Newstalk Weekend

Anton is joined by Broadcaster and Author Matt Cooper, Journalist Lise Hand and Co-Chair of the European Green Party Ciaran Cuffe to discuss the biggest stories in the Sunday papers.They discuss more revelations about DJ Carey, the latest poll putting Sinn Fein as the largest party and more.

Irish rugby’s biggest test of the year awaits as the squad faces off against New Zealand in Chicago tonight. After head coach Andy Farrell’s squad announcement on Thursday, all eyes will be on out-half Jack Crowley as he was given the number 10 nod over Leinster’s Sam Prendergast. Sean Defoe is joined now by Alan Quinlan, Former Munster and Ireland star, to discuss the biggest talking points ahead of tonight’s match.

Donal Skehan joins Sean Defoe to talk about his career and his new cookbook, 'Real Time Recipes', which aims to maximise busy families' time in the kitchen.

For this week's Ask The Expert, Sean Defoe is joined by Robert Whelan, Managing Director at Rockwell Financial.

Thursday saw a seismic event in the British royal family as Andrew Windsor had all vestiges of his royal persona removed by the King in response to the constant stream of stories linking the former Prince to Jeffrey Epstein. Joining Sean Defoe to discuss is Jennie Bond, former BBC Royal Correspondent.

Carl Kinsella joins Sean Defoe to talk about his new book, 'At Least It Looks Good from Space: A Catalogue of Modern, Millennial and Personal Catastrophes'.

BBC’s Celebrity Traitors has taken over, and as it heads into its final week, the pool of celebrity contestants is getting smaller. Sean Defoe is joined by Lauren Boland, Acting Assistant News Editor with The Journal, to chat about who have been the standout participants and hazard a guess at who will come out on top.

Joining Sean Defoe to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Craig Hughes, Political Editor of the Irish Daily Mail & Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin.

20 years ago, the Ferns Report laid bare the systematic abuse of children by members of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Ferns, and the institutional failures that allowed it to continue for decades. It was the first official state inquiry into clerical sexual abuse in Ireland, and it marked a turning point in how the country confronted that dark chapter of its history. Colm O’Gorman, Human Rights Campaigner and founder and former Director of One in Four, joins Anton to look back on its impact, legacy, and how Ireland has, or hasn’t, changed since.

Ben Elton is one of the defining voices of British comedy. Co-writer of The Young Ones and Blackadder, creator of The Thin Blue Line and Upstart Crow, and the man behind the hit Queen musical We Will Rock You. He’s also a bestselling novelist and stand-up who’s spent decades mixing sharp wit with social insight. Ben joins Anton to chat about his career and his new autobiography, What Have I Done?.

Joining Anton to run through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Frances Fitzgerald, former Tánaiste and member of the G7 Advisory Council; Joan Burton, Former Tánaiste/leader of the Labour Party; Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU; and Harry McGee, Political correspondent with The Irish Times.

Aontú has fired the leader of its youth wing in Kildare and dismissed five other members following the discovery of ­private WhatsApp groups where some members posted racist and antisemitic comments. Aontú Leader, Peadar Tóibín, joins Anton to discuss.

Mary Nolan Hickey had, up until this year, competed in every Dublin city marathon since 1980. With Mary having decided to hang up her running shoes, the Irish Life Dublin City Marathon organisers decided to name a new trophy after her, one which will be given to the winner of the Elite Women’s Race every year from now on. Mary joins Anton to chat about it all.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Sunday papers is Frances Fitzgerald, former Tánaiste, and member of the G7 Advisory Council; Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fail TD for the Wicklow–Wexford constituency & Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence; and Ian Guider, Business journalist & columnist with the Business Post.

With Ireland gearing up to take on the All Blacks in Soldier Field in just a couple of weeks, it’ll be “Part Two” of Ireland and New Zealand’s Chicago-based epics. Devin Toner, who played a central role on that momentous occasion in 2016, joins Anton to talk about his experience as well as his career highlights and what his life looks like now since retiring the green jersey in 2022.

Investigations are ongoing following a significant robbery at the Louvre in Paris. Joining Anton to get the latest is Paris-based journalist, John Lichfield.

After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal is the new book about Oscar Wilde, written by author Merlin Holland, who is Oscar’s only grandson and the last living relative of the writer. In a symbolic gesture, last week, Merlin collected Oscar’s British Library pass, which was revoked in 1895 when Wilde was convicted for being gay. Merlin joins Anton to discuss.

With AI slop engulfing our social media feeds, what are the long-term ramifications of false and misleading information created by Artificial Intelligence? Anton is joined by technology journalist Andy O’Donoghue to discuss.

Fianna Fáil’s internal nomination process has left some disappointment, while the presidential campaigns of Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys continue to build momentum. Billy Kelleher, MEP for Ireland South, joins us to discuss.

Irish audiences will be able to see comedian Jack Dee's greatness next week as his Small World Tour hits Belfast, Dublin, Galway, and Wexford. Jack joins Anton to talk about his tour, what inspires him, and more.

While having financial security is important, making plans regarding how you will spend your golden years is also vitally important. Joining Anton to discuss what you should be considering is family Psychotherapist, Dr Richard Hogan.

Over 40,000 families across the country are taking part in a 24-hour break from the online world. This is part of the annual Cyber Break event hosted by the online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, where they encourage families to disconnect from their digital devices. To discuss, Anton is joined in studio by Orla McDermott, Board Member at CyberSafeKids, as well as her daughter Tara, who is taking part.

Earlier this week, we heard the news that the completion date for the new National Children’s Hospital is likely to be missed, making it the sixteenth delay and costing the State a total of €2.24 billion. In a recent meeting with the Dáil, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, directed the blame at BAM, telling the opposition that it “would be hopeful to be aware that we together are paying a contractor who is not delivering its commitments on time for this State”. To discuss this and more, Anton is joined by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

In Finland, there are talks of reducing the country’s work schedule consisting of a four-day work week of six hours a day, with countries like Iceland, Japan, and the UK already trialing a reduced work week, but not everyone is on board, with tech billionaire Jeff Bezos rejecting the idea. Anton is joined by Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise, to discuss this and explore the pros and cons of a 4-day work week.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with The Irish Times & Conor Faughnan, CEO at Royal Irish Automobile Club & commentator on transport.

Last night saw the third meeting in the White House between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. To gauge reaction to its outcome, Anton is joined by James Waterhouse, Ukraine Correspondent for BBC News.

In a personal statement released yesterday evening, Prince Andrew is to give up his royal titles - including that of the Duke of York - having come under increasing pressure for his relationship with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Joining Anton to discuss the fallout is Royal Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.

Gift Grub is back on tour with the inimitable Mario Rosenstock, bringing you the likes of Michael Flatley, Michael D., Paschal, Miriam, Leo, Roy Keane, Marty, and many more. He joins Anton to talk about it all.

One of Hollywood’s most original voices, Diane Keaton - perhaps best known for her starring turns in the likes of 'Annie Hall' and 'The Godfather' - has died at the age of 79. Film critic Brian Lloyd joins Anton to look back on her life and legacy.

Jeffrey Archer is the bestselling author behind Kane and Abel, and the William Warwick crime series that have been captivating readers for decades. At 85, Archer is preparing to write his final novel, capping a career that spans five decades, prison diaries, political highs, and global bestsellers in more than 100 countries. His latest book is called End Game - he joins Anton to discuss.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Dr Rhona Mahony, Consultant Obstetrician; Seán Defoe, Bauer Media political correspondent; and Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times.

Rick Astley is one of the most recognizable and enduring pop singers of the 1980s whose career has spanned decades, with multiple chart-topping hits, and not to mention, being the progenitor of one of the most iconic internet memes of all time. He joins Anton in studio to talk about it all.

For this week's Ask the Expert, Anton is joined by Sarah Keogh, Dietitian and Founder of Eatwell.

International pressure and a concerted effort from Donald Trump have led to a ceasefire being reached between Israel and Hamas, but while some see it as the only path to ending civilian suffering, others argue it risks empowering Hamas and undermining Israel’s security. To discuss the prospects and politics of the ceasefire, Anton is joined by two voices at the heart of this debate - Alan Shatter, former Irish Minister for Justice, now on the board of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations and Chairperson of Magen David Adom Ireland & Dr Ofer Cassif, a member of the Knesset representing Hadash – the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality

MTV's owners have announced that they will close all their music stations worldwide, except for the US, with the advancement of streaming technology seemingly behind the decision. To discuss the move, Anton is joined by Larry Bass, founder and Chief Executive of Shinawil.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter with the Irish Independent & Indo Daily Presenter & Danny McConnell, Editor with The Business Post.

After two years of conflict, a peace deal between Israel and Hamas is now in place, but questions remain about how lasting it will be with tensions remaining high across the region. Joining Anton to discuss is journalist Paul Kearns, who’s been reporting from Tel Aviv and following the response to the agreement.

From heated debates and surprise gaffes to questions over campaign spending and social media storms, the race for Áras an Uachtaráin hasn’t always been as dignified as the office itself. Joining Anton to look back on some of the more interesting campaigns are Flor MacCarthy & Lise Hand, co-hosts of 'Think You Know The Presidents?' Podcast.

Rising food, energy, and staff costs are squeezing restaurants and cafés across the country, with many operators warning their businesses are on the brink. As the Government weighs up cutting VAT for the sector in next week’s Budget, some see it as a vital lifeline, others as an expensive giveaway. To explore the reality behind the numbers, Anton is joined by Ross Lewis, founder of Chapter One and Chef Patron of Osteria Lucio.

As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Professor John Kennedy of the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute warns cancer patients are being let down, with just 3 of 28 national targets met and thousands facing dangerous delays for tests and treatment. He joins Anton to discuss.

Talks in Egypt could mark a turning point in the two-year war in Gaza, with Donald Trump claiming a ceasefire and hostage deal is “very close.” US envoys are meeting Israeli and Hamas representatives to finalise the terms of a possible truce, as both sides face growing pressure to end the fighting. Joining Anton to get the latest is Alistair Bunkall, Sky News foreign correspondent.

Joining Anton to go through the Sunday papers are economist, Austin Hughes; Pat Rabbitte, former Labour Party Leader; and Louise O’Reilly, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal West.

Newstalk journalist Kyle Butler was in East Wall in Dublin yesterday when a cohort of pro-Palestine demonstrators broke through a Garda barricade at the Port Tunnel, leading to the use of pepper spray. Kyle joins Anton to discuss his experience.

Taylor Swift is back with a new album, proving once again why she’s one of the biggest stars in the world. Joining Anton to chat about her music and her enduring appeal is broadcaster and music journalist, Dave Fanning

The award-winning Killarney Coffee Cup Project, which banned disposable cups, has all but collapsed after the Government shelved the proposed latte levy. With local cafés struggling and inspired projects in other towns now in doubt, Anton speaks to Johnny Maguire, President of the Killarney Chamber, about what this means for businesses and the environment.

Joining Anton to answer all of your cooking-related questions is Gerry Devlin, owner of the Dublin Cookery School.

Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs has been sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for prostitution-related charges. Anton is joined by Melanie Finn, Entertainment Correspondent for the Irish Independent, to discuss.

Planning approval has been granted for the long-awaited MetroLink. Set to be the largest infrastructure project in the State, it aims to transform Dublin’s transport network and support tens of thousands of new homes. Joining Anton to discuss how to get large projects over the line is Bent Flyvbjerg, Professor at the University of Oxford, an economic geographer & co-author of ‘How Big Things Get Done’.

Dublin-based animation studio JAM Media has confirmed that it has struck a deal with Disney for its popular animation series, BeddyByes, marking yet another success story for the Irish animation industry. Joining Anton to chat about it all is John Rice, CEO & Co-Founder of JAM Media.

Joining Anton to run through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Barry Kenny, Head of Corporate Communications at Iarnród Eireann & Eileen Dunne, Former RTÉ Newsreader and Journalist.