Lunchtime Live

Did you know AI can write books?Not very good ones, mind you, but you wouldn’t know that before you bought them.But, what happens when they start writing them in the name of a well known author? And what happens if that author is you?Author Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, whose pen name is Sam Blake, joins Andrea to discuss what happened.

A recent discussion on smartphone use for children and adolescence has sparked criticism against beauty influencers. It is believed that social media is the root cause for eating disorders as well as the increase in steroid use.Should beauty influencers be blamed for these issues, or do we simply need to clamp down on children’s access to social media?Andrea is joined by Consultant Dermatologist with the Institute of Dermatologists Professor Catriona Ryan, Program Director of PR and Media in SETU Carlow, Greg Murphy and Mrs Make Up AKA Michelle Ragazzoli to discuss.

This weekend sees Ireland welcome back the Aer Lingus College Football Classic for the first U.S College Football game of the 2025 season.The highly anticipated match between Kansas State University’s ‘Wildcats’ and Iowa State University’s ‘Cyclones’ - the game will be broadcast live on ESPN to an estimated U.S. audience of 4.5 million people.Up to 22,000 American tourists are set to travel to Ireland for this game.Will you be watching?Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Cian Fahey, Kevin Ryan, Head of Sales and Business Development for EI Travel and more.

From a Meath church being converted into a nightclub to a ‘nose’ of Tralee winner, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

An English tourist is in critical condition following an assault in Dublin City Centre yesterday morning.With this most recent attack it brought up a lot of questions about our capital city.Has Dublin gotten too rough? Do you feel safe in Dublin?Andrea is joined by listeners 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 Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

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 a baby’s movement in the womb.

Children who vape are three times more likely to become smokers, that’s according to new research from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.With this in mind, do we need to fast track the ban of disposable vapes?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Kneecap’s Mo Chara is back before Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning, accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London gig last November.The case has sparked a major show of support. Fans and campaigners have gathered outside the court, filling the streets with music, chants, and live performances in solidarity with the Belfast rapper.Andrea is joined by some of the voices who will be outside the court today to discuss.

Listener Seán got in touch with the show due to a frustrating experience with the Gardaí - where an apparent glitch on their end led to his car getting impounded…He joins Andrea, along with Motoring Journalist Dave Humphries, to discuss what happened.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dr. Mary O’ Kane, Lecturer in Psychology and author of ’Perfectly Imperfect Parenting: Connection Not Perfection’ to answer all of your parenting questions!

Do disposable BBQs pose a danger to the environment?Listener Declan got in touch with the show after finding some left on the beach and joins Andrea, along with Dave O’Reilly, Chair of Tidy Towns, to discuss.

A London bar has come under fire for adding an automatic 4% service charge to all drinks ordered at the bar.This adds around 30 pence to all pints ordered at the Well & Boot in Waterloo station.As the cost of living continues to spiral, is tipping culture out of control?Joining Andrea to discuss is Caolán Barron, owner of the Sky and The Ground Pub, Oliver from Wall & Keogh Teas and more.

In July, Megan Slough Royal and her family were completely shocked to find that mother Maureen Slough had undergone an assisted suicide at a clinic in Switzerland. How did they find out? Through a message on Whatsapp…The Pegasos Clinic has since changed their policies following this situation, and Andrea is joined by Megan to discuss what changed, and her reaction to it.If any of these issues have affected you, you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123.

The Rose of Tralee kicked off yesterday, bringing with it a full swing of festivities across Kerry.The event has endured since its first iteration in 1959, but need it go on any longer? Is it outdated?Joining Andrea to discuss is Cathal O’Sullivan, 98FM Producer, Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram) Regional Judge for Kilkenny & Meath and Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter Podcast.

With the Leaving Cert results around the corner, there is an annual debate on whether or not it is the correct way to set students up for life. Many people think it is a great set up, while others feel it should be totally scrapped.Joining Andrea to discuss is singer-songwriter Mary Coughlan, Principal at Alexandra College Dublin, Barbara Ennis and more.

Drumcondra GP Dr Brian King joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

Can we learn from Paris to become slightly more car free?The French city has recently become ‘congestion free’, and apparently it has worked wonders.Andrea is joined by Sunday Independent Motoring Editor, Geraldine Herbert, to discuss.

As everyone will know, Oasis played in Dublin over the weekend.The Gallagher brothers’ performance has been widely praised by attendees, but complaints have since rolled in about a lack of organisation from the venue.What went wrong, or could have been better?Andrea is joined by listeners, including Gareth Dunleavy. Curator of Oasis WTS fan page and Caoimhseach Connolly from the Newstalk Newsroom to discuss.

This summer, you have probably been surrounded by ice creams and barbecues. For those of us trying to make healthier food choices, temptation is everywhere, especially when it's often easier, and cheaper, to eat ultra processed foods.Joining Andrea to discuss why we find it so hard to eat healthily is Dietician and TodayFM Presenter Shelly Gray, Editor at DMG Media Sarah-Jayne Tobin and Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Newstalk’s Rory Galvin and Presenter of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Flesh and Code’!Image: Wondery

When travelling, whether it is by bus, train or plane, there is nothing more annoying than listening to someone else's music or podcast.Last week, Irish Rail announced that they would fine €100 to anyone playing loud music in a new campaign to highlight poor travel etiquette.How do you feel about people playing music out loud on public transport?Joining Andrea to discuss is Communications Manager with Irish Rail, Barry Kenny, Managing Director, Freedom Travel & Solo Travel, Ciara Mooney and listeners.

It’s time for some summer memories!We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days.Journalist Bryan Dobson joins Andrea to reminisce!

After news broke of the death of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who had spina bifida and scoliosis, but waited nearly three years for surgery, parents of children with scoliosis have been speaking out about long waiting times and the devastation they have brought to their families…With waiting lists for scoliosis surgeries having grown, and Tánaiste Simon Harris coming under increased pressure to deal with the crisis - Andrea hears from some of these parents.Joining to discuss is Maureen Nolan, whose daughter has several conditions including scoliosis and Bernier Kelleher, who was forced to bring her daughter to the UK for surgery in 2007…

Oasis are back for their first gigs on Irish soil since 2009, with the Oasis Live '25 reunion tour arriving in Dublin for two sold out performances at Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday.Are you excited for the shows? Were you lucky enough to get a ticket?Andrea is joined by Oasis superfans to share in the excitement!

It’s rare that we get such good weather in the summer, but that has been happening recently!But, do we get the chance to make the most of them?Should we get time off work when it’s sunny so that we can go out and enjoy it?Joining Andrea to discuss this is Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Sinead Dalton, Content Editor of Evoke.ie and Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather.

From brown bread making to wedding rollercoaster taking, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Independent brewers are facing challenges due to “astronomical” input cost increasing. It comes as some brewers have had to shut their doors due to high running and production costs…High water charges and “archaic and arcane alcohol licensing laws” are some of the other reasons for these closures and the loss of multiple jobs.What needs to be done to keep these breweries in business?Joining Andrea to discuss is Tom Cronin, Founder and Chief Executive of the Rye River Brewing Company, Joe Donnelly from Rascals Brewery, Dean Mcguinness, Managing Director of Primary International Beers and others.

Should pets be allowed in public dining spaces? Do you mind having dogs around while you’re drinking a coffee – or to take it one step further – would you eat a sandwich with a cat climbing all over you?What do you think? Is there a hygiene concern?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ronan Flood, Co-Owner PYE Dundrum and The Barbers Bar in Grangegorman, Michael Moynihan, Columnist with the Irish Examiner and more.

Rather than calling in a professional, what are the jobs that you can do yourself, without worrying about breaking the bank?Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about simple DIY fixes!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Martin Glynn, Founder and CEO of The DIY Academy.

More than 100 organisations have signed a joint letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens".Humanitarian groups, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), say they are increasingly being told they are "not authorised" to deliver aid, unless they comply with the stricter Israeli regulations.Joining Andrea to discuss this with his unique insight is former Israeli Hostage Negotiator, Gershon Baskin.Image: Reuters

Are you guilty of doing things or going places, just to take photos of them?If you don’t post about it online, were you even really there?Feature Writer Chrissie Russell explores this in a piece in the Independent today, and joins Andrea, along with Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet and Journalist Saoirse Hanley to discuss.

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 Oasis’ ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’!

Since the Government took office in January, the number of children awaiting scoliosis surgery has risen from 112 to 131, despite 303 procedures being carried out by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) up to July. CHI noted that the list is constantly changing as patients are added and removed.In 2017, then–Health Minister Simon Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for surgery. That target remains unmet, and there have since been calls for the Tánaiste to resign on the back of his failed promises.Why are children waiting so long for surgeries, and what needs to be done to improve these wait times for children and their families?Joining Andrea to discuss is Bernard Mulvany, Advocate with Access for All Ireland, Co-Leader of the Spina Bifida Advocacy Group, Una Knightly and Carolann Walsh, whose 5-year-old daughter is currently waiting for an MRI scan for scoliosis.

Would 40 degree temperatures put you off your summer break?Apparently not - a lot of us are still booking our holidays in Europe, despite the heatwave!So, are there cooler places we can look to, to escape the roaring temperatures?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sarah Slattery, Founder of the travelexpert.ie.

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…

Due to a nationwide teacher shortage, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) is calling for improved pay for educators returning from the United Arab Emirates, in an effort to attract and keep qualified professionals.TUI President Anthony Quinn described the current situation as “utterly unacceptable,” highlighting the lack of secure employment for new teachers.A recent union survey revealed that only one in four teachers appointed since 2015 secured full-time work in their first position.Do you think teachers with experience should be given a better salary?Joining Andrea to discuss is General Secretary of Teachers Union of Ireland, Michael Gillespie, Teacher & Irish Examiner Columnist, Jennifer Horgan, Assistant Principal and member of Aontú, Eric Nelligan and more.

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 the early signs of labour!

Legislation was brought in in 2021 that banned the reselling of tickets for more than their face value. The idea was to curb ticket touting and protect consumers. But, why is it still happening?Joining Andrea to discuss is Consumer Journalist and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk Sinead Ryan and Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

U2 is facing online backlash due to statements of support for Gaza that they posted to social media on Sunday. Critics are saying that it’s “too little, too late” and labeling the statements as “performative.”Joining Andrea to discuss is Arts Journalist Louise Bruton, Singer Mary Coughlan, Co-Founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland Jackie Conboy, Spin Presenter Jess Spencer and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dr Alex Andreev, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Eyedoc Eye Clinic in Blanchardstown to answer all of your eye-related questions!

The Ireland India Council has decided to postpone India Day on the back of the recent attacks faced by the Indian community in Ireland since January.Chairman of the Ireland India Council Preshant Shukla expressed how it was a very difficult and emotional decision to make, but expressed that the celebration is merely postponed, not cancelled.Andrea is joined by members of the Indian community, including Co-Chair of the Ireland India Council Damien Lee to hear their thoughts on this.

A shortage of Bean an Tí’s could spell the end of the Gaeltacht…It started with the Covid shutdown apparently, and just hasn’t recovered.What can we do to preserve this tradition?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ruairí Ó Donnáin, Principal of Colaiste Machaire Rabhartaidh Gael Linn. Criostóir Ó Faoláin, Stiúrthóir of Coláiste na Rinne and Bríd, a Bean an Tí in Waterford.

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 owner of Ireland’s first Rage Room, Lukas Baltrusis and Psychologist Dr Malie Coyne to discuss controlled smashing in rage rooms!

Castlebar in Mayo has voted in a motion to ban car clamping in the town.So, should clamping be banned across the country?Andrea is joined by Michael Kilcoyne, Independent Councillor on Mayo County Council, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

People are apparently taking selfies at the farm of Michael Gaine…Michael Gaine was murdered earlier this year, and it seems to have stoked up some tourism in the area.Who would do this?Andrea is joined by Independent Kerry TD and Junior Minister Michael Healy-Rae to discuss.

Information obtained by Newstalk Breakfast under freedom of information has shown a sharp drop in fines issued for littering in Dublin City.The data collected has shown that only 68 fines have been given out in 2025. If this continues, there will be an 89% drop in fines in the past two years.That includes a 77% drop in Central Dublin, and just one single fine has been issued in Dublin North central in the past 19 months, down from 94 issued in 2023.This is despite the North Inner City being named the most littered area in Ireland by Irish Business Against Litter last month…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Damien Boylan, Councillor with Cork North City, Dave O’Reilly, Chair of Tidy Towns, owner of Martin Gear Jewellers, Martin Gear and more.

A 22-year-old Palestinian woman, Haya, who has been offered a place on a course at TU Dublin, is urgently appealing to the Irish public for help.Currently trapped in Gaza, she faces immense danger and uncertainty, unable to leave safely to pursue her education in Dublin.Haya joins Andrea to discuss…

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 Sarah Jayne Tobin, Editor of DMG Media join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Titanic: Ship of Dreams’!Image: Noisier