Driver's Republic Podcast

Mark Noble and Paddy Comyn

Driver's Republic Podcast covers all the latest motoring news from Ireland and beyond. New models, international car launches and all you need to know about the fast changing world of cars and mobility.

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22 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 7 min
English

Episodes 22

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S4 · E17
September 11 · 1 hr 17 min
Paddy's Ami long-termer, VW's new ID. Polo & OHME charger advice!
Paddy has been cruising around his town in a Citroen Ami, Mark has been on tour with Skoda Epiq, Peaq and the VW ID. Polo and we talk to OHME chargers about their benefits if you're looking for a home charger for your new EV! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E16
August 21 · 1 hr 2 min
Joyriding, how AI is selling cars & future classics?
Eskimo is software that pulls online enquiries straight from listing sites into one system so sales teams can act on them properly. We speak to CEO Conor Moran on how the platform is changing the way car dealers in Ireland can do business. After the horrific M9 road accident, we talk about what can be soon quickly and what needs further explanation. And with future classic cars seemingly becoming less and less of a thing due to EVs and highly modern systems in everyday cars, we discuss what cars currently or recently on sale in 2026 could someday become a desirable set of wheels to own! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E15
August 12 · 53 min
We need to talk about motorcycle safety in Ireland...
This week we're joined by Dave Humphreys who is not only one of Ireland's busiest motoring journalists but a seasoned motorcyclist who has been lucky enough to ride a lot of two wheeled things in his career! He has been trained in advanced riding and is here to chat about being on the road from the perspective of a motorcyclist but also as a car driver. Mark has recently progressed through the Initial Bike Training (IBT) scheme which is mandatory in Ireland and is regulated by the RSA and gives his perspective on how he found the training as someone who until just a few weeks ago, had never ridden motorcycles. Paddy asks the important questions and tries to uncover some of the issues that both motorcyclist and motorists need to be aware of during yet another particularly tragic spell on Irish roads. Please be considerate to motorcyclists on the roads and remember, particularly when pulling out of junctions in your car, look right, look left and look right again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E14
July 14 · 46 min
Goodwood '26, 1300km range Passat, charger etiquette
Mark is just back from Goodwood and fills us in. Paddy thinks we're at crisis point when it comes to new EV sales versus public charger roll out. And we're testing the new diesel Passat this week, is it a case of careful what we wish for when it comes to killing most diesel cars?! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E13
July 2 · 56 min
New BMW X5, EV grants sold out & VW Golf GTI Edition 50
No surprises, the additional EV grant sold out within a couple of hours of going live on July 1st - will it come back in 2027? Mark has seen the new BMW X5 and not everybody is a fan. Just how good is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50? Plus the other car bits and news relevant to Ireland this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E12
June 22 · 27 min
Minister For Transport Darragh O'Brien interview
We went straight to the top to get all the latest details on the new fully electric vehicle grants from the man who has been charged with spearheading it - Minister For Transport, Darragh O'Brien. Why 13 years? Why not used EVs? Will the grants continue into 2027? We ask all the relevant questions! Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E11
June 12 · 1 hr 12 min
Driver theory tests & which EV with new grants?
Mark has decided to see how hard it is to pass a driver theory test 20 year+ after he last did his driving test. Paddy has more cars that should be on your radar if you're considering the new €8,500 grants. Is the Tesla Model 3 standard THE one to buy in 2026? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E10
June 3 · 1 hr 17 min
€8,500 new EV grant explained
With new EV grants announced earlier today, Paddy takes us through what it means for motorists. We've also test driven the new Cupra Raval, Honda Prelude and even been to Slane Castle to check out the new Jeep Compass. Ian Tolan from Honda Ireland and Mark McGrath from Cupra Ireland are our special guests this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E9
May 20 · 55 min
Drink driving still a problem & the Skoda Epiq has landed!
We discuss lots on this one! Paddy has been crunching the numbers when it comes to drink driving breath tests and the numbers are well... sobering. Skoda have finally released the Epiq with prices detailed in this episode. Honda get a new Irish brand ambassador and Mark is having another mid life crisis! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E8
April 30 · 1 hr 11 min
VW boss Thomas Schäfer exclusive interview!
We also talk Beijing 2026 and ID.Polo shock prices
S4 · E7
April 11 · 1 hr 19 min
Fuel protests and a rake of new car launches!
We're back after a little break and we have a LOT to catch up on including the new Mercedes GLB, Skoda Peaq, Kia PV5 and the True Volkswagen presentation in Hamburg. Why Mark is a little nervous ahead of his first trip to China with BYD! And Paddy gives us an insight of living close by to the only oil refinery plant on the island on a week that has seen one of the largest protests ever by the Irish people. In association with DoneDeal cars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E6
February 28 · 52 min
Irish car launches, new Mazda CX-5 driven, SIMI awards & car chats!
A busy one for car launches this week with MG S6, BYD Seal, Polestar 5 and the dynamic drive in Spain of the new Mazda CX-5 which Mark travelled to. Just who is behind the "Mind The Gap" voice on trains in Ireland? Paddy caught up with Zac Hollis from Polestar at their new showroom in Dublin. How was the steak at the annual SIMI dinner in Dublin and who won what? And on a week where DoneDeal Cars launched an integrated Chat GPT app, Paddy caught up with some of the people behind it. Brought to you by DoneDeal Cars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E5
February 14 · 1 hr 17 min
How to navigate the financial aspect of buying a car!
Kia PV5 Irish launch, VW's ID. Promise discussed
S4 · E4
February 1 · 1 hr 6 min
Golf GTI Edition 50 & the coolest Suzuki Jimnys in Ireland!
Lots of new cars on the pods this week, Skoda Fabia 130, Golf GTI Edition 50, Volvo ES and the XPeng G6 facelift. Matthew Caffrey from the long established Gerry Caffrey Motors in Terenure in Dublin joins us to chat about the key to their family being in business for so long and explains how he is bringing the well known dealership into new territory with The Jimny Motor Co. Volkswagen Ireland have hosted their annual 'Drive' event in Dublin with key staff members on hand to chat to the Irish media as they unveil all the new models coming to Ireland in 2026. We also sit down with Skoda Ireland boss John Donegan to get an insight into what has made Skoda so successful in Ireland. Brought to you by DoneDeal Cars - There’s a new way to buy with confidence — free history checks, now included on cars from Trusted Dealers. So you can feel reassured you’re making a good choice. Because buying a car should feel this good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E3
January 16 · 1 hr 22 min
New Kia EV2 launch, Tesla Model Y 'standard' and CEO of Fuels For Ireland chats
Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels For Ireland is our guest this week. He talks about how much fuel Ireland has before we run out, why prices work the way they do and if there's anything we can do about it. Mark has been to the launch of Kia's EV2 in Belgium and tells us what he thought Paddy tells us about the search history of Ireland's car buyers as we look back on another positive year of EV growth Kieran Campbell from Tesla Ireland talks us through the most affordable Model Y yet - the 'standard'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E2
Dec 28, 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
Christmas 2025 extended episode!
Kia have launched the EV5 and their Irish MD Ronan Flood brings us through a record year for Kia in Ireland. Paddy wants to ask Mark a few things about Christmas FM, including why a particular song is high up on the playlist!! The lads chat to Dr. Becky Spelman, an esteemed HCPC-registered psychologist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate with over two decades of experience about how music, our mood and many other factors that can determine how safely we can operate a car. What are some of the new models coming to Ireland in 2026 that we should be ready for? Take us on your next Christmas break walk with us and we guarantee you'll get your 10,000 steps in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S4 · E1
Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
Chinese EVs surge in Ireland, BMW iX3 expert chats and Nobby buys a classic!
Nils Hesse, BMW's Vice President for Product Sustainability chats to us at the K-Club for the recent Irish launch of the BMW iX3. Paddy has lots of interesting stats when it comes to new EV sales in Ireland, in particular how most of the fastest growing sales are coming from Chinese brands in 2025. Nobby has finally sourced a classic car for himself and reveals the story behind his latest motoring purchase. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 · E8
Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Kia's Irish EV4 launch, Skoda's surprise & Salou sunshine!
Paddy has been range testing the Leapmotor T03 and isn't sure if the tyres are up to the job! Skoda Ireland get a little hot and bothered with a limited Fabia model. Mark has been tyre kicking some Audi Quattros, Clio V6s and Peugeot 205 GTIs in sunny Spain. And we discuss the problem of blocking EV charging spaces. That and lots more on the last episode in the current series! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 · E7
Oct 17, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
New LEAF driven, Toyota launch 4 new Irish cars & VW Group boss chats
It's a busy one this week! Paddy has been shoving his mic into faces again, chatting to Aidan Timmons from Toyota Ireland about 4 new models for Ireland and he also sits down with the gaffer at VW Group Ireland, Pierre Boutin who is responsible for all of the VW brands in the country from Audi to Cupra. Mark has been to Copenhagen to try the Carlsberg (and drive the new Nissan LEAF)! We chat about the new Leapmotor C10 and T03 Irish launch at Mount Juliet. And with new speed limits on the cards for rural Ireland, we discuss if they are the solution to driver behaviour on our roads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#7
Oct 10, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Paddy's eUp woes, Budget '26 for motorists & lukewarm Honda S2000?
This week, Paddy's loveable eUp has caused him some issues - find out more inside. With Budget '26 announced, we look at what is in it for motorists and just how much money do the Irish government take on every litre of fuel that you put into your vehicle. Mark has said goodbye to his Porsche 911 but a look at what might have been his next car didn't quite live up to his expectations. We also announce the Irish prices for the new Nissan Micra with fresh reaction from the lads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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