Lunchtime Live

Dublin City Council and approved housing body Tuath have received backlash from social tenants in a mixed housing complex.Social tenants in the Newmarket Yards Complex in D8 have condemned their exclusion from the complex's amenities, such as the gym and community room, saying it’s “completely segregation.”Andrea is joined by one of those tenants, who will remain anonymous, Hazel de Nortúin, People Before Profit Councillor for Ballyfermot/Drimnagh and Town Planner Derek Whyte to discuss.

Irish boxing legend Katie Taylor has announced that she will retire after her final fight this summer, still aiming to have it take place in Croke Park.Joining Andrea to give their reactions is Olympic boxer Michael Carruth, Philip Egan from Off the Ball and Liam Morley Brereton from St Brigid’s Boxing Club in Offaly.

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 some of the conditions that can affect you during your pregnancy.

Do you and your other half have a joint account?And how do you manage splitting the bills in your household?It seems that among younger generations, there is a move away from joint bank accounts as couples keep their finances separate…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Siobhan Maguire, Consumer Journalist.

The national anthem is a powerful symbol of identity and heritage. For many, it inspires a deep sense of pride; for others, it holds little personal significance.Waterford County Council has unanimously passed a motion to make Ireland’s national anthem a mandatory part of the primary school curriculum.The proposal was introduced by Donnchadh Mulcahy of Sinn Féin. Speaking with Anton Savage this morning, Cllr Mulcahy outlined the reasoning behind the motion and why he believes learning the anthem should be an essential part of a child’s early education.So, do you think the national anthem should be mandatory as part of the school curriculum?Joining Andrea to discuss is Freelance Sports Journalist Mortimer Murphy, Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram) and listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dublin Bus Spokesperson Blake Boland to answer any of your bus-related questions!

Tony Murray from the Before We Die Campaign, set up to support parents with adult children with intellectual disabilities, will be going to Dáil Éireann tomorrow with a group of parents to make a presentation to politicians.He joins Andrea to discuss the plan, and give updates on the campaign.

Many people enter marriage with hope, but not all marriages last. For some couples, divorce becomes the only realistic option. During such an emotional time, the legal process can add further stress through court procedures, costs, waiting periods, and complex requirements.While these safeguards aim to ensure fairness and protect children, they can also make the process longer and more difficult, especially for those facing financial hardship or unhealthy relationships.Simplifying procedures, reducing costs, and expanding mediation could make divorce more accessible. At the same time, reducing social stigma would help make it more acceptable when it is truly necessary.So, how can things be improved, or should they be left as is?Joining Andrea to discuss is Liz Dwyer, Journalist and Founder of the Fertility Show, Clinical Physiotherapist, Stephanie Reegan and listeners.

Have you ever posted a picture on social media of a getaway at a five star hotel?One Irish Tiktoker has gone viral after posting that this shouldn’t be normalised, and most of us have no business spending a month’s wages on a luxury hotel break...So, how does social media feed into the pressure?Anne Sheeran, who posted the TikTok, as well as Travel Journalist Nicola Brady join Andrea to discuss.

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 Psychologist Dr Malie Coyne to discuss the different kinds of therapy, and how to find out which one is right for you.

Over the weekend, following a gig in Dublin, an unfortunate incident took place.Max Oliver from the band Legss joins Andrea to discuss what happened…

According to new data, a toll increase on the M50 in January did nothing to combat congestion on the motorway - but are we surprised about this?Joining Andrea to discuss is Editor with Completecar.ie, Shane O’Donoghue, Jamie Groom, CEO and Co-Founder of Rent a Recruiter and listeners.

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

Rebecca Rose is an influencer from Dublin. She’s 19 and started her social media presence in earnest last year.Already, she has over 30 thousand followers between Instagram and TikTok.Earlier this month Rebecca was out in Dublin City Centre at night and was recognized by a group of young men. She says they threatened her and assaulted her friend…She joins Andrea, along with Jule Haynes, known as Twins_and_me on Instagram to discuss what happened.

Third-level colleges will be asked by the Government to look at reducing the number of days students must be on campus for lectures to limit commuting and pressure on student accommodation.Will this move work? Or will the college experience change for the worse for students?Joining Andrea to discuss is Lauren Joyce, Deputy President of the DCU Students Union, Maisie Hall, President of Galway University Students Union, Grace McNally, President of Trinity College Dublin Students' Union, English student Jane Cowan and more.

American rock legends Foo Fighters thrilled Irish fans with two surprise intimate gigs this week. One special performance took place at St James’ Church in Kerry, creating a unique and atmospheric setting, while another show will be held tonight at The Academy in Dublin.Tickets for the Dublin gig went on sale at the 3Olympia Theatre box office on Dame Street, priced at €99, and sold out within minutes as fans rushed to secure a spot at the highly anticipated show.Were you one of the lucky ones to get your hands on these tickets?Joining Andrea to discuss is Stuart Clarke from Hot-Press Magazine, Other Voices Promoter Philip King and listeners.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Host of ‘What’s Trending in F1?’ podcast Elaine Power Newstalk’s Tom Douglas join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky’!Image: Wondery

Is your street overrun by parking problems?Local communities in North Cork are battling with the rising number of cars as adult children stay living with their parents, and now North Cork Councillors are looking at whether green areas in housing estates should be taken away completely and replaced with parking lots…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Fianna Fáil Councillor Patrick Donovan, Environmental Journalist and author John Gibbons, Architect Róisín Murphy and more.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Wedding Officiate Ruth Scott joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Is the term working mothers offensive?The BBC posted a video during the week where their broadcasters were having a conversation about the term working mothers and they labelled it a “societal gaslighting issue”.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Terry Prone, Chair of the Communication Clinic, Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter podcast, Aideen Finnegan, Presenter of Early Edition from the Irish Times and Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent…

Ireland are due to face Israel in the UEFA Nations League in September. While many people are taking it at face value as a sporting event, others feel that this game should not go ahead, and that the Irish team should boycott this match in support of Palestine.On the back of this, many people will stage a protest today for the FAI to pull out of this game.We want to know, what do our listeners think? Should we go ahead with this match?Joining Andrea to discuss is Freelance Sports Journalist, Daniel Hussey, as well as listeners.

If you’re already thinking about the summer holiday, would swapping homes with a stranger be the right way to save a bit of money?Joining Andrea to discuss is Catriona Lysaght, Cork Speech and Language Therapist and home swapper, Marie Murphy, Irish representative for Homelink International and Travel Agent Ciara Mooney.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Andrea spoke to ‘Anna’ last week about caring for her daughter and how she felt she had no other option but to bring her daughter to A&E and leave her there.Anna joins again to discuss an apology she received from the HSE…

It may not look like it, but Spring is approaching. So, what is the best way to tidy up your home in preparation for it?This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss decluttering!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.

Lock up your cars – there’s rats looking for shelter!In a nationwide Rentokil survey of frontline pest control technicians, 84% reported finding rats in a vehicle, and 57% had encountered mice…Dr Colm Moore from Rentokil and more join Andrea to discuss.

How hard is it today to get a school place for your child? Listener Emma wrote in sharing her frustrations, and joins Andrea along with other listeners, to discuss…

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 Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through CMAT’s ‘Crazymad, for Me’!

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has proposed allowing drivers to use their own cars for taxi services without needing a special licence, with regulation focused on safety and service standards.This would enable companies like Uber to operate as they do internationally, increasing competition in the taxi market. While consumers could benefit, the move may face backlash from existing taxi drivers.Would you support lifting Uber restrictions?Joining Andrea to discuss is Lar Kelly, Director of Hola Taxis, Ciara Mooney, Managing Director of Freedom Travel & Solo Travel and listeners.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins has said that you would “need a very strong stomach” to eat some of the hot school meals currently being provided in schools.For many children, these meals are not just an option - they are a vital source of daily nutrition and, in some cases, their main meal of the day.This raises an important question: are these meals truly fit for purpose, or should they be more nutrient-dense to properly support children’s health, growth and learning?Joining Andrea to discuss is Principal of Mother of Divine Grace National School in Finglas, Eoin Dolan, as well as listeners.

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…

Irishman Seamus Culleton was issued a temporary order postponing his deportation  from the US yesterday…He was moved to a detention facility after being arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in September.He spoke out last week - prompting much discussion about his detention here at home. Today, one of his twin daughters, Heather Morrisey, joins Andrea to discuss…Image: @carrasnyc on Instagram

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 answer any of your questions, and discuss the common barriers couples may face when trying to conceive.

Hopefully you’ll be singing from the same hymn sheet as Andrea’s guest…Musician Paul Luby is well known for his covers of ‘mass bangers’ and he joins to discuss what they are, and why they have become so popular.

A video has been posted online, showing a group of teenage boys riding scramblers on Cork’s busiest road at near-peak traffic.The youths were seen speeding and doing wheelies along the N40 near Douglas, only two weeks after the government announced a crackdown on scramblers following the death of Grace Lynch in Finglas…So, what should be done about this behaviour?Joining Andrea to discuss is Joe O’Shea, Editor of Cork Beo, Cian Ginty, Editor of Irish Cycle, as well as listeners.

Rex Ryan’s ‘The Monk’, which is about the life of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, opened last night at the Ambassador Theatre in Dublin. Andrea was in attendance, as well as Gerry Hutch, who also performed in the play.The question surrounding this play is: does it glamourise crime? Andrea was able to ask this exact question to those who watched it…

Met Éireann has issued a yellow weather warning for multiple counties this week. So, how bad should we expect the weather this week, and how are people recovering after Storm Chandra?Andrea is joined by Cathal Nolan, Founder of Ireland’s Weather Channel, as well as listeners, to discuss.

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 Nutritionist Aileen Cox Blundell (@babyledfeeding on Instagram) to discuss how you can make this Pancake Tuesday a bit more healthy with a few smart ingredient swaps!

People living in council housing may be required to pay higher rent contributions if their adult children are working and earning an income.With the rising cost of living and the ongoing housing crisis making it increasingly difficult for adults to move out, is the Government’s failure to address housing affordability now placing an unfair financial burden on families who are already struggling?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss…

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

For the past few weeks, we’ve heard heartbreaking stories from listeners about their experiences of being carers for their disabled adult children – and their worries about what’ll happen to them when they die…So, where do we go from here?Joining Andrea to discuss is Derval McDonagh, CEO of Inclusion Ireland.

The pledge taken by children at confirmation has been updated to include abstinence from smoking and vaping, alongside drinking and using illicit drugs.The change follows a sharp increase in young people smoking and vaping, which the church described as a “thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people today.”Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

DNA tests have become very popular, whether to find long lost relatives, to trace your ethnicity, or maybe to find out some answers about your health – but sometimes the results can bring up more questions than answers...That was certainly the case for Summer McKesson, who joins Andrea to discuss…

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Newstalk’s Rory Galvin and Host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Ill-advised by Bill Nighy’!Image: EYEPOD Studios

More than 1,000 people were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the end of 2025. Even more concerning, one individual was arrested 15 times within a three-year period in 2021 - a striking example of repeat offending that calls into question the effectiveness of current enforcement measures and deterrents on Irish roads.What does this mean for the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians on Irish roads? Do we need more Garda presence to ensure safety on Irish roads?Joining Andrea to discuss is Editor with Completecar.ie, Shane O’Donoghue, as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Andrea was joined by the manager at Emerald Park Theme park Ross Ennis !

With tomorrow being Valentines day, there will be many who may feel pressure to pop the question tomorrow. But should you? Joining Andrea to discuss  was Counselling psychologist Niamh Delmar and  Nick Appleby from Appleby Jewellers, who sell engagement rings

For the past two weeks, Lunchtime Live has spoken to parents who are caring for adult children with intellectual disabilities about their struggles to get support for their care. Yesterday, Andrea spoke to Mother “Anna” who dropped her daughter off at A&E because she had reached a breaking point in trying to care for her. Today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin responded to Anna's story. Andrea also spoke and met in person Tony Murray, the Founder of the Before We Die Campaign, his wife, Susan and their daughter, Aoife at their home

Over the past few decades, the number of tourists in Dublin has been on the rise, helping to create jobs and fuel the economy. But has the city become to tourist centric? And is it making the quality of life for residents worse with noise pollution ? Joining Andrea to discuss was Robbie Kitt - DJ, Give us the Night Campaign, Jamie Harrington and Aaron, a Taxi Driver in Dublin

From ghostly goings on in Leinster House, to Irish interest at Crufts – Laura Donnelly joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.