Lunchtime Live

Traitors has taken over our TVs and an Irish series has been commissioned for RTÉ.So, why are we so invested in deception, and how do we know if someone is lying to us?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Psychiatrist, Brendan Kelly.Image: RTÉ

From car park charges to cúpla focal, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Gardaí caught 266 drivers on their phones yesterday as part of a national day of action targeting mobile use behind the wheel.762 motorists have been caught by gardaí using their phones while driving already this year, which marks a fourfold increase on the daily average last year.So, why are we still not getting the message when it comes to phone use behind the wheel?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

When you’re looking to do a bit of work on your kitchen, should you make a kitchen island part of that plan? This week, the Home Squad are looking into it!Andrea is joined by Arlene McIntrye, Creative Director of Ventura Design and Sarah Carroll from Sand and Deliver DIY to discuss.

A plea for support from a mother raised more than €400k in just a few days on GoFundMe, but a lot more is needed to help 7 year old Archie…Una Ennis, Archie’s mum, joins Andrea to discuss why she put out a plea for help.Image: @una_ennis_xo on Instagram

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the deposit return scheme.So far, 900 million plastic bottles and cans have been brought back to machines and shops, but Larissa Nolan, Features Editor and Columnist with the Irish Mirror, told Newstalk earlier today that she thinks the scheme is a nuisance...What do you think? Are you in favour of the Deposit Return Scheme?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

There has been positive news from Gaza yesterday, with an announcement of a prospective ceasefire…But, how optimistic are the people of Palestine that it will last?Andrea is joined by people from the area to discuss.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter on 98fm’s Big Breakfast joins Andrea to look back on the year 1977!

The Programme for Government was released yesterday, a 162-page document covering the coalition’s plans for the next 4 years...One of the education promises includes improving the student teacher ratio to 19:1, but how bad is it currently?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Skincare Expert, Eavanna Breen, to learn about how the cold season can affect your skin, and the best ways you can look after it.

A scammer duped a French woman into paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds after convincing her that she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt.The scammer used AI to make images of Brad Pitt, sick in hospital, to scam her out of €830,000. She thought she was helping with cancer treatment for him.Andrea is joined by Becky Holmes, author of ‘Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You’, to discuss these types of scams.

From February 3rd, the price of a Guiness will go up another 6 cents, along with other pints produced by company Diageo.What impact does this have on the hospitality industry?Andrea is joined by publicans and listeners to discuss.

Andrea’s guest is a prolific sperm donor, who says he will soon have 100 children across the globe…Kyle Gordy joins the show 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.Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Senior representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland have objected to President Michael D Higgins giving the keynote speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in Dublin later this month.What do you think?Is it right for our President to speak at the Holocaust memorial day in Dublin?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD for Dun Laoghaire, Daniel O'Dowd-Epstein, Lior Tibet and Dorcha Lee, retired Army Colonel and Peacekeeper.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.This week, Entertainment and Culture Journalist Rory Cashin and Laura Donnelly from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Shell Game’!Image: Evan Ratliff

A Derry nun has begun the path to sainthood with a special ceremony in Madrid.Sister Clare Crockett from Derry died in an earthquake in South America on the 16th of April 2016.Andrea is joined by Clare's sister, Shauna Gill, to discuss.

A study has found that a shocking number of female sports stars don’t see themselves as role models.According to new research from Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association 43% of LGFA inter-county players said they do not currently consider themselves as role models.So, why do female sports stars have such a difficult time in seeing themselves as sports stars?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Hannah Looney, Dual football and Camogie player for Cork, Aishling Sheridan, former Collingwood Football Club AFL Women’s player in Australia & Cavan LGFA player, former Cork LGFA star Valerie Mulcah, Linda Gorman, former Ireland player, Coach, & Ireland’s first Female International Soccer Manager and more.

Last night, Andrea went to see The Brutalist, which stars Adrian Brody. It was great, but was also three and a half hours long, with an intermission to break it up.So, is that too much of a length, and is this something that more films are doing?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Irish Independent Journalist Saoirse Hanley, author and Screenwriter Patrick Osborne and Mark Anderson, Director of the Omniplex Cinema Group.Image: A24

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 Dwayne Edgar, Founder of Inner City Running Club to learn more about running in a group like this one!

Since 2019, personal injury claims have fallen by about 40%, and yet, premiums continue to rise and affect businesses.Joining Andrea to discuss how business is being hurt by insurance costs is Leah O’Brien from Breifne Gymnastics Club Cavan, Ger Hough, owner of JJ Hough's Singing Pub in Bangher Co. Offaly, Paula Donohoe, owner of Clever Cloggs Creche in Ballyconnell in County Cavan and Jackie Conboy, Co-Founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland.

For this week’s Ask the GP, Andrea is joined by Katie Mugan, Lactation Consultant & Breastfeeding & Formula Feeding Specialist…

Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week.Fire fighters there are still trying to control three large wildfires.The death toll from the disaster is now at 24, with another 16 remaining missing…Andrea is joined by two Irish people living in the area, Owen Dara and Kevin J Ryan, to discuss what things are like on the ground.Image: Reuters

Enoch Burke has been back protesting outside the school he was sacked from last week. He has been protesting there on and off since 2022, and is sometimes joined by supporters.Andrea is joined by the mum of a pupil at the school Enoch Burke is protesting at to discuss how it is affecting the students there…

It's hard to go on a walk these days and not see an abundance of dog poo, but what should we do to solve it?What do you do if you notice people aren’t picking up after themselves?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Katy Harrington, Features Editor for The Irish Independent, Dave O'Reilly,  Greystones Tidy Towns Chairman and Cork Cllr Peter Horgan.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration!This week, Erica Drum, TV Chef and Food Stylist (and @ericadrumie on Instagram!), joins Andrea to discuss batch cooking recipes you can fry up in the pan!As always, you can follow #LLBigBatch on our socials to find the recipes.

Students in Ireland have easy access to a personal “homework genie” powered by artificial intelligence that can do their assignments in a matter of seconds.Teacher Patrick Hickey, an Irish expert in AI and education, says that most teachers, principals and parents are completely unaware that students have access to this level of AI “in their back pocket”...Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly, Mary McCarthy, Irish Independent Columnist, Siobhan O’Neill White from Mams.ie and more to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Lindsay Moynagh, Founder of Wendor and House of Hannah Weddings & Events joins Andrea to answer any of your wedding-related questions!

Do you reach for your phone as soon as you wake up?Well, you’re not alone: 75% of people immediately check our social media feeds as soon as they get up in the morning.Figures from networks in the UK show spikes in network traffic immediately after 6am, 7am and 8am…Hilda Burke, Psychotherapist & author of ‘The Phone Addiction Workbook’ joins Andrea to discuss.

Vogue Williams has said in a recent podcast that no friends or family offered to mind her children over the Christmas holidays.Is there a pressure to mind your friends and family children?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

‘Botox for Bros’ or ‘Brotox’ as it’s being called in certain online circles – describes the rise in men getting cosmetic procedures.  But, is there still the stigma attached around men wanting to improve or enhance their looks? Does it make a man any less masculine? Or do you think it should be encouraged?Andrea is joined by Professor Jack Kelly, President of the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons, as well as two men who have had cosmetic procedures, to discuss.

From kindness in the cold weather to Wexford being shown to America, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

There have been wildfires engulfing Los Angeles the last few days, with thousands evacuated and thousands of homes destroyed. Joining Andrea to discuss their experience with the disaster is Simon McCoy from the LA Cougars GAA Club, Green Party Councillor Laura Tuite and more.Image: Reuters

If you’re looking for ways to keep your house heated in the cold - why not take a look at windows? This week, the Home Squad are looking at all things window treatments!Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheahan, Irish Examiner Columnist and ‘Home of the Year’ winner and Sarah Carroll from Sand and Deliver DIY to discuss.

Knowing your relationship is coming to an end can be very hard.But, how do you know if, and when, to call it a day?Claire Auchmuty, Divorce and Relationship Coach, joins Andrea to discuss.

Every Thursday on Lunchtime Live, Andrea will be joined by followers of different religions in Ireland to learn more about them.This week, Pastor Daniel Yoder from the Amish Mennonite community in Ireland joins Andrea to discuss his faith.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter on 98fm’s Big Breakfast joins Andrea to look back on the year 1976!

Ryanair has confirmed that it will now file legal proceedings against disruptive passengers. The company is claiming €15,000 in damages against a passenger on a flight between Dublin and Lanzarote last year, claiming the customer disrupted the flight.Dara Brady, Director of Marketing, Digital and Communications at Ryanair told Newstalk earlier that they are looking to send a strong message that disruption won’t be accepted...What do you think about Ryanair’s new crackdown on disruptive fliers?What should happen to unruly passengers?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

With January bringing blustery weather, you’re probably feeling the cold a lot more.So, are there things we can do to our homes that might help, without breaking the bank?For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Brian McIntyre, Programme Manager at SEAI to answer all of your questions!

You hear very different information about whether or not coffee is good for you.There’s a new report out today saying that one cup in the morning is the ideal time, and is better than not drinking any at all.So, what’s true?Shelly Gray, Dietitian, joins Andrea to discuss.

Snow and Ice continue to disrupt the whole country today…To hear more about the effect this weather has had in areas around the country, Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Henry McKean, Cllr. Charlie Farrelly, Father Iggy O’Donovan, Journalist Édaein O' Connell and Kieran Donaghy from the Tralee Wanders Basketball Club.

Buskers on Grafton Street say they fear for livelihoods as apartments there have been given the go ahead.They are concerned that noise complaints will target them if people are living nearby.So, should they be protected?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Francesco Parodi, a busker on Grafton Street and Andy Kavanaugh from the band Keywest.

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…

Parents should get priority over child-free colleagues on booking annual leave – particularly when children are off school.That’s according to Freelance Journalist Rhiannon Picton-James who was chatting to Newstalk earlier today...What do you think?Should parents get priority booking annual leave over their child-free coworkers?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.This week, host of the ‘For Tech Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke and Tom Douglas from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Bone Valley’!Image: Lava For Good

New proposed bylaws for soup kitchens have caused a lot of controversy with volunteers in the sector…There are plans to draft ‘soup kitchen’ bylaws to end groups setting up unregulated services like hot meals to homeless people.The council said it wants food services to be provided in safe, regulated, indoor settings.To discuss, Andrea is joined by Lorraine O’Connor from the Muslim Sisters of Éire and Glenda Harrington, the Founder of Friends Helping Friends, an outdoor soup kitchen in Dublin City centre.

You may have heard it on Newstalk Breakfast this morning: despite the government promising the rollout of free HRT to women of all ages – that there has been a delay, seeing patients paying up to €70 for HRT products.What are your thoughts? Is this delay reasonable given that this had been in the works for some time?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

We all know the extra stress that can come with catching a flight, ensuring a suitcase isn’t overweight, that toiletries and liquids are removed from your case, and that all medication is appropriately packed with a prescription visible... Well, even when following this checklist, Andrea’s guest encountered an issue. Dolores Pickering, whose husband Brian, is buried in Ireland, was returning home to visit her husband’s grave with her son for Christmas…Her son, Jason, suffers with anxiety and uses medical cannabis to alleviate the symptoms. Having traveled with it previously and declaring it upon arrival at any given destination airport, Jason has been asked to produce his prescription certifying the medical use of cannabis… However, on their visit here last Christmas, Dolores says they were interrogated, with the medicinal cannabis confiscated and destroyed in Dublin Airport…Dolores, as well as Peter Reynolds, Chair of the Ireland Working Group of the Cannabis Industry Council, join Andrea 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 Karen Belshaw from Stress Management Ireland to give her best tips on recognising and handling the biggest points of stress in our lives.

You may have seen videos and photos of people around the country enjoying the snow. And, you may have even seen people skiing in various mountains around the country despite calls from Wicklow Mountain Rescue not to do so…Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss the risks when skiing or snowboarding in the Wicklow Mountains, including Independent Cllr in Wicklow Gerry O’Neill and Philip Conroy, EMT for Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue.