Lunchtime Live

Many countries around the world require you to pass a test on civic knowledge –  geography, laws, politics, history etc to gain citizenship.  There is no such test in Ireland.   Do new Irish citizens need to know more about what it means to be Irish?  Andrea is joined by Gina London, Leadership Communications expert and Sunday Independent Columnist as well as listeners to...

From following trends to dodgy DIY – what are the worst ‘improvements’ we can make to our houses?  Andrea is joined by DIY Expert Alan Grant along with Sarah Louise from Sarah Louise interiors to discuss what to avoid when improving your home.

Are you a culprit of picking the same pin numbers for everything? Apparently '1234' is still the most common PIN…  Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent is with Andrea to discuss the best practices for picking a PIN and password.

A recent inquiry in the UK found that good maternity care in Britain was “the exception rather than the rule”. Women in Ireland are now calling for an inquiry into birth trauma to reflect the scale and impact of the crisis.  Joining Andrea to discuss is Bairbre Brooke, a Birth Trauma Resolution Practitioner.

Almost a third of us buy travel insurance on the day they fly – which is apparently a big mistake. So, what other travel mishaps are we making?  Andrea is joined by travel experts to give their tips and discuss some of the most common mistakes people make.

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.

The UK health service has found success in getting obese men to lose weight by paying them up to £400. A trial found men were more likely to slim down if motivated by a cash prize from the NHS.  Experts hope the scheme would pay for itself through savings on treating weight-related illness further down the line. What do you think?   Andrea is joined by Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE Cl...

From how much to put away to when to start for this week’s Ask the Expert, we’re putting your pension questions to Paul Kenny, Ireland’s former Pensions Ombudsman and Course Leader with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland.

Weight loss drugs such as Ozempic are apparently being sold on the black market, causing huge concerns amongst the medical community.  Pharmacist Kate O’Connell joins Andrea to discuss the drug - and why the illegal sales are an issue. Image: Novo Medlink

E-scooters are to be banned for people under the age of 16 soon. This comes alongside new regulations like a 20km speed limit, seats being banned and a ban for passengers on scooters. What do you think of these new rules? Do you agree with all of them? Andrea is joined by listeners to hear their takes.

Mairead Anderson, owner of Killybegs Seafood Shack, has been informed that she has to cease trading on the 22nd of May to make way for a new bus stop in town. She joins Andrea to discuss why this is happening.

Should there be stricter rules around dress codes in workplaces?  Or, have we completely lost the run of ourselves in what we’re wearing to work?  The Home Show’s Sinead Ryan certainly thinks so, and joins Andrea alongside Stylist and Fashion Journalist Laura Mullet 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…

Should the Leaving Cert exams be scrapped in favour of something different? Is there a better way for teenagers to learn? Labour Education & Justice Spokesperson Aodhan O’Riordan says that it should be abolished.  He joins Andrea alongside listeners 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 host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast, Elaine Burke and Dave Hanratty, host of the ‘No Encore’ podcast to review Richard Osman and Marina Hyde’s ‘The Rest is Entertainment’. Image: Goalhanger Podcasts

The founder of dating app Bumble Whitney Wolfe Herd has said that the future of dating is having your AI date other people's AI, and recommend the best matches for you to meet!  Would you love this? Or loathe it? Andrea is joined by Irish Matchmaking and Dating Specialist, Mairead Loughman, to discuss.

It’s Lyme disease awareness month: Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It's usually easier to treat if it's diagnosed early.  There’s thought to be between 50 and 100 cases in Ireland every year – but how much do we really know about it?  Andrea is joined by listeners as well as  Professor Jack Lambert, Consultant in Infectious Disea...

Fr Patsy Lynch has been a priest for over 50 years, and he spent 31 of those as a missionary in Ghana. However, when he applied for his pension, he was told that he was not entitled to a state pension.   Fr Patsy joins Andrea to discuss his situation.

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. Andrea was joined by Jessica Ahern from The Salt Rooms Ratoath to discuss the benefits of salt therapy.

Dublin City Council says it is working on “technical solutions” to address “inappropriate behaviour” by some on the newly installed Dublin-New York portal.   The two-way live-stream portal, which offers a real-time glimpse of New York City, was installed on North Earl Street, looking on to the Spire, last week.   It was temporarily closed after video clips surfaced on social me...

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

Have you tried dipping your cheese in your morning coffee? Well, it might be the new foodie hit in 2024. Joining Andrea to discuss are Kevin Sheridan from Sheridan’s Cheese and Dee Laffan, freelance journalist and Editor-in-Chief at ScoopMagazine.

Following the success of Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, a spotlight has been put on stalking and how being a victim of it can affect you. Jarlath Rice is one of those victims, who was even physically assaulted by his stalker. He joins Andrea to share his story…  If you find that you might be a victim of stalking, or want to learn more about the signs, visit https://www.stalkinginireland.ie

Lunchtime Live listener Aaron got in touch with the show to talk about an issue in his daughter’s school: the roof has been leaking for almost a year, leaving many of the rooms out of use due to the water running through them. Most of the students are in wheelchairs. Andrea is also joined by Antonia Maguire, Principal of Fermoy Educate Together National School, to discuss how they do not have the...

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 the perfect recipes for a Communion or Confirmation party - covering everything from nibbles, brownies and beef bourguignon. F...