Lunchtime Live

Music festival Beyond the Pale has a new backer and is all set for this weekend.But, there were rumours during the week that it was going to be shut down.So, what’s going on with the event?Joining Andrea to give the latest update is Beyond the Pale Festival Organiser, Declan Forde.

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…

This week is National Carer’s week.We have spoken to carers many times on this show – about the impact they make, and the supports they need.Last year we campaigned on it, asking: who cares for the carers?So, has anything changed in the past year?Andrea is joined by 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 all things inducing labour.

How hard is it for students to get a summer job?Are there part time summer roles out there, or have they all dried up?One listener got in touch because this is an issue his daughter is having…He joins Andrea, along with the CV Doctor Seanie Clifford to discuss.

Over 4,500 people have signed a petition that says public transport options for Irish pet owners are "severely limited".As more people treat pets like family, there’s growing interest in letting them travel by bus, train, or tram.Today we’re asking: Should public transport in Ireland be more pet friendly?Joining Andrea to discuss is Laoise Downes, Owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woofs, Lynsey of FitDog.ie, 98fm’s Russell Alford and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Estate Agent for Hunters MD Rowena Quinn to answer any of your property-related questions!

A school in Galway is offering €2,000 to new pupils who join the school in an attempt to prevent the loss of its second teacher.Scoil Naomh Pádraig in Connemara is set to lose three of its seven pupils next September, and therefore, its second teacher.The Parents Committee’s fundraiser has brought in €14,000 to potentially share with seven families that choose to educate their children at the Gaelscoil, which is located between loughs Corrib and Mask in north Connemara.Joining Andrea to discuss is Ruaidhrí Kineavy, Treasurer for the Parents Committee for the school.

Almost half of people getting married are willing to go into debt to fund their wedding celebrations, according to a survey from online savings platform Raisin Bank.With the average cost of an Irish wedding currently between €10,000 and €20,000 – have things gotten too expensive?Joining Andrea to discuss is Lyndsey Moynagh, Wedding Planner, Social Media Content Creator Holly Carpenter, Broadcaster and Sustainability Influencer Fionnula Moran and Senior Newstalk Producer Helena O’Toole.

Recent figures from Cars Ireland reveal manual car sales have dropped by over 50% in the last ten years, while automatic sales have skyrocketed by more than 500%.So, will automatics soon take over completely, or do drivers still hold on to the thrill of changing gears themselves?Joining Andrea to discuss is Brenda Bolger, Driving Instructor from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny, Nadia Adan, owner of Ashford Motors, 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 Marie McDonald and Carmel Reidy from Greystones Scrabble Club to discuss the benefits behind this timeless board game!

Love Island returned to our screens last night, much to the delight of many.But, does the show perpetuate unrealistic standards of beauty?Joining Andrea to discuss is Holli Breslin, Entertainment TikTok Reporter, Orlaith Condon, Co-Host of ‘My Pod on Paper’, Mikie O'Loughlin, Showbiz Editor of RSVP and Kerry Hanafy, Clinic Owner for Kerry Hanaphy Aesthetic Clinic.Image: Hulu

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

Phones have become an extension of ourselves, an ever-present feature as we make our way through our days.But, a pub in Cork has decided to go offline…Michael Droney and Pat Bourke, owners of The O’Sho, join Andrea to discuss!

School's out, and it's time to scream and shout! But, for many parents, the real juggling act begins. In Italy, some parents are even turning to therapy to cope with what they call the ‘nightmare’ of the three-month summer holiday.So, how are you planning to keep the kids entertained this summer? Are summer camps the answer, or are they just too expensive for the average family?Joining Andrea to discuss is Katie Makk, parent and host of the ‘Opinions Matter’ podcast, Mary McCarthy, columnist for the Irish Independent, Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Developmental Therapist & Founder of COGNI Kids and Marie O’Reilly, Publisher of children’s magazine Primary Times.

What are the things you put off or procrastinate over? The singer behind the song ‘I don’t like cricket, I love it’ went to see cricket for the first time ever nearly 47 years after it was a hit!Have you let something go that long? What are your tips to avoid procrastination, and how do you get the jobs you’ve pulled the finger out?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr. Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Nicola Bardon, Features Writer with the Irish Sun.

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 Native Editor with DMG Ireland Sarah-Jayne Tobin join Andrea to review ‘Begin Again With Davina McCall’!Image: Flight Story

Rent pressure zones are set to be gotten rid of – with a plan going to cabinet soon.Currently, rent increases are capped at 2% a year, or at the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.But, will this do anything to solve the housing crisis?Joining Andrea to discuss is Maurice Deverell, Member of Irish Property Owners Association, Carol Tallon, CEO of Property District and author of ‘Irish Property Buyers Handbook Annual’ as well as listeners.

What goes into making a huge theatre production?What kind of work goes into putting on those huge shows that we see like the Lion King or Wicked?For the first time ever, the Bord Gais are making an entire production from scratch…General Manager at the BGET and Producer of Little Shop Of Horrors Stephen Faloon and Director and Choreographer of the show Claire Tighe join 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…

Inflation across groceries and household items is resulting in an increased spend of nearly €400 from the same shopping basket as last year, but how is it impacting Irish consumers and particularly families, and what are the ways in which the cost of living crisis has affected and changed the ways in which you shop?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk, as well as listeners…

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking about Making Babies.Guest host Anna Daly is 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 Anna to talk about different models of care.

Are you superstitious? Do you believe in fairies? Maybe not, but would you interfere with a fairy fort or a hawthorn tree, and what do we believe about these ancient sites?Folklorist Shane Lehane advises that perhaps we'd better leave them alone when it comes to the fairies, and that there’s a long-standing tradition that decrees we should not touch these ancient sites.He joins guest host Anna Daly to discuss, as well as listeners.

In a major shake-up in France’s digital landscape - Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube have gone dark nationwide.The move comes after their parent company, Aylo, suspended access in protest of new French laws requiring strict age verification to block minors from adult content.Critics say it raises privacy concerns; the government insists it's protecting children.But, should porn sites in Ireland require user verification?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Roisin Sullivan, Lactation Consultant with the HSE to discuss and answer any questions regarding lactation!

The Irish language has exploded on TikTok, with a 600% growth in people using the platform through the language, according to reporting by the Herald.Guest host Anna Daly is joined by just a few of the online content creators that are contributing to this growth!Máire na Greine and Kayleigh Trappe join to discuss.

There’s a discussion happening in the Irish Times today about the need for more CCTV cameras to help Gardaí track down criminals, and also to generally act as a deterrent. At the moment, there is one Garda CCTV camera for every 6,000 people in our capital city. But, would more cameras help to tackle crime or infringe on our civil liberties and abilities to freely roam around and enjoy life?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by listeners to discuss.

Anna Daly’s guest today is Daire Fitzpatrick. His wife Anne-Marie became seriously ill in 2022, and was later diagnosed with Lyme disease through private testing. Daire is now her full-time carer, and they’re preparing for treatment abroad.Daire joins Anna 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 Jonathan O’Brien, the owner of City Kayaking to discuss kayaking through the heart of Dublin!

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Katherine McGillicuddy, Practicing Barrister with an emphasis on criminal law, joins Andrea to answer any of your criminal trial questions!

The Women’s Mini Marathon is this weekend.Women from all over the country will be in Dublin this weekend to run the 10k around the city.Will you be taking part? Andrea is joined by two people who are to discuss!

Irish peacekeeping troops in Lebanon came under fire yesterday from Israeli forces.Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris described the incident as “utterly reckless” while on The Pat Kenny Show earlier today…The incident happened as he announced the renewal of Ireland’s UNIFIL Mandate for another 12 months – but is the region still safe for our troops?Joining Andrea to discuss is Gerard Craughwell, Independent Senator and former member of the Defence Forces, Mark Keeley, former Defence Forces, Tom Barry, retired Commandant with the Defence Force and Raymond Murphy, Professor at the Irish Centre For Human Rights in NUI Galway and former UN Peacekeeper.

With the bank holiday ahead of us, and hopefully a lovely summer ahead – we wanted to give you some much needed holiday inspiration!What are some of the more quirky or unique places to stay around the country?Joining Andrea to talk through them is Roie McCann from Clare Island Lighthouse, Derval Haughey from Teapot Lane, Lorna Williams from River Valley Holiday Park and Orla Conroy from Barrow Barge Hire.

From Cork culinary wins to rural social woes, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

France is introducing a bold new smoking ban, extending to parks, beaches, and near schools - aiming for a tobacco-free generation by 2032.But, should Ireland do the same?Joining Andrea to discuss is Professor Luke Clancy, Director General of the Tobacco Free Research Institute Ireland, Ian O Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent, Green Party Councillor for Wicklow Erika Doyle and more.

It’s fair to say the weather hasn’t kept up its end of the bargain lately, we’ve had one too many summer showers and cloudy days!So, how do we make our indoors feel like outdoors, when that’s where we want to be?The Home Squad is here to talk about it!Jenny Sheehan, former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ who you’ll know on Instagram as @workerscottage & Róisín Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty Design House join Andrea.

What does it take to become an Irish citizen?Last year, over 5,000 took part in the citizenship ceremony that’s coming up in a few weeks.But, what does it involve?Joining Andrea to discuss is two people who know the process: Gina London and Maria Dickenson.

A listener contacted the show recently detailing how they have been plagued by poor customer service in recent years.How big of a problem is bad customer service, and should it be a consumer right?Joining Andrea to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affair Correspondent at the Irish Times.

Are dickie-bows and ties a thing of the past, should children have the option to wear tracksuits, or should we stick to tradition and discipline?Joining Andrea to discuss is Rachel Harper, Principal of St. Patrick’s National School in Greystones, Barbara Ennis, Principal, Alexandra College Dublin and more.

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 Newstalk’s Showbiz Reporter Emily Keegan, who’s going to talk us through the latest Taylor Swift project: ‘The Tortured Poets Department’...

Today, we're talking about a growing tension on roads — fast-moving cyclists and unsuspecting walkers. In The Irish Times, Kathy Sheridan writes, 'I have nothing against cycling, but spare me from speeding cyclists on country paths…’So, are cyclists arrogant?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

On the show, the topic about the pain of losing a parent, or a child, has been covered before. But, something not touched on as much is the grief that comes with losing a friend…It’s something most of us will have to go through at some stage of our lives.Joining Andrea to discuss is Oona Frawley, author of ‘This Interim Time’, Kathie Stritch, from Grief Ireland and Grief Psychotherapist, Liz Gleeson.

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…

Many young Irish people are still heading to Australia in search of a better life. Lately, an increasing number are choosing to work in the mines, hoping to save up for a mortgage. But, with the cost of living on the rise, the question is: Is Australia still the land of opportunity? Is the grass still as green as it once seemed?Andrea is joined by some of those young people living over there to discuss.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking about 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 importance of diet and exercise during pregnancy…

A new survey by Lipton Ice Tea has revealed that half of us are terrified of dancing in public. Nearly 6 in 10 say that they “actively avoid” social events where they know music will be playing. And when it comes to busting a move, it's Gen Z who feel the most self-conscious about hitting the dance floor.Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly and Dr Peter Lovatt, AKA Dr Dance, Director of Dance Psychology at Movement in Practice.

Today we’re talking about Dublin’s new permanent night-time welfare zone, a space aimed at supporting vulnerable people in the city centre after dark.Why is it needed, and what impact could it have?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ian Redmond, owner of Hyde, Mark Dunne, SETU Students Union President and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Professor Karen Boland to discuss and answer any questions about Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD.

Pavlo Bogachenko has been living in Ireland for two years now, and while he loves the humor of Irish people, there’s one thing that still throws him off: how indirect we can be. As a Ukrainian used to calling things as they are, Pavlo says navigating Irish politeness can feel like decoding “50 shades of great”...Decisions take longer; feedback is softer, and let’s be honest - sometimes no one wants to say what they really mean. Why are Irish people indirect? Do we need to learn to toughen up a bit?Andrea is joined by listeners, including Pavlo, to discuss.

Last week, an independent audit raised serious concerns about how hip surgery procedures were carried out, and the oversight involved by Children’s Health Ireland…This week, parents are being told only one parent is allowed to be present at the follow-up assessment for their child.Why is this the case, and why are parents being let down?Andrea is joined by some of those affected to discuss.