Weekend Breakfast with Alison Curtis

Chef Shane Smith is in studio with Alison on Weekend Breakfast to celebrate his fab first book! And he doesn't arrive empty handed! IS IT CAKE!!!? Yes, it most certainly is! Droool. Shane a tells us about his new book 'Loaf Tin Bakes' – a whole cookbook dedicated to what you can make in one tin, from simple lemon drizzle-style treats to savoury garlic dough balls, pizza bread swirls and easy brown bread! It's simple genius! Plus: the behind-the-scenes reality of online baking edits, recipe testing and book signings! Follow Shane here

Katie Kirby started writing her Lottie Brooks books in 2021 and she's already got nine in the series and two million copies sold! Wow! It's truly a phenomenon. She is in Ireland on a sold out book tour and popped into Alison and Weekend Breakfast for a chat! OMG!! Hope there's no awks moments but loads of Lottie chat, some superfans AND Katie tells us about the TENTH book in the series due out later this year! The most recent instalment: 'THE SERIOUSLY EPIC HOLIDAY OF LOTTIE BROOKS!' is out now Follow Katie @katiekirbyauthor on Insta

This week Conde Nast Traveler revealed it’s 7 Wonders Of Ireland for 2026 --- they have avoided all the tourist traps on this list for some truly magical locations. Weekend Breakfast with Alison spoke to Irish Travel Blogger Chris Connolly – you may know him from his hugely successful Instagram @explorewithcriostoir --- where he showcases his stunning videos and soft Northern Irish lilt!! Chris has been everywhere in our beautiful country and shared his thoughts on the 7 chosen locations. Here is the full list https://www.cntraveller.com/article/7-wonders-of-ireland-for-2026 1. Waterford topped the list as the must see destination in Ireland by Condé Nast Traveller, --- they said: “A road trip along the Copper Coast of County Waterford takes in some of the most beautiful, empty and underrated beaches in Ireland” – and also cited the Waterford Greenway and the Comeragh mountains for hikes to waterfalls and along panoramic ridges. 2. The Burren in County Clare described on the list as “otherworldly and extraordinary” They offer the Ailwee Caves instead of the usual Cliffs Of Moher. And encourage people to walk the two-and-a-half-hour Lough Avalla Farm loop, which takes in woodland trails, bee-buzzing pastures and open landscape. 3. Ring of Beara – The lesser known loop often overshadowed by the Ring Of Kerry – This straddles the counties of Kerry and Cork, the Ring of Beara is a knockout and relatively hush-hush route that snakes through the paintbox-bright villages of Eyeries and Allihies, over the dramatic turns of the Healy Pass and even past Ireland’s first Tibetan Buddhist temple 4. Northwest Donegal - Donegal feels like a place apart. Glenveagh National Park is a spectacular wilderness to explore. Mount Errigal can be scaled in about two hours, leaving plenty of time to head to the long, sandy beaches of Dunfanaghy. 5. Fermanagh Lakelands - awe-inspiring hikes including the boardwalk trail known as the Stairway to Heaven; the food scene and pubs of Enniskillen town; Beleek Pottery, and water-based fun on Lough Erne. 6. The passage tombs of the Ancient East - In the Boyne Valley of County Meath. Older than Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt, Newgrange is Ireland’s neolithic headliner. 7. The City of Kilkenny for Culture – Cat Laughs, Kilkenomics and Jerpoint Abbey all ticked the list to make this their cultural pick!

WARNING: this podcast episode contains talk of mouth watering meals and may cause you to run immediatley to your local haunt because of your hunger! Alison chats to Food and Travel journalist Ali Dunworth - who compiled a list of the best places in the country to grab a sitdown Sunday Roast! Follow Ali here: https://www.instagram.com/alidunworth/ Her full list is here - bear in mind it has a paywall - https://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/19-of-the-best-pubs-in-ireland-for-a-sunday-roast-from-an-old-school-thatched-bar-to-a-city-centre-favourite/a620042085.html

This Easter weekend we wanted to welcome back one of our favourite guests on to Weekend Breakfast Lou Robbie chats to Alison a Sunday Times bestselling author – number 1 in Ireland and the UK with her debut cookbook - Make & Freeze Lou has captured a huge and dedicated online audience – and recently celebrated getting to 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS on Instagram!! She tells us all bout that amazing milestone and also some Easter recipes! Slow roast Leg of Lamb!! (160 degrees!) Born in Tipp and based in Galway she told us that most of her videos are filmed while listening to Weekend Breakfast! She’s a big fan of ours and we are big fans of her! https://www.instagram.com/littleloucooks/ ✨ Sticky & Spicy Slow Cooked Irish Lamb ✨ INGREDIENTS • 1 bone-in Irish lamb leg (~2.4kg) Spice rub: • 2 tbsp cumin • 2 tbsp oregano • 2 tsp paprika • 4 garlic cloves (finely grated) • 1 tsp sea salt • 100g Specially Selected red pesto or harissa Tray: • 500ml beef stock + 250ml water • 2 onion (sliced) • sprig rosemary • 2 tbsp Organic Squeezy honey Serve with: buttery mash, roast cherry tomatoes & asparagus or roast carrots and parsnips. METHOD Take lamb out 20 mins before cooking. Score the fat in a diamond pattern. Mix spice rub ingredients + massage all over lamb. Marinate 1 hr (or overnight). Preheat oven to 160°C (fan). Add onion + rosemary to tray, place lamb on top, pour in stock + water. Cover tightly. Cook 3.5–4.5 hrs until tender & falling apart. Drizzle honey over, uncover, roast 30 mins more. Rest 20 mins before shredding/carving. 💡 Use the tray juices + onions for gravy—thicken with cornflour, strain & serve! Makes for a delicious meal!

Niamh Fahey has won it all - 4 WSL titles, 5 FA Cups, an FAI Women’s Cup, an All-Ireland for Galway and 115 caps for the Republic of Ireland! -- She has played for Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - the former Ireland Captain spoke to Alison all about her new role at Liverpool Football Club, women in sport, and of course her insane competitive streak and much more

Dearbhla Mescal Joins Us For A Very Special Mother's Day Podcast In a specially extended chat, Dearbhla Mescal reveals some of the magical moments of being a Mother. This engaging, warm and revealing interview - Mother of Paul, Donnacha and Nell she speaks lovingly about their incredible bond growing up together, how having a "sweary house" allowed them their self expression, along with the slamming doors as teens! Her own journey from the freeing joy of showing vulnerability, her own cancer journey, her son Paul's current Beatles journey and much more Dearbhla’s book ‘Finding Joy’ — a beautiful collection of poems, musings and reflections to help you find joy in everyday life is out now

Sky Sports and BBC Match Of The Day Anchor – Kelly Cates is an award winning presenter, podcaster, and all round icon! Kelly joined Weekend Breakfast and Alison to chat about the excitement of live shows, parenting teenagers, young women in sport and creaking doors and much more!! This is a special uncut extended interview. Stars of the Overlap – featuring Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Wayne Rooney and hosted by Kelly Cates – Audiences can expect honest conversations, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of friendly banter as these football greats take the stage to share their journeys from the pitch to punditry and beyond. LIVE @ The 3 Arena - 25th March ticketmaster.ie Follow Kelly on social: @kellycates_

Alison is joined by Cathal and Ciaran to try to help her get ready to embrace As Gaeilge this March. Gaylinn, is the bilingual comedy podcast hosted by Cian Griffin, Cathal O’Sullivan, and Ciarán Murphy, - Each week they discuss the Worst, Weird & Wonderful of a broad range of topics: Dating, School, Renting, and more. Gaylinn release new weekly episodes every Wednesday. @gaylinnpodcast on Instagram or TikTok

Following their sold-out tour in 2025, I’m Grand Mam return to the live arena in 2026 with their brand-new show Happy Campers. If you don't know already! I’m Grand Mam is the wildly popular Irish comedy duo made up of best friends Kevin Twomey and PJ Kirby. Two Cork boys that can't stop chatting and now they've made a career out of it! Alison caught with our two favourite fellas and they chatted about sexy spectacles, very rude and loud WhatsApp groups, selling put the Olympia (adding more dates!), and PJ reveals the HILARIOUS title for a youth group musical he was in ! @imgrandmam on Instagram

Meet ‘Indiana Bones’, who is also known as Indy and was recently named Ireland’s Top Agility Dog for the fourth year in a row, and is set to represent the country at Crufts next month!! Not only that but she is a little silver screen superstar starring in several production including movies starring Barry Keoghan and Colm Meaney and more. Alison on Weekend Breakfast spoke to Laura Murphy aka The waggy Mama and we literally spoke to Indy too! Her back story is a Hollywood movie in itself - she was dumped in a shopping bag as a pup. Follow them @thewaggymama on Instagram and waggymamasagility.com

Luke Owens is Dad to Snooker's latest super snooker prodigy...He is the world’s youngest snooker player and he's just turned 3 years old! Luke and Jude joined Alison on Weekend Breakfast to chat about his TWO Guinness World Records! And Luke and Jude have Cork roots - Grandad left Cork to move to Manchester! What is even crazier is he performed the tricks at two years of age. Dad tells Alison the pride he feels and awe at what skills Jude is showing at such a young age but he also tells her that his welfare is the MOST important thing and when he got offered a life changing offer of America's Got Talent he turned it down. Jude has clocked up close to 60k followers across his socials @ judey147 - Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube

Hannah is the owner of Réaltaí Readings - a tarot reader, reiki master, reflexologist and massage therapist based in Dublin. As a young tarot reader – SHE IS ONLY 25. She works at many events from pottery painting, hotel openings, fashion events, etc. Also - baby showers, cafés, hens, birthdays, girls night in and festivals – like All Together Now, Electric Picnic, Beyond the pale, Another love story and this year- Wellfest! Hannah has also featured on Ireland AM - she demystifies Tarot and explains why so many millennials are turning to it. @realtaireadings on socials

One of our favourite people in the world Adam Kinga and his dad David popped in to say hello and chat about the brand new series of Adam's brilliant animated show Adam Loves Adventure! (and it's awesome intro tune!) Adam also fills us in on his busy busy schedule - his charity book Farren’s Adventure, debating wins, tennis, and a big 20-year anniversary dance show in Cork Opera House! Adam Loves Adventure is a science-fiction adventure comedy for pre-schoolers starring The Late Late Toy Show’s Adam King. Adam’s character is a problem-solving space-explorer whose prime-directive is to explore the galaxy, using his big heart and space smarts to make new friends and learn new things! Adam Loves Adventure is back on Saturday February 14th on RTÉ2 and RTE Junior--- and the full series will available will be on RTÉ Player

Sophie Bell from Cavan and Carina Roseingrave from Burren View Farm in Clare join Alison on Weekend Breakfast to discuss the premiere of their new documentary, and theatre experience "Voices of Irish Farmers," as part of the Scene and Heard Festival. February 15th at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin, this event promises an afternoon filled with heartwarming stories from Irish farmers, live music, and delicious tastings. Both share their farming lives online (one video fixing a Tractor Tire got 30 million views!!) Both share their insights on the realities of farming life, the passion that drives them, and the importance of showcasing the hard work behind Ireland’s food production. SOCIALS: SOPHIE: @sophie_bell__ CARINA : @burrenviewfarm

"I was in the kitchen... the glamour!" John Kelly tells Alison on Weekend Breakfast where he was when he heard his incredible little movie 'Retirement Plan' was nominated for an Academy Award. The self-effacing (and lovely bloke) is a Director from Dublin who has made an animated short that feels like a full movie in seven minutes. The story follows the character Ray, who is dissatisfied with life, and dreams of everything he’ll be able to do in retirement, once he finally has the time! The film is narrated by Domhnall Gleeson. Follow John on Insta @johjnkelly_jnr It is a fantastic piece of work. You can watch it now on Disney + and RTE Player.

***SPOILER ALERT*** What a final. Rachel Duffy is the pride of Newry. She rode her luck and used her smarts ... FBI anyone!! And took it all the way to the final. Her younger brother Neil is bursting with pride .. and feeling a little emotional after a night watching his older sister appear on one of telly's biggest shows. He told us what it was like as the entire family and half the town gathered for a watch-along in the local hotel. Ciara is Rachel's bestie and cousin and was as tense as the rest of us watching those final moments!

The second most capped female Republic of Ireland international of all time chatted to Alison on Weekend Breakfast about her recent record breaking move to the WSL and a club she holds close to her heart. She talks about her love of Cork and her native Knocknaheeny, getting into football from an early age (youngest of 10) and her advice for young girls getting into sport and much more!

January is a great time to book - there's a bigger choice than ever, you can give yourself the time to spread payments, and there is nothing better than enjoying the anticipation! Weekend Breakfast welcomes our holiday guru Pól Ó Conghaile - Travel Editor from The Irish Independent - he tells us all about the brand new routes for this year, some fantastic alternatives to the usual spots and some stay at home options! Follow Pol here https://www.instagram.com/poloconghaile/?hl=en#

Russell Alford and Patrick Hanlon better known as The Gastro Gays - FOOD TREND PREDICTIONS FOR 2026 – from the revival of the gourmet chip to pub grub glow ups! The Gastro Gays are food and travel writers Russell Alford & Patrick Hanlon. They are restaurant critics for The Sunday Times Ireland,– they regularly create online content - share recipes online, restaurant recommendations, city guides for travelling around Europe, dog friendly accommodation, cosy cabins around Ireland AND MORE!! Follow them here Official website: gastrogays.com and @GastroGays on INSTA