LMFM Late Lunch

The Mornington Vocal Academy brought us some festive tunes, our Christmas Pudding winner Sheelagh Phelan popped in for a chat, Cormac Ferriter sang Killeagh, Eabha Flynn recited Christmas poems, Pippa Kelly sang as gaeilge and Kilkerley's Nigel McKenna said hello from Montreal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final five; Sheelagh Phelan, Mary Finegan, Jodi Carey, Mary McHale and Sheila O'Neill's Christmas Puddings underwent intense tasting as our judges; Colette Nugent, Brian Farrelly and Louise Walsh decided whose Pudding would carry off the prestigious title this year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kylie is Number 1 for Christmas! Kieran Kehoe CEO of Meath County Council recounts the loss of vehicles following a fire at the county's Civil Defence headquarters. Emma Rafferty paid tribute to her friend Sarah Halpenny who died suddenly in Australia last weekend. We revealed the winner of the Best Christmas Pudding in the Northeast 2025. Darragh McCullough is celebrating a Christmas like no other as a first time Daddy! Paul Murphy expressed his gratitude to Hamilton Interiors for renovating the Drogheda Homeless Aid hostel. And Gerry dropped into the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre with a substantial donation from Santa's Little Helper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy Comyn from Done Deal Cars selects his motors of the year with one clear overall winner! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meath River Rescue have their new boat, the Wednesday Gang tune us up for Christmas, Grace Tierney fools around with words, Paddy Comyn names his motors and car of the year and David Sheehan looks ahead to the weekend's soccer action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Lunch paid a visit to the Dowd family home in Duleek to officially switch on mum Rosie's simply wonderful Christmas Lights and enjoy a home which is quite simply a shrine to Christmas! Rosie has been bringing Christmas cheer to the village for the last twenty-five years and is loved by one and all for her incredible display. We enjoyed her warm hospitality and the company of quite a number of guests and callers to Rosie's home for a very special Late Lunch! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meath West TD Johnny Guirke and local businessman Gerry McDermott expressed their shock, dismay and anger following an arson attack overnight that destroyed McQuaid's Pharmacy in the centre of Oldcastle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our wine expert Rick Cronje brings us his selection for the Christmas Table this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home for Christmas and the New Year from Sydney, Lizzie Doran popped in for a catch-up. Fr Paddy Rushe brought us his Christmas wishes and message, Rick Cronje sorted wines for our Christmas table and we heard why it makes sense to have new-borns immunised against RSV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fr Paddy Rushe PP of Monasterboice and Togher Parishes shared his thoughts with us ahead Christmas in the Catholic Church. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Kate McCann says it's not too late to get the flu jab as influenza sweeps through the population and hospitals become overburdened with serious cases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh from his Late Late Toy Show appearance and playing with Kingfishr, Oscar Everitt nailed Killeagh solo and live with us this afternoon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh from his amazing encounter with Kingfishr on the Late Late Toy Show, Oscar Everitt blew us away with his rendition of Killeagh! John H Shanahan joined us from Texas to deliver his end of term report on Trump 2 Year 1. Dr Kate McCann discussed and advised on the severe influenza outbreak and we hear from Margaret English daughter of one of the 1975 Dundalk bombing victims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

House of Colour's Maria Macklin is simply brilliant in the manner in which she approaches the seasonal issues of; jumpers, gifting clothes and approaching the post Christmas sales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diagnosed with dyspraxia at nine, Cian Stanley has had many challenges to deal with and overcome in his young life, a story he has told brilliantly in a movie, that has been acknowledged as really special and which he spoke about to Gerry on Late Lunch today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cian Stanley's biopic makes for fascinating viewing and listening as we found out today. The Louth County Board make their final push for funds for the new county stadium in Dundalk. Maria Macklin from House of Colour offered lots of advice on Christmas jumpers, buying clothing gifts for family and friends and tackling the post Christmas sales. And the money flowed in for the much needed Meath River Rescue's new boat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Murphy, PRO of the Drogheda City Status Group, believes the only way to ensure the neglect of Drogheda and its decline can be reversed is with a dedicated management team and administration, which overcomes it being an afterthought for two different county councils based in Dundalk and Navan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bailey brought us his techno gift recommendations, Rosie Dowd is so excited to welcome Late Lunch to her home next week to officially switch on her Christmas lights display, Sharon Keogan and Elizabeth Tierney outlined the great work they're doing with young people and their good mental health in Duleek and David Sheehan delivered his predictions ahead of the weekend's sporting action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Murphy told us why he believes City status has been met and is the answer to Drogheda's woes. Young Kells barber Joe Money is going places with scissors in hand. Jillian Stout raises the temperature in her second novel The Love Lab 2! While Sean Collins reminded us of photographer Jimmy Weldon's enduring legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declan Bailey from Business Tech Help brings us his selection of technology best buys this Christmas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At sixteen, Kells barber Joe Mongey or "Chops" as he's known, is already showing his potential as a top stylist and is a young man with hairdressing the world over on his radar, as we discovered in an engaging conversation with Gerry.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Siobhan O'Neill White from mams.ie explains why it's important to support local businesses this Christmas more than ever while offering suggestions for gifting and things to do and see this festive season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The clean up is well underway in Blackrock village following yesterday's high water that entered a number of shops on the promenade. Siobhan O'Neill White from mams.ie offered lots of advice around Christmas purchases and events but especially emphasised the need to support our local businesses. Eddie Lyons and David Cullivan dropped by to reflect on Navan Rugby Club's centenary and Sinead Burke brought her keen observational gaze to bear on Christmas gifting! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ultan Moran was so insightful about his place of work Glasnevin cemetery, James Power owner of uPhone in Drogheda told us about the impact the falling Christmas lights had on his business, Mary Sadlier the tour de force driving Coole Swan forward popped in for a wonderful catch-up and Falyn Mackey is so happy she has her pooches back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime writer Paul Williams about his new book Crooks 2, Ope Stephen and his mother Antonia bringing a whole new taste to the Northeast, Aoife McPartlin dissects the life cycles of our Irish owls and Jarlath Fitzsimons doesn't want his customers to miss out on a pint! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CEO and founder of Coole Swan Mary Sadlier, a liqueur born, raised and now sold all over the world from county Meath, popped into Late Lunch for a lively and most insightful conversation that had something for every prospective entrepreneur and potential business owner. What a success story Mary, her small dedicated team and Coole Swan are! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerry really enjoyed his chat with Dundalk man Ultan Moran, who is Digital Marketing and Heritage Officer at Ireland's national cemetery! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Power, owner of uPhone in the heart of Drogheda, saw business drop 75%, as he had to close last Friday until today, following the coming down of Christmas lights outside his premises. He also believes Drogheda needs some special attention to revive retail in the town centre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know there are only three species of owl found in Ireland and they're not the ones that go too wit too woo? Aoife McPartlin from Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland took us through the life cycle and lots more about our Irish owls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ope Stephen and his mother Antonia popped into Late Lunch to tell us all about their emerging exciting and different Too Good food business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Williams has plotted a second journey through the darker side of the Irish state and it's criminal actors of all shades in his brilliant new book Crooks 2! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Lunch paid a visit to Mo Chara and what an afternoon we enjoyed in the company of Cillian, Vincent and Oisin, the boys who have created something really special in the heart of Dundalk. The crack was mighty as we enjoyed the banter with the boys, Charles Handy from the Mary Wallopers, Jason McGee an expert in the brewing history of the town, especially McArdle Moore brewery and Brian McMahon whose wonderful "My Kind Of Town" exhibition is on show upstairs in Mo Chara. We also had our regulars on Friday as David Sheehan previewed the weekend's sporting action, Deirdre O'Kane delivered classic comedy and a TV theme proved a doddle for listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Bannon has produced the definitive story of an incredible year for Louth Football, encompassing all aspects of the game from inter-county to club fare, with a detailed feature on every club. It's a must have for Louth people in the year that elusive Delaney Cup was won for the first time in 68 years! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On what his now his annual visit to Gerry on Late Lunch, among the humorous topics Neil covered were; his sporting prowess, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's TLT gig in Drogheda, drinking in parliament and his appearances on Countdown... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The irrepressible Neil Delamere, Eddie Tuite's thoughts on reviving Drogheda town centre, Dan Bannon's brilliant Louth yearbook and Laura Torris finding solace in mountain climbing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating twenty years in business today, Late Lunch just had to be at Antonia's Bookstore in Trim, to mark a milestone for the most fabulous independent bookstore and its owner Antonia Daly! We were delighted to chat with authors Roisin O'Donnell, Myles Dungan and Tatyana Feeney, Ivan O'Brien from the O'Brien Press, children from St Patrick's national school who are avid readers, Charley and Sadie Ayton who love Antonia's so much they're promoting the bookstore on TikTok, number one customer Aileen Wynn and Barbra Howlett who told us how she' s living the dream working with Antonia for seventeen wonderful years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Planning expert Dr Conor Skehan made some salient observations and offered practical and concrete suggestions as to how the heart of Drogheda town could be reinvigorated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Skehan on his ways to reinvigorate the heart of Drogheda, Leah Barniville playing Cinderella in Cork, Eoin Maguire serving up great coffee and more in Dundalk and Peter Kermath lionising Movember! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sisters Aisling Muckian and Aine Mallie diagnosed with breast cancer within weeks of each other, new Ladies Gaelic Football Association CEO Lyn Savage, Irish History Book of the Year author Nicola Pierce and Nicky Kyle's gifts for gardeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the recent An Post Irish Book Awards "Great Irish Wives" was named History Book of the Year to the delight of its author Nicola Pierce, who popped into Late Lunch to reflect on an incredible year in her life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an incredible twist of fate, sisters Aisling Muckian and Aine Mallie, who are both in their early thirties, were diagnosed with breast cancer weeks apart earlier this year and are receiving treatment. Here they tell their story to Gerry on Monday's Show... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With twenty-six days to go until we sit for our festive feast, chef Tara Walker offered lots of advice about the traditional turkey table and alternatives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Tara Walker with lots of advice about preparing Christmas Dinner, Wordfoolery with Grace Tierney, Rick Cronje's wine recommendations and David Sheehan previewing the weekend's sporting action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.