Dave Moore

Heading into the busy Christmas it's important to take some time out to unwind - but that's often easier said than done.

For many people switching off seems impossible. There's one hundred and one things to be done and not enough hours in the day.

If you find it hard to chill out and enjoy down time then meet your saviour Adam Starr.

Adam is part of the Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre and he spoke to Dermot and Dave about the huge advantages of meditating.

To hear Adam's chat in full press the play button above.

Dermot Kennedy is one of the biggest stars on the music scene at the minute. His debut album Without Fear has been the number one album in the UK and Ireland for four weeks, even keeping Kanye West off the top spot.

As well as that, he has just announced two massive summer gigs for next year, Malahide Castle and Independent Park. There's absolutely no slowing this guy down.

Not only does he have talent coming out his ears, he is also one of the soundest people around. Dermot even revealed to Dermot and Dave that when he was in school he used to sing badly in choir to avoid attention.

Of course, our Dermot Whelan made it weird by bringing up people saying the name Dermot in "moments of passion".

 To hear the full chat press the play button above.

From the brilliant ladies hockey team qualifying for Tokyo 2020 to the tense final between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, not to mention the Rugby World Cup Final - it was a whopper weekend in sport.

Phil Egan joined Dermot and Dave in studio to dissect one of the most exciting weekends in sports we've seen all year.

We’re going to Tokyo! pic.twitter.com/fiE2S13Ohr

— Irish Hockey (@irishhockey) November 3, 2019

To hear the chat in full press the play button above.

The best of the box

Now, it's normally Dermot and Dave producer Maria Devereux who brings us our TV guide for the weekend, but with our Maz having some well deserved day off, Eimear Shannon enlightens us with her TV guide knowledge.

Here's what she has picked out:

The Graham Norton Show - Tonight (Friday) @10:35pm on BBC One

Graham has a super(califragilisticexpialidocious) line-up consisting of the original Mary Poppins, actress Julie Andrews, who will be chatting about 'Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years', a follow-up to her critically acclaimed memoir, 'Home'. Hollywood stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, both starring in comedy drama series 'The Morning Show', and Ian McKellen, who is playing a conman in drama thriller 'The Good Liar 'will also appear. Dua Lipa performs her new single 'Don't Start Now'.

 

The Late Late Show - Tonight @9:35pm on RTÉ One 

Tubs will be joined by The Script to chat about their new album and joining the World's Big Sleep Out campaign, Satirist/podcaster Blindboy Boatclub chats about why we should fear technology , Francis Brennan and actress Fionnula Flanagan join the couch, and three ladies chat about living with cancer at an early age.

 

Frozen - Saturday @6:35pm on RTÉ One

As RTÉ's Big Big Movies go, it doesn't come more spectacular than this. And with Frozen 2 sliding into our lives very soon, it's the perfect time to catch up with Elsa and Anna:

 

The Nice Guys - Sunday @9pm on RTÉ 2

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling star in this movie about a mismatched pair of private eyes investigating a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star back in LA in the 70's:

 

Streaming

If you're looking to watch something anywhere, any time, then check out these streamers:

The Morning Show - Now available on Apple TV+

Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell and Reese Witherspoon star in this new drama series that is getting mixed reviews. But we like the look of it:

 

Forky Asks A Question *Debuts on Disney+ on November 12th*

Off the back of Toy Story 4, Pixar's latest creation gets his own spin-off series:

 

The End of the F***ing World - Season 2 - Netflix (and Channel 4) 

This series didn't make much of an impact when it premiered on Channel 4 in October 2017, but after being taken on by Netflix last year, it built some momentum.

Now it's back for a new season and it looks interesting.

'A budding teen psychopath and a rebel hungry for adventure embark on a star-crossed road trip in this darkly comic series based on a graphic novel':

 

Catch Eimear's recommendations in full by pressing the play button on screen. 

 

The performer earns up to £100 an hour as a mythical sea creature

Jasmine Seales' amazing story hit the headlines recently after she transformed her life into every little girl's (and some boys) dream.

The stress of dealing with grieving families as a funeral director got too much for the 28-year-old, so she turned to the water for inspiration.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mermaid Jasmine (@jasmine_seales) on Oct 23, 2019 at 6:29am PDT

Speaking on Dermot and Dave, Jasmine tells us how the opportunity arose thanks to a serendipitous social media post; "I've always loved swimming. I just saw it advertised on Facebook about a mermaid camp".

Based in Reading, the camp is an official qualification that involves free diving - so it's no joke. Jasmine had to train rigorously twice a week to learn the correct tail technique and how to control her breathing.

Seales performs at aquarium shows, festivals and various other events and has built up her own business called Mermaid Asylum. 'Custom silicone designs made to order and everything mermaid. All created using dragon skin platinum silicone.'

And although Jasmine suffers from fibromyalgia, she hails the rheumatic condition for what it has done for her;

if i didn't have fibromyalgia I don't think I would have ever found mermaiding

She also took part in the Miss Mermaid UK pageant in October and wowed us with the news of a mermaid World Championships, or "Merlympics" as it's known, that was held in China this year.

'The world's most beautiful underwater sports competition. Mermaid swimming is a combination of technical swimming skills, acrobatic figures, breath-holding, artistry and mermaid tail costumes. The main movement is a full-body wave called dolphin kick': 

The niche activity has been booming in the US but is only now getting popular in the UK.

So there ya have it - mermaids do exist! I'm off to live the rest of my days as a unicorn.

Check out the chat in full by pressing the play button on screen. 

 

Before Spotify playlists, there were mixtapes. Cassette tapes may have been easily damaged but they had a certain charm to them.

Eimear from the show team found a mixtape at home that she had made some time around 2001, and it contained a very interesting collection of songs. It started off strongly with a couple of Nirvana songs, and then transitioned to 12 Westlife songs in a row. Throw in a few Destiny's Child tracks, LeeAnn Rimes and the 2001 classic "Forgot About Dre" and you've got yourself a pretty fantastic mixtape!

Inspired by "Eimear's Fav Songs", the lads have decided to throw out the playlist for today and hand it over to you the listener to make Ireland's Biggest Mixtape! The playlist of all of your fantastic requests is on Spotify too.

***IMPORTANT UPDATE***

Word of Eimear's Fav Songs got back to Westlife, and Nicky Byrne himself sent her this voice note to thank her and commend her great taste in music:

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2019/10/02103530/NICKY-BYRNE-VOICE-NOTE.mp3"][/audio]

Check out the fun in full by pressing the play button on screen.

Whole Foods Market forecast the biggest food trends for next year

Food glorious food...

We've seen the rise in lots of food products over the past few years - blueberries, acai bowls, avocado toast, charcoal everything, doughnuts, seaweed, keto, ube (purple sweet potato from Japan) etc., but what has 2020 in store for us?

Supermarket super-chain Whole Foods have released the findings of their research to forecast what we'll be monching on in the not-so-distant-future.

Let's have a look shall we?

Regenerative agriculture

Eco-friendly foods sourced by helping the environment instead of destroying it. More emphasis will be put on drawing carbon out of the air and into the soil. Sounds good to me.

Flour

I know what you're thinking...Odlums/self-raising/wholemeal/strong?? Nope..it's much more exciting than that. 2020 will introduce us to new creations like cauliflower flour, banana flour and tiger flour. Raaaaarrrr!

West African flavours

We can expect rich, earthy dishes like bunny chow (bread hollowed out and filled with curry) and jollof (a one pot rice dish). *moves to West Africa

Fridge snacks

"Sure we've always had fridge snacks", I hear you say. Whole Foods reckon that premade snacks like hard boiled eggs, pickled veg and mini dips will be all the rage.

So Long Soy

It's unreal in a stir-fry but experts feel soy will be substituted for mung bean, avocado, pumpkin and watermelon seeds.

Spreads & butters

Seed and chickpea butters will take over from the staple varieties we now consume. Nuts!

Sugar swap

Fruit-based syrups will replace agave nectar. Syrups made from dates, pomegranates, coconut and sweet potato will trickle in.

Dermot and Dave's Dermot Whelan and Eimear Shannon explore these new-found delicacies and give us their verdict.

Check out the fun in full by pressing the play button on screen.

 

Hotel Doolin's greener way of life has trebled their turnover in the past 8 years

Imagine a business plan where profits are soaring and you're helping to save the planet? Perfection, right? Well the clever folk at Clare's Hotel Doolin have made some smart changes to become a leader in green hospitality in Ireland.

Speaking on Today FM's Dermot and Dave, General Manager of the hotel, Donal Minihane, reveals the "tonnes of little things" they have been doing.

These simple steps include:

banishing plastic bottles

harvesting rainwater

growing their salads, herbs and veg in a 50ft polytunnel

buying off local suppliers

never using single-use items

reducing food waste

These are all hugely effective, but the two main changes are that they have stopped burning oil (converted to an air to water ambient heating system) and have planted trees; "in the past two years we have planted 1,700 tress. 1 tree equates to 1 tonne of carbon".

The sustainable option is kinda the one that makes most sense and makes your bills more efficient and profitable

Having the label of 'Ireland's Only Carbon Neutral Hotel' has proven to be a massive attraction for guests with the turnover having trebled in the past 8 years.

The addition of an eco-friendly barn has made the hotel one of the most desirable wedding venues along the Wild Atlantic Way;

This year we will host probably 95 weddings. 8 years ago we had none

 

View this post on Instagram

 

What a gorgeous day in the West of Ireland Congrats again to A&S, lets get this party started! #dreamwedding #barnwedding #ecowedding #carbonnutral #greenhotel #Doolin #cliffsofmoher #ireland #barntobewild #sayidoolin #LoveDoolin #wildatlanticway #everydayibt #discoverireland #mydreamwedding #bride #weddinginspiration #irishwedding #wildatlanticwedding #groom #ceremony #outdoorceremony #weddinglols #weddingdress #weddingday

A post shared by Hotel Doolin (@hotel.doolin) on Jul 27, 2019 at 2:59pm PDT

And although Donal doesn't think their Doolin project is as impressive as what some of the larger cities and countries are doing, he does hope that, "other businesses might see what a small community like us can do and that might inspire them".

Check out Donal's inspirational chat in full by pressing the play button on screen. 

 

Heads will turn...

I know it isn't something you'd come across on the CAO form, or a role your career guidance teacher would have ever suggested (if they did then I'd be worried), but this could be your chance to shine in the supernatural field.

Irish Ghosthunters are a team of paranormal investigators who come from all parts of Ireland. They use scientific methods to investigate supposedly haunted locations both here in Ireland and abroad - and now, they need an exorcist to join their squad.

Ghosthunters member Fintan Cullen chats to Dermot and Dave about what the job entails and why they are busier than ever.

Cullen says, "I believe it comes down to the individual bad and negative energy that people create themselves". This is how he feels evil spirits manifest.

He then got heads spinning with this controversial statement, "There's a lot of badness in Irish people", which Dermot questions.

Fintan also tells us some simple ways to prevent entities from entering our homes - it's all about dogs and the "death position".

If you think you could be Ireland's answer to Father Merrin, and would like to apply, check out the Irish Ghosthunters facebook page here.

Catch the chat in full by pressing the play button on screen. 

 

The 'Outside In' method is being trialled for two months and will load window seat passengers first

Here's a little bit of trivia for you - Gatwick is the most delayed airport in Europe.

Stats show that 42.6% of the airport's departures were late last month.

To help get flight times back on track, Gatwick will trial a new system on Airbus A320 aircrafts flying from Gate 101. The window seats will be filled first, followed by the middle and then the aisle.

It will start in the back rows and work its way forward to see if this is more efficient.

A digital display will be used to call passengers to the plane and they will be expected to remain seated while they wait.

The company hopes this will remove lengthy queues both on and off the airplanes and could have a snappy turnaround of 15 minutes if executed properly.

Here's what it looks like:

Dermot and Dave's Dermot Whelan and Seán Reidy discuss whether or not the idea will take off.

Check out the chat in full by pressing the play button on screen.