Déise Today

He's a former award-winning broadcaster, Government Minister, and bookmaker. And his new book 'The Game of Life' sees Ivan Yates drawing on his extraordinary journey through all of the above to deliver a no-nonsense guide to achieving success and fulfilment.  In recent days, Ivan - known for his straight-talking - had a good chat with Damien on 'Deise Today'. You can listen back by clicking o...

He's a retired diplomat....former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States and before that, the UK, Germany and Malaysia. But Dan Mulhall is also a very, very proud Waterford man! Ahead of this Sunday's Club Orange FAI Cup Final he recorded this exclusive very special piece for this morning's (Friday's) 'Deise Today'. You can listen back by clicking on the 'play now' button. See omnystudio.com/l...

Excitement is now at fever-pitch across Waterford ahead of this Sunday's Club Orange FAI Cup Final between Waterford FC and Derry City FC! Right across WLR, it's been the (happy) story that's dominated the airwaves this week and on today's (Friday's) 'Deise Today', it was a 'Cup Final Special Programme' almost from start to finish! As part of the show, Damien prepared his very own 'spoken word' pi...

Broadcaster and author Joe Duffy was the presenter of RTE's 'Liveline' for more than 25 years.  He also presented 'Liveline: Callback' and latterly, 'The Meaning of Life' on RTE One television. Last year, following his distinguished career, he retired - and now - in a treat for fans of 'Liveline', he's brought out a new book 'Talk to Joe'...a book that's being described as "a chronicle of Ire...

This week on 'Deise Today', Damien spoke to *Patricia (not her real name). She's a resident of Millbrook Court in Waterford city and was highlighting her - and other residents' - annoyance at anti-social behaviour in their area. You can listen back by clicking on the image.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the awful events in Birchwood last week, there continues to be much discussion about the scourge of drug-debt intimidation in Irish society. How widespread is the problem in Waterford AND how can gardai help any person who finds themselves in difficulty? This morning (Thursday), 'Deise Today' spoke to two senior gardai in Waterford dealing with this issue at the coal-face...Crime Prevent...

He's one of the longest-serving local soccer club chairmen in the country. And so this coming Sunday (Oct 25), it's fitting that Portlaw FC will re-name their home grounds in honour of local man John Corcoran, who has held the chair position for 50 years. John, born and bred in Portlaw, is a passionate club chairman who has steered the club through five decades and continues to be hugely hands-on...

*Lisa (not her real name) is a wife and mother from Waterford city. Her husband is a recovering addict (he battled addictions to alcohol and drugs) AND while he is now doing well, the addiction brought the family to the brink - emotionally and financially. The horrific events of the past week have firmly put a new focus on the issue of drug debt intimidation; a situation countless Irish - and Wate...

Four coffins at the altar; the two parents on either side of their young boys... And nearby on a table, a family photo of the six members of the family who have been devastated by the events of last week - parents gone, two children gone, and two children still critically ill in hospital.  Yesterday afternoon, Philip, Kim, Callum and Jayden English were laid to rest after their funerals took...

WATERFORD councillor John Hearne has been threatened by criminal figures in the past as a result of highlighting drug-related intimidation. The Sinn Fein councillor says around 40 people have also come to him in the last three years because of this issue - and he knows of many, many cases where cars have been destroyed and people have been seriously attacked over debts owed to drug dealers. John w...

"A happy chap, a lovely guy, a nice footballer... For three seasons, Alex O'Sullivan was coach at Johnville FC to the late Callum English (12) who lost his life in the arson attack on his family home at Birchwood on Tuesday morning last. Alex and all in Johnville are devastated at the loss of Callum; a boy, Alex said, who always had a word to say if he met you on the street, who loved his soccer a...

FORMER Garda Sergeant Brian Willoughy has just brought out his latest book on his native Lismore. Now living in Mullingar, Brian previously wrote 'The History of Lismore GAA Club'. His new book, called 'From Ledger to Laptop - Lismore: A Business Heritage's is being officially launched in Lismore Castle on October 24 by RTE's Katie Hannon. This morning (Thursday), Brian was a studio guest on 'Deis...

Over 300 protesters took part in a slow-drive protest in Kilmeaden on Saturday against the major data centre and energy development proposed near the village. A convoy of cars, tractors, vans and other vehicles set off from Ballyduff National School on Saturday morning, travelling through Kilmeaden towards the Kingsmeadow Roundabout on the Cork Road, before returning through the village. This morn...

As widely reported this morning (Friday), RTE is likely to get the 20m it lost in the Budget if the broadcaster satisfies Government that its reform and redundancy programme is on track, senior Cabinet figures believe. There were interventions from the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste yesterday after the revelation that the broadcaster had been left 20m short of the funding for next year. A hastily-arra...

It's been an integral part of the fabric of the local community for decades. Dunhill National School in Co Waterford has a briliant track record for educating generations of local children. And this weekend, it is celebrating 80 years in existence! To mark the special anniversary, Damien was joined in studio for a chat this morning (Thursday) by the current principal, Fergus Cooper; parent and pas...

A Budget that will help families "get ahead, not just get by". That's how Finance Minister Simon Harris has described Budget 2027 - an 8.5bn package that was announced yesterday afternoon, aimed at stemming the tide of discontent in this cost of living crisis. But will it have this affect on "the squeezed middle"  OR is this the wishful thinking of a Government that is scrambling to act. What...

It's a fantastic and already well-established medical practice in Waterford city with a strong commitment to its patients and the local community. And now - under the new partnership of Dr Emma Aherne and Dr Ciaran Foley - it's also got a new name! 'Sliabh Medical Practice' at Waterford Health Park on the Slievekeale Road (formerly the Rowe Creavin medical practice) is this week celebrating its ne...

Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese in the rich West Waterford countryside produces a hard-pressed mature farmhouse cheese made in the cheddar style using raw milk, along with red and white cheddars, flavoured with garlic, herbs, black pepper and chives, as well as its famous Oakwood smoked cheddar. Eamonn Lonergan, founder of Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese learned his respect for nature from his parents, wh...

He is an award-winning comedian, impressionist, actor and writer - and he's immensely proud of his Waterford roots! Mario Rosenstock is perhaps best known for his iconic 'Gift Grub' but there's so much more to him too. He's also just released a new book 'Gift Grub and Me: My Life in Comedy' which is published by Merrion Press and now on sale. This morning (Wednesday) he was one of our guests on 'D...

The death occurred on Monday evening of former Independent councillor Seamus O'Donnell. He was elected to represent the Dungarvan-Lismore District at the local elections in both 2014 and 2019. He had, before that, served as a member of the Fianna Fáil party.  This morning (Wednesday) Damien spoke to two long-time friends of Seamus - Declan Terry and Michael Hogan, both from An Sean Pho...

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have donated €150,000 to the three GAA clubs which are located closest to Strancally Castle in Co Waterford.  It is the couple’s first Irish philanthropic donation since they bought Strancally Castle in August.  The three clubs - Shamrocks GAA in Knockanore, Tallow GAA in Tallow, and Lismore GAA in Lismore - will each receive €50,000. Th...

Late last week, we featured the story on 'Deise Today' of Lynda Shefflin. And this week it went all the way to the Dail. With a history of breast cancer in her family, and after discovering a lump on her right breast, Lynda went to her GP last February and was referred for further testing to UHW. What followed was a series of delays with various stages of the testing, despite her case being l...

A Waterford small business owner has described her devastation after a suspected arson attack on her premises, just hours after opening for the first time. Aleksandra Krynicka told Damien Tiernan on 'Deise Today' this morning (Wednesday) that her new premises, Celtic Bull Garden Centre and Farmers Shop, had been destroyed by the fire which occurred over Saturday evening into Sunday morning, Sept 1...

Over 2,000 people travelled from all over Ireland and the US over the weekend to join Ave Maria University (AMU) and the Cistercian Order as they celebrated a new beginning for Mount Melleray Abbey.  It comes almost two years after the historic abbey closed to the public and following its conversion into the Irish campus of US-based Ave Maria University. Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino...

This past weekend, a video was widely circulated on social media showing fireworks being let off across Grattan Square in Dungarvan. The video showing a firework being launched from a bicycle placed on the ground, caused outrage locally due to the safety risk posed. It has also prompted a wider discussion about anti-social behaviour in the town and concerns over the impact such incidents can have...