Lunchtime Live

Rural post offices are often a hub of the community centre. Nowadays, more and more are closing, or at risk of closing, because they don’t have enough support.  Andrea was joined by Máire Breathnach who is the Postmaster in Ring in Waterford, Councillor Michael Sheehan and Cellie Irwin is the Chair of the New Ross Active Retirement to discuss...

Every day we scour the newspapers but often, many great stories from the regional papers don’t make the headlines. Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beatty has rounded up some of the best stories that you might have missed... 

Ray O’Donoghue, director of Donegal music festival Sea Sessions, has been appointed Dublin City’s nighttime economy advisor in a bid to support the cultural and creative life of the capital over the next two years.   Andrea Gilligan was joined by listeners to discuss...

JP McMahon, chef, restaurateur and author in Galway joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live to discuss an experience of poor service he had recently in a restaurant. Andrea was also joined by listeners to discuss...

One of our listeners, Michael, got in touch with the show over an issue he was having with getting a water connection for his home in Donegal. Michael joined Andrea Gilligan to discuss...

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live... 

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is set visit University Hospital Limerick's A&E Department today. It comes as the hospital has hit the headlines in recent days, with many patients experiencing significant waits for treatment.  Listeners have gotten in touch with us to tell us about their experiences. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Teri, Geraldine and Tanya McMahon from 'Nenagh Ne...

From tea trolleys to maintenance works, Barry Kenny, Head of Corporate Communications with Irish Rail joined Andrea to answer listener questions...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to.  Andrea was joined by Laura Mullet, Stylist, Journalist and Podcast Enthusiast and Colm Boohig from Off The Ball to discuss 'Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend'... Image: Spotify

Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) passed a motion yesterday to demand that all years of teaching service should be included in the calculation of incremental credit, but how else can we encourage them home? Andrea spoke to John Boyle, INTO General Secretary as well as other teachers and listeners to discuss.

Back in October, Andrea spoke to Denise, a listener who had travelled to Turkey to get her teeth done. She told Andrea about her nightmare experience. Denise joined Andrea on the show again today to discuss how things have not improved for her since...

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.   Newstalk’s own Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in studio to put a smile on your faces...

New electric car registrations in March were down 41% compared to the same month last year.   That is according to new figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry which shows a marked decline in the amount of people opting for electric vehicles.   Andrea Gilligan was joined by Matthew Sealy, Chair of the Irish EV Association and other listeners to discuss...

Michelle and Sharon got in touch with the show over the long weekend to tell about their experiences in the A&E Department as University Hospital Limerick...

‘How finally accepting I might never become a mother has brought me to a place of peace’ – so says Helen Coffey, Senior features writer for The Independent.  Helen joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!  Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well. Andrea was joined by David Keeler, the Co-Owner of Strictly Salsa in Dublin to discuss how good salsa is for us....

Concept plans for a third terminal at Dublin Airport have been submitted to Fingal County Council.    If the plans get the go-ahead it would see land situated between the two runways at the airport as the location for a new airport terminal.   The plans also include a cargo terminal, hotel, car parking and office space.   Current plans for Dublin Airport are aimi...

Tomorrow marks 20 years since the smoking ban was introduced in Ireland.   We were the first country in the world to implement it and there was a great deal of opposition at the time.  Now, 20 years on - What are your memories of the smoking ban being implemented?  Andrea was joined by Finian McGrath, Former TD and Government Minister and others to discuss...

About 450 people are diagnosed with primary brain tumours each year in Ireland.  Tony, a listener, is one of them. He was diagnosed last September aged just 37.  Tony and Fiona Keegan, CEO of Brain Tumour Ireland joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history.  Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live... 

Green Part leader Eamon Ryan has revealed 35 proposals to cut vehicle use. Among them is hitting larger vehicles such as SUVs with higher taxes.   Plans to introduce a 'polluter pays' principle, which will help offset tax revenue lost from fuel sales, would include a 'weight-based tax model'.   Should the polluter pay? Andrea was joined by Shane O'Donoghue, Editor of...

From John B. Keane to PopBaby – Irish theatre has a long and rich theatre tradition. Today we’re celebrating World Theatre Day and hearing why it’s so special here.  Andrea was joined by 98fm's Karl Dawson, Edward Hayden, Chef, actor and Chairperson Drama League of Ireland, Amanda Brunker, Writer and Director...

Today is World Bipolar Day. To hear more about what it is like living with bipolar disorder Andrea Gilligan was joined by Bernadette and Liam to discuss...

Apparently almost a quarter of us don’t think our gut health is important.  Andrea was joined by Dr. Zoe Williams, leading UK expert in lifestyle medicine and gut health to find out...

Shops in the UK have been accused of erasing Easter by selling so-called ‘gesture eggs’  The decision to remove the word 'Easter' has sparked anger among Christians who argue that 'without the message of Easter there would be no reason for Easter eggs'.   Are we erasing religion from religious celebrations? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...