Lunchtime Live

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…

A new Road Safety Authority advert has been criticised as an insult to non car users, those with disabilities and public transport users. The ad features a young man relying on others to get around – in the video, quite literally, he is being carried in the arms of friends and family as he gets from place to place. The RSA shared the video online saying - ‘When you lose your licence, you become re...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to. This week, Andrea was joined by Editor of rollercoaster.ie , Sarah-Jayne Tobin and 98fm Producer Russell Alford to review the mystery podcast (with a unique name!), ‘Who Shat On The Floor At My Wedding?’. Image: Acast

A food truck on the Isle of Man has introduced ‘Seagull Insurance’ to deal with the scourge of seagulls robbing customers' food! It seems like a mad idea, but does it make sense? Charlotte Paige Smith, Co-Owner of Hawkins BBQ joins Andrea to discuss. Image: Hawkins BBQ

With talk of the passenger cap limiting Dublin Airport, should we be focusing more on the regional airports around the country? Andrea is joined by Mayor of Limerick, John Moran as well as listeners to discuss.

Today would have been the 75th birthday for Phil Lynott, the Thin Lizzy frontman. He’s often hailed as one of the country’s greatest songwriters, and because of that – there are celebrations across Dublin today in his honour. Joining Andrea to discuss his legacy and impact is Alan Buckley, Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience and Shane Byrne, Marketing for Bruxelles.

Listener Katie was overcharged by over €1,300 after booking a holiday in New Zealand. She noticed that the booking website she used to get the flights ended with her having three separate bookings for the same one! She joins Andrea to explain the situation, and Sinead Ryan, Presenter of the Home Show and Consumer Expert discusses what can be done to help.

This year, Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!  Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well. This week she was joined by someone who has made their own Camino, just closer to home! She speaks with Donegal Camino Founder Peggy Stringer.

Senator Sharon Keogan recently tweeted:  I've been contacted by many women on what they can do to protect themselves. Ireland is changing rapidly. Do you think Pepper Spray should be legal? I think I'd risk a fine!  What do you think? Andrea Gilligan is joined by Senator Sharon Keogan as well as listeners to discuss.

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined guest host Anna Daly to tackle your medical queries…

How often do you sit around the kitchen table for dinner? Does it happen once a week? Or maybe even twice? Apparently, about half of families manage once a week, but would like to do it a lot more... So, what’s stopping us? Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Media Personality Vogue Williams, who has teamed up with Heinz and Barnardos on this topic.

Do we need to change the way children are allocated school places? A centralised admission process for secondary schools is to be introduced in a number of towns across the country in time for the 2025 school year -  is this the best way to assign places? To discuss, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Lucy, a parent from Stillorgan, Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchin's College Li...

Season four of Emily in Paris was released on Netflix last week. Reviews for the show, which follows the exploits of an American marketing executive in Paris, have not been kind. Yet, despite this, the series is still wildly popular. Why are shows like this, which are so definitively critically panned, such a hit with audiences? Guest host Anna Daly is joined by Newstalk Reporter Bella Finn, Journ...

This is Lunchtime Live’s newest segment, Gilligan’s Island! Every Monday, we're going to explore this gorgeous island of ours and all that it has to offer. This week, we are looking at why you should take a trip to some whale watching! Guest host Anna Daly was joined by Sarah-Kim from @heyfromsk on Instagram to discuss.

Electric Picnic has wrapped up for another year – with 75,000 revellers enjoying Ireland’s biggest music festival. Fans were treated to performances by stars like Kylie Minogue, Noah Kahan and Calvin Harris as well as homegrown acts such as The Wolfe Tones, The Mary Wallopers and Kneecap. Over in the UK, their biggest music festival, Glastonbury, is broadcast throughout the BBC for the entirety of...

For this week’s Summer Memories, Andrea Gilligan is joined by iconic Dublin Drag Diva Davina Devine to chat and reminisce!

Andrea Gilligan was surprised to see a piece in the Irish Times writing that multivitamins are essentially placebos. As someone who regularly takes them, she had to know if this was really true. Andrea is joined by Sheena Mitchell, Pharmacist, health advocate and podcast host with Wondercare.ie to discuss.

Yesterday, Andrea Gilligan went down to the Dublin Horse Show, which will have around 120,000 people attending over the 5 days, to see what the big appeal was.  She spoke with those attending to learn what makes it so popular, including Siobhan Masterson, Commercial Director for the RDS.

There is so much going on in the world these days – but the story that has overtaken social media the last couple of days; the subject of innumerable articles, column inches and news coverage… is Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury announcing their split. The pair, who met on Love Island in 2019, have been the subject of so much comment, rumours and gossip this week that it begs the question: why are p...

Miss Ireland Jasmine Gerhardt says more needs to be done to tackle cyber-bullying after she suffered abuse online. Jasmine joins Andrea Gilligan to discuss.

From sitting the Leaving cert at 83 to being trapped in a lion enclosure – Breakfast briefing Presenter Shane Beatty has a roundup of stories from around the country you might have missed!

Electric picnic kicks off this weekend – and it can be hard to believe that it’s the 20th Anniversary! Andrea Gilligan is joined by listeners including Arts Journalist and Broadcaster Pat Carty and Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan to share some of their favourite memories from the festival!

Creating home bars has been growing in popularity over the past while, whether it’s out in the shed, or under the stairs! Our Home Squad are here with advice if you’ve a mind to make your own. Andrea is joined by Roisin Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty and Hayley Burke, The DIYist to discuss.

It’s an exciting time for women’s football in Ireland – following Ireland’s World Cup debut there is a lot of buzz about the talent in Ireland. But, who are the names to keep an eye out for over the next few years?  Kathleen McNamee - Host of the COYGIG Podcast is with me to tell me about some of the rising stars. (Part 2 of our FAI/Cadbury series)

Maebhe Gorman was diagnosed with a life-limiting genetic disease about a year ago, and tragically passed away last week. Maebhe had a rare genetic condition that affects the brain, known as Metachromatic Leukodystrophy late infantile form. Her family are calling for the condition to be screened for in Ireland, as it is in most other countries. Andrea Gilligan is joined by Maebhe’s aunt, Carol Gorm...