Lunchtime Live

Christmas is only ten days away! Lunchtime Live is going to be highlighting some great Irish businesses that you can support this festive season.One of the most important aspects of Christmas has to be dinner - so why not line the table with products from Irish brands?Joining Andrea to discuss is Caterer Sally-Ann, Aisling Kelly Hunter from the Silgo Oyster Experience, Vicki Baird, ‘Bosslady’ of Stillgarden Distillery and John Hempenstall, Founder of Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet and Newstalk’s Rory Galvin join Andrea to review ‘Lines of Enquiry’.Image: GoLoud

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, writer, performer and escort activist Kate McGrew  joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

It’s a sad day for Daniel O’Donnell fans as he’s announced the end of his long running fan club.Daniel joins Andrea to discuss why…

The long-awaited World Darts Championship kicked off last night in the infamous Alexandra Palace, with Luke Littler beginning the defense of his title with a win.Darts has long been a bone of contention in the debate around what constitutes a sport, with some claiming it’s just a pub game, but what do you think? Is it a sport?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sports Journalist Conan Doherty, Comedian Jim Elliott, Richie Walsh from  501 Darts supply store in Trim and listeners.

Do you let your dog lick your face? For some, it’s a simple way to bond with your pet, for others, it’s completely disgusting, and out of the question!Joining Andrea to discuss is dog lover and Journalist Andrea Smith, Laoise Downes, Owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woofs, a bespoke dog service and Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Under recommendations from the Department of Transport, roadside memorials to crash victims will be banned.Pre-existing memorials will not be automatically removed, but tributes will no longer be allowed on motorways, dual carriageways, regional or local roads with a speed limit of over 60 kilometers an hour.The move has sparked criticism from families who have lost loved ones on Irish roads, and road crash victims' groups.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Sean Canney. Minister of State for Transport & Independent TD for Galway East, Susan Grey of PARK Road Safety Advocacy Group and listeners.

Around Christmastime, the odds are you will be hosting friends and family for a few days. So, how do you squeeze more people in without making a mess of the place, and what should you bring if you’re a guest?Well, the Home Squad are here to discuss hosting Christmas!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Sarah Carroll (@sand.and.deliver on Instagram).

Yesterday on the show we spoke about the UK’s efforts to extend bereavement leave after the loss of a family member…It spoke to a lot of people, and a huge amount reached out to share their own stories.One of those was Peter Shelly, and she joins Andrea to discuss.

The Olympics of food is coming to Ireland next February when the Michelin Awards hit our shores - but is enough fuss being made out of it?Joining Andrea to discuss is Food Writer, Corinna Hardgrave, Michelin-starred Chef JP McMahon and Jacinta Dalton, Head of Culinary Arts in ATU Galway.

Are babysitters becoming a thing of the past? Are parents too precious, or are they too costly?Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist Niamh O’Reilly, Katie Makk from the ‘Opinions Matter’ Podcast and listeners.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through The Cranberries album ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?’.

In September, Irish businessman Paul Anthony Walsh was shocked to find that thousands had been stolen from his Revolut account.He has now been told by Revolut that he is not entitled to a reimbursement.He joins Andrea to discuss what exactly happened. Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk and Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent, Sinead Ryan also joins to discuss how to avoid these types of scams.

Should terms like ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ be reserved for real meat?EU Countries and lawmakers are meeting today to decide whether plant based foods should be allowed to call their products burgers.What do you think?Joining Andrea to discuss is Denis Drennan, Farmer and President of the Irish Creamery Association, as well as listeners.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

The UK Labour Party’s Workers’ Rights Bill may allow for grief leave after the death of a distant family relative.This begs the question, is Ireland’s grief and compassion leave adequate, or does more need to be done?Joining Andrea to discuss is Kathie Stritch from Grief Ireland, as well as listeners.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss perinatal mental health, and how to look after your own.

The Department of Housing has now deleted the controversial video giving tips for young people on how to move back in with their parents during the ongoing housing crisis…The video garnered widespread backlash from both the public and the opposition, with Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty describing it as a “two-fingered salute” to an entire generation.Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Motty Varghese, Sleep Physiologist and Behavioural Sleep Therapist at the Sleep Therapy Clinic in Dublin to answer any of your sleep-related questions!

Paramount Pictures has launched a rival bid for Warner Bros Discovery.They are attempting a hostile takeover after the company had already agreed to a buyout with streaming giant Netflix…The Warner Brothers deal would give Netflix control of the studio behind franchises including Harry Potter, Batman and Superman, as well as HBO, home to shows including Game of Thrones, The White Lotus and Succession.There are concerns that combining Warner’s HBO Max streaming service with Netflix could put the company over the 30% market share threshold in the US.But, how will it directly affect you as a consumer?Joining Andrea to discuss is host of the ‘For Techs Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke and Entertainment Journalist and host of the ‘Screenland’ podcast, Brian Lloyd.

The giving season is fast approaching and, on top of your families and friends, you may be purchasing a present for the teachers in your life too.Has the Christmas time token gotten too much for parents?Andrea is joined by Jen Hogan, Journalist and Columnist with the Irish Times, as well as listeners, to discuss.

For many retail staff around the country, Stephen’s Day is just another workday.Is this necessary or excessive? Can the post-Christmas sales wait?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

It's How I live well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life...This week Andrea is joined by John Belton, Head Coach and owner of No.17 PT to discuss building physical strength through a simple push-up!

Storm Bram is sweeping across the country today with warnings being upgraded. The public have been advised to be “very careful”.Joining Andrea to give the latest updates is Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with the DAA, Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail. Listeners also join to give their experiences so far…

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined guest host Anna Daly to tackle your medical queries.

The build up to Christmas is well and truly on, and the invites to get togethers are probably flooding in!So, how do we make it to the 25th without feeling well and truly burnt out, and how do you say no to plans?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly.

‘Derry Girls’ and ‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan has spoken out against the “immense violation” of her privacy after seeing photos of herself on early dates with her partner.A new interview revealed that Coughlan finds it overwhelming to receive this level of scrutiny of her personal life from her fans and the media.This begs the question, do celebrities ‘owe’ you insight into their life, and do we really need paparazzi shots?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster and Entertainment Journalist, Fashion Expert and Journalist Laura Mullett, Saoirse Hanley, Features Writer at the Independent, Ian O’Doherty, Irish Independent Columnist and more.

We’re officially in the run up to Christmas!For the next few weeks, Lunchtime Live is going to be highlighting some great Irish businesses that you can support this festive season.Let's be honest, we sometimes have too much stuff - have you ever thought about giving an experience?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Atlantic Flight Training Academy's Captain Philip Smythe, Food writer and chef from Picado Mexican, Lily Ramirez-Foran, CEO & Founder of The Paddy Box Mark Loftus, owner of The Treasure Vox Karen Tomkins and from Howth Adventures, Aileen Turvey.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Tom Douglas from the Newstalk Newsroom and Native Editor of DMG Media Sarah Jayne Tobin join guest host Anna Daly to review ‘Deep Water’!Image: Tortoise Media

Should restaurants serve smaller portion sizes to women because they need less calories?According to the head of the UK Government’s obesity programme, menus should be adapted to include smaller versions of meals that contain fewer calories, as part of an effort to drive down obesity rates.What do you think?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow, Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE Clinical Lead for Obesity and listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Magician and Mind Reader Jamie Skelton joins Andrea to answer any of your magic questions!

This festive season, one of Ireland’s leading skin experts Eavanna Breen says needles aren’t necessary to achieve the perfect glow…She joins Andrea to discuss!

The President of the GAA has warned that we could start to lose communities if something is not done to stop people leaving rural communities.As young people leave their towns for cities, falling numbers have placed their clubs at risk of extinction.While in cities there are not enough clubs and facilities to cater for a burgeoning population…So, is the GAA becoming another victim of Dublin-centric Ireland?Joining Andrea to discuss this is President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns, Gareth Coil, Demographics Officer with Monaghan GAA, Conor O'Donoghue, National GAA Development CCC Chairperson & Meath GAA Football Development Committee Chairperson and more.

Dublin’s arts scene has been dealt another blow, as The Complex in Smithfield announces its closure this January.More than 30 artists face eviction after a planned deal to secure the site collapsed due to missing Government funding.The loss of the much-loved venue adds to growing concern over the shrinking number of cultural spaces in the city…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Vanessa Fielding, CEO & Artistic Director of The Complex, George Hooker, artist at The Complex and Dr Anthony Haughey, Artist and Lecturer at TUD Dublin and Chair of Five Stations Artist Studio Board.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Taxi Drivers Ireland are escalating their action next week with a planned 6-day protest from Monday to Saturday.The protests will majorly disrupt Dublin City Centre and the area around Dublin Airport, as well as Cork and Galway.What implications will this have for those moving around these cities next week?Andrea is joined by taxi drivers and listeners to discuss.

Gift vouchers are often given as a present when we can’t think of what to get someone. Last Christmas, over 60% of people received one.However, over 20% of us have still not used our gift vouchers from last year!The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is now advising us to consider giving cash instead…So, do you use yours?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

When you’re renovating or building a home, there are certain things that make a big impact which you might not realise…The Home Squad are here to discuss ceilings and mouldings!Joining Andrea to discuss is Sarah Carroll (@sand.and.deliver on Instagram) and Founder and Creative Director of Arlene McIntyre Design, Arlene McIntyre.

The CSO’s Longitudinal Growing Up in Ireland survey has revealed that two in three 18 to 34-year-olds still live in their family home, often not by choice.What impact does this have on family dynamics, and on the parents who essentially have adult lodgers in their home?Joining Andrea to discuss is Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly, Newstalk’s Niamh Dunne, as well as listeners.

Organ donation and transplantation save lives. It’s nearly six months since the Human Tissue Act came into effect on June 17, stating that if you are aged 18 or over, and you don’t specify otherwise, you will be considered a potential organ donor.But, what happens if, in a final act of altruism, a person wishes to go one step further and give their body to science following death?Joining Andrea to discuss is Danielle Barron, Health & Medical Journalist and Grace Vaughan, whose mother donated her body to science…

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…Image: Disney

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss what is available to you in the public system.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through some of Rory Gallagher’s best live performances!

A new RCSI study of over 4,000 Irish teenagers has found that heavy social media use, body dissatisfaction, and sexting are strongly linked to poorer mental health, especially among girls.The findings raise important concerns about how digital life is affecting young people today.How do you talk to your child about this, and the sharing of explicit images?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Developmental Therapist & Founder of COGNI Kids, Mick Moran, CEO The Irish Internet Hotline and listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Mary Bishop, Head of Education at Grow it Yourself to answer any of your vegetable-growing questions!

Are you the type of person to not spend an unnecessary cent? Or, do you shop at every possible opportunity? There can be a fight for the money in your pocket: so, should you be a spender or a saver (or somewhere in between)?Joining Andrea to discuss is John Lowe from MoneyDoctors.ie, as well as listeners.

As the days are getting colder, we should all spare a thought for those among us that don’t have a roof over their heads on these cold nights.There are over 16,000 people living homeless in Ireland at the moment…So, how tough is it to get out of it?Andrea is joined by Marie, who has her own experience of it…

The publicly funded IVF scheme has been running for almost two years. Like any scheme, there’s criteria. You cannot avail of free IVF if you are in a same-sex couple, and you also cannot avail of the scheme if you’re a single person, or if you need to use donor sperm or a donor egg.It turns out a lot of people are excluded - is this fair?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

It's How I live well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life...This week Andrea is joined by Dr. Mary Ryan, Endocrinologist and author of ‘It’s Probably Your Hormones’ to discuss how hormones can affect our mood.