The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show

International football is back this weekend and it's Ireland v Scotland in the Nations League. In Gift Grub, we needed an expert to explain the importance of the Nations League and it turned out this is where Eamon Dunphy and John Giles disagree.

It's Culture Night today with events taking place all over Ireland and lots of people getting involved. On Gift Grub, Michael Flatley told us about his involvement with the event and how he's returning to art - but trying it with his flute.

On today's Gift Grub it was time for Radio Roy ahead of Ireland v Scotland on Saturday. Roy found out too late that an unfortunate outtake from something he filmed recently with Alfie Haaland had gone viral. And Ann and Con were their usual selves for a competition too.

The Ploughing Championships got underway yesterday and Gift Grub was there to see all the action. Marty Morrissey was reporting from behind the scenes and when he wasn't getting mobbed by fans, he caught up with some of the big names attending. There were some political figures there, as well as Paul Kimmage who had his doubts about certain competitions, and things got a bit steamy over at Rob Kea...

Over the last 10 days, the British people have been queueing in their droves to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth and the queues ended up stretching to 16km long. They're not the only ones who love a queue though - Gift Grub brings you the World Queueing Championships! Who will come out on top? It's down to Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and the U.S.

The final of the five Garth Brooks gigs was on Saturday, and Bertie Ahern was in the audience for it. On Gift Grub, Bertie told Ian how it reminded him of Garth's last time playing in Ireland in 1997 and all the good memories from back then - particularly from his own career. Could this mean he's planning a return...?

On this morning's Gift Grub, we invited Paschal Donohoe on to talk about the upcoming budget, but instead surprised him for his birthday. Leo Varadker was there to give his best wishes, as was Taoiseach Micheál Martin. But when Micheál mentioned the switcheroo coming up in November, things took a turn...

Earlier in the week it was reported that RTÉ bosses were scrapping Dancing With the Stars and the 2023 season would be its last. RTÉ have since said no decision has been made, but the rumours have left some people shaken. On Gift Grub, judges Brian Redmond, Julian Benson and Arthur Gourounlian are all reacting in their own ways to the possibility of the show ending.

Garth Brooks has been keeping busy during his stay in Ireland, popping up all over the island. On Gift Grub, we heard of even more sightings - Keith Duffy spotted him while getting his dinner, Robbie Keane ran into him in a different stadium, and Daithí Ó'Sé was rescued at the side of the road by Garth himself!

We're hearing a lot about how to save money with the cost of living getting higher and higher, and there were some good tips on this morning's Gift Grub. Katie Taylor and Roy Keane had some interesting ways to stay warm without the heating bills going through the roof, and Francis Brennan's energy-saving suggestions might not be for everyone.

Garth Brooks in really enjoying his holiday in Ireland - he even unexpectedly showed up to the Munster rugby team's training. Liveline's Garth Brooks special included calls for a plaza to be named after him, a deep dive on the meaning behind his biggest hits, and some theories on why he's really playing 5 nights in Croke Park.

It was reported this week that Fianna Fáil had invited Brian Cody to speak at their party think-in, so Gift Grub set the scene for how that might sound. And of course Fine Gael had to respond decisively so they invited in Davy Fitz. It wasn't long before he was putting them through their paces - Fittest Family style.

The big issue on Gift Grub this morning is the Premier League - or lack thereof. With all of the weekend's games postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the pundits left idle are having a tough time. Brian Kerr and Robbie Keane are in desperate need of a live game and are trying different things to scratch the itch.

Three of Garth Brooks' five nights at Croke Park are done, and among the hundreds of thousands to have attended were some former Taoisigh. Enda Kenny, who was Taoiseach for the Garth Brooks at Croke Park fiasco in 2014, was there along with birthday boy Bertie Ahern. And Leo Varadker, who loves a gig, had some choice words for the concert.

It's finally here - Garth Brooks' first of five nights in Croke Park is tonight! On Gift Grub, Daniel O'Donnell was in Donegal where the county had only a handful of people left, and Marty Morrissey set the scene for us from a very busy Barack Obama Plaza.

The first round of CAO offers came out yesterday and there was great excitement and nerves around the country from those hoping to get their places in college. On Gift Grub, some Irish celebrities were on hand to put some perspective on the whole thing, and you'd be surprised to hear what they studied before they made a name for themselves. Did you know Padraig Harrington went to college for chart...

The man of the moment has landed in Dublin and Garth Brooks fever has taken hold! On Gift Grub today, Micheál O'Muircheartaigh was there to set the scene and then Garth himself gave us an exclusive preview of a new song.

Ahead of the release of his latest album 'XXV' and his date in Dublin's 3Arena, Robbie Williams caught up with Ian for a chat. Robbie spoke about the magic of an Irish audience, and the relief he felt when he was so well received playing Slane just after leaving Take That. Robbie also made a surprise phone call to listener Lauren who shares a particular resentment with him from a long time ago!

The energy crisis is causing concern as winter approaches, and there are reports of temperature caps and lights being switched off in State buildings. This morning on Gift Grub, these plans are severely disrupting Michael D. Higgins' evening, as well as Government meetings.

On Gift Grub this morning, The Last Word's court's correspondent Frank Greaney brought Matt Cooper the latest on a court case detailing an the perpetration of an atrocity on the people of Ireland. The man at the centre of the case of one Michael Ryan Flatley, and he gave the atrocity a name - Blackbird.

This weekend there's a celebration of the career of Irish Rugby legend Rob Kearney, and the man himself stopped by for a chat with Ian. The event is raising money for CHF Crumlin, where Rob has been an ambassador for over a decade now, and the aim is to get them some much needed ultrasound machines. Rob also told Ian how he's staying busy these days, from branching out to playing other sports, to...

Lots of people are making their way home from Electric Picnic today, and that includes a very tender Paschal Donohoe. Miriam O'Callaghan also gave her thoughts after being interviewed by our very own Matt Cooper at the festival, and where they ran into some difficulties.

With the Irish Ladies Football Team taking on Slovakia tomorrow, there's a lot of head scratching around the permutations of the play-offs for next year's World Cup. Thankfully Keith Duffy is here with a simple and succinct explainer on what it all means.

Ian was joined by the writer, director, producer and star of the much-talked about film 'Blackbird', Michael Flatley. The Lord of the Dance told Ian how he was inspired by his "dear old Irish mother" to get into movies, and that he created Riverdance in the same building as the Today FM studios!

It seems everyone and their mother is heading to Electric Picnic this weekend. Eamon Dunphy joined The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning with some pre-festival analysis. He was most excited for Casa Bacardi with John Giles.