Lunchtime Live

Described as the Irish ‘Le Mis’, ‘Celtic Exodus’ is a new musical written by Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones. He joins Andrea to discuss what lead him to creating this show!

Spain plans to ban smoking on outdoor bar and restaurant terraces while extending smoke-free areas and regulating vaping products in ‌the same way as conventional cigarettes. European countries such as Britain and France are increasingly tightening tobacco and vaping rules, framing smoking as both a public-health threat and a drain on state health budgets and productivity. But should we follow sui...

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Darragh Cassidy from Bonkers.ie to answer all of your gas and electricity questions.

People in Ireland spend an average of three hours and 21 minutes a day on their phones. With 57% of people admitting to taking their phones to the toilets with them… With many people doom scrolling while on the loo, we want to know: just how common is this, and what are some of the bacterial hazards that come about using your phone on the toilet? Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr. Primrose Freestone...

An email during the week was sent in about several houses in North Cork that have been left without safe water for over a year… Andrea is joined by one of the residents, Noelene Quinn, as well as Mairéad Collin and local Fine Gael TD John Paul Ó Shea to discuss.

Growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia can prove challenging for many people, as they don't understand why things come easier to others. Andrea’s guest did not let his dyslexia stop him, as he has accepted the chain of office as Cathaoirleach of Longford Municipal District last month… Longford MD Cathaoirleach, Kevin Hussey, joins to share his experience.

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

How much of a difference does your accent make? And do you think yours holds you back? Model Sarah Morrissey talked about the comments she’s had on her inner city accent. She joins Andrea to discuss, as well as singer Mary Byrne, Solicitor and Comedian Justine Halpin,  Aoife Moore, Editor of Joe.ie and James Leonard from The Two Norries Podcast.

It’s time for Ask the Medic! Where an expert joins to answer any of your health-related questions. This week, Andrea is joined by Consultant, Trauma and Orthopedic Surgeon, Mr Pádhraig O'Loughlin, to answer any of your questions, as well as discuss the announcement of changes to e-scooter rules.

Love Island has taken over our screens in recent weeks, with many people glued into the romance in the villa. Andrea is joined by Irish contestant Sean Fitzgerald, or Fitzy as he is best known, to hear about his experience on the show. Image: ITV

Following on from last week’s conversation on scrapping VAT on suncream, Andrea is joined by more people to hear their own experiences with skin cancer…

For many, renewing your passport can be a handful at the best of times. For widows who have lost their partners, it can be an extremely difficult process and reminder of what they have lost. Members of Widowed and Bereaved Partners Ireland are calling for changes to be made to the process, in which they should not have to constantly prove that their spouse or partner has passed away every time the...

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, Andrea is joined by Paul Merriman of Ask Paul to discuss everything you need to know about retirement planning and inheritance tax.

A listener got in touch with the show to share her negative experience of a flight from Dublin to Ibiza with Ryanair. She joins Andrea to discuss… Updated statement from Ryanair: “Crew on this flight from Dublin to Ibiza called ahead for police assistance after two passengers became disruptive inflight. Due to their misbehaviour, crew refrained from serving these passengers alcohol from the bar, h...

We continue a county-by-county journey across Ireland, exploring all 32 counties that make up this remarkable island. Have you been to some of these places and hidden gems? Today, Shane Beatty is joined by Travel Content Creator Kevin Penrose to find out what the best things to see and do are in County Cork!

The World Cup draws to an end this weekend after 102 matches, with 2 still to go, as England face France in the third place play off and then the big one on Sunday night: Spain v Argentina. But, how has the World Cup been for you? Irish Independent Journalist Tanya Sweeny joins Shane Beatty to discuss, along with Phil Egan from Off the Ball.

This story will strike fear into any brides-to-be. Maggie joins Shane to tell her story about losing her engagement ring at a hen party in Cork…

Would you like to see phones banned altogether in the cinema, theatre and at concerts? Moviegoers were asked to use phone pouches this week at the premier of the Odyssey, so should this move be followed? Joining guest host Shane Beatty to discuss is TikToker Adam Smyth, Dave from the ‘Cinemile’ podcast, Eoin Glackin, Journalist at the Dublin Inquirer and Tina Koumarianos, agony aunt for Evoke.ie .

Shane’s guest says she and her brother were left humiliated after being forced off a Ryanair flight as they travelled home from Dublin to Poland. Dorota Marah and her brother Jaroslaw "Jarek" Kula had already boarded their flight when cabin crew were unable to load Jarek's wheelchair into the aircraft's hold. Despite having travelled with the exact same wheelchair on a Ryanair flight earlier this...

Laura Donnelly from the Newstalk Newsroom joined Shane Beatty with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week!

Figures provided to Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín reveal that 6,329 people have been claiming Jobseeker's payments for 10 years or more. The figures come despite Ireland's unemployment rate standing at just 5%, with around 145,000 people currently out of work, while employers across many sectors continue to report labour shortages and thousands of vacancies remain unfilled. With a strong economy and...

With the great weather - you are more likely than ever to be in your garden, but how should you neatly organise bits like outdoor furniture and bikes? This week, the Home Squad are here to give their advice on all things outside storage! Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Co-Host of ‘Rip it up: The Renovations Podcast’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Interior Stylist Sarah Doyle of Ret...

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who was diagnosed with a type of skin cancer in 2020, says a tax is being placed on skin cancer prevention. It comes as there is still a 23% VAT on suncream, despite it being a necessity to prevent the risk of skin cancer. With the high UV rays and the great weather over the last couple of weeks, many people are more exposed to sunburn and higher risks of skin cancer as...

Many of you will have been watching England versus Argentina last night and will have seen England lose from a one nil lead to two goals in quick succession, ending their World Cup dream… Now, England Manager Thomas Tuchel is being blamed for the mistake of bringing on defensive players in a strategy that completely backfired. So, can you get over career mistakes? And how important is psychology i...

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 the band Chic!