Lunchtime Live

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…

Yesterday on the show, we heard from our callers about the lack of public toilets in towns and cities across the country. One listener got in touch to express his frustration with regards to the lack of family toilets anywhere. John has three young girls and finds it difficult to bring them to the toilet when out in public…He joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Comedian Steve Cummins and listeners.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 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 pain relief options during pregnancy.

We all scroll on our phones, but how can you tell whether the advice shared online is real or coming wrong?As a viral post sharing a cancer detecting pregnancy test is debunked, Andrea is joined by Laura Dowling, known as the ‘Fabulous Pharmacist’ online…

Irish MEP Michael McNamara has called for public transport to be made free in response to the ongoing energy crisis spurred by the conflict in the Middle East.With many people spending a lot of time on public transport for work and day-to-day activities, is free transport what people really want, or would we prefer to see better transport across the country?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Johnathan Hehir, Managing Director of insuremyhouse.ie to answer any of your questions on car insurance!

Great news for Céline Dion fans: she’s announced a return to stage with 10 concerts in Paris later this year!Are you a big fan? How excited are you?Joining Andrea to discuss is Singer and Songwriter Ruth Anne Cunningham Spin1038’s Katie Gallagher!

Andrea’s guest is living with an uncontrollable condition which sees him singled out when out and about. Martin Sturman suffers with tics and Tourette syndrome, and finds it impacts his day-to-day life when it comes to dating, finding work and even getting public transport…We want to know, what exactly is Tourette syndrome? And how can we become more aware of the condition for people living with it?Martin joins Andrea to share his story…

The Italian Competition Authority has announced an investigation into Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics over the alleged use of “covert marketing strategies” to promote beauty products to young girls.Experts warn that such practices may be contributing to a growing and unhealthy fixation on skincare among minors, often referred to as “cosmeticorexia”...Have you noticed your child becoming fascinated with beauty products and skincare? How can we tackle the pressures these young boys and girls are facing?Joining Andrea to discuss is Irish Independent Columnist, Mary McCarthy, Psychotherapist who offers parenting support, Behan O’Riordan and clinic owner for Kerry Hanaphy Aesthetic Clinic, Kerry Hanaphy.

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 Endocrinologist Dr Mary Ryan to discuss her new book ‘It’s Probably Your Period’, and the importance of understanding your cycle.

Can you think of the last time you used a public toilet?For many people, finding a public toilet is difficult and instead you end up nipping into restaurants instead...Now, it has been revealed that the new public toilets promised for Dublin city centre are still at a “concept stage” - nine months after six million euro in funding was announced...So, what do you think about this delay, and how much do we need public toilets?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

As we head into the Easter weekend, many of us will be taking advantage of the long break to start planning our summer getaways - from early sunshine escapes in May to well-deserved holidays later in the season.With rising fuel costs continuing to drive up the price of flights and accommodation, keeping an eye on the budget has never been more important. The good news is, there are still plenty of ways to travel abroad without overspending, if you know where to look!Joining Andrea with her top tips, savvy travel hacks, and budget-friendly ideas is Ciara Mooney, owner of Freedom Travel.

Irish Rail offers passengers a flexible ticket option, allowing them to change their booking up to one hour before departure. However, one traveler was left extremely frustrated after being denied boarding a train to Cork, despite arriving just one minute after missing his original service.So, are these flexi-tickets worth the money, and are they even flexible?Andrea is joined by Barry Kenny, Head of Communications with Irish Rail, Lochlann Gallagher, Chair of the Galway Commuters Coalition and listeners.

For many of us, pay day has just happened, and hopefully you’ve a few bob in your account, but how can you best manage it?Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone and Founder of Ask Paul joins Andrea with advice!

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Host of the ‘For Tech's Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke and Today FM Producer Cathal Minogue join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Strangers on a Bench’!Image: Acast

This morning on Newstalk Breakfast, Anton spoke to Paul Crone on proposed shorter school days…The changes come after a report found the Irish curriculum is “overloaded” and should be adapted to follow the Finnish model.Joining Andrea to discuss is Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fail TD for Clare and Chairman of the Oireachtas Education and Youth Committee, Lisa Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram), Jen Hogan, Irish Times journalist and host of the ‘Conversations with Parents’ podcast and listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, former Boxer and Olympic champion Michael Carruth joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Do you give up your seat on public transport?Have we lost all manners on public transport?Whether you struggle to stand or are heavily pregnant, you might have noticed that many people are too glued to their phones to look up and give their seat to somebody who needs it more.Joining Andrea to discuss is Hannah Saunders, PR agent and mother of 2, Kyle Butler, News Reporter and Journalist with Newstalk and listeners.

Planning permission has been granted by Donegal County Council to build a new petrol beside Creeslough site.It was here that an explosion killed ten people, including 14-year-old Leona Harper, in October 2022.Her father, Hugh Harper, joins Andrea to share his reaction…

It’s disappointment for the nation as Ireland lost to Czechia in last night’s World Cup play-off semifinal, which came down to a penalty shootout.Andrea is joined by Irish fans who made their way out to Prague to watch the match to discuss…

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

Hospital food has long had a poor reputation. Many patients feel that meals served on the wards are bland, unappetizing, and lacking the nutrition needed to support recovery.However, not everyone shares this view. One of our listeners had a very different experience, describing the food as both high-quality and generous, so much so that he believes patients should contribute a small fee of just €2 per day to have it.Robert got in touch to share his positive experience at Mayo University Hospital, and joins Andrea, along with Heath Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Niamh Griffin, Advocate with Access for All Ireland, Bernard Mulvany and listeners to discuss.

If you want to decorate the walls of your home, what kind of art should you put on display?This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss picking artwork for your home!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Interior Stylist Sarah Doyle of Retwiggd.

If you’re not 100% clued in to what’s happening tonight - what can you expect from the Ireland vs Czechia match? What are the things you need to know?Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill!

Síomha Ní Ruairc recently stated that she would not be sharing her newborn daughter’s name or image.‘Sharenting’ seems to be an increasingly important conversation, so would you share your child’s identity online?Joining Andrea to discuss is Elaine Burke from the ‘For Tech's Sake’ podcast, Katie Makk from the ‘Opinion Matter’ podcast, Jen Hogan, podcast host,  Journalist with the Irish Times and mother of 7, as well as listeners.

The Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association (IMNDA) is inviting people across Ireland to put the kettle on and host a tea party this March as part of its annual ‘Drink Tea for MND’ campaignLorraine Kelly Donnelly from Garristown, North County Dublin, was diagnosed with MND in July 2025. She, along with her husband Cormac, joins Andrea to share her story…

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?Joining Andrea to discuss is Alan Buckley from the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, who’s going to talk through Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’!

Thousands of Ireland soccer fans have descended on Prague ahead of the big match tonight...So, as Ireland gets ready to take on Czechia tonight, what's the atmosphere like there ahead of the game?Andrea is joined by Irish fans to find out!

World Cup fever has certainly kicked off as thousands of Irish fans make their way to Prague ahead of the play-offs tomorrow.Henry McKean has followed the fans from Dublin Airport, Josh Crosbie has been to Portland Row to speak with family and friends of Troy Parrot and Andrea is joined by Noel Anderson, from the Grandslam bars group - all to get a sense of the excitement!

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…

Paid leave for miscarriage will come into effect on the 6th of April in Northern Ireland. This will mean that the North will be leading the way as one of the first places in Europe to ensure paid leave for miscarriage.The paid leave will cover both partners and include any stage of pregnancy.Should we follow suit and introduce this here in the Republic?Joining Andrea to discuss is Siobhan O’Neill Whyte from Mams.ie, Tracey Carroll, Vice President of Safe for Birth Ireland, Fianna Fáil Senator Catherine Ardagh and listeners.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, 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 what to know if you exercise during pregnancy.

Do you dread seeing a wedding invite drop in the door due to how much it’s going to set you back?Sinead Ryan, Presenter of the Home Show and Columnist with the Irish Independent, Wedding Planner Lyndsey Moynagh and Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie join Andrea to discuss the cost of being a wedding guest.

Journalist June Shannon wrote in today’s Irish Times that she recently got her driver’s license, at the age of 54 and a half.She isn’t the only one, as many people, of all ages, face obstacles in learning to drive…June joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring, Newstalk’s Katie Gallagher and listeners.

Many of us struggle with knowing anything about mortgages, getting mortgage approval, or even switching your mortgage.  Trevor Grant, Chairperson, Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors joined Andrea to answer any questions you may have in regards to mortages

Councillors and local residents have been raising the issue of delays in CPO payments... If you drive past Glencullen Road near Ticknock mountain in County Dublin, you will see posters asking for CPO payments...So what is happening with Compulsory Purchase Order payments and why are residents left waiting Years to get the promised compensation from councils?Joining Andrea was Fine Gael Councillor Pierce Dargan, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and Resident Linda

For many years, people working in the hospitality sector have depended on tips to make some extra money. As a result of this, a recent poll suggests that three-quarters of hospitality workers say they saw it as a positive recognition of their efforts and nearly as many said, it can influence their customer service levels. Adrian Cummins from the Restaurant Association joined Andrea to discuss this aswell as listeners with their experience and those who work in the hospitality industry.

Lunchtime Live got an email in from a listener with an issue she noticed. Mary, whiule travelling on an Aer Lingus flight, noticed that the milk provided to her was not Irish and was in fact milk from Slovakia.Aer Lingus confiremd to us that due to a  temporary shortage of the Irish-produced milk,  sticks an alternative will be used on a short-term basis.Is this an insult to Irish Dairy producers, and should our state carrier only be using Irish goods?Joining Andrea to discuss was Mary TurnerNoel Murphy – Chairperson of ICMSA Dairy Committee Eoghan Corry - Editor of Air & Travel magazine  and Thomas Duffy - Dairy Farmer in CavanAer Lingus statement: Due to an operational issue, our catering partner has experienced a temporary shortage of the Irish-produced milk sticks normally served on Aer Lingus flights. To ensure continuity of service, an alternative has been used on a short-term basis. Normal supply is expected to resume shortly.

Have you got a best friend? Or are best friends something 10-year-olds argue about in the playground?Writing in the Irish Independent, Tanya Sweeney says that she doesn’t have a female best friend and sometimes feels like a failure.So how important is it to have a best friend and do we have the wrong ideas about female friendships, given how they are portrayed in movies and films?Joining Andrea was Tanya Sweeney and Stephanie Regan Clinical Psychotherapist

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

Men and women can often be treated differently when it comes to certain tasks and ideas. It is only nowadays that we are seeing women working in a “man’s job” and a man doing a “woman’s job”, but how stereotypical are we, and how does it feed into our day-to-day life?Many women feel that when they go to buy a new car, they are not taken seriously by the sales representative, and they feel like they are getting cheated out of a good deal… As a woman, has this ever happened to you? Or would you feel confident to go out and buy a car, knowing exactly what you want and how much you're willing to spend?Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist Yvonne Reddin, Nadia Adan, Founder of Ashford Motors and Joey Donnelly from Crafton Motors.

A video has been circulating of an assault of a young woman in Tipperary…It’s been spoken about many times on this show about why there is a lack of laws and legislations around the distribution of footage from attacks and assaults, but why are people still getting away with it?Joining Andrea to discuss is David Hall, owner of Lifeline Ambulance, Ronan Lupton, Barrister and Senior Council and more.

A voice that is probably familiar to you all from reading the news: Teena Gates was left deflated after a recent incident in Blanchardstown…She joins Andrea to discuss what happened.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Elaine Power, host of ‘What’s Trending in F1?’ podcast and Sarah Jayne Tobin, Native Content Editor at DMG Media Ireland join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Shite Talk: An Irish History Podcast’!Image: HeadStuff Podcasts

With fuel prices rising due to the ongoing war, many people across Ireland are worried about managing their bills in the months ahead.The Government is considering support, including a double fuel allowance payment for vulnerable groups such as pensioners, and a possible extension of the fuel allowance season beyond April, though details are not yet confirmed…Would you accept Government subsidies to help with rising fuel costs, and how much support do you think is needed?Joining Andrea to discuss is Irish Times Consumer Journalist, Conor Pope, owner of Care-a-Lot Childcare Avril Sheehan, as well as listeners.

A social enterprise in Queensland, Australia has brought a virtual reality train journey experience to nursing homes. But how does it work?Joining Seán to discuss is Kim Turner, Co-Founder and Experience Designer of Olive Express…

A bold new addition to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show is turning heads and raising eyebrows. Organisers have unveiled a sex-themed “pleasure garden” sponsored by a sexual wellness brand, aiming to challenge taboos and spark conversation through plants linked to love, lust, and romance. It’s part of a wider shake-up at the iconic event, which will also see the return of garden gnomes and even contributions from high-profile figures.Joining Seán to discuss is James Whiting, Plant Stylist and Designer of the Pleasure Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

NASA has given the go ahead for the Artemis II mission to the Moon to launch in April, but what exactly is the mission designed to achieve?Joining Seán to discuss is Peter Gallagher, Director of DIAS Dunsink Observatory in Dublin and former employee of NASA…Image: NASA

It’s become a hallmark of the Trump presidency that visiting world leaders have to sit next to him while he answers questions in the Oval Office. Recently, Trump made a joke about Pearl Harbour in front of the Japanese Prime Minister…Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Seán Defoe has been gathering the most memorable mistakes both from politicians, and joins Seán to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Brian Breathnach, former member of the Garda Water Unit joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!