Lunchtime Live

The Federation of Irish Sport have called on the government to introduce tax benefits for gym membership ahead of the budget. They raised the proposal 'with a view to incentivising personal exercise amongst the wider population.' And to attempt to reduce 'the ever-increasing issue of obesity in this country.' What do you think about the idea of tax benefits for gym membership? To discuss, Andrea i...

Storage is an issue in so many homes, whether you’re looking to fill it, create more, or hide it. Well, the Home Squad are here to help with your storage questions! Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by Roisin Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty and Sarah Carroll from Sand and Deliver DIY to discuss.

The ISPCA has issued an urgent appeal for dog adoptions. They have almost 200 dogs in their care and say they’re running out of space… Adrian Kennedy is joined by ISPCA CEO Dr Cyril Sullivan to discuss more.

Bill Linnane, writing in the Irish Independent, recalls: ‘Looking back, it's odd we bought my daughter dolls and prams while the boys got toy guns, swords and Lego’. All of the toys that he bought his boys were geared around adventure, creating and exploration while the ones he bought for his daughters were centered around nurturing, family and domestic life. So, how big of an issue is buying 'gen...

Presenter Davina McCall, now 56, but divorced (for the second time) at 50, has been talking recently about dating a little later in life. She is returning to present the ITV show ‘My Mum, Your Dad’ in which middle-aged singles are thrown together in a house. She said that besides some difficulties and a steep learning curve, it can be a fulfilling experience. But, what is dating like in your 50s a...

From the Cannes Film Festival to the Battle of the Sexes, Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joins guest host Adrian Kennedy to look back on the biggest things that happened this week…

Should every city in Ireland follow Cork’s lead and have Community Wardens to deal with parking and littering offences? Cork City Council has had them since 2008 and say that they are extremely effective, so what’s stopping other cities employing them? Guest host Adrian Kennedy is joined by Fine Gael Councillor in Cork Shane O’Callaghan as well as listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Colm Kieran, Funeral Director with Kieran Bros. Funeral Care and former Spokesperson for the Irish Association of Funeral Directors to answer all of your funeral-related questions.

Warm summer days and a bottle of Football Special, a core memory for many Donegal natives. But now, the beloved drink is leaving the hills of Donegal and spreading its wings nationwide! Joining Andrea to tell more is Seamus McDaid, Managing Director of Football Special.

If you have been following the Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez series ‘Only Murders in the Building’ on Disney+, you’ve possibly seen the latest episode where Paul Rudd makes an appearance - with a less than convincing Irish accent… It is not the first time we have heard a poorly-done accent in Hollywood. But, why do actors so often get the Irish brogue so wrong? And why is our accent...

This Friday sees the release of a new film called ‘The Substance’. It stars Demi Moore, and focuses on our obsession with youth and good looks. It’s a theme that’s never going away – so, are we all obsessed with ageing? Andrea is joined by Mary McCarthy, Columnist with The Irish Independent, Liz Dwyer, Co-Founder of the Future Beauty Show and Co-Host of Fess Up Podcast to discuss.

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…

Is free contraception for 16 year olds a good idea? Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is looking to expand free contraception to 16-year-olds as part of Budget 2025. Would you like to see this happen? To discuss, Andrea is joined by listeners and Clinical Psychotherapist Stephanie Regan.

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 Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet and Entertainment and Culture journalist Rory Cashin to review ‘Hysterical’! Image: Wondery

3,600 people became Irish citizens during citizenship ceremonies in Dublin yesterday, including Irish rugby superstar Bundee Aki! Two of those new citizens, Edvaldo Castro and Daniele Fortunato, join Andrea to discuss their experience, and share what it means to become an Irish citizen. Image: @rugbyplayersireland on Instagram

Leading universities have been urged to take no more than 10% of students from private schools. Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman, Professors of Sociology at the London School of Economics say that strictly limiting the numbers of private school pupils attending leading universities is a “radical” move needed to boost social mobility and improve access to elite professions. What do you think? Andrea i...

Yesterday on the show Andrea spoke with Stephen Morrison, whose son Harvey was suddenly removed from the scoliosis surgery list without explanation. Today, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly comments on the case, and Andrea discusses further with Harvey’s mum, Gillian Sherratt.

A man was seen walking from a Dublin apartment building with a five-year-old child “in his grasp” under his arm in an attempted abduction, it is alleged. The man (25) is accused of trying to unlawfully take a minor after “interacting” with the child and a 10-year-old. The media have been banned from naming the accused at the request of gardaí because of the “current climate in the country" and the...

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 Dermot O’Callaghan from Sing Ireland to learn all about social choirs! Image: Sing Ireland

A new unmarked Garda lorry is being launched today in a bid to catch bad behaviour on the roads. Gardai have started using an unmarked Scania truck as part of ‘Operation Iompar’, which will allow the Gardai to utilise the elevated height of the vehicle to see down into cars in order to catch motorists using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. Is this the system we need, or would you rather a d...

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

You may have already seen the displays in shops - yes, places are already getting ready for Christmas. And with it only being 100 days away, are you prepping too? Andrea is joined by Damian O’Reilly, Lecturer in retail management at Technological University Dublin and listener John to discuss.

A recent post on Reddit sparked a conversation around the role fathers are allowed to take in their children’s lives. It came after a dad tried to apply for children’s benefit, but was told that he couldn’t. Aaron joins Andrea to tell more about what he posted. Listeners also join (including Aileen Hickie, CEO of Parentline) to share their thoughts and experiences.

Dublin Airport was hit by a power outage on Sunday morning. The outage caused traffic chaos at the airport and delays at check-in and at US pre-clearance in Terminal 2. Were you caught up in the disruption at the airport yesterday? And, are we too reliant on Dublin Airport at the expense of our regional airports? Andrea is joined by Eddie Punch from Independent Ireland and more to discuss.

Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch is back! Every Monday, we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments, Holly Dalton, to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! For the first week back, Andrea and Holly looked at the perfect things to include in lunchboxes for your kids! Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our r...