Mary Pat Kelly joined Ryan to talk about her new novel, "Irish Above All," her Irish roots, and her connections to the Kennedy clan.

Tour guide Cathal Dowd Smith and farm vet Peadar O'Scanaill have one of the most beautiful offices in the country - they chatted with Ryan about day-to-day life in the beautiful surroundings of Newbridge House and Farm.

To help celebrate the launch of Newbridge House and Farm's new Farmyard Discovery Trail, we broadcast from Dublin's, "Best-kept secret;" maybe not a secret for much longer!

RTE's series, "Raised by the Village," is looking for new participants - and who better than to advertise the programme than Leah, one of the former participants who is a glowing advocate of the transformational process she underwent when she appeared on it.

Brian Brennan had it all, lost it all...and then decided to give it all. A successful hotel manager until the boom, the crash wiped out his business, so he went to Sri Lanka to make money, and discovered a passion in his that he didn't know existed. He told Ryan about his experience and his charitable endeavours.

The stories and headlines of the day that grabbed Ryan's attention.

Kate Veale has experienced extreme highs and extreme lows in her life, but has come through them all to reach more of an even keel. She's currently training in a bid to compete in the next Olympics, and came in to tell Ryan about what she's been through and how it's brought her to where she is today.

The stories and headlines of the day that grabbed Ryan's attention.

On the back of our thoroughly enjoyable trip to beautiful Derry this week, Tourism Northern Ireland gave us a weekend away to Derry for one lucky listener, staying in the Bishop's Gate Hotel. We were inundated with entries, but there could be only one winner!

On today's show, Ryan spoke to Ava Power, who with her friends Renée, Gemma and Abbie, is making a film against cyberbullying, and Alexandra Balfe, who's on a mission to save the card game, "Whist." With these young people taking part in the Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards, the future is safe! www.foroige.ie