Lunchtime Live

Inexperienced climbers could be banned from scaling Mount Everest to reduce deaths and overcrowding.Overcrowding has become a huge issue on Everest; pictures have been shared on social media recently of long queues to the summit, and massive amounts of litter left on the mountainside.Earlier this year there was a 36% increase in climbing fees for foreign climbers on the mountain.Joining Andrea to discuss Johnny Ward, an Irish Adventurer who summited Mount Everest in 2023, John Burke, Owner of Armada Hotel and Shelly Gray, Today FM Presenter and mountaineer.

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

Is it possible to learn to drive without family help?Geraldine Herbert wrote in the Independent about the real cost of learning to drive, particularly if you don’t have access to a car you can practice on.So, is it possible? Or prohibitively expensive?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ross Smith, Driving Instructor and Co-Founder of Virtual Driving Instructor 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 tougher side of things: ectopic pregnancies and miscarriage…

Penneys will begin charging for paper bags from Monday.The company says it's looking for ways to reduce single-use waste across the business.It's introducing a charge of 15 cent per bag, regardless of their size.What do you think about the move? Is it fair on customers?

Almost 9 in 10 young girls struggle with anxiety and worry, a survey finds.That is a huge number of the young women in this country.So, what’s causing it?Joining Andrea to discuss is CEO of the Shona Project, Tammy Darcy, Aeisha Hassan Ambassador at the Shona Project, Today FM Presenter Alison Curtis and more.

From ironing out dents to electrical problems - for this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Joey Donnelly, owner of Crofton Motors in Dublin to talk about all things car repair!

The worst part of being a parent is figuring out what to make for dinner every night.Well, That is according to Andrea's guest Journalist Niamh O’Reilly.She joins, along with Food Writer Jolene Cox, to discuss.

Ireland’s movie and TV studios could be hit by a plan by US President Donald Trump to slap a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States.He said the American movie industry was dying a “very fast death” due to the incentives that other countries, such as Ireland, were offering to lure filmmakers.How would tariffs like this impact the film and TV industry in Ireland?Joining Andrea to discuss Richard Waters, TV Editor and Film Director, Entertainment Journalist Rory Cashin, Aisling Goodwin, Dialect Coach and Actor, Actor Brian Mulvey and Mark Anderson, Director of the Omniplex Cinema Group.

Do we still have a sense of community in our cities?Prince William, the Prince of Wales, said recently that people in cities have “...lost their ability to come together and know their neighbours”.What do you think?Joining Andrea to discuss is Muiris O'Cearbhaill, Journalist with TheJournal.ie, Joe O’Shea, Editor of Cork Beo.ie and Robin Mandal from the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance.

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, owner of No.17 PT & Human Performance and Wellness Coach to learn about HYROX, and why it is unique in the world of fitness.

The Camogie Association has said that they will continue to examine issues around the comfort and design of playing gear, and has said that they will test skorts later in the month.A number of high-profile former players have come out strongly against the rule that makes skorts mandatory on match days…So, should this go as far as the Oireachtas?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dublin Captain Aisling Maher, Centre Forward for Kilkenny Laura Murphy, Hannah Looney, football and camogie player for Cork, Emma O’Byrne, Dublin camogie player and Will Dalton, Virgin Media Sports Reporter.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Comedian Jim Elliot joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to comedy!

Baby food pouches might not be as nutritious as some of us think.An investigation from the BBC says some leading brands are failing to meet key nutritional needs of babies and toddlers.Some contained more sugar in a single pouch than a one-year-old should have in a day.So, what is in these pouches?Andrea is joined by Cathy Monahan, Pediatric Dietician from Weaning.ie to discuss.

With summer approaching, many Irish people are planning their holidays. But, instead of exploring the likes of Leitrim, Westmeath or Monaghan, it seems more and more are booking flights to Thailand, Bali, or Vietnam.New data which shows that a quarter of the Irish population have explored Asia, but 82% have never visited Leitrim, and 76% have never visited Westmeath.Why aren't Irish people touring their own back garden? And why do counties like Leitrim still struggle to attract domestic tourists? Have we fallen out of love with Ireland as a holiday destination?Andrea is joined by Founder of the Viking Splash Tours ‘Viking Mike’ McDonnell, Travel Journalist Joan Scales and listeners to discuss.

What stage in your life were you at when ‘Maniac 2000’ was released?Joining Andrea to discuss the 25th anniversary of the song is its creator, DJ Mark McCabe!

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

Tragic news from Cork yesterday as a man drowned in the city centre.Shockingly though, seemingly instead of trying to help the man – dozens of onlookers filmed the incident – some even livestreaming...Gardaí had to push the crowd of people back and increase the cordon around first responders – with a Senior Fire Officer pleading with people not to publish or share the distressing video footage taken as the tragedy unfolded.How can people stand by filming in an emergency?Joining Andrea to discuss is Victor Shine, Second Officer at Cork City Fire Brigade & Area Officer for Crosshaven Coast Guard Unit, Ger O’Dea, National Community Engagement Manager with the National Ambulance Service and more.

With this gorgeous weather at the moment, it’s hard not to think about the outdoor areas of your home.Well, the Home Squad are here to help you with outdoor furniture and cooking!Guest host Anna Daly is joined by Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Roisin Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty Design House.

May is Coeliac Awareness Month, highlighting a condition that affects 1 in 100 people - many undiagnosed. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune reaction to gluten, and managing it means big changes in daily life.Joining guest host Anna Daly to answer key questions and help us better understand this often-misunderstood condition is Registered Dietitian Sarah Keogh.

When is the right time to get married? CSO findings show that the average age of tying the knot for women is now 36 and 37 for men– the highest it has ever been.Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss this is Fergal Harrington, Director of Intro Matchmaking on Grafton Street, Sarah-Jayne Tobin, Native Editor with DMG Limited and from One Fab Day, Andrea Smith, Freelance Journalist and more.

More and more of us are buying and selling our clothes on second hand websites.The urge to grab a bargain and the opportunity to clear out your wardrobes are probably the biggest incentives.That, and the chance to skip fast fashion.Second hand clothes apps are massively growing in popularity, but how do they work?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Newstalk Producer Niamh Dunne and Founder of the Design Room, Rhoda McDonagh.

With more people exploring Ireland by motorhome, pressure is growing for better parking and camping facilities.But, are we doing enough to support this booming travel trend?Joining Anna Daly to discuss is Kieran Donovan, Chairperson at Phoenix Motorhomes, Peter Kavanaugh from Motor Home Enthusiasts Ireland and more.

Over 40 civil society organisations are gathering outside Leinster House today under the banner ‘Together for Public Alliance’.Organisers say that we are 100 days into the new Government and, despite promises for reform, we are yet to see significant action to tackle the childcare crisis.What do you think? Is the Government failing on childcare?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Rachel Coyle, National Women’s Council Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation, Paula Donohoe, owner of Clever Cloggs Creche in Co Cavan & Chairperson of the Association of Childhood Professionals, Avril Green, Graduate Lead Educator and Chair of SIPTU Early Years National Committee and more.

This bank holiday weekend seems to have taken a lot of people by surprise!Hot off the heels of Easter’s 4-day weekend, another one is already here - with hopefully some sun to boot!Joining Andrea to give their top recommendations for a last-minute trip is Travel Journalist April Drew (who’s on Instagram as Getaways with Kids) and Sinéad Kennedy, Independent Travel Agent and Host of Wellness Activity Breaks.

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 topic of SUVs has been covered on the show before, and the impact they can have on the environment. A big defence for them is often the safety aspect, and how people feel safer inside them than saloon cars.Well, new research out today says children are over 80% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV than by a smaller car, and that pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if hit by an SUV…So, is it time to rethink our love for them?Andrea is joined by owner of Crofton Motors in Dublin, Joey Donnelly, as well as listeners, to discuss.

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 best advice for the early stages of pregnancy.

Video games are the world's most valuable entertainment industry, estimated to be worth more than $220 billion, twice as much as films and recorded music, combined!So, it’s no surprise that films based on games are replacing superhero blockbusters…Joining Andrea to discuss this new big screen trend is Padraig Ryan from Geek Ireland and Movie Critic Brian Lloyd.Image: Warner Bros Pictures

Bars will be closed at David Gray’s upcoming concert at the 3Arena this weekend.The 3Arena shared a post on social media saying: ‘Once David Gray goes on stage, all bars will close and will remain closed for the duration of the show…’It follows complaints of a raucous crowd constantly coming and going from the bar in the 3Arena during his performance there earlier this month.What do you think? Are they right to close the bars at the 3Arena for David Gray’s performance?Andrea is joined by Dave Hanratty, Host of the ‘No Encore’ Music Podcast, and listeners, to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by top Irish skin expert Eavanna Breen, who shares her insights on caring for pale or sensitive skin, tackling rosacea, and what really works when it comes to treatments like laser.

We’re on a mission to find Ireland’s Best Lollipop Person - the everyday heroes keeping our children safe on the school run! What does the job involve, and what makes someone truly stand out?Sinéad Crowther, Founder of Tonstix, Search for Ireland's Best Lollipop’s Person joins Andrea to discuss.

New research shows that being shouted at by parents can reshape a child’s brain, raising the risk of mental health issues and social difficulties.So, is it ok to shout at your children?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Developmental Therapist & Founder of COGNI Kids and listeners.

Are we (literally) lost without our phones?Are we relying too much on Google Maps to get us from A to B in the car; which doesn't always bring us the best way?Two weeks ago, Mountain Rescue England and Wales published figures showing a record number of annual callouts; are we lost in every sense of the word without access to GPS?Joining Andrea to discuss is Editor at completecar.ie, Shane O’Donoghue, as well as listeners.

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 Knitting Teacher from ‘Knit with Helen’, Helen Crawford, to talk about all the benefits to gain from knitting!

Kneecap have apologised to the families of two former British MPs who were murdered in recent years, and said they do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, after videos from past gigs came to the attention of police and politicians.The Belfast rap group released a statement after a video appeared to show a member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, while the other appeared to show a member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP”.Kneecap took the opportunity to also criticise what they describe as a “smear campaign” against them over their support for Palestine.They wrote: “Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria”.What are your thoughts on this? Was Kneecap right to apologise?Andrea is joined by Alan Buckley, Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, as well as listeners, to discuss.Image: Kneecap

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

He may be legally and constitutionally barred from serving a third term in office, but that hasn't stopped Donald Trump putting ‘TRUMP 2028’ red caps on sale. His online store crashed due to the demand.Will the power of merchandising shape the narrative, and no matter how impossible, will TRUMP 2028 be an inescapable force for the next few years?Joining Andrea to discuss is Lorraine Carter from Persona Branding & Design and Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies and International Politics at University College Dublin.Image: Trump Store

As rail fare and zonal adjustments come into effect today from Irish Rail, including Leap Cards becoming available over a wider area, we’re asking the question: should we be trialing free travel?  Joining Andrea to discuss is Conor Reddy, People Before Profit Councilor for Ballymun-Finglas, Gary Marshall, Committee Member of Dublin Commuters, Lochlann Gallagher, Chair of Galway Commuters Coalition and Travel Writer Melanie May.

Clare and Limerick are teaming up in a bid to host EuroPride, Europe's most significant LGBT+ event, in 2028.If they are successful, Ireland would play host to the international event for the first time, which attracts around 100,000 visitors from around the world.Amongst those steering the West of Ireland bid for EuroPride 2028 is Bernie O’Gorman, Chair of QuareClare, Lisa Daly from Limerick Pride and Eddie McGuinness, Director and Founder of The Outing Queer Arts Collective and Festival.They join Andrea to discuss!

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Today FM’s Shelly Gray and 98fm’s Russell Alford join Andrea to review ‘Good Hang’!Image: The Ringer

Should Gardaí receive financial assistance to purchase homes given the current housing crisis?Members of the Gardaí Representative Association at their annual conference today will debate a motion to call on the Government to introduce an “enhanced scheme” to allow Gardaí to purchase homes using State assistance.What do you think about this idea?Could it help with recruitment and retention of rank-and-file Gardaí?Should subsidised housing be something that is made available for all civil servants?Joining Andrea to discuss is Tara McManus, Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, Eoin Dolan, Principal of Mother of Divine Grace National School in Finglas, Ray Cooke, CEO of Ray Cooke Auctioneers and listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Philip Thornton from the DCU Caving Club joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to being a caver!

Plans have been unveiled for a winter sports arena in South Dublin. The proposed €190 million development in Cherrywood will include two Olympic-sized ice rinks; a 5,000-seat indoor arena and a training centre.Joining Andrea to discuss is Raymond Hegarty, Chair of Seamrog Ice Skating Club, Cllr Jim O’Leary from Fine Gael and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as well as listeners.

For most brides-to-be, hair and make-up is a big part of the preparation before walking down the aisle. One American woman recently caused a bit of a stir on social media last month when she revealed she decided to go make-up free on her wedding day, going on to amass 30 million views with opinions split down the middle.So, should you wear make-up on your wedding day? And is a completely natural look too stripped back for such an occasion?Joining Andrea to discuss is Laura Mullett, Stylist & Broadcaster, Sarah Kennedy from ‘The Aisle’ blog and Wedding expert, Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent and more.

International accountancy firm Forvis Mazars has announced a new course in social skills for its Gen Z employees, which will simulate client meetings and offer training for speaking on the phone.At the same time, students in three of Manchester’s universities in the UK will be taught empathy, active listening, conflict resolution and time management.Are Gen Z lacking when it comes to ‘soft skills’ in the workplace?Andrea is joined by Caroline Reidy, HR expert with the HR Suite as well as listeners.

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

Nearly 300,000 hospital appointments were cancelled across the country last year – an average of more than 772 every day. That number is growing, even as the state makes efforts to cut waiting lists.Have you been affected? Has one of your appointments been cancelled?And what are your thoughts on the health system at the moment?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Matthew Sadlier, Chair of the IMO Consultant Committee, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín, Dr Brendan O’Shea, Spokesperson for the Kildare faculty of the ICGP and Kildare GP as well as listeners.

It’s Home Squad time, and today we’re talking paint with Roisin Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty Designs & & Jennifer Sheahan, @workerscottage on Instagram and Former Winner of ‘Home of the Year’

The Government is set to crack down on customers using supermarket loyalty cards to get discounts on alcohol.  While existing laws ban customers using loyalty card points to purchase alcohol some supermarkets do allow customers to buy items – including alcohol – at a reduced price if they use their loyalty card. Callers join Andrea to discuss the issue.