Henry McKean on the Hard Shoulder

Henry's Christmas Cracker! Christmas Day at 10am-12pm then 8pm to 10pm on Newstalk. A 2 hour celebration with Daniel O'Donnell, Neven Maguire, a Christmas cracker record attempt, the 30th anniversary of Home Alone Lost in New York. Tom Dunne looks behind the Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy the David Bowie and Bing Crosby classic, and lots more surprises...

It's the 2nd semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest, this year, it's hosted by Italy. Ireland are 10th on the stage tonight with ‘That's Rich'. Henry McKean is in a hot Turin, its 28 degrees, If Ireland win outright it will cost Paddy Power a €1million. We hope she could snatch a place, Henry saw Brooke in rehearsals just now, she was relaxed, confident and strong and momentum. Henry McKean reports from Turin.   

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock live at the Oscars in response to a joke the comedian made about Smith's Wife Jada's hair loss as a result of alopecia. The Show went on and the Academy said later it did not condone violence in any form. Will Smith a few minutes later went on to win the best actor award for King Richard based on the tennis father of the Williams sisters, he made an apology in a tearful acceptance speech. LAPD said Chris Rock declined to press charges. Was this out of order or a man defending his wife? Henry McKean has been getting reaction.

According to the CSO two thirds of people living in rural areas would be very comfortable asking a neighbour to keep a set of keys to their home for emergencies for example if they were locked out, but in towns and cities this drops to half. We are asking today what is trust and would you trust your neighbour with your house key? Henry McKean is in the rural Irish town of Ardee. 

It's Day one of The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's visit to the republic. Today Charles and Camilla visited Waterford. Henry McKean was there to capture the mood for us.

In Bray County Wicklow a new sustainable suspension bridge proposed for Bray Harbour has run into protests from locals who want to save the swans. The 100 swans who live on the River Dargle can't see suspension cables and fly straight into them causing their wings to be damaged or even death, as happens at the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin. Henry McKean travelled to Bray and met locals who care about the welfare of the swans. With Swan conservationist Marcia Nicholson and Bray based vet Pete Wedderburn.

According to new research women spend 2 hours and 49 minutes cleaning and cooking and washing everyday. But the average man spends less than 70 mins doing the same chores. Henry McKean has been looking at the study and speaking to former cleaners.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning they asked is the depiction of Irish nuns on screen, fair or foul? Religious sisters are the last group of women which we can say whatever we like. That's was the view of David Quinn, Columnist with the Sunday Times who said Irish nuns have been caricatured in film and tv as evil, cruel and inhumane. Henry McKean visited Glendalough in the heavy rain and met walkers taking a break in the Wicklow Heather restaurant. Henry also met Sister Bernadette Sweeney, from the Sisters of Charity, she runs the Community Centre for Music and the Arts in Crumlin at St Kevin's Church in Glendalough.

According to the Irish Daily Mail today the next Dail is set to have 15 more seats as the population grows. The census will see a jump in the population meaning an increase in TDs. But do the public want them. Under the constitution there must be a TD for every 20,000 to 30,000 people. Henry McKean has been out speaking to voters and experts.

Australian cricket legend Shane Warne, one of the greatest cricketers of all time has died of a suspected heart attack aged 52. He was found unresponsive in his villa on the island of Koh Soamui in Thailand. Henry McKean visited North County Cricket Club, Dublin, the heart of Cricket in Ireland and met cricket players of all ages coming to terms with the news, including former Ireland cricketer John Mooney who once played against the late Shane Warne.

“It's a difficult thing to have to say, but recognising a problem is the first step in solving it. Our capital city at night is a dangerous place, where you feel deeply concerned about your personal safety. Walk from the Spire to Stephen's Green at 10.00pm and see for yourself.” Those were the words of Ciaran Cannon TD, Galway East after he walked through the city, he posted that on Twitter. We asked Henry McKean to follow his route.

An Australian Estate Agent accidentally put up a walk through video online where he openly broke wind to advertise a rental. Has breaking wind become socially acceptable and here in Ireland have we lost our manners when it comes to etiquette? Our hot air correspondent Henry McKean has travelled to Mullingar County Westmeath to see if people still hold their knife and fork correctly? With the Etiquette Academy of Ireland. 

Yesterday Paul O'Donoghue on the Pat Kenny show, was speaking to teachers and pupils complaining of ‘freezing' classrooms. But what is the science behind getting really cold and can you work in these conditions long term, is it bad for you or does it strengthen your immune system and make you hardy? Henry McKean has been speaking to workers who normally work in fridge like conditions. With Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and Leo Ryan from innate-strength.com

The rumour mill was in overdrive today, Mayo is still waiting for Sam, but they have won the biggest Irish Lotto of all time. Castlebar and surrounding areas were buzzing with the news the winning €19.6m ticket was sold locally in the county town. Henry McKean went on a wild goose chase looking for the winner and the shop that sold the golden ticket. The winning numbers were: 02, 09, 16, 30, 37, 40 and the bonus was 23. If you are the winner, contact the prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or claims@lottery.ie

According to DoneDeal used cars have zoomed up in price by 56% from the beginning of the pandemic to the end of 2021. Outstripping the rate of inflation in the US and the UK. Why is it that we are in the strange situation where a second hand car can now cost more than a brand new car? To explain what is going on at the showrooms across the country we were joined by Henry McKean. 

Across the water in England, Tory MPs are putting pressure on the BBC to play God Save the Queen daily for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. In response the BBC said they don't play it on BBC One because it doesn't closedown in the evening but instead goes to rolling news with BBC News 24. Here in Ireland we were thinking, have we also started to play our national anthem less? Henry McKean has been investigating and speaking to historians and the public. (Pic Nadia Forde singing Amhran na bhFiann at the Aviva.) 

According to Fisherman's Friend, Harry Potter has been voted the most feel good film to banish the January Blues. Henry McKean asked people on the street what movie cheers them up in January?

It turns out Irish people  love their fruit and veg far more than our European Neighbours. 33% of us took our 5 fruit and veg a day. According to research by Eurostat, Ireland had a higher gobbling of daily fruit and vegetables across the 27 nation bloc. Henry McKean has been to a farmers shop and Moore Street in Dublin to find out does this survey ring true on the ground. 

Henry McKean asked people in Dublin and kids in Cork from Bunscoil Chriost Ri about their New Year's resolutions.

We sent Henry McKean and his family to the Arctic Circle with thanks to Sunway to experience the magic of Christmas. Once we got all our paperwork in order, rapid PCR tests and passenger locator form all sorted it was magical. We travelled last week before the new guidance came in, the advice now is to take a home antigen test for 5 days after you return home. The excitement was the snow, the expressions on the children's faces and meeting Santa. But the Husky ride was the highlight, they are Alaska Huskies, We visited Lapland Husky Safari. Sunway offer 1,2, or 3 night trips to Lapland. They are taking bookings for 2022. 

Many parents in Dublin cried foul when The Department of Education just before 10pm last night said that all Dublin schools would remain closed for a second day, despite by 8am this morning the county was no longer on an Orange Alert. But what do Dublin parents, childcare workers, students, principals think now as Storm Barra passed over?  Meanwhile DCU decided to open as normal. Henry McKean met these TY students in Swords.

Taxi drivers are calling for a promised fare hike of 5% to be implemented while a review is carried out. Those working in the industry say the rising cost of fuel, and the increased use of contactless payments, are among the main reasons given. Henry McKean has been looking into it.

Up and down the country the backbone of Ireland's response to the Pandemic is your local General Practice Surgery. From the beginning of restrictions they have continued to serve their patients. Now we are in the 4th wave, Henry McKean spent the day at Bray Medical Centre with the windows open where he met GPs, the secretary and their patients, 2 metres apart. With Dr Barbara Bonar, Dr Aoife Cuddy and Dr Stephen Hawkins.

It's been 7 years since the Garth Brooks fallout when he didn't get planning permission for 2 of his 5 gigs at Croke Park so he walked away. Is all forgiven? In Croke park Henry McKean met Garth Brooks who has sold 160 million albums with hits like Friends in Low Places and If Tomorrow Never Comes. Henry McKean got to sit down with Garth Brooks and this is what happened...

For Lotto players up and down the country it's been nearly 6 months of a rollover with the Lotto stuck on €19 million. FG Kildare North TD Bernard Durkan called for an investigation into why has there been no winner, and even said why can't it be like Ronan Collins's day when it was just 36 numbers, it's now 47. Henry McKean has travelled to Bettystown County Meath where people all day have been queuing up in the local Centra.

Ireland's second largest athletic club, Lusk AC, is looking for a permanent home to train. Now with 700 members they are the biggest in Dublin. At the moment they share an area called the Hub at the back of Lusk with GAA pitches, dog walkers and football, but it's become difficult to throw a discus or javelin with the other sports taking place. A local developer is supposed to hand over a 7 acre site for recreational use to Fingal County Council and for Lusk Athletic to use but it has been caught up in red tape for some time. Henry McKean has been investigating.

On Friday Tony Holohan announced if you are out and about meeting people you should take an antigen test twice a week. Since then Newstalk understands there has been a run on antigen tests across the country with shops and pharmacies sold out or low on stock. Henry McKean has been visiting pharmacies and asking people are they ready to take them, do they feel confident using them and should they be free or subsidised? Henry took 2 antigen tests, the first one didn't work and the second came up as negative.  

Ennis County Clare is the winner of Ireland's Super Valu Tidiest Town 2021, beating over 800 towns and villages across Ireland. The fiercely competitive competition since 1958 is back after the pandemic. There were tears of joy, Henry McKean was there in Ennis at the Old Ground Hotel as the news broke. Big winners on the day included: Geashill, Co. Offaly awarded Ireland's Tidiest Village. Abbeyleix, Co. Laois awarded Ireland's Tidiest Small Town. Cobh, Cork South awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Town. Ennis, Co. Clare awarded Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Roy Keane got into a heated argument outside Old Trafford with a fan after Manchester United went down 2 nil against Man City on Saturday. It got us talking, do Cork people have a bad temper? Henry McKean got reaction from Mayfield in Cork, where Roy Keane grew up. The report starts with a viral clip of the argument.

Writing in todays Irish Times Brianna Parkins says she doesn't want a man to make all the money, she wants him to make dinner. Her opinion piece asks lots of questions despite women now contributing equally to the mortgage they are still doing most chores around the house. Brianna wants to send an email to all men to say the key performance indicators have changed on what makes a good husband, boyfriend or partner. It's no longer being a bread winner. Henry McKean took to the streets to see if the public agree with her.

Yesterday Kieran Cuddihy went on a rant about the amount of people on public transport not wearing masks and how these people are not paying any attention to Tony Holohan. We got a strong reaction from you listening. We decided to send Henry McKean on a few Luas journeys to nowhere.

In this spooky Halloween special Henry McKean speaks to Dublin Fire Brigade about the challenges they face on Halloween night. Dublin City Council Waste Management clear over 500 tonnes of wood material teenagers were stashing and face abuse going about their job. Fun Place Joke shop talk about the most popular Halloween costumes this season. The kids of Holy Child Boys National School in Larkhill Dublin tell us why they love Halloween and what they really think of Squid Games. And Dockers and Demons the Halloween Festival drop into studio.

‘You'll Never Walk Alone' by Gerry and the Pacemakers has beaten Frank Sinatra's ‘My Way' to the top spot on a funeral music request chart. Henry McKean spoke to Mary Cunniffe, branch manager Massy Brothers Funeral Directors in Templeogue Village and singer and musician Simon Morgan.   Pic: Living Pat Green 94, on board her pink casket at her jazz funeral in New Orleans.

A video of a Wicklow GAA fight at the end of an Under 15 final between Carnew and Kilcoole played at Wicklow GAA Centre of Excellence in Ballinakill went viral. In the video we see teens, adult men and women, and officials brawling. Henry McKean has visited Wicklow for us. 

It's World Animal Day, the international day of action for animal rights and welfare. The DSPCA are busier than ever as people start to give up their lockdown pets. Henry McKean visited the DSPCA in the Dublin Mountains and met animals looking for a new home and sent us this report. With Suzanne McGovern from the DSPCA on World Animal Day, to find out more about the animals mentioned in that report log onto DSPCA.ie

It's James Bond Week on Newstalk and to celebrate No Time to Die hitting the cinemas tonight we sent Henry McKean to stunt school. The Condren family, brothers Patrick and Joe and 20 of their relatives run Total Stunts, Ireland's longest running stunt team. They have worked with Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. Henry McKean met them at Hogan's Farm Shop and Cafe near Kells County Meath, which was turned into a live action film set, with punch ups and people being set alight. Totalstunts.com

According to a new survey by Royal London 85% of Irish people would expect the average salary of a stay-at-home parent to come in at around €28,000, if they were to be paid. However, the real figure is €49,000, this is how much it would cost someone to replace the “duties” these mothers and fathers perform on a daily basis. Henry McKean has been out and about for us meeting stay at home parents in their gardens across Dublin.

Today is World Alzheimer's Day, a global awareness 24 hour hours around Dementia and the stigma which still persists. Carebright in Bruff county Limerick are Ireland's first purpose-built community for people living with dementia. Where residents are given dignity, respect and space. Henry McKean visited this afternoon and met Kevin Quaid who has Lewy Body Dementia and Ken Greaney whose dad Dave lives at Carebright. Henry sent us this report.

The Ploughing is back but not as we know it. Instead of crowds of 250,000 the 90th National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska County Laois is limited to 1,000 people per day, because of uncertainty over Covid Restrictions.   The event has no trade exhibitions just back to basics ploughing in the fields for plough men and women. However there was a hint of glamour as Freddie Flintoff, Patrice Evra, Romesh Ranganathan and Jamie Redknapp showed up to film an episode of 'A League of their Own'. Henry McKean was there to see if it still has the Ploughing Atmosphere and he sent us this report.

A newspaper column which criticised the appearance of a number of Fianna Fáil politicians has been described as 'deplorable' by a party member. Senator Erin McGreehan, who was named in the article, told Newstalk Breakfast it served no purpose but to put people down. The Irish Mail On Sunday article, was also described as "nasty" by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Did the article over step the mark and cross a line or is it fair game? If a politician is in the public eye is it ok to have a go at them? Henry McKean has been speaking to the public and fashion experts including David O'Connor Group General Manager of Louis Copeland who dresses many politicians including ministers and different taoisigh over the years.

As restrictions continue to be eased today why is it that people are still using the capital as an open urinal? Does the capital smell of a dirty public toilet? Henry McKean has been out and about with Dublin City Council Waste Management washing the streets 24/7. DCC have a Night team, 2 wash teams 7 nights a week, a graffiti removal team and 400 staff keeping the city clean, they are on twitter @DubCityEnviro where you can watch them working away. 

Across Dublin City Centre this afternoon you'll find Chuggers - or Charity Muggers - out on the streets Yes, ‘Direct Charity Fundraisers' are on the public paths asking for your donations. Is the public ready for them after the Pandemic, is this a sign of a return to normality? And why do charities use them? Henry McKean has been out and about.