In this festive episode, Niall opens the phone lines and invites listeners to share the moments that truly signal Christmas in Ireland.

We’re asking you to finish the sentence:

🎄 “You know it’s Christmas in Ireland when…”

Is it when your mother definitely overcooks the turkey, but no one dares say a word? When you’re bundled into the car to visit relations you haven’t seen since last Christmas — and won’t see again until next year? Or the familiar chaos of ten people squeezed into a small house, steam on the windows, arguments over seats, and someone inevitably washing dishes all day?

Maybe it’s buying the perfect present for a small child, only for them to spend Christmas Day happily playing with the box. Or settling down to watch Willy Wonka (or The Sound of Music, Home Alone, or The Snowman) for the hundredth time. Midnight Mass in the cold. Selection boxes hidden — and found — too early. The smell of turf or coal, a big fry on Stephen’s Day, leftover ham in everything, and the annual debate over whether the Christmas decorations should come down on the 6th or be “left for another while”.

From childhood memories to adult traditions, funny moments to emotional ones, this episode is a celebration of the small, shared experiences that make Christmas in Ireland feel like Christmas.

🎄 Finish the sentence: “You know it’s Christmas in Ireland when…”

In this episode, Niall is joined by Ciarán Mullooly MEP and Jackie Flannery from the Irish Rural Association to discuss one of the most controversial trade proposals facing Ireland today: the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Ciarán explains why he believes Ireland should reject the deal, which supporters say will boost free trade and lead to cheaper imports, including beef. But critics warn the agreement could seriously undercut Irish farmers, weaken food and animal welfare standards, increase environmental damage, and put rural jobs at risk.

What would the EU-Mercosur deal really mean for your household? Are cheaper imports worth the potential cost to Irish farming, food safety, and rural communities — or is this another EU deal that benefits big corporations while ordinary people pay the price?

💬 Have your say. Text or WhatsApp your views to 085 100 22 55.

Today on the show, Niall opens the phone lines to debate a question that always sparks strong opinions at this time of year:

Should Christmas Eve be a public holiday in Ireland?

The discussion follows news from the US, where President Trump has signed an executive order declaring Christmas Eve and December 26th as federal holidays. While federal holidays aren’t the same as bank holidays, it raises an interesting question closer to home.

On one side of the argument, callers say Christmas Eve is already half a day in reality — schools are closed, offices wind down, and families want time together without rushing or taking annual leave. Supporters argue a Christmas Eve bank holiday would improve work-life balance and recognise the importance of family time.

On the other side, business owners — especially in retail, hospitality, and small businesses — warn that another paid public holiday comes at a serious cost. Christmas Eve is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, and closing or paying premium wages could seriously hit margins.

💶 So what would it actually cost?

Ireland has roughly 2.6 million people in work.

Using a conservative average daily wage of around €180, one extra paid public holiday could cost Irish businesses approximately:

€460–€500 million

That figure doesn’t include knock-on effects like lost retail sales, overtime premiums, or reduced productivity — but it also doesn’t factor in potential benefits such as higher morale, better staff retention, and improved work-life balance.

So what do you think?

👉 Should Christmas Eve be a paid public holiday?

👉 Or is it one day too far for Irish business?

👉 Who should carry the cost — employers, the state, or no one at all?

💬 Have your say — comments and voice notes to WhatsApp 085 100 22 55.

This week, Niall is joined by property expert Karl Deeter to unpack a family dilemma that’s struck a nerve with listeners.

We received an email from a furious listener whose parents have decided to sell their €500,000 family home and downsize to a rental apartment, saying they want to enjoy the money during their retirement. The problem? The listener is still living with them along with her young child after a divorce — and she feels her parents are “robbing her of her home and inheritance.”

She believes their decision is selfish and morally wrong. But are her parents actually doing anything wrong?

Together, Niall and Karl dig into the emotional, financial, and ethical sides of the debate:

👉 Do parents have a responsibility to pass the family home on to their children?

👉 Or is it their house, their money, and their right to enjoy it while they can?

👉 What does Irish property law, inheritance reality, and modern retirement actually say?

A conversation that touches on entitlement, independence, family expectations, and the harsh realities of housing in Ireland today.

💬 Have your say — comments and voice notes to WhatsApp 085 100 22 55.

In this festive special, Niall sits down with renowned restaurateur and social commentator Paul Treyvaud for a no-nonsense, start-to-finish guide to cooking the ultimate Christmas dinner.

From planning and prep to perfect timing, Paul shares his hard-won expertise on how to get the turkey just right — juicy, flavoursome, and stress-free — along with all the trimmings that actually matter. He takes us all the way to dessert, finishing on a classic sherry trifle that’s as indulgent as Christmas itself.

But this wouldn’t be Paul being Paul without a few sharp detours. Along the way, he takes the opportunity to unload on the government, modern food culture, and anything else that gets in his sights — with wit, bite, and absolutely no holding back.

Expect practical cooking advice, strong opinions, festive cheer, and a generous helping of straight talk in this fully uncensored Christmas podcast. Perfect listening while you’re peeling sprouts… or pouring the sherry.

In today’s episode, Niall kicks off by talking about a tweet he recently put out stirring up debate on public-sector work and accountability:

“Reform UK say they want to encourage public-sector workers to report colleagues who aren’t ‘doing useful work’ or who aren’t productive.

Many people believe civil servants and public-sector workers have it easier and with strong job security and little risk of being fired, compared to the private sector.

So what do you think?

Would you report a lazy colleague to the boss?

And who really has it easier, the public sector or the private sector?

👉 Comments to WhatsApp 085 100 22 55”

Niall explores all sides of the argument, especially from an Irish perspective:

📌 What the tweet means — Why Reform UK’s suggestion has resonated and why it’s controversial, even outside the UK.

🇮🇪 Public-sector facts in Ireland — Ireland has around 408,000 people working in the public service, spanning health, education, civil service, justice, local authorities, and other agencies.

Wikipedia

💼 Job security vs accountability — Supporters of public-sector employment point out strong job protections and pensions, often arguing they help retain experienced staff. Critics say this can reduce incentives for performance.

📊 Public vs private sector workloads — Some argue public-sector roles are less pressured and secure, while others highlight that frontline public services (e.g., healthcare, education) are demanding and essential.

🤝 Work culture and reporting — Would you ever report a colleague for not pulling their weight, whether in a government department or a private company? What are the pros and cons of encouraging such reporting culture?

🧑‍💼 Economic context — With total employment in Ireland at nearly 2.8 million people, the public service represents a significant but not dominant share of the workforce.

In this episode, host Niall speaks with TD Paul Lawless about the rejection of the abortion bill and the key arguments that led to its defeat in the Dáil. Paul shares his perspective on the vote, the concerns raised by TDs, and what the outcome means for future legislation.

The conversation then turns to the controversial fox hunting bill, which would prevent farmers from shooting foxes on their own land. Paul outlines the reasoning behind the proposed legislation and responds to criticism from rural communities who say foxes are devastating lambs and livelihoods.

Niall also opens the lines to callers, asking a tough question: Should fox hunting be banned, even when farmers say they are being scourged by fox attacks on their livestock? A lively and wide-ranging discussion follows, highlighting the clash between animal welfare, rural realities, and political decision-making.

This episode kicks off with an email that struck a nerve — and judging by the phones, a lot of listeners had opinions.

Niall reads out a message from a wife who’s furious after her husband only mentioned his work Christmas party days before it happens — no partners invited, free bar involved, and all the usual “sure nothing ever happens” reassurances that nobody fully believes.

Is she being controlling… or just realistic?

Niall opens the lines to callers, starting with AJ, who says she’s 100% on the woman’s side. According to AJ, you can’t trust men once drink, hormones and other women are thrown into the mix — and pretending otherwise is just naïve. From there, the debate explodes.

Are work Christmas parties harmless fun?

Or are they a well-known danger zone everyone jokes about — but never admits to?

Is asking your partner not to go a fair boundary… or a massive red flag?

And should anyone be expected to stay home while their other half hits a free bar with colleagues?

Expect strong opinions, uncomfortable truths, plenty of laughs — and more than a few people feeling seen.

👉 Where do you stand?

WhatsApp your thoughts to 085 100 22 55