‘You're winding me up' says Ireland AM star as Tommy Bowe leaves co-hosts fuming during housing discussion
IRELAND AM star Tommy Bowe left his shocked co-hosts fuming during a heated discussion on air.
The Virgin Media star and his co-hosts
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Muireann, Tommy and Alan spoke about housing issues in Ireland
Credit: VMTV
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Muireann and Alan challenged Tommy's opinion on air
Credit: VMTV
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Tommy argued with Muireann and Alan
Credit: VMTV
While reading out the daily paper headlines, the three presenters spoke about housing issues in Ireland.
It was revealed this week that the average rent nationwide in the first quarter of 2025 was €2,053 a month, according to the latest Rental Report published by Daft.ie.
This means that Ireland has seen one of the largest three-month increases in two decades.
Speaking about this matter, Alan said: "You just find it hard to believe that we we talk about this all the time and you go, 'No it can't get it can't get higher, it can't get higher', and then it just does."
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Reading out a viewer's message, Tommy added: "I mean Patrick's saying the root cause of high cost of rent and prices is all down to one thing - greed. And to be fair when the demand is there the prices are going to go up..."
Muireann attempted to interrupt Tommy to give her two cents, but the former rugby player didn't stop talking.
He said: "But at the same time, landlords don't have to be looking, you know, pushing prices up price. There could be a bit of goodwill out there but because the demand is there."
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Muireann, who had tried to butt into the conversation multiple times, finally got a word in as she responded to Tommy saying: "You talk about building houses. It's all well and good building houses but if all those houses go up on Airbnb what's the point? It's not servicing the people."
Ireland AM stars confront TD on air
Tommy and Alan both in unison said they're not "all" doing that.
Muireann got passionate as she replied: "But they are! Lads, on my road there's places where nurses used to live in like four houses. They're all Airbnbs now."
Tommy challenged her saying: "But again, that's all demand Muireann."
Muireann stuck to her guns and added: "It's not demand."
Tommy replied: "They're not empty."
DIVIDED STARS
The Limerick native said: "Well no, they're not but they're servicing tourists because they're making way more money rather than the nurses who have this tiny pot to pay for rent and they're going, 'Whatever'."
Tommy didn't budge on his opinion and said: "If they build more houses they'll be able to house the nurses and house the tourists."
Muireann disagreed and said: "Not if they go on Airbnb. I don't think so."
Alan then read out a viewer's message that spoke about how students living in Galway are paying high rents but are still told to go home on the weekends so that that the landlord can "rent to tourists".
'ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING'
The Ballyfermot native said: "I can't see how anybody's getting away with this. That is absolutely shocking.
"I would love to know the people the landlords who are doing that they should be named and shamed. they should be regulations. That is absolutely disgraceful."
Tommy remarked: "The students are probably going home on the weekend, the house is empty?"
Alan and Muireann looked unimpressed with Tommy's justification of the situation.
Tommy laughed and said: "Oh the look on the two of you."
The three hosts then swiftly moved on from the topic. However, the issue was brought up a second time during a segment later on in the show - and this time Tommy left his co-hosts completely speechless.
'DISGRACEFUL'
After reading out another viewer's message about her daughter renting in Galway who also is told to leave her accommodation on Friday until Sunday evening, Tommy said: "It's crazy but at the same time there are people renting it.
"Like there's no hotel rooms so where are the tourists meant to go?"
Alan was completely taken back and said: "Tommy you're asking these people to leave their rooms!"
Tommy replied: "I'm not asking. They are doing it."
Alan said: "These people should be called out. That is absolutely disgraceful."
Muireann told Tommy that she knows he wants to "wind her up".
Tommy further annoyed his co-hosts when he pointed out that there's a "demand" for tourism accommodation.
He added: "I'm not saying I agree with it. I'm just saying that there is a shortage of places for tourists to stay."
Alan and Muireann shouted at him saying "so", and asked him why he cares more about "tourists more than students".
The two shocked stars kept going back and forth with Tommy but couldn't come to an agreement.
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Alan was taken back by Tommy's opinion
Credit: VMTV
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