Lunchtime Live

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! This week Andrea and Sarah looked at recipes for meatballs...Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Are normal people being priced out of cultural events? Joe O’Shea, Editor of CorkBeo.ie, pointed out in his column in the Irish Daily Mirror this morning the absurd prices of grandstand tickets in Dublin on St Patrick’s day He says:  ‘There's something a little sad about limiting the best seats for our biggest national celebration to those who can afford it (and on O'Connell Street, you're talking a grand for a family of four)’ Andrea was joined by Joe O'Shea and other listeners to discuss...

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Shane and Ciara were talking about the lies that people tell their children – from the ice cream van playing music when they’ve run out of ice cream to eating your crusts making your hair curly. But is it ok to lie to your kids?  Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly joined Andrea to discuss...

Lhara, a listener from Galway, joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss something she noticed amongst her children and their friends recently...

Time-over-distance’ speed cameras look set to be extended nationally – would you be in favour of this? Time-over-distance speed cameras monitor vehicles at two distinct points a set distance apart and note the exact time a vehicle passes each camera.  Is this the best way to deal with speeding? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Croke Park have announced that they’ll no longer be accepting screenshots of tickets into their grounds. They’ve said that from now on the ticket will either have to be printed out, or in your wallet app. Naturally this has annoyed a lot of people- saying it’ll just create issues for no real reason. Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Every day we scour the newspapers but often, many great stories from the regional papers don’t make the headlines.Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beatty has rounded up some of the best stories that you might have missed... 

Looking to give your house a fresh look on a budget?Architect Roisin Murphy and Hardware Expert Alan Grant joined Andrea with some tricks of the trade to give you tips for painting your house...

Is enough done to deal with drugs in Cork? Before Christmas there was a spate of overdoses in the city, with the HSE issuing warnings about a nitazene-type substance. Does the city get enough attention when it comes to drug issues and dealing with them? Andrea was joined by David Lane, General Manager for Social inclusion in the HSE, Fianna Fáil Councillor Colm Kelleher and Nicole Ryan, a counsellor specializing in addiction, who also give talks in schools to discuss...

If you’ve a sick family member, you know the struggles of keeping things going while they’re in hospital, the expense, finding accommodation and possibly long commutes. The Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation have taken on an ambitious project to open Tranquility House in Rathgar by the end of summer and make it a place where families can stay free of charge whilst their loved one is receiving treatment in hospital. Julian Benson and Brandon Duarte, the project manager joined Andrea to discuss...

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live... 

Cork county councillors have raised the issue of what they say is a worsening bus service in the county. Have you been having issues with the number of cancelled and late buses in your area? Andrea was joined by Marcia D’Alton an Independent Councillor based in Passage West in Cork and others to discuss...

A new survey by HelloFresh has revealed that two-thirds of people believe the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach! So, what better thing to discuss this Valentines Day than aphrodisiacs. Regina Sexton, food historian & lecturer at University College Cork joined Andrea to discuss...

Michelle, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live about a topic she wanted to discuss.She would like people to stop using the term Ladies Football.Andrea was joined by Michelle, Aisling O’Reilly from Off The Ball and Brid Stack, Former Cork footballer to discuss...

It costs nearly €1,000 more a month to be single than it does for people in relationships. Singles shell out more than €2,300 a month on general expenses such as housing, bills and food. The same lifestyle costs couples about €2,500 a month, between them. Andrea was joined by Ariana Dunne, host of the Solo Powered podcast and Michael 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.  Newstalk’s own Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in studio to put a smile on your faces...

Comments made by broadcaster Ivan Yates have caused a backlash among Gaeilgeoirí online. He was featured on The Six O'clock Show on Virgin Media Television alongside Sile Seoige when he made comments about the Irish language.People were further upset that presenter Brian Dowling shook Ivan Yates’ hands while he was criticising the money put into the Irish language  Andrea was joined by Broadcaster Ivan Yates, Síle Seoige, broadcaster and presenter of the Ready To Be Real podcast and others to discuss...

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. Andrea was joined by Jess Kelly and Elaine Burke to talk about the Newstalk Original, Inside the Crime, season 3...

Farm owners are living in fear after a spate of robberies. What more can we do to stamp out rural crime? Andrea Gilligan was joined by farmers and people living in rural Ireland to discuss...

Sheila Duffy was forced to sell her family home after the death of her partner of 35 years after she was refused the widows pension. Sheila and Sinéad Murray from Treoir joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live today...Image: Alamy

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier! Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.The Holistic Gardener Fiann Ó Nuallain joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

Child benefit payments will be extended to include 18-year-olds who are still in full-time education from May 1st.  Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will bring the proposals to Cabinet this morning. Do all 18-year-olds need child benefit? Andrea was joined by Suzanne Rogers, Research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland and others to discuss...

Millions of Americans tuned in to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, but many were more likely to be watching Taylor Swift than the game.Alexandra Ryan, CEO of Goss.ie and Gina London, leadership communications expert and Sunday Independent columnist joined Andrea to discuss...

Aimee Campbell was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) in 2017. The condition has left her paralysed in 3 limbs.  She’s now 28 and her application for assistance at home was denied by the HSE. Aimee joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live today...

More than 31,000 people were waiting to take their driving test in Dublin at the end of January, according to new figures from the Road Safety Authority. The RSA has previously said “unprecedented” waiting times for tests need to be addressed, but how are drivers coping with this wait? Andrea was joined by Tara, Lea and Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny...

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! This week Andrea and Sarah looked at recipes for Fluffy Pancakes...Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

A new advertising campaign is hoping to encourage Irish construction workers living abroad to return home to help with the housing crisis. The Government are hoping it’ll help increase the supply of homes in Ireland. The plan will aim at cities like London, Sydney and New York to see what incentives they might need to move home to Ireland. Andrea was joined by Barry in New Zealand, Damien in Perth and Ciaran Breen from Ciaran Breen Construction to discuss...

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting background or working in different jobs.  Today on the show Andrea was joined by former jockey Jamie Codd on Lunchtime Live...

Despite the countless number of sports in Ireland – interest in American Football seems to be on the rise.  Things are gearing up for the 2024 showdown on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and The San Francisco 49ers. Andrea was joined by Shane Brady, South Dublin Panthers player, Cian Fahey from Off The Ball and Greg Johnson, Star Player wiht Dublin Rebels Club and Club Committee member & Social Media Manager...

What is life like after a conviction? How easy is it to leave prison and rejoin society? I’m joined now by Damien Quinn, founder of the charity Spéire Nua, which helps offenders re-integrate in society after serving time in prison and Joe Garrihy, Assistant Professor in Criminology in Maynooth University, specialising in Prison Life...

Every day we scour the newspapers but often, many great stories from the regional papers don’t make the headlines.Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beatty has rounded up some of the best stories that you might have missed... 

Would you be happy for the TV License fee to come out of your tax? Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that his preference would be for the fee to be collected through Revenue rather than the current system.  Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Looking for some new floors without spending a fortune? Architect Roisin Murphy and Hardware Expert Alan Grant joined Andrea with some tricks of the trade to give you a fresh kitchen without the cost...

Anna, a listener, got in touch because of something her daughter is going through. Anna and Lynda Duffy, a therapist specialising in eating disorders and who has also overcome an eating disorder herself, joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today... 

A man, aged in his 40s, died in a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region after contracting measles. He had recently travelled here from England.Andrea was joined by Dr Nina Byrnes to discuss why have they come back, and what should we be doing about it? 

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live... 

There have been calls for Norma Foley to scrap the exemptions given for learning Irish. The Oireachtas Committee says that the number of exemptions is “harming” the Irish education system.  Is it fair for those with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and anxiety to be forced to study Irish?  Andrea was joined by Aindrias Moynihan, Fianna Fail TD, Barbara Ennis, Principal of Alexandra College in Dublin and others to discuss...

The Ireland’s women basketball team is set to go ahead with their game against Israel tomorrow despite calls for a boycott from a number of the squad members due to the ongoing war with Gaza.  Andrea was joined by Rebecca O’Keeffe, a former player, activist and author, Barry Lennon, Basketball Correspondent for the Irish Independent and more to discuss...

Many people have notions on how they wish to decorate their homes. However, when the time comes, do people push the boundaries on bold designs or do they opt to play it safe instead? To discuss the regrets people have made when designing their homes and how to ensure you are not one of those people, Andrea was joined by Creative Director of Ventura Design, Arlene McIntyre...

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.  Newstalk’s own Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in studio to put a smile on your faces...

Last September, The Temple Street Children’s hospital came under fire after several children were affected by complications after their spinal surgeries. The long waiting lists have since increased. During this time Andrea spoke to Stephen Morrison, whose son Harvey, has Spina Bifida. They were just a few of the many affected by the long orthopaedic waiting lists.  Today, Harvey's mum, Gillian Sherratt joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live.Aaron and Edel are both parents in similar situations and they joined Andrea on the show today too...

Writing in todays Irish Examiner, Terry Prone, Chairman of the Communications Clinic detailed her experience of going under the knife to as she says to ‘iron out the creases’ – but why has she done it? And what has people’s reactions been? Terry joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Have you struggled to get a GP recently? A study by the Irish Independent shows that More than two out of three GPs in rural Ireland are not taking on new patients and some have waiting times of up to two weeks for an appointment. Andrea was joined by Gerry Loftus, leader of the Rural Ireland Organisation, Fianna Fáil Councillor Norma Moriarty and listeners to discuss...

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has died.  The 76-year-old Fine Gael politician died peacefully in the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, surrounded by his family, after a long illness.  John Bruton led Fine Gael from 1990 until 2001, and served as Taoiseach between December 1994 and June 1997 as head of the ‘rainbow coalition’ alongside Labour and Democratic Left. Andrea was joined by Ivan Yates, Broadcaster, Former TD and Minister for Agriculture and Nora Owen Former TD and Minister for Justice to discuss...

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier! Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well.Lukas Kinlock, owner of Cuan Ice Baths joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

A recent survey shows that 25% of six year olds have their own phone and 45% of 10 year olds are allowed to use their smartphones in their bedroom. However many parents admitted to not feeling well-equipped to teach their kids how to stay safe online. Should there be more of an onus on parents to learn how to teach their children how to navigate their smartphones safely? Andrea was joined by Siobhan O’Neill-White, From Mams.ie, Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Developmental Therapist & Founder of COGNI Kids and others to discuss...

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting background or working in different jobs.  Today on the show Andrea was joined by former jockey Jamie Codd on Lunchtime Live...

Doctors in the UK are saying that women should be allowed buy the morning-after pill in supermarkets and petrol stations. They rection it’ll give them more control and that all barriers to emergency contraception should be removed. At the moment you need to have a consultation with a pharmacist in the UK, the same as here. Andrea was joined by GP Dr Máire Finn, Kathy Maher, Community Pharmacist from Haven Pharmacy in Duleek, Co Meath, Sheena Mitchell, Pharmacist in Milltown Total Health Pharmacy in Dublin and Columnist with the Irish Times, Brianna Parkins...

Tanya Sweeney wrote in the Independent today about the transition to ‘mum friends’ after having children. She writes that her new friends have not seen her drunk or even after 7pm! Does friendship change after having children?  Journalist Tanya Sweeney and other listeners joined Andrea to discuss...

Every day we scour the newspapers but often, many great stories from the regional papers don’t make the headlines.Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beatty has rounded up some of the best stories that you might have missed...