Lunchtime Live

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Frank McGrath, Hearing Aid Audiologist with Ear Care Clinics, to answer all of your hearing-related questions!

It’s International Coffee Day this week! Technically it was yesterday, but with Budget day overshadowing things, it seemed right to still celebrate! But, do we know enough about the stuff we’re consuming every day? Andrea is joined by James McCormack, CEO of the Dublin Barista School and Heather Leeson, Registered Nutritional Therapist with Glenville Nutrition.

The amount that a person can receive as a gift or inheritance from a relation before having to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax will be increased as part of Budget 2025. Inheritance tax, which is technically known as the Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT), is a tax of 33% on gifts and inheritances which kicks in at a particular limit. It does not have to be paid if the inheritance does not reach this limi...

‘Anyone else find friendship in their 40s hard?’ – so asked Journalist Niamh O’Reilly as she scribbled on the wall of a bathroom cubicle! Niamh joins Andrea as well as other listeners to discuss why she wrote that.

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. Ciara Treacy, Newstalk’s Digital Content Creator, joined Andrea this week to share all the things to make you smile!

Earlier on Newstalk, Home Show Presenter Sinead Ryan spoke about being a Godparent despite not being religious, and whether or not that matters.  What do you think?  Should you have to be religious to be a Godparent? Andrea is joined by listeners including Anne Marie McAuley, Wedding and Family Celebrant to discuss.

Are we losing the ability to write legibly? Poor handwriting in Scottish schools is holding pupils back with assessors increasingly deducting marks from “indecipherable” exam papers. Do you think handwriting has gotten worse? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier. This week, Andrea is joined by Collette O’Hagan to learn all about marathons - she’s about to do her 1,000th!

Irish people are living in their childhood home until they are 28 on average, according to an analysis from the European Union’s statistic agency Eurostat. The Irish figures are above the EU average of 26.3 years, while people in Finland are living independently at the age of just 21.4 years. What do you think about the younger generation staying at the parental level until so much later in life?...

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

Did you go to many weddings this summer? If so, how many of them took place in a Church? Odds are, it’s been less than usual. Fewer and fewer Irish couples are opting for traditional Irish weddings, but it still remains the most popular option for those getting wed. So, why are so many of us forgoing faith based ceremonies? Andrea is joined by Broadcaster Ruth Scott, who is a qualified Humanist Ce...

Sadie entered the foster system before her first birthday and left at the age of 18. She's now working as a special needs assistant. She has found love, and has a family of her own. And works in Wexford. She joins Andrea to talk about her experience of the foster system. If there was anything in this podcast that affected you, The Samaritans can be reached at any time on 116 123.

Manifesting: are you all for it? Or do you think it’s a load of codswallop?  “The Queen of Manifestation” Roxie Nafousi attracted big crowds to her live show in Dublin’s Helix Theatre, so there must be something to it - right? Irish Independent Journalist Tessa Ndjonkou was there, and joined Andrea, along with Ruth Allen, Hypnotherapist and Hypno Psychotherapist and Dr Sabina Brennan, Psychol...

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week, Andrea is joined by Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments, Holly Dalton, to look at how versatile the short rib can be! With multiple recipes sure to make your batch cooking exciting! Follow the hashtag...

Councils could stop cars and raid houses under plans for a fresh crackdown on smoky fuel sales. The new measures are contained in a draft Air Pollution Bill currently being finalised, which would grant councils search-and-seize powers to clamp down on the sale and distribution of smoky fuels. What do you think about these proposals? Should councils have the power to raid houses? To stop and detain...

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.  This week, Andrea Gilligan was joined by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to answer your questions!

The most iconic fashion gear of all time has been named, and it’s been worn by legends, but is it as favoured by the rest of us? Do you own a pair of Levi 501s? The jeans topped the poll of people asked what fashion item they deem to be the most important ever. The Ralph Lauren Polo shirt was second place, and the Chanel little black dress came in third. Joining Andrea to discuss this iconic cloth...

Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington, Michael Carruth: three names in a list of many Irish boxing heroes, but does boxing still get overlooked in Ireland? As the sports grant allocation of €230 million was released, boxing received just €830,914... Does one of our most successful sports deserve more? To discuss, Andrea is joined by former Irish International Boxer and current Boxing Commentator Mick Do...

Are you trying to learn a different language? Have you ever wondered just how effective language learning apps like Duolingo are? Andrea’s guest, Rodhan Harris, spent two years(!) using Duolingo everyday. To discuss, Rodhan, as well as Hard Shoulder Presenter Kieran Cuddihy, Padraig Ryan from the ELC Euro Language College and John Reilly, Founder & Editor of theEffect.net and regular gaming co...

From the most visited tourist destinations in the country to a hair-brained scheme at the Ploughing Championships, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with stories from around the country this week.

The 2023 annual report for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety makes for some pretty grim reading. It shows that drink driving numbers are still high, and worryingly, the number of repeat offenders is high. 243 drivers were arrested twice in 2023. One was even arrested seven times by Gardai in 2023 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated... Is there enough of a deterrent for drink driving? Andrea...

From using the ceiling as a 5th wall to painting floors, this week’s Home Squad is all about paint trends! Oisin Butler from Oisin Butler Ltd – Painting and Decorating Specialist and Interior Designer Sarah Twigg Doyle of Retwiggd join Andrea to discuss.

Have you ever had that post-holiday, Sunday night fear before going back to work? Ciara Treacy from Newstalk’s Digital team has the solution! It’s called microdosing reality, and she joins Andrea to discuss.

If you have listened to this show before you might know that there are few things in this world that drive people crazy like phantom buses. Phantom or ‘disappearing buses’ - is the name given when buses continue to appear on apps and signs despite not being in service. Could we have a solution on the way? The National Transport Authority has revealed that they plan to launch a new automatic vehicl...

Right now, if you have a brain injury in Ireland you will be rushed to hospital to have your life saved. After that, it’s luck of the draw...  Depending on where you live, you could be discharged home without appropriate information or education about the challenges you’ll face and the rehabilitation you’ll need to rebuild your life.  Or even worse, you may be placed in a nursing home, b...