Lunchtime Live

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

Austria took home the Eurovision crown on Saturday night, with Ireland failing to make it to the Grand Final. But, more shockingly, the Irish public awarded Israel 10 points, and the Irish Jury handed over 7. Is Ireland’s support for Israel stronger than we realised?Joining Andrea to discuss this is Zoe Lawlor, Chairperson of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Johnny Fallon, Co-Author of the 'Eurovision Handbook', Ian O’Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent and Kirsty Blake Knox, Columnist with the Irish Independent.Image: EBU

There is a growing concern in Irish schools: the sharp rise in student absenteeism.Thousands of children are missing weeks of school, and officials are calling it a ‘hugely alarming’ trend. What’s causing this, and more importantly, how do we fix it?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

The Leaving Certificate exams will begin on Wednesday, June 4th.So, with just over two weeks to go, how can students optimize their study time to get the best results?Andrea is joined by Ronan Griffin from Study Skills to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Host of the ‘No More Encore’ Podcast Dave Hanratty & Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet join Andrea to review ‘Lucky Boy’!Image: Tortoise Media

Rent across the country is now averaging at €2,056.A new report out today says that the lack of supply is the driving factor of these rates.There were just more than 2,300 homes available to rent nationally at the start of this month…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Chief Economist with Davy Stockbrokers, Kevin Timoney, Journalist Katie Gallager, Director of Property District Carol Tallon and more.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Aisling Goodwin, Accent & Dialect Coach, joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to taking on a new accent.

We’re looking for your help in locating a 20ft container that has been stolen in Laois.The container was filled with Lego sets and educational books that had been generously donated for underprivileged children in Malawi.Evin Joyce, Volunteer at ulemu.com Irish Aid Rapid Response Corps joins Andrea to discuss.

It seems everywhere you turn these days you are hearing about ‘Let Them’ theory. It has been described as a mindset trick which can free you from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you.But, what exactly is it? And, does it work?Calodagh McCumiskey, Corporate Wellbeing Specialist and Life Coach, joins Andrea to discuss.

Imagine the scene: you're out for dinner tonight in a fancy restaurant, and this stunning plate of food arrives in front of you.How strong is the compulsion to take a photo?Does the phone eat first? Or would the thought never occur to you?Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist Shamim de Brún, Tom Doorley, Food and Wine Writer with The Irish Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday and Chef Andrew Rudd, Director of Medley Private Venue.

A Dublin man who suffered a traumatic spinal injury said his independence as an individual has been taken from him, as he has been told he is not eligible for disability allowance…Eoghan Gorman joins Andrea to discuss.

From Galway being the best to Carlow being Pope-obsessed, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

There has been a big increase in car loans in Ireland. Close to €850 million was drawn down last year to fund the purchase of 66,200 vehicles.This is a rise of 14% on the previous year...Have we, in Ireland, become obsessed with fancy cars?Joining Andrea to discuss is Shane O’Donoghue, Editor with Completecar.ie, Nadia Adan, Owner of Ashford Motors in Wicklow, as well as listeners.

Is it a good idea to seek out fertility testing early, and how effective is it for those who want children later in life? Newstalk Reporter Bella Finn did the hard work for the show, with an AMH test from Sims IVF Clinic, and joins Andrea to discuss the process.

With the sun shining this bright - you’re probably in the mood to get your BBQ set up…The Home Squad are here to talk about all things cooking outdoors!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan former ‘Home of the Year’ winners who is on Instagram as @workerscottage and Kate O’Driscoll, who you might know on Instagram as @victorianrathmines.

Today we're talking about one of the most talked-about family dramas in the celebrity world: the rumored feud between Victoria and David Beckham and their daughter-in-law, Nicola Peltz. From wedding tensions to social media shade, what’s really going on behind the scenes?Joining Andrea to discuss is Founder of Society PR, Avila Lipsett and Alexandra Ryan from Goss.ie.

Residents of a housing estate in north County Dublin have voiced serious concerns over unfinished infrastructure, specifically the absence of speed bumps that were promised in the original planning permission. Four years after moving in, locals say the lack of traffic-calming measures poses a danger to their children’s safety and are calling for urgent action…Andrea is joined by local residents 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 band 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 us through the Fleetwood Mac album Rumours…

RTÉ’s Eurovision Head of Delegation Michael Kealy has said it “feels wrong” when others suggest the broadcaster boycott the Eurovision Song Contest.There has been controversy over Israel’s participation in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, with many calls for RTÉ to pull out of the event.That obviously hasn’t happened and Ireland is competing tonight, along with Israel.Are you disappointed that we are going ahead with the song contest?Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Henry McKean reporting from Basel, Frank Dermody, President of Ireland’s Eurovision Fan Club, Zoe Lawlor, Chairperson of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and more to discuss.

Some Dublin taxi drivers are operating a loophole to take fares in Drogheda, and local taxi drivers are not happy…Andrea is joined by taxi drivers to discuss what is going on.

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…

Despite efforts to reduce childcare costs, many Irish families continue to face significant financial burdens. Recent reports highlight that families paying up to €1,138 monthly for childcare receive a subsidy of €414, leaving them with a €724 out-of-pocket expense.To achieve the Government’s target of €200 monthly childcare costs, an additional €524 per child per month would be required.So, is the Government dropping the ball here?Joining Andrea to discuss is Siobhan O’Neill-White from mams.ie, 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 the 9 to 12 of pregnancy, the end of the first trimester…

Big Brother is back, and this year, they want you! Big Brother bosses are keen for Irish contestants to apply. If you’ve got a big personality and aren’t afraid to be watched 24/7, this could be your moment.Andrea is joined by Ray Shah, former Big Brother Contestant, to discuss the application process, and what it’s really like inside the house.

Businessman Denis O’Brien has blasted working from home as “...a load of nonsense”.He claimed Ireland’s reputation as a place to do business is at risk, and working from home is now a threat to the economy, because it has caused a loss of competitiveness, energy, creativity and ideas.What do you think? Should we all be returning to the office?Joining Andrea to discuss is Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Larissa Feeney, CEO of Kinore.

An investigation has found that many children in Ireland may have undergone unnecessary hip surgeries at Children's Health Ireland…The probe could stretch back 15 years, raising serious questions about oversight, ethics, and patient safety.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Leader of Aontú, Peadar Tóibín and some of those affected.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dr. Justin Roche, Consultant Paediatrician at The National Tongue Tie Centre, to explain what tongue tie is, how it affects babies, and what can be done about it.

While you will no doubt be cheering on Norwegian singer Emmy who will be representing Ireland at the Eurovision semi finals on Thursday – there will be no harm in bopping to Croatia’s entry ‘Poison Cake’ appearing in the first leg of the semi-finals from Switzerland tonight. That is because the song was co-written by Balbriggan school teacher and singer-songwriter Ben Pyne, who joins Andrea to discuss! 98fm’s Russell Alford also joins to discuss Ireland’s chances.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland has called for a 40% rebate in excise on pints of beer sold in pubs.They say a rebate on draught beers would help protect rural pubs as the sector struggles with high costs.What do you think?Should rural pubs be given a tax rebate?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Petmania Pet Store is hosting their inaugural ‘Ruby Heart Awards’ in which, among other categories, they will honour pet-friendly workplaces.One of the suggestions of how a workplace might be more pet-friendly includes offering employees pet bereavement leave.What do you think?Should businesses offer so-called ‘pet-ernity leave’?Caroline Reidy, Managing Director of the HR Suite, and HR & Employment Law Expert, Declan O’Keefe from Dec’s Pets, a pet care retailer in Wexford as well as listeners join Andrea 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 General Secretary of the Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others in Ranelagh Anne, Marie Genin, as well as player Monika Kurowska Tazbir. It’s a fun, non-competitive way for women to get active, meet new people, and enjoy Gaelic Football, no matter their skill level!

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

Kanye West’s track ‘Heil Hitler’ was swiftly removed from major streaming platforms in recent days, raising questions about censorship, platform responsibility, and the limits of artistic expression.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Alan Buckley, Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum and Dave Hanratty, Podcast Producer at the Independent and Host of the ‘No Encore’ Podcast.

Two teenage boys tragically died after drowning off the coast of Buncrana at the weekend.Matt Sibanda, 18, and Emmanuel Familola, 16, were playing football on Saturday when they went into the sea to retrieve a ball.Tributes have been pouring in from the Taoiseach and locals.Local Sinn Féin Councillor Jack Murray and more join Andrea to discuss.

As the cost-of-living rises, I’m desperately clinging to the ‘frivolous’ spending that gives me joy, so says Saoirse Hanley, writing in the Independent.Saoirse joins Andrea, along with Newstalk’s Ciara Tracey and Financial Adviser behind askpaul.ie, Paul Merriman, to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Laura Donnelly from the Newstalk Newsroom and Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill join Andrea to review Comedian Katherine Ryan’s ‘Telling Everybody Everything’.Image: Acast

Tributes have flooded in for Garda Kevin Flatley, who was killed on Sunday while trying to flag down a motorcyclist at a speeding checkpoint.The father-of-two, who had served in the force for 26 years, was conducting speed checks in Lusk, Co Dublin, when he was struck by the motorcyclist.The Taoiseach, Tánaiste, President and more have paid tribute to Mr Flatley, with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris calling for a “reset” on road safety.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Stylist Corina Gaffey joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to styling the stars!

As the date has closed for late CAO applications, a lot of people will be wondering what their future holds…But, the path isn’t always straight and obvious, there are many ways to skin a cat!Joining Andrea to discuss is one half of the ‘Talking Bollox’ podcast, Calvin O'Brien and Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor, Irish Times Columnist and Editor of Education Matters Yearbook.

Andrea is joined by the experts - tradespeople sharing simple DIY jobs you can safely tackle at home. Quick fixes, smart tips, and what to leave to the pros.Pete the Builder, Martin Glynn, Chief Executive of the DIY Academy and Painter Oisin Butler join to discuss!

If you’re looking for some healthy inspiration of any kind, then we have the guests for you!Wellfest is kicking off this weekend: Europe’s largest outdoor health and wellness festival, and there’ll be loads of amazing experts giving talks…Andrea is joined by three people attending: Sex Educator Jenny Keane, Jennifer Rock, The Skin Nerd and Dancer Lapree Lala.

From beach jobs to headbutts, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Dublin city centre’s only public toilets, installed at the top of Grafton Street five years ago, are to be shut.Dublin City Council say they have decided to remove the facility – which costs almost €400,000 a year to operate, due to reduced demand.What do you think about the public toilet situation in Dublin? And, indeed, throughout the country?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

With the gorgeous weather, you might be dreaming about weekend breaks…Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about all things campervans and holiday homes!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Roisin Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty Design House.

A new maths app is taking Ireland by storm!Andrea is joined by David Carr, Founder of the maths app Pi-Squared, to explore how his app is reshaping maths learning through technology, and what inspired its creation.

Over the last week, pressure has been increasing on the Camogie Association to reverse the rules around mandatory skorts.Today, the Camogie Association has called a special congress to vote on the issue…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Sinéad Wylde, Dublin Camogie Player.

Support for Ireland’s membership of the European Union has dropped to its lowest level since 2013, according to a new opinion poll.The European Movement Ireland poll by Amarach Research found that 34% feel the EU is not upholding its core values, and 26% are dissatisfied with its direction.What do you think? What, do you feel, has the European Union done for Ireland?Andrea is joined by Kieran Allen from the Irish Neutrality League and more to discuss.

Mobile saunas have really grown in popularity in Ireland in recent years.Local authorities seemingly have no uniform bylaws to facilitate, license and regulate these businesses.Wexford has a ‘blanket ban’ on applications for mobile beach-side saunas, while Kerry is licensing two on a pilot basis.Is lack of clarity threatening to kill off this business in Ireland?Joining Andrea to discuss is Cllr Joe Sullivan, Fianna Fail Councillor in Wexford, Chris Mortimer joins us on the line from Sweathouse.ie and Cllr Deirdre Ferris, Sinn Fein Councillor in Kerry.Image: Sauna Experts

Food waste is something that affects our wallets, our environment and our kitchens…Well, joining Andrea to share practical tips, surprising facts and simple habits to help you waste less and save more is Sophie Truman from Too Good to Go!

This evening there’s a march in Dublin against the ‘manosphere’.But what is that? How can someone march against a ‘manosphere’? And what could they hope to achieve?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dean McDonald, Lecturer in Cyberpsychology, ROSA Spokesperson Harper Cleaves, Eli from United Against Racism and Podcast Host Keelin Moncrieff.