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

A ‘tax on the sick’ that’s what the Irish cancer society have dubbed hospital parking charges, with some hospitals charging cancer patients €3.20 an hour in parking fees.Have you been affected by this?Andrea is joined by cancer survivors who had to pay a lot for parking, as well as Samantha Vaughan from the Irish Cancer Society, to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. This week Andrea is joined by Irish Times Business and Technology journalist Ciara O’Brien and Dave Hanratty, audio researcher for the Irish Independent, to review Will Smith’s Class of ‘88!Image: Wondery

Would you be willing to work out twice a day and drink 4 and a half litres of water every day? All for the perfect body?Well, a new fitness craze claims to be able to transform you in just 75 days, if you stick to their very strict rules. So, should you try ‘Hard 75’?Andrea is joined by the owner of No.17 Personal Training, John Belton, to discuss.

Andrea was recently on a trip to Zurich, where she saw many free outdoor events and facilities for residents. It left her thinking: why don’t we have a similar amount of facilities in our cities in Ireland?She is joined by Diarmuid from Alternative Dublin, Simon Heaslip from the Galway Westend Traders Association, Dr Miriam Haughton and WIllie White, Artistic Director of the Dublin THeatre Festival to discuss.

The amount of students doing J1 visas has more than halved in the last 10 years.The J1 has previously been thought of as a rite of passage for most young people, so what has changed?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Liam Schokman, who is on his J1 in Chicago, Kelda McManus, Vice-President for the southern region at the Union of Students in Ireland and more listeners to discuss.

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.This week, Helen Lawless, Mountaineering Ireland’s Access and Conservation Officer and Acting CEO, joined the show to talk all things mountaineering! (And how it’s different to hiking).

The number of learner drivers involved in fatal accidents has trebled in the space of just four years. Would stricter restrictions help reduce this number, and what’s the root of this issue?Andrea is joined by Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Guest host Adrian Kennedy was joined on Lunchtime Live by Dr Siobhan Chidley from Watermills Family Practice to answer your health questions.

Rob O’Donnell, who had an unsuccessful bid with the Green Party in Limerick in the local elections has had more bad news as around 40 out of his 100 election posters have gone missing.He joins Adrian Kennedy to discuss why this might have happened, and what the cost is behind the ones stolen.

Half of Irish workers would refuse job offers with no option to work from home, new research has found.Around 47% of Irish jobseekers have revealed they would refuse a job offer if the company did not have hybrid or fully remote working policies in place, according to the study.So, should working from home be expected these days?Joining Adrian to discuss are Tracy Keevans, Director with Morgan McKinley Recruitment Agency, John Evoy, Grow Remote General Manager and listeners who like and dislike working from home.Plus, Newstalk Reporter Lauren Grey asked locals what they think about working from home.

Despite what you might think from the weather, the summer is here, and that means many people will be packing their bags for a trip abroad.But, there’s nothing worse than other, annoying tourists bringing the tone down and making us all look bad.So, how can we be better tourists?Joining Adrian to discuss are Amy Lynch, Destination Editor for the Lonely Planet and Anne de Jong, Co-Founder of the Good Tourism Institute.

The Irish Independent’s JJ Clarke was recently tricked out of €800 following an online scam.He joins Adrian Kennedy to discuss what exactly happened.

Many parents in Dublin 15 have seemingly found themselves unable to secure school places for their children for this September. Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by parents in the area whose children have been unable to find a place. They discuss why this might be the case.

Sarah Love, who runs the Girl Drinks Gunness page (@girl_drinks_guinness on Instagram) has been to 400 different pubs across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and has put the Railway Bar, Bundoran on the top of her list!She joins Andrea to discuss what makes the perfect pint of Guinness.

Our summer memories series is back!We chat to some well known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!Irish TV and radio personality Baz Ashmawy joins Andrea Gilligan to discuss.

As the school year is drawing to a close, the age old debate on whether or not you get the teacher a present rolls around. Joining Andrea to discuss is journalist Chrissie Russell.

An interesting piece in the Irish Times today where columnist Justine McCarthy is critical of people using the term ‘girls’ to refer to women. She says - calling grown women ‘girls’ is inherently belittling. What do you think?  To discuss, Andrea is joined by writer and broadcaster, Barbara Scully, Joe O’Shea, editor of CorkBeo and listeners.

The big Irish wedding seems to be back!Andrea Gilligian is joined by Eimear, who sat 340 guests at her wedding! They discuss what it was like, and the positives and negatives with it. Also joining are journalist Édaein O’Connell and wedding planner Lyndsey Moynagh.

From Leitrim mansions for sale to Marilin Monroe look-alikes in Wicklow, Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beaty joins Andrea Gilligan to go through some of the stories around the country you might have missed.

A new survey conducted ahead of the Euro 2024 kickoff has shown that almost three in 10 Irish people would like to see England win the tournament.At the same time - half of those surveyed would prefer to see the Three Lions get eliminated early doors.Will you be supporting England in the Euros?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

From the type of bulb to the perfect amount of lamps – what are the best ways to light up your home?Andrea Gilligan is joined by Sarah Louise from Sarah Louise Interiors and Colin Baker from Decwells Expert Hardware to discuss. 

Willie Wyse is a taxi driver in Cork, and refuses to take card payments.He is fighting NTA rules, in place since September 2022, that taxi drivers must accept card payments.Willie joins Andrea to discuss why he is doing this, and what the consequences are if he continues to break the rules.

Center Parcs has defended the major price differences between its offerings in the UK and Ireland by insisting the two areas are ‘very different markets’.So, why is it so much more expensive to holiday in Ireland?One person who’s been to Center Parcs Ireland is Kieran Cuddihy, host of The Hard Shoulder. He joins Andrea to discuss the price gap, and his experience. Also joining to discuss are Siobhan O’Neill White from mams.ie and Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter podcast.Image: Center Parcs Ireland

After lengthy counts, the last council seat in the country has been filled in County Kildare. Tom McDonnell, a builder from Newbridge says that his victory is a stepping stone to the Dáil where he wants to bring in incentives to get Irish women to "breed" more.He joins Andrea to discuss his reasoning.

It's Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor joined Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock.Image: Amblin Entertainment

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association at Aer Lingus have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action up to and including a strike.Last week, IALPA members voted overwhelmingly to reject a Labour Court recommendation that pilots should receive pay increases totalling just over 9% as part of an interim settlement. The figure was well below the 23.8% that the pilots had been seeking.How would a strike affect you? Andrea is joined by Angela Walsh, President of the Irish Travel Agents Association and CEO of FROSCH, Ciara Foley, Managing Director of Platinum Travel and listeners to discuss.

From rail line closures to the lack of tea trolleys - Barry Kenny, Communications Manager with Irish Rail joins Andrea Gilligan to answer all of your train-related questions.

Good news for Irish plane spotters after Dublin Airport has submitted plans for an observation facility!Andrea Gilligan is joined by Aviation Expert Simon to discuss.

This week is Men’s Mental Health Week, highlighting some of the mental health struggles men have that may get swept under the rug otherwise.Joining Andrea to discuss fatherhood’s impact on mental health is Health and Wellness consultant Fin McKenna.

Golfing legend Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll have called off their divorce, after supposedly resolving their differences.Is this something that actually happens? How rare is it to see a divorce get cancelled?Andrea is joined by Family Law Solicitor Keith Walsh and Clinical Psychotherapist Stephane Regan 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…

There is seemingly a lack of Deposit Return Scheme machines at certain festivals, despite thoughts that there would be reverse vending machines set up. With an option to donate your return to charity, how much money is left on the table? And how much plastic goes to waste?Joining Andrea to discuss are Mary Gamble, Director of Fundraising for Barnardos, JP McMahon, Chef and Restaurateur and listeners.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. This week Andrea is joined by host of Tech Talk on Newstalk Jess Kelly and 98fm producer and Food & Travel writer Russell Alford to review ‘Million Dollar Lover’!Image: BBC Podcasts

Phrases like ‘sure look, sure listen’ and ‘the black stuff’ are some of the most popular and commonly used Irish slang words.Dr Ellen Howley joins Andrea to discuss if Irish slang has influenced the English language, and Communications Expert Gina London joins to discuss the difference between American and Irish slang words.

Many people got in touch with the show with their own carer stories following the segment on Lunchtime Live.Marie is one of those who got in touch, and joins Andrea to share the situation her family is in.

More good news for the European Athletics Championships as last night Rhasidat Adeleke won silver for Ireland in the 400 metres. Her silver follows golds for Ciara Mageans and the 4 x 400m mixed relay team. So how do we kick on from here? How do we capitalise on this success? To discuss, Andrea is joined by the CEO of Athletics Ireland, Hamish Adams and WIll Dalton from Virgin Media Sport.

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.This week, James Farrell from Dublin Airport Tae Kwon Do joined the show to discuss his exercise ‘Keep Moving’ for people who sit at their desks all day. Listen and follow along to the exercise yourself!

According to Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West, the Leaving Cert should be scrapped in favour of open access to university.What do you think? Should we scrap the Leaving Cert? Andrea is joined by listeners to hear their opinions.

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Dr Niall Breen from Portmarnock GP Clinic to answer listeners' health queries and questions...

From gladiator sandals to the circular belts – 00s fashion is back! Newstalk Reporter Lauren Grey took to the streets of Dublin to ask what fashion trends they dread seeing making a comeback, and Andrea Gilligan is joined by Stylist Laura Mullet to discuss if the 00s styles are really returning.Image: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage

Doctors in Spain will check children for signs of mobile addiction once a year under a new government plan to improve safety online. Joining Andrea to discuss a plan like this’ effectiveness, and whether it would be of benefit in Ireland are Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Dr Afif El Khuffash, Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, Expert in Cyberpsychology as well as listeners.

There are over half a million family carers in Ireland providing care to a person with a disability, chronic condition, mental health concern and/or long-term illness, but do they feel supported enough? To mark National Carers' Week, Andrea is joined by some of those looking after their loved ones. 

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Cook Book Author and Recipe Writer Sarah Butler to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration!For the final week before our Big Batch summer break, Andrea and Sarah looked at the perfect snacks to make for your kids - including puff pastry quiche and crispy crunchy chickpeas!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

With local elections all but finished - it seems to be good news for coalition partners Fine Gael and FIanna Fail, with Independents also doing well.Newstalk has had comprehensive coverage of the election, but it’s also important to look at some of the good news stories that came from the elections.Andrea Gilligian is joined by father and son duo Baby and Britto Pereppadan, Declan Meehan and Mary Hilda Cavanagh to discuss.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.Guest host Karen Koster is joined by Mike O’Donnell, a Court Artist based in Kerry - to learn about all aspects of the job.

A school in Dublin has stated that they are closing the doors to their after-school programme in September. Parents are now scared whether they must adjust their work hours, or quit their jobs...To discuss, Karen Koster is joined by Mary McCarthy, Columnist for the Irish Independent, Averil Sheenan, Childcare Provider and Tanya, whose child is in Grace Park Educate Together National School in Drumcondra, Dublin.

From newts in Cork to chicken fillet roll thefts – there’s a lot happening around the country this week. Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty has stories from around the country you may have missed.

Reality TV may seem like a constant fixture on our screens these days whether it be Love Island, Selling Sunset or Traitors... But, back in the early 2000’s, it still seemed somewhat of a novelty.  Tanya Sweeney, Columnist with the Irish Independent was looking back at some reality TV from 2001 and she was not impressed. She joins guest host Karen Koster to discuss. Also joining are Pamela Laird, CEO and founder of Maxi Loves and former ‘Apprentice’ candidate and Eric Roberts, who took part in ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.Image: ITV

There is a fine line between tasteful and tacky, resulting in rooms looking cheap rather than sophisticated.How can you avoid the pitfalls? Joining Andrea to discuss are Alan Grant, Hardware Expert and Roisin Lafferty, Interior Designer.