Lunchtime Live

Tomorrow is the much awaited end of term for secondary school students. With the year coming to a close, should you be getting teachers gifts, or is that practice left in primary school? Joining Andrea to discuss is Louise Boylan, Secondary School Maths Teacher,  Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at parentsupport.ie and Maria Rushe, Teacher and Parenting Blogger.

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 the life and work of Nick Cave!

Wedding planning can be stressful at the best of times but for couples preparing to tie the knot in Tenerife many are facing a nightmare... They received an email that a local wedding planner was filing for insolvency and all of their wedding plans were gone – including the thousands of euros paid in deposits! Bride-to-be Sorcha McManigan has been impacted by this, and joins Andrea, as well as lis...

Homes with the A energy rating have many benefits, but because they keep in the heat so well, they can be tricky to live in during the summer! What should you be doing if you live in one of these homes and need to cool down? Joining Andrea to discuss is Pete the Builder, 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… Image: Sky

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has launched a petition to ban sulky racing, which has received almost 2,000 signatures so far. They have said that sulky racing has long been “tolerated” on Irish roads, but the “consequences are becoming impossible to ignore” as the horses are exposed to dangerous and high-stress situations. Do you agree? Joining Andrea to discuss is...

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 dealing with a pregnancy during the heat!

With the warm weather over the past few days, crowds have flocked to local parks and beaches to make the most of the sunshine. However, the surge in visitors has also led to an increase in litter and rubbish being left behind. Have you noticed extra litter in the past few days, and what should be done about it? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Several schools across Carlow have had to close today after alleged threats were sent to them, with Gardaí now assessing the communications. Joining Andrea to discuss more and share their own experience is Laoise Murray, Journalist with the Carlow Nationalist, Simon Lewis, Principal and host of the ‘If I were the Minister for Education’ podcast, Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, John McGuinness...

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Brian McIntyre, Programme Manager at SEAI, to discuss SEAI grants and answer any of your questions around solar panels and retrofitting.

Have you got a cleaner? Apparently, cleaners are the ‘new non-negotiable’ for young people like those in Gen Z… Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss this is Ciara Tracey from Newstalk’s Digital Team and ‘Cleanfluencer’ Brandon Stone.

Dating can be full of highs and lows at the best of times, and in a world where apps are the most popular way to meet people – does having a disability add another layer to this? Joining Anna Daly to discuss their own experiences are Sacha Dekker, Senior Learning and Development Executive, Disability Journalist Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird and listeners.

With temperatures climbing into the mid 20 degrees this week, many workers are once again facing the challenge of balancing professional office attire with dressing comfortably for the summer heat. Some have fully embraced the warmer weather, arriving to work in floral dresses and shorts, while others are sticking to more traditional office wear. But, as the temperatures continue to rise, is it ti...

Katie Gallagher, Spin News Anchor, has her finger on the pulse for what’s happening and she joins Anna Daly with the things you don’t want to miss this week!

Warm weather over the weekend saw large crowds flock to the seaside for a swim. However, many entered the water at their own risk, as no lifeguards were on duty at several beaches. Currently, the official lifeguard season operates on weekends throughout June and daily during July and August, which make up Ireland’s meteorological summer. Following the rise in temperatures this week, calls are grow...

It’s time for Ask the Medic! Where an expert joins to answer any of your health-related questions. This week, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic to answer your medical questions!

How involved should grandparents be? Research has revealed ‘the grandparent effect’ - showing that grandparents play a significant and positive role in the lives of their grandchildren... So can you remember your grandmother’s cooking, or are you a grandparent doing the school pick ups everyday and making memories with yours? Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Broadcaster Claire Ronan and...

A new report from the Hardware Association of Ireland has said that thousands more ‘one-off’ rural homes could be built each year, but there are significant impediments to actually delivering this housing which needs to be addressed. Should the planning permission rules be changed? Should we have more one-off rural homes? Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Eddie Punch, Columnist with Farmi...

Journalist Jane Cowan described her recent girls’ holiday as “an Aperol-fuelled girlhood pilgrimage to Italy.” So, how special are girls’ holidays, and have they changed between generations? Jane joins guest host Anna Daly, as well as Lucy Kennedy, author and broadcaster, to discuss.

Are you determined to finally get on top of your finances once and for all? For many, looking at your bank account is something you dread, but how should we best manage what’s coming in and what’s coming out? For this edition of Finance Matters, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Paul Merriman of Ask Paul to discuss how to protect what you have now…

Videos circulating online today show huge queues for the DART in Howth as thousands headed to the coast during the warm weather, with public transport struggling to cope with demand… With Iarnród Éireann regularly carrying out line closures during busy weekends and Bank Holidays, is it time to reassess how rail services are scheduled and managed to better accommodate surging passenger demand? Join...

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Frances Cooney, Puppy Raising Supervisor with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind joins Andrea to answer any of your guide dog related questions!

Have you gotten the shingles vaccine? The vaccine is available privately, but can cost close to €500, leaving it unaffordable and out of reach for most older people... A national petition for this to be made free has gotten more than 23,000 signatures. Guest host Anna Daly is joined by listeners to discuss.

For many parents and children, summer camps can be the highlight of a child’s summer. Making new friends and learning new skills can be great. For others, it can simply be a deep dive into their pockets and a race against the clock to get a place in a camp… How do parents feel about summer camps, and are they really worth it? Joining Anna Daly to discuss is Editor of Cork Beo, Joe O’Sea, parenting...

Sunny spells ahead as this weekend is set to see temperatures rise to 22 degrees! With the grey clouds and showers finally disappearing this weekend, the sun has finally decided to make an appearance. What are your plans for the good weather? Joining Anna Daly to discuss is Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather and Executive Chief of Breffy House Resort in County Mayo, Dean Diplock.