Lunchtime Live

It’s How I Live Well time! Where Andrea Gilligan is joined by someone to discuss what they do to improve their life.This week, Andrea is joined by Liz Burnell, Aqua Aerobics Instructor, to talk all things aqua aerobics!

Would you ever be tempted to go carless?That’s what Climate Policy Researcher Sadhbh O’Neill said she was planning on Newstalk Breakfast this morning…So, could you do it?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

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

Should you pay your children to do household chores?It’s an age-old debate that raises its head every now and then.Some believe it teaches kids about money, while others think it gives them unrealistic expectations...So, what do you think?Andrea is joined by Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram), Off the Ball’s Adrian Barry and Sinead O'Moore, Host of the Stretchmarks Podcast to discuss.

All trainee teachers will be required to complete work placements in special education settings.The move comes amid a huge surge in autism prevalence in recent years.Latest figures show that about 1 in 20 schoolchildren are being diagnosed with autism – a threefold increase in the last decade.What do you think about this approach? Is it something that is needed?Andrea is joined by Eleanor McSherry, former Head of Autism studies in UCC, David Nugent, Founder of the Kids Coach, Pamela Kenny, Chair of the Tallaght Parents Autism Support Group and listeners to discuss.

Newstalk is proud to partner with Arc Cancer Support again this year.Arc Cancer Services provide support to those who have received a cancer diagnosis, as well as their loved ones.To demonstrate some of the work Arc do, Andrea is joined by Phillipa Lacey Bohannon and her 14-year-old daughter Molly...If you would like to support Arc, their annual fashion show is on March 27th.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.98fm’s Russell Alford and Laura Donnelly from the Newstalk Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Call Her Daddy’!Image: Unwell Media

There are calls for ad bans to be extended to non-alcoholic drinks following the advertising of Guinness 0.0 during the Six Nations rugby games.Leading alcohol-safety campaigners say this form of advertising needs to be looked at, as while the 0.0 drink contains no alcohol, it clearly displays the Guinness brand name…What do you think?Andrea is joined by Dr. Sheila Gilheany is the CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, as well as listeners, to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Movie Director Darren Thornton joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to making a film!

Mr Price’s recent marketing campaign featuring slogans on vans like 'Fancy a Ride', 'Honk for a Hunk' and 'From Hunk to Hero', which have sparked controversy for being offensive.But, what was the intent behind these slogans, and does the company plan to address the public backlash?To discuss, Andrea is joined by listener Mary, who got in touch with the show about this…

Gardaí are using ‘bait bikes’ in an attempt to catch would-be thieves.This follows an increase in the number of bicycles and motorbikes being stolen across the country.In one operation, in North Dublin, Gardaí deployed a high-end valuable electric motorbike at various theft hot spots.They kept the bike under surveillance – ready to swoop in if anyone attempted to rob it.What do you think about this approach from Gardaí? Could it be part of a solution to tackle bike theft?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Are there still stigmas around being a single parent?Are you told you’re a hero, but not treated like one?Today is International Single Parents’ Day, and Andrea is joined by single parent and Single Parent Coach at Solas Coaching, Orla Donoghue…

From the stars in Ireland for Patrick’s Day to a bizarre experience for Irish ghost hunters, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

More than 1,000 flights will be affected by the Heathrow closure today.At least 70 flights to and from Heathrow from airports on the island of Ireland are impacted, including 34 flights at Dublin Airport, 14 at Belfast City Airport and 8 at Shannon.It’s not yet known the impact this will have on flights over the weekend…So, have you been impacted?Andrea is joined by LBC Presenter, Shelagh Fogarty, Dublin Airport Authority Media Relations Manager, Graeme McQueen, Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil Aviation Spokesperson and TD for Clare and listeners to discuss.Image: London Fire Brigade

It’s a luxurious week for the Home Squad! This week, Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ & Roisin Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty Design House to talk about implementing marble into your home.

Tech companies are using the same techniques as dog trainers to keep children hooked onto their apps…That’s a claim from Dog Trainer, Behaviourist, and science graduate, Deirdre Ryan, who joins Andrea to discuss. Also joining to discuss is Lecturer in Cyberpsychology, Dean McDonald.

With the rise in popularity of larger vehicles like SUVs, many are questioning whether car parking spaces are becoming too small to accommodate them.Traditional parking spaces, designed for smaller cars, may no longer be adequate for today’s larger vehicles.So, are cars becoming too big to park?Andrea is joined by Dave Humphreys, Motoring Journalist at CompleteCar.ie, as well as listeners, to discuss.

“After not speaking Irish for 10 years, Kneecap inspired me to take up the teanga…”So writes journalist Ciara O’Loughlin in the Irish Mirror. What impact has the group had on use of the language?Ciara joins Andrea to discuss, along with Chris McCaffrey, Irish Language Activist and Hazel De Nortuin, People Before Profit Councillor in Dublin.

Today is the International Day of Happiness!The sun is shining, it’s a glorious Thursday – so today, absolutely everyone must do one thing, even one simple thing, to make themselves happy.To discuss the day, Doctor, Author and Well-being Expert, Dr Mark Rowe, joins Andrea.

Gardaí fear using force to manage protests due to fears that incidents will be posted on social media, according to a new report by the Policing Authority in the wake of the Dublin riots in November of 2023.It is now common, the review found, for any use of force to be recorded and shared widely across social media platforms almost immediately.Gardaí say social media clips are edited out of context to make any use of force appear disproportionate, and expressed concern for their family members, where information regarding their name, address and family details are published online in the comments.What do you think about this issue?Andrea is joined by Mark O’Meara, President of the Garda Representative Association, as well as listeners, to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Dr John McCormick from Vasectomy Ireland to answer any of your vasectomy-related questions!

Could you give up your phone for four days?This question has been posed by Journalist Mary McCarthy in today’s Independent after a forced hiatus, and she joins guest host Anna Daly to discuss.

Private counselling sessions are the new school grinds, that’s according to Anna Daly’s guest…In wanting to comfort our children and ease their burden, are we in danger of depriving them of learning for themselves?Joining to discuss is Dr Clare Finegan, Lecturer in Education, Guidance and Counselling at Maynooth University’s Department of Education, as well as Principal of East Glendalough School Co. Wicklow Craig Petrie and Clinical Psychologist Tara Logan Buckley.

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…Image: Netflix

Tourists are being told not to visit Mallorca this year – as locals say they are being overwhelmed by foreign visitors.A letter, signed by signed by seven protest groups in the Balearic Islands, reads:"Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate." It has caused a lot of concern among many Irish people who have booked to visit the island this summer… So, what can be done?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by Graham Keeley, Spain Correspondent for The Independent, Eoghan Corry, Editor travelextra.ie and listeners to discuss.Image: Reuters

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.Killian Ginnity from Newstalk’s Digital Team and Sarah Jayne Tobin from DMG Media join guest host Anna Daly to review the American Scandal series ‘Waco’!Image: Wondery

Are we all losing the chance to daydream?Apparently, listening to music all the time, or constantly having headphones in is stealing our opportunities to daydream.So, does it matter?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly to discuss.

Yesterday, MMA fighter Conor McGregor visited the White House and accused the Irish government of “abandoning the voices of the people of Ireland." He also hit out at what he described as Ireland's “welcoming” policies towards immigration and support for asylum seekers…What did you make of his visit - and should he have been allowed to go in the first place?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by Rachel Morrogh, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Chief Executive Officer, Patti Shields from Democrats Abroad as well as listeners to discuss.Image: @POTUS on X/Twitter

The age old question: do blondes have more fun?Anna Daly’s guest thinks they just might, after dappling with her own hair change…Elle Hunt, Freelance Journalist joins, along with Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet and Journalist Andrea Smith to discuss!

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Sami Corcoran, Instructor at the House of Pole pole dancing studio to discuss, well, pole dancing!

Gardaí are investigating an incident in which two women confronted an Israeli man at a bar in Dún Laoghaire. Palestinian Activist Léna Seale, one of the women involved in the incident, claims that the man is sharing images online of himself in Israeli military gear.Should we be allowing Israelis – specifically those who have served in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) or those who are Zionists - into the country?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Richard Tierney, St Patrick’s Festival CEO, joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to answer any of your St Patrick’s Day questions!

Today is World Sleep Day!If it’s something you struggle with, it’s something you think about all the time...And one area that impacts a lot of people is the sleep, or lack thereof, of small babies!Sleep Expert Erica Hargaden joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to give her best advice.

A new study has revealed that 42% of adults admit that they have forgotten to have fun! And apparently, the age this happens is at 42, but is this really the case?Joining guest host Adrian Kennedy to discuss is Robbie Fox, former owner of Reynards Nightclub, Ian O’Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent and more.

A new poll has found that over 40% of dog owners say they worry about their dogs mental health.Almost three quarters say their pooches suffer ‘bouts of stress and anxiety’...What can you do when your pet is feeling stressed? Is it something that worries you?Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by Animal Behaviourist, Suzi Walsh, as well as listeners to discuss.

From Covid lockdown memories to a public fox survey, Tara Duggan from Newstalk’s Newsroom joins guest host Adrian Kennedy with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Tesco is to trial giving away expiring food to shoppers for free.The supermarket will give away some already discounted ‘yellow sticker’ items after 9:30pm in some of its UK stores.Tesco already donates expired food to charities and food banks, but says it is taking this step to try to meet its goal to halve food waste.Is this the right step to cut food waste? Is it something you would like to see brought in here?Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by listeners to discuss.

When you see a piece of antique furniture out in the wild - what are the signs that it could be a good fit in your home after a bit of love?This week’s Home Squad is all about spotting those gems, and upcycling!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ & Roisin Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty Design House.

It’s Endometriosis Awareness Month; yesterday, Andrea was joined by a panel of doctors discussing the situation in Ireland, and the hope that is available. Well today, it’s been announced that a new pill for treating endometriosis symptoms will be used by the NHS in England – could this be a game changer?Andrea is joined by former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dr Peter Boylan.

We’re only days away from the St Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend!However, across the world celebrations have already started…It begs the question: do the Irish abroad celebrate Paddy’s Day better?To discuss, Andrea is joined by event organisers around the world.Image: AP File

Every Thursday on Lunchtime Live, Andrea will be joined by followers of different religions in Ireland to learn more about them.This week, Andrea is joined by David Dunlea to learn more about being a Jehovah’s Witness.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Laura Donnelly from the Newstalk Newsroom joins Andrea to look back on the year that was 2003!

You often hear the adage “comparison is the thief of joy”, but do you find that you are comparing yourself constantly to others online?And, where does that leave us? Does social media make our victories seem small?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Stephanie Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist and co-host of the Tough Love Podcast, Keith Russell, Blogger, Podcaster & Mental Health Advocate, Alex Rowley from Newstalk’s Newsroom and more to discuss.

As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month, Andrea is joined by Dr Bart Kuczera, Deputy Medical Director and Fertility Consultant at Beacon CARE Fertility, to discuss how the condition can impact your fertility, and answer your questions.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month.This is something that’s been highlighted for a few years on the show, and we intend to keep making it a priority.But, so much of it is still misunderstood…Joining Andrea to discuss and give an overview of the condition is Aoife O’Neill, Consultant Obstetrician and Yvonne Counihan, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Endometriosis.Also joining to share their personal stories is Doireann Barrett, who runs Cneasú Community and listeners Ali and Leona…

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.Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

More than half of Irish adults say that they gift €50 or more to a niece or nephew for their communion / confirmation.So, what is the going rate for a communion present?Andrea is joined by Tanya Sweeney, Columnist with the Irish Independent as well as listeners to discuss.

Should we go ahead with plans for a Dublin Metro?Yesterday, it emerged that Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has been formally warned that the cost could exceed €23 billion. That is about five times the cost on which approval was originally sought by the National Transport Authority.So, should we put a stop to Metro plans before the price balloons out of control?Andrea is joined by Broadcaster and Architect, Duncan Stewart, as well as listeners, to discuss…

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.98fm’s Russell Alford and Tom Douglas from the Newstalk Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘The Scam Factory’!Image: Wondery

Irish people who worked in the UK could be entitled to a generous state pension pay out, but the April 5th deadline is looming...Do you qualify for it?Andrea is joined by John Ring from XtraPension Ltd to answer listener questions.