The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show

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...

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 chartered accountancy? Or that Brian Kerr worked as a lab technician, and Dáithí O'Sé was a teacher before he was discovered?

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.