Lunchtime Live

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Jasmine Gerhardt, Miss Ireland and upcoming contestant in Miss World joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Today is National Daffodil Day; all around the country you’ll see people out today with buckets asking you to give generously for the Irish Cancer Society.So, where does the money go?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

There has been a lot of talk about the hit show Adolescence recently.It has brought a lot of conversations to the fore – especially about the ‘manosphere’, influencers like Andrew Tate and dissatisfaction among young men.Joining Andrea to discuss toxic masculinity and men’s mental health is Human Potential Coach Ben Bidwell, Eimear Murphy from REIM Training Solutions, Chris Sherlock, Author, Mental Health Advocate and Anti-Bullying Campaigner as well as listeners.

Are you a football chanter?What is it about chanting at a football game that you love so much? What joy does it bring out in you?Apparently, over half of fans believe self-deprecating songs are a big part of football's fun.Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Johnny Ward, Ciaran Bradley from Newstalk’s Digital Team and Maeve De Burca, former Ireland player and Pundit.

From loo of the year to takeaway troubles, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

British MP Andrew Rosindell has called for Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth, arguing it could strengthen trade, diplomacy, and cultural ties. He believes membership would foster shared values of democracy and peace, offering Ireland new opportunities for global cooperation, despite the historical complexities between Ireland and the UK.What do you think?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Ray Bassett, former Senior Diplomat for Jamaica, Bahamas, Canada and Australia, as well as listeners.

If you don’t like the look of your radiator at home - no need to worry! The Home Squad are here to talk about what you can do to cover them up.Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Róisín Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty Design House to discuss.

Makeup Expert Michelle Ragazzoli Stone joins Andrea to share her five favorite beauty products. With her years of experience and eye for quality, she’ll walk you through the essentials she swears by for creating flawless looks!

The lack of speech and language therapists in the country is having a profound impact on Irish children.That’s according to Andrea’s guest, Eoghan O’Byrne, Principal of St Mary’s National School in Limerick City. He joins, along with Sarah Kelly, SpeakEasy Speech and Language Therapist and listeners to discuss.

This weekend the Endometriosis Association of Ireland are having their annual conference.It'll bring experts in front of people living with the condition to help gain understanding and knowledge.Andrea will be there, and so will Dr Larisa Corda, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Serena Massey, CEO of Endometriosis Association of Ireland. They join to discuss.

One Irish man is making it his mission to visit every Irish pub in the world.Colm Dalton, originally from Kerry, now living in London, joins Andrea to discuss.

How little is too little when it comes to clothes at the gym?An article in the Times UK writes:‘I’m in the gym with semi-clad young women. Where do I look?’ writes Robert Crampton, ‘At my gym, whose patrons are three-quarters women in their twenties and thirties, I often feel as if I’ve wandered into the girls’ changing room by mistake’.What do you think?Have you noticed a lack of clothing at the gym?Andrea is joined by Paul Byrne, Director of Body Byrne Training, Nathalie Lennon, Content creator & personal trainer, Paulette Egan, Co-Founder of athletics clothing brand I-Spy clothing as well as listeners to discuss.

The cost of health insurance, energy, broadband, mobile and television services are all due to go up next month.So, several of your bills are going to rise, and soon.Joining Andrea to discuss why this is happening and what you can do is Irish Independent Personal Finance Editor, Charlie Weston and Michael Kilcoyne, Chairman of the Consumer Association of Ireland.

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: CMAT

‘No European city would tolerate the decay and dereliction visible in Dublin’ that is according to Independent Senator Michael McDowell writing in the Irish Times this morning.What do you think? Is Ireland an outlier in Europe when it comes to dereliction?Andrea is joined by Architect & Lecturer in Griffith College, Róisín Murphy, Robin Mandal from the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance and more 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 debunk baby making myths!

Ryanair has launched an exclusive discount scheme for frequent flyers.Ryanair Prime will cost €79 for a full 12-month subscription – they say it could save Irish flyers hundreds of euros.Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist with the Irish Examiner Cianan Brennan, John Gibbons, Environmental Journalist and Commentator and listeners to discuss.

The Government has been accused of ‘sticking two fingers up’ to the public on a day of Dáil chaos…Yesterday, scenes of unprecedented heckling were witnessed inside the chamber...So, what do you think of what happened in the Dáil yesterday?Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe, as well as listeners to discuss.Image: Paul Murphy

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Seanie Clifford, AKA the CV Doctor, to answer any of your CV questions!

How often we should shower depends on factors like skin type, lifestyle, and climate.While daily showers work for some, others may benefit from showering less frequently.But, do we judge people who don’t shower daily?Andrea is joined by Aesthetician Eavanna Breen to discuss.

Lifeguards at one of Dublin’s top beaches have been issued with a dedicated sharps bin for syringes due to the volume of drugs paraphernalia being found along the shore.The latest incident reports compiled by lifeguards at Dollymount, which cover the 2022 and 2023 bathing seasons, recount a persistence of drug use and antisocial behaviour – including a man found to have overdosed in the sand dunes.Logbooks for previous years contained details of bathers being pricked by discarded syringes.So, is drug use and anti-social behaviour an issue on our beaches?Darragh McDonagh, Journalist with the Irish Mirror, Deputy Lord Mayor and Green Party Councillor, Donna Cooney and Dave O’Reilly Chair of Tidy Towns Greystones and listeners join Andrea to discuss.

‘Catch-up’ friendships are those where interactions are infrequent and centered around updates on life events.Often shaped by distance or changing priorities, these relationships can be comforting, but may lack the depth of more consistent connections.So, are you caught in a ‘catch-up’ friendship?Andrea is joined by Sarah Jayne Tobin, Editor with DMG Media, Laura Mullet, Journalist and stylist and Today FM’s Cathal Minogue to discuss.

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