Anton for this week's episode of Ask the Expert is Dr. Mary O’Kane, lecturer in psychology and early childhood education, and the author of 'Perfectly Imperfect Parenting'

David Meade has used his background in international business and personal interest in popular psychology to create a unique combination to inspire audiences around the world to critically think about the challenges around them. One of his main areas of interest is the power of persuasion and he joins Anton to discuss the 3 main principles. Science week is taking place from 13th to 20th November with events running right across the country both in-person events and online. For more see SFI.ie

Last year, the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow sought to keep alive the target of holding global temperatures to 1.5C. With this year’s COP27, the feeling is not so much of keeping us on track but steering us back on course as the gap between targets and outcomes seemingly only widens. To discuss what we can expect from next week’s negotiations, Anton is joined by Caroline O'Doherty, Environment Correspondent at the Irish Independent & Omar Ibrahim, Industrial Ph.D. Research Fellow and Energy Engineering student at University College Cork.

Daniel O'Donnell has just released his brand-new album ‘I Wish You Well’ and will be showcasing his new music for Irish audiences in the new year on tour around the country. Daniel joins Anton to tell him more.

With John Lewis coming out with their Christmas ad this week, it got Anton thinking about some of the most memorable and iconic ads from years gone by. But just what makes a memorable ad in the first place? Bryan Regan, Sales Director Audio One joins Anton to discuss.

Joining Anton to go through some of the top stories hitting the headlines this week is Brenda Power, journalist and barrister & Paul Hayes, CEO at Beachhut PR.

Joining Anton to Kickstart Your Weekend is musician and broadcaster, Fiachna Ó Braonáin. The Hothouse Flowers, guitarist, and vocalist is getting ready for his segment at the Dublin Book Festival tonight where he will be in conversation with Bill Whelan to launch Bill’s new book, 'The Road to Riverdance'.

Joining Anton to discuss who will be the most affected as interest rates continue to rise is Charlie Weston, Irish Independent Personal Finance Editor.

Joining Clare McKenna for this week's episode of Ask the Expert is Brian Mooney, Standard Life’s End of Career Guidance Counsellor.

Joining Clare to discuss his experience working as a moderator for Facebook is Chris Gray, author of 'The Moderator: Inside Facebook’s Dirty Work In Ireland'

Sinn Féin is gathering in Dublin this weekend for their Ard Fheis with leader, Mary Lou McDonald, addressing attendees later this evening. To talk about the event, Clare McKenna is joined by Pearse Doherty, Finance Spokesperson for Sinn Féin and TD for the Constituency of Donegal South West.

If you’re around Ballsbridge this weekend, you may find yourself in colourful company. The Dublin Tattoo Convention returns to the RDS for its 21st year, bringing internationally renowned artists to ink enthusiasts all across the country. Newstalk Reporter, Sarah Madden, joins Clare McKenna to chat through what was on display.