Lunchtime Live

A Tipperary Granny in her 70s is planning to skydive with her son this February to raise funds for Gaza.  Mary and Mike McDonnell joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live...

The Citizens Assembly on Drug use are meeting right now, to recommend a 'decriminalised' version of our drugs laws. It would cover anyone caught with drugs for personal use.  They believe the criminalisation of drug use has not worked. Andrea was joined by listeners 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... 

An article in the Irish Times today suggests people are diagnosing themselves with mental health Issues.   Is there a glorification of mental health on social media?  Andrea was joined by Jason O’Callaghan: Psychologist and others to discuss...

A spokesperson for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has said they have seen an increase in people looking for support and more women are seeking support for "problem drinking". Andrea was joined by listeners and Sheila Gilheaney, CEO at Alcohol Action Ireland to discuss...

The existence of fertility treatments has given a lot of us the impression we can wait until we’re older to have children.  A survey carried out by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cork University Maternity Hospital showed an overconfidence in the treatments. One in five surveyed believed ­fertility treatment allowed most women to h...

Have you ever thought about your own funeral – or told people what you’d like after you die?  For more on this Andrea was joined by Brid McGowan from Foley & McGowans Funeral home in Sligo and McGowan’s Funeral Directors in Ballina and listeners to discuss...

The National Transport Authority today published their fares plan for 2024 – while 80% of fares remain unchanged, there will be reduced monthly tickets for commuters.  Do you use Public transport? Is cheaper transport really the answer to encourage more people to use it?  Andrea was joined by Dr. Páraic Carroll, Assistant Professor in Transportation Engineering in UCD, Cllr Lauren Tuite,...

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....  Image: BBC

We spoke to Gayle back in August. She got in touch after she was forced to miss her own mum’s funeral, when she couldn’t get respite care for her son.  Gayle cares for her 22-year-old son Luca full time in their home.   She is hoping for more help for people like herself and her son.  Andrea went to Gayle’s home to see what her daily life is like, and to find out if there’...

New cars in the EU and UK have grown 1cm wider every two years according to a new report – but are our roads able for them?  Andrea was joined by Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor & Columnist with the Sunday Independent, Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation and Head of Department, Trinity College Dublin to discuss...

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. Terry Lambert from Hill Top Treks joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today to discuss hillwalking...

The Access to Cash Bill is going to the cabinet today. The bill aims to ensure the use of cash in shops and pharmacies and stop the closure of ATMs. Should we be protecting cash? Andrea was joined by Sheena Mitchell, Pharmacist and Host of the WonderCare podcast, Barry Duff from Lock & Brew Café and more to discuss...

Should we ban cheap flights to help the environment?  With some airlines announcing winter sales, with flights as low as €13 – should this be allowed?  Andrea was joined by Ecologist Padraic Fogarty, Eoghan Corry and others to discuss...

Should Irish pubs be given protected status? That’s a call from Una Mullaly in the Irish Times today, she thinks Irish pubs should be declared a cultural asset.   They’re so important to our culture and our way of life, and a lot of them are struggling.  Would something like a UNESCO status help them?  Andrea was joined by some people in the industry to discuss...

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Cook Book Author and Recipe writer Sarah Butler to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week Andrea and Sarah chatted through recipes to keep you full during lunchtime... Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Storm Isha battered the country last night leaving alot of damage to businesses and disruption to flights. Andrea was joined by Sinead Ryan, Newstalk presenter, Sorcha Crowley, journalist with the Irish Examiner, Anthony Gray Owner, Eala Bhan and Hooked Restaurants in Sligo, Chair of Sligo Tourism and others to discuss...

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting background or working in different jobs.   Today on the show Andrea was joined by former Reality TV star, Ray Shah...

There will be a protest on Sunday in Limerick to highlight overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick.   Andrea was joined by Brian and Marie on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

A fascinating story of three long lost siblings, adopted and grew up without knowing each other has taken another turn.  In 2020, the two of the siblings were reunited on the ITV show ‘Long-Lost Family’. The show brought about the discovery of another brother.  Recently, it has come to light from the Indo Daily Podcast that there may be a fourth sibling out there. Andrea was joined by tw...

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... 

A balaclava, a cannabis joint along with a screwdriver and pliers were among the floral tributes at hitman Tristan Sherry's funeral this week.     Why are displays like this allowed at funerals?   Do they glorify criminality?   Andrea was joined by Fr Aquinas Duffy and more listeners to discuss...

Yesterday we spoke to Aolish and Michelle about their experiences with postnatal depression. And it seemed to really strike a chord with a lot of people listening.  One of the things that came up time and time again in your texts was that people just don’t talk about it enough. So we want to talk about it more.  Andrea was joined by Jemma, Tara and Aileen Hickie, CEO of Parentline to dis...

One listener got in touch with Lunchtime Live via a voicenote to complain about people without kids parking parent in and child car spaces. Andrea was joined by Chrissie Russell and others 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...