Lunchtime Live

This is Lunchtime Live’s newest segment, Gilligan’s Island! Every Monday, we're going to explore this gorgeous island of ours and all that it has to offer. This week, guest host Claire McKenna is joined by Dee Laffan, Food Writer and host of the Beár Bia podcast to discuss some of the fantastic food tours you can take around the country! Image: Boyne Valley Flavours

Boos rang out around the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening when Ireland faced England in the Nations league. It happened whenever Jack Grealish or Declan Rice touched the ball, but it was apparently deafening when ‘God Save the King’ was played. What’s your reaction to Irish fans booing the English National Anthem? Is it disrespectful? Guest host Claire McKenna is joined by listeners, including Jo...

Our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series is back! We put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in the kitchen of a Michelin star restaurant? Is there as much pressure in the kitchen as portrayed in movies and TV? How do you get and maintain a Michelin star rating? Do Michelin star chefs eat fast food? Guest h...

Do you have those boots made for walking, raspberry berets, blue suede shoes or maybe you’re forever in blue jeans? There’s nearly a song for every wardrobe item, but how many of these do we actually need? Well apparently, all we need is 20 pieces in our wardrobe. What’s the secret to a ‘Happy Closet’? Award winning author Annmarie O’Connor has the answers, and joins Claire McKenna to discuss.

There have been calls in Sweden to ban fathers walking brides down the aisle. Traditionally, in Sweden, the bride and groom walk down the aisle together rather than the bride being accompanied by her father but in recent years – perhaps inspired by the influence of global television, films and social media – more Swedish women are being “handed over” by their fathers. It has reignited a conversati...

A trans woman has claimed that she was denied treatment at a Dublin Hospital. Paige Behan went to St. James’s Hospital with a wound infection, and says they wouldn’t treat her... Paige joins guest host Claire McKenna to discuss.

From the wettest county to celebs breaking up fights – Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Claire McKenna with a roundup of stories from around the country this week.

There are calls in the UK to stop ‘junk food’ companies sponsoring sports teams. It's claimed that it will help stop the number of people dying from heart attacks and strokes. Is this something we should be looking at here? To discuss, Claire McKenna is joined by Trevor Twamley, CEO and Co-Founder of Sport Endorse, Dr Donal O'Shea, HSE Lead for Obesity and more.

Do you have a piece of furniture that you want to spruce up? Or maybe you’re looking to source the perfect vintage gem to complete your room? Well, the Home Squad is here to talk about all things upcycling! Jennifer Sheahan, Irish Examiner columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ joins guest host Claire McKenna to discuss.

It’s safe to say that support is mounting for the Irish Women’s Football Team, and with hopes of securing a spot in the Euro 2025, the girls in green need our continued support! Now that the games are more prominent, our TV screens and stadiums are gaining more fans in the seats, it’s clear that perceptions of women’s football are changing. Joining guest host Claire McKenna to discuss is former pl...

Would you like to see a smartphone ban in restaurants? A French bistro in north-eastern France banned smartphones at the table last year and said that the policy is not deterring diners, and is actually encouraging them to order more food as they continue their conversations! Would you like to see something similar introduced here? Claire McKenna is joined by Darina Allen, Chef, Food Writer and Fo...

As parents all over the country resume school routines and welcome back the structure that provides, others are facing the daily struggle of getting their children to eat a healthy breakfast, finish a lunchbox or join the dinner table.    But, how can you manage a fussy eater? To discuss, Claire McKenna is joined by Stephanie Fleming, whose daughter is a fussy eater, and Teresa Foley, Pa...

From Australian wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin’s tragic death, to Sweet Valley high hitting our screens. 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor joins Claire McKenna to look back on pop culture history from this week. Image: FX

There has been a lot of controversy in recent days over the ticket prices for the upcoming Oasis Croke Park gigs. Standing ticket prices soared to over €400, and it has brought up big questions about the use of dynamic pricing. But, as Melanie Finn argues in the Irish Independent: in a world where nobody wants to pay for their music, can we begrudge artists for soaring ticket prices? Claire McKenn...

Have you ever watched an episode of Only Murders in the Building and thought you could do it yourself?  Well you’re not alone... Apparently a third of us think we can solve crimes because we’ve seen it being done so much on TV! We have enough expertise from watching Midsummer Murders and Law and Order to do as good a job as any detective… right? Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is...

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Paul Kenny, Ireland’s former Pensions Ombudsman and Course Leader with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland to talk all things pensions, and answer your questions!

A number of people who gave testimony to the inquiry into sexual abuse at religious schools in Ireland say they think a ‘pedophile ring’ was operating in certain schools. The inquiry revealed almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse of children in schools run by religious orders. There were 844 alleged abusers in over 300 schools run by 42 religious orders across the country. Joining guest host Cl...

It was a fantastic night for Ireland at the Paralympics in France yesterday as Róisín Ní Riain and Orla Comerford secured two bronze medals within 5 minutes of each other! Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss and celebrate the two achievements is Róisín’s father Seosamh O’Riain, Dave Hooper, PRO with Raheny Shamrocks and Jade Murphy, Head Coach for the Performance Development Squad with Lim...

How would you feel about a free workplace health check?  In the UK, the NHS are rolling out health checks across several workplaces and are describing it as the ‘MOT’ for middle aged people.  In doing so, it could stamp out waiting lists and save NHS time in the long run. But, should we consider doing the same here? Clare McKenna is joined by Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion...

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 guest host Clare McKenna in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Studies show that some teenage boys are being shown posts on TikTok featuring violence and promoting misogynistic views.  In general, teenage girls are being recommended very different content based on their interests.  Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is Andrew Kaung, former Analyst on user safety at TikTok.

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, guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Niall O’Floinn, Owner of Chen Tai Chi in Galway to learn more about this martial art.

It’s time for the Pod Squad! Every week, we review a podcast to see if it’s worth your precious time or not! This week guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Newstalk’s Sue Murphy and Dave Hanratty of the ‘No More Encore’ podcast to talk about the BBC Scotland Podcast - ‘Who Killed Emma?’. Image: BBC Scotland

Aslan played with Coldplay in a surprise appearance last night in Croke Park. Coldplay included the band as a tribute to Christy Dignam. Christy passed away in June last year after a long battle with cancer. Aslan band member Billy McGuinness joins guest host Clare McKenna to discuss the experience and how it came about. Image: @coldplay on Instagram

Kieran O'Donnell, the Minister with Responsibility for the Office of Public Works has demanded an immediate review around the construction of a new bike shelter at Leinster House which has cost €335,000. What do you make of this? Guest host Clare McKenna is joined by Green Party TD & Member of Public Accounts Committee Marc Ó Cathasaigh and more to discuss.