Lunchtime Live

A new survey about the Government's hot school meals programme has found that three-quarters of respondents reported their children do not enjoy the variety of food. The survey commissioned by Fine Gael, found that parents were very critical of how the food is presented and feel that a cold lunch alternative should be given.  We want to know, what do you think? Are these hot school meals fit for purpose or should they be completely changed?  

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Director and author Neil Jordan, who has directed films such as Michael Collins, Interview with a Vampire, The Crying Game and more joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Sun, sea and… Cheltenham?Why are so many people flocking to sunnier climates to watch the Cheltenham races?Joining Andrea to discuss is Johnny Ward from Off the Ball’s Racing Pod, Zoe Harris, Chief Customer Officer at On the Beach and listeners.

Many families will be sitting down to watch some telly over the weekend and Louis Theroux’s new documentary ‘Inside The Manosphere’ is essential viewing.It raises questions around misogyny, toxic masculinity and will leave parents wondering what can be done to protect their sons and daughters…Joining Andrea to discuss is Irish Times Columnist and Mother of 7, Jen Hogan, Family Psychotherapist, Dr Richard Hogan, Dannielle McKenna, Project Manager of Rialto Youth Project and more.

All week we’ve been discussing different aspects of living with ADHD as an adult, from getting a diagnosis, parenting with ADHD and navigating relationships. Today, we’re looking at how we as a society can make things better…Joining Andrea to discuss is Fiona Meehan, Principal at Beaumont BNS in Mahon, Jon Slattery from Trilogy Media and Ken Kilbride, CEO of ADHD Ireland.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

More than 8,600 homes were advertised as short-term lets nationwide in March, compared with just 2,100 listed for private rent on Daft.ie.The figures, from housing charity Threshold, highlight growing pressure in the rental market and have prompted calls for the Government to enforce new short-term letting rules later this year.But it also raises a question: while many people are frustrated by the shortage of rental homes, do we also contribute to the problem when we book short-term accommodation ourselves when travelling?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

We might be all chat about Jessie Buckley today, but it’s not Kerry’s first brush with Hollywood!Freelance journalist Édaein O' Connell and Newstalk’s resident Kerry man Josh Crosbie join Andrea to discuss some of the movies that have been filmed in the Kingdom.

While it may be Jessie Buckley fever in her hometown of Killarney today, the last minute preparations for stylists and design teams in LA are also in full swing.So, what can we expect to see Jessie Buckley in for the Oscars ceremony, and could she wear something from an Irish designer?Designer Don O’Neill, who dressed stars including Oprah for the Academy Awards, and Stylist Corina Gaffey join to discuss.

Killarney attracts huge tourist numbers every year, and one of the big attractions is the Jaunting cars. Andrea wanted to see what all the fuss was about, and puts her feet up to see Killarney in style! Calvin Tangney from Killarney Jaunting Cars joins Andrea!

Not only is it buzzing down here ahead of the Oscars, the Killarney St Patrick’s Festival kicks off this weekend too!Andrea is joined by father and son craic merchants, Derry and Tadhg Fleming, who are judging this year’s parade.

Parenthood can be a challenge at the best of times, but how do you navigate the hurdles if you have ADHD?Joining Andrea to discuss is Karen Beckett, Parent doing research on parenting and ADHD in DCU and David Condon, expert in ADHD in children who runs a parenting workshop for kids with ADHD.

Not only is it the home county of Jessie Buckley - Kerry is a tourist destination for many, but how is the summer season shaping up? And, how are things looking for St Patrick’s Day?Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie has been investigating, and joins Andrea to discuss.

It’s an exciting weekend ahead with Oscar fever hitting Kerry as Jessie Buckley is up for Best Actress award!Andrea is broadcasting from Buckley’s Bar in the Arbutus Hotel in Killarney today and is joined by Sean and Carol Buckley, Brendan Fuller and Fiona Crowley to share in the excitement ahead of the awards!

When you are in a relationship with someone, what can the challenges be if your partner or yourself has ADHD? And, how can you overcome them?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Jessica McKnight, Senior Counselling Psychologist.

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 guest host Anna Daly in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Should grandparents be paid for minding their grandchildren?A study in the UK has found that 70% of grandparents want to provide some economic support for their children through babysitting grandkids.So, should the favour be returned?Joining Andrea to discuss is Katie Makk, Broadcaster and host of the Opinions Matter podcast, Broadcaster Claire Ronan and more.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by an expert 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, Andrea is joined by Aoife Kenny, NMH Clinical Midwife Specialist in Lactation to discuss the common challenges around breastfeeding, and how to navigate them.

The Oscars are this Sunday, and to mark Jessie Buckley’s nomination (and hopefully her big win) we will be broadcasting from Buckley’s Bar in Killarney tomorrow!Newstalk’s own Henry McKean caught up with Jessie Buckley's parents, who are flying out from Dublin Airport with Aer Lingus this afternoon…

Does bad weather put you off doing things? Or do you ignore what the weather app says on your phone and make plans regardless of the weather forecast?Former Met Éireann Meteorologist and Forecaster Evelyn Cusack joins Andrea, as well as Journalist with Irish Independent Kirsty Blake Knox, to discuss.

An Irish woman whose boss repeatedly shouted abuse at her in a “strong Irish accent” has been awarded more than £23,000 after an employment tribunal found she had been racially harassed.The Irish Government estimates that around 70 million people of Irish heritage live outside Ireland. From quips in movies and tv shows, to profiling at work, this seems to be happening everywhere.Have you ever had an experience about negative Irish stereotypes, particularly abroad?Andrea is joined by Irish people living abroad to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Botanist Pat Keville from Plant Store to answer any of your questions about indoor plants!

Whether you’re a bride to be or a bridesmaid, you’ll know that a huge amount of planning goes into a hen weekend...Travel content creator and bride-to-be Éadaoin Fitzmaurice has said she wants to be hands on. So, is it the right way to go?Éadaoin joins Andrea, as well as Sandra Scharlach from Infusion Weddings, to discuss.

What are the pros and cons of giving your children their inheritance before you die? Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and Presenter of The Home Show joins Andrea to discuss…Also joining to discuss is James Sexton of the National End Discrimination and Inheritance Tax Campaign Group, as well as listeners.

Research suggests that there may be an underdiagnosis of ADHD in women, but why?Dr Sarah Carty from ADHDDoc joins Andrea along with Nessa Hill, a Barrister and CEO of Neurodiversity Ireland, who herself has ADHD, to discuss.

It's How I live well time! Andrea will be joined by experts to discuss ways you can improve your life…This week, Andrea is joined by Behavioural Change Specialist, Dr Heather McKee, who is working on an initiative with Irish Life, to discuss maintaining and checking on healthy habits!

A report for Transport Infrastructure Ireland has revealed that the toll for the Port Tunnel could rise to €17 at peak times after the traffic growth was described as “unsustainable”.Do you use the tunnel? Would this stop you using it if the toll is that high?Joining Andrea to discuss is Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor of the Sunday Independent, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín and listeners.

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

Do you ever regret what you called your child? Apparently 1 in 5 people do!Arlene Costello is one of them, so she made the decision to change it.She joins Andrea, as well as SJ Strumm, Baby-Naming Consultant and author of ’Baby Name Envy’ to discuss.

Housing Minister James Browne has suggested that the Government is set to liberalise rules around one-off housing, making it easier for people to build in rural Ireland…So, is this a good idea?Joining Andrea to discuss is Elaine Houlihan, former Macra na Feirme President, Astrid Madsen, Editor of Self Build Magazine, Architect Róisín Murphy and more.

A growing number of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s are realising they are neurodivergent. All this week, we’ll be looking at different aspects of living with ADHD as an adult.To kick off the week, we’re discussing how the testing and diagnosing process works.Dr. Ailish Kenny from ADHDdoc and Ken Kilbride, CEO of ADHD Ireland join Andrea to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Journalist and Stylist Laura Mullett and 98fm Producer Russell Alford join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Hanging Out with Ant & Dec’!Image: Belta Box

Last week, we spoke about rising oil and petrol costs due to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region.This morning, oil prices have surged over 15% and are now on track for a record daily jump…So, what impact will this have amidst the cost of living crisis?Andrea is joined by Shane O’Donoghue, Editor of completecar.ie, as well as listeners, to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Skydiving Instructor Coleman Brouder joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Are butter boards going to be the new cheeseboards?Cheese has long been on the shopping list for tourists keen to taste the local cuisine during their visits to France, but it seems that luxury butter is now top of the shopping lists.Russell Alford from Gastrogays joins Andrea to discuss!

A warning that the next item references sensitive topics that some listeners may find upsetting including domestic violence, coercive control and suicide.This week here on Lunchtime Live we’ve been discussing barring orders, protection orders and safety orders – the rulings available to victims of domestic violence here in Ireland. On Tuesday, we spoke to Donna, who bravely talked about her experience in trying to obtain a safety order against her former partner.Donna never obtained her safety order. Yesterday we spoke to SiSi, an organisation which supports women who are survivors of intimate partner abuse about whether these orders are fit for purpose, but to get a better sense of how they’re given out, and why in some cases they aren’t, we sent Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden down to the family courts to observe the system as it works.Sarah joins Andrea to discuss what she found.

Sunday the 8th of March is International Women’s Day.To mark it, we will be speaking to women who work in trades, a typically male field, about their work.Joining Andrea to discuss Lisa Dooley, Chartered Quantity Surveyor for Ormonde Construction, Shauna Doyle (@the_tarmacing_mammy on Instagram) and Apprentice Plumber Emma Louise Crimmins with Gas Networks Ireland.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

This morning Anton spoke to Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh on the party’s tabling of a new bill to protect fadas used in Irish names and addresses.Do you have a fada in your name, and is it frustrating to see it left out?Joining Andrea to discuss is Seamus O’Reilly, author and Columnist, Caitríona Redmond, Irish Examiner Columnist, Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and more.

You’ll be spending a lot of time with them, so what type of kitchen countertop should you pick for your home?This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss the ideal kitchen countertop for you!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Emma Delaney from April & the Bear.

“For most of us, our phone is now our most important, most used possession. It’s our alarm clock, our wallet, our diary, our workspace, our health assistant.” So writes Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly.But, she wants to take us back to a simpler technological age – the year 1996, when she got her first phone.She joins Andrea to chat about the nostalgia of getting your first phone, as well as Aoife Rooney, Assistant Editor of Weekend Magazine at the Irish Independent.

On Tuesday, Andrea spoke to Donna about her experience of domestic abuse, and the difficulties in getting a Barring Order.Is the system fit for purpose, or does more need to be done to protect victims?Mary Louise, Founder of SiSi & Emma Jane Byrne, domestic violence advocate and volunteer with SiSi join to discuss.

When was the last time you went to the cinema?And would you pay extra for a more luxurious cinema experience?The Stella Cinema in Rathmines in Dublin offers armchairs, food directly to your seat and a cosy setting - and it has now been voted the second best cinema in the world.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Karl Geraghty, Head of Stella Cinemas and Adam Smyth, TikToker and moviegoer.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums and bands 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 Alan Buckley from the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, who’s going to talk through some of The Dubliners’ greatest hits!

Plans to regenerate two derelict houses in Phibsborough have been abandoned due to the cost.The Government had bought the two houses on Connaught Street for €700,000 seven years ago.Despite the approval of planning in 2023, the work would now cost an expected €1.7 million…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Feljin Jose, Green Party Councillor for Phibsborough, Frank O’Connor, Artist, Designer and Derelict Ireland campaigner, Architect and Director at Maremoto Architects Alfonso Bonilla and listeners.

Travel chaos caused by the events in the Middle East: what are your rights when it comes to cancelled flights and disrupted plans?Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air & Travel Magazine joins guest host Anna Daly to discuss.

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 guest host Anna Daly in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

One in five schools have been forced to drop a subject due to teachers' retention and recruitment issues, according to a survey carried out by the Teachers Union of Ireland.Three-quarters of the schools surveyed had advertised positions in the previous six months for which no teacher applied. A further 60% have unfilled vacancies…Have you or your children been affected by the teacher's shortage?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Paul Cuddihy, teacher of history and geography at Kilkenny College, primary school Principal Simon Lewis and more.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Professor Shane Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist joins 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 guest host Anna Daly to discuss morning sickness…

An estimated €15.6 million will be needed to repair damaged roads after Storm Chandra.Elected members of Wicklow County Council, one of the worst affected areas, have called on the Department of Transport, Taoiseach and Tanaiste to provide extra emergency funding to aid this.The “extraordinary scale of destruction” caused far exceeds the road maintenance budget for the council.Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss this is Tom Fortune, Wicklow County Councillor representing Greystones electoral district, Ciaran Feghan, Managing director of PMS Pavement Management Services engineering consultancy, Louis O’Hara, Sinn Fein TD for Galway East and listeners.