Lunchtime Live

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, He...

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 Hog...

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 Ne...

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 €...

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 Time...

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’ campaign Lorraine 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’Nei...

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 Councillo...

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...