The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show

We're 2 years on from the rollercoaster that was Normal People, and tonight on RTÉ another Sally Rooney adaptation, Conversations With Friends, comes to the small screen. Back behind the camera is director Lenny Abrahamson, who spoke to The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning ahead of the show's release. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/18093256/Lenny-Abrahamson-180522-ST...

People are listening to Sinn Féin FM in their droves and Mary Lou McDonald couldn't be happier. Gerry Adams joined Mary Lou to speak about his own show Gerry After Dark. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/18085919/GIFT-Sinn-Fein-FM-180522.mp3"][/audio] Meanwhile, Michelle O'Neill was announced as the lead presenter on a new sister station, Spin Féin FM 103.2. She couldn't be ha...

Last week, RTÉ made a big announcement - Toy Show The Musical is coming to town this December. Gift Grub went behind the scenes to a high-level RTÉ board meeting, where Director-General Dee Forbes was hell-bent on expanding RTÉ's theatrical pursuits. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/17101729/GIFT-Toy-Show-Musical-170522.mp3"][/audio] Prime Time The Pantomime anyone? Catch all...

Leinster and La Rochelle were victorious in the Champions Cup semi-finals over the weekend and will face off in the final on May 28th. ROG and Johnny Sexton represented the opposing teams on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/16114838/GIFT-Johnny-Sexton-ROG-Champions-Cup-160522.mp3"][/audio] Needless to say, there was some tension in...

All eyes were on the Munster Hurling Championship at the weekend and Morgan Freeman was front and centre. On The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning, the Hollywood actor gave a detailed play-by-play of all the action in Cusack Park on Sunday. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/16113749/GIFT-Morgan-Freeman-Munster-Hurling-160522.mp3"][/audio] Morgan really knows his stuff. C...

There was disappointment for Ireland in the Eurovision semi-final last night as Brooke Scullion failed to qualify for Saturday's final. Eurovision super-fan Francis Brennan joined The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning to discuss went wrong for Ireland. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/13092048/GIFT-Francis-Brennan-Paschal-Eurovision-130522-STING-.mp3"][/audio] Paschal D...

The European Rugby Champions Cup semi-finals take place this weekend - Leinster v Toulouse and Racing 92 v La Rochelle. Brian O'Driscoll joined The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show and spoke about Leinster's superb form and... e-scooters!? [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/13085812/GIFT-ROG-Leinster-Toulouse-130522-STING.mp3"][/audio] Meanwhile, La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara was to...

An Offaly Good Time This week Aisling Bonner from The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show took her School Tour of Ireland to Crinkill National School in County Offaly and chatted to all the kids in Ms Haines's 3rd class. Aisling spoke to Adam, Ellie, Killian, Angelina, Dominykas, Amy, Shane, Ellen, Saoirse, Sam, Leanne, Béibhinn, Caoimhe, Cillian, Oisín, Emily, Nojus, Lily, Keelin, Aoibhinn, Cliona, Eva, A...

Ireland compete in the Eurovision semi-final tonight and this morning, The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show went live to Turin to check in with Marty Whelan and Graham Norton. Eurovision fan Leo Varadkar also joined the show, describing the competition as '40 Kylie concerts in one night'. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/12090801/GIFT-Eurovision-Marty-Graham-120522-STING.mp3"][/aud...

Manchester United are on track to have their worst Premier League points total in history and one man is an expert on the whole affair. On Gift Grub this morning, Roy Keane appeared on Mastermind with his specialist subject: Manchester United 2021-2022. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/11090142/GIFT-Roy-Keane-Mastermind-110522-STING.mp3"][/audio] He wasn't one bit impressed....

Alan Carr returns to Ireland later this month with his Regional Trinket tour later this month. This morning, Alan joined The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, where he shared his excitement to be performing in Ireland again. Alan recalled the line of shots that awaited him on the stage the last time he performed here in 2016, and spoke about having to change his set in the aftermath of the pandemic and...

Michael D Higgins isn't at all happy with the news that Elon Musk has bought Twitter. Gift Grub went behind the scenes to Áras an Uachtaráin where Michael D let rip at Elon on the phone. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/10082458/GIFT-Michael-D-Elon-Musk-100522.mp3"][/audio] When he'd finished, Elon made Michael D an offer he couldn't refuse. Catch all the Gift Grub fun by pre...

Man United are heading for their lowest ever points total in the Premier League after losing 4-0 to Brighton on Saturday. Roy Keane joined The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning and was despondent over his former team's performance. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/09113830/GIFT-Man-United-Brighton-Roy-Keane-Reaction-090522-STING-.mp3"][/audio] Eamon Dunphy also weighed...

Morgan Freeman was at all the big GAA matches over the weekend. This morning on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Morgan recalled Tipperary's late defeat to Limerick and didn't hold back in his criticism of the Cork footballers. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/09110729/GIFT-Morgan-Freeman-Cork-v-Kerry-090522-STING.mp3"][/audio] Warning Cork fans, this one might sting. Catch al...

Daniel O'Donnell was back on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this morning and opened up about his eclectic music taste. All set to see Tool at the 3Arena this weekend, Daniel was looking forward to a bit of headbanging. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/06095918/GIFT-Daniel-ODonnell-Heavy-Metal-STING-060522.mp3"][/audio] He also listed off some of his other favourites like Carc...

Munster have been forced to play their Champions Cup game against Toulouse at The Aviva this weekend due to Ed Sheeran gigs taking over Thomond Park. This morning on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Ronan O'Gara shared his usual pre-match enthusiasm. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/06094007/GIFT-ROG-Pre-Munster-Aviva-Game-060522-STING.mp3"][/audio] Meanwhile, Michael Corcoran...

Anne Robinson will leave her role as Countdown host this summer and speculation has already begun about her replacement. This morning on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Gift Grub went behind the scenes at Channel 4 where an eclectic mix of celebs were auditioning for the role. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/05084755/GIFT-Countdown-Auditions-050522-STING.mp3"][/audio] James...

Frank Greaney was back on The Last Word with Matt Cooper in this morning's Gift Grub reporting on another upsetting court case. The defendant, Edward 'Ed' Sheeran stands accused of sabotaging numerous sporting events in Ireland in recent weeks. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/04084325/GIFT-The-Last-Word-Ed-Sheeran-Sporting-Events-040522-STING.mp3"][/audio] One such case is t...

All eyes were on Brian Cody and Henry Shefflin at the end of Sunday's clash between Kilkenny and Galway on Sunday, and that handshake certainly had people talking. A bit of ham sandwich dropped out of Morgan Freeman's mouth when he observed the interaction from the stands. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/05/03102132/GIFT-Morgan-Freeman-Cody-Shefflin-Handshake-030522.mp3"][/audi...

After several date changes, Downton Abbey: A New Era has finally arrived in Irish cinemas. This morning on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Irish actor Allen Leech, aka Tom Branson, chatted to Ian about the new film and his Downton journey to date. Allen also spoke about his and his wife's pregnancy announcement at the movie's premier this week. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/0...

All this week, The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show has been looking back at some of the best Gift Grubs of 2022. Back in February, a National Retrofit Programme was announced by government and one Irish celeb was very keen. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/04/29083022/GIFT-Classic-Michael-Flatley-Retrofit-STING-290422.mp3"][/audio] Michael Flatley joined Ian from his freezing mansion...

A Trip Up To Monaghan Aisling's School Tour was back on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show this week and Aisling paid the kids at Scoil Mhuire na mBuachaillí in Castleblayney a visit. She chatted to all the boys in Ms Cronin's 3rd class. Aisling chatted to Jaydon, Liam, Ugnius, Michael, Tarik, Gerard, Blake, Jake, Ashton, Caolan, Jonathan, Conor, Ethan, Josh, Luca, Brooklyn, Domas, David, Eoin, Noa, K...

Have you ever gotten an important date wrong? It seems most people have... This week on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Ian heard from listeners who have missed weddings, holidays and everything in between because they misread the date. It was all inspired by this tweet from Overheard In Dublin... Outside the 3 Arena before Alan Partridge - Man on phone: 'I got the wrong night, Simple Minds wa...

This morning, The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show looked back at some of the best Gift Grubs of 2022. It's been a month since the Oscars and, more importantly, a month since that now infamous Will Smith slap. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/04/28102051/GIFT-Classic-Liveline-Oscars-Slap-280422.mp3"][/audio] After the Oscars aired, Joe Duffy's Liveline was hounded with callers from th...

This morning, The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show looked back at some of the best Gift Grubs of 2022. Back in January, antigen tests were scarce and demand was high. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2022/04/27101737/GIFT-Classic-Antigen-Tests-Liveline-270422.mp3"][/audio] On Liveline, listeners were doing anything to get their hands on them! Catch all the Gift Grub fun by pressing the Pla...