Lunchtime Live

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.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined guest host Anna Daly with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

Blue badges in the UK have now become available for drivers with ADHD and anxiety. Numbers for those with hidden disabilities have almost tripled, with the number of permits issued jumping from 18,000 in 2021 to 55,000 last year. So, should people with ADHD and anxiety be eligible for the blue badge here? Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Teresa Gaughan, Access Group member, Disability Ad...

With a mini heatwave approaching, there’s no better time to look at how you can spruce up your outdoor flooring for the summer! This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss all of your options, and what to look out for. Joining guest host Shane Beatty to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Co-Host of ‘Rip it up: The Renovations Podcast’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Interior Stylist Sarah Doyle of Ret...

Want to be more productive while you commute? Why not join a book club! Dublin Bus is running its own book club to help passengers with longer commute times caused by worsening traffic congestion. Siobhán Kelly is the woman behind the book club, and joins Shane Beatty, as well as  Co-Founder of Queer Book Club Dublin Dónal Talbot and Sarah Shanahan from Chapters Bookshop to discuss.

Have you been caught at the boarding gate being charged for oversized luggage? Many of us will be familiar with having to squeeze your suitcase into the carry-on baggage frame in order to board, and some may have been stung with a fee to check in your bag last minute... Well now, it seems that airline staff will be getting even higher bonuses for stopping passengers with bags that are over the lim...

Have you noticed people filming in your gym classes? Well a top New York city studio, Tracy Anderson, has announced a ban on phones in fitness classes after being overrun with Tiktokers filming their workouts... Joining guest host Shane Beatty, owner of No.17 PT, Human Performance and Wellness Coach, John Belton, Content Creator Pádraig Wilson McCarthy and Kate Lenehan from Monday Studio in Rathmi...