Lunchtime Live

A Waterford U15 hurling match was abandoned on Monday evening following a brawl involving players, mentors and supporters. An investigation is now under way, but it seems to be a sight that is all too common on sports fields these days. What do you think? Are youth matches too competitive? Andrea Gilligan is joined by Former GAA President, Nickey Brennan, Antonio Mantero, Castleknock Celtic Coach...

Welcome to The Pod Squad!  We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to.  This week Andrea is joined by Today FM Presenter Shelly Grey and Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill to review ‘No Such Thing as a Fish’, which fans of the show ‘QI’ will find very familiar! Image: Quite Interesting Ltd.

Do we do enough to encourage girls to get into football coaching?   Laura Heffernan, who manages DLR Waves, is the only female manager in the League of Ireland, including the Women's Premier Division. So how do we get more women involved?  Laura joins Andrea Gilligan to discuss.

Excitement is reaching fever pitch for this Sunday’s All-Ireland Hurling Final between Clare and Cork. However, there have been reports that Cork fans are having difficulty in actually getting to the game in Croke Park, with train seats seemingly being sold out. Listener Claire joins the show to share her issue, and Andrea is joined by Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central and Barry Ke...

Today is the launch of Puck Fair, Ireland’s oldest festival. It got us thinking about some of the weird and wonderful festivals this country has to offer. Unfortunately the days of the bog snorkelling festival are gone, but there’s still enough around to make for a very entertaining summer… Andrea Gilligan is joined by Eimear Shannon, Today FM Producer and professional festival-goer and Naoise Nun...

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier! She will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well. After her time spent with the Riverdance crew a few weeks ago; this week, Andrea is joined by professional Irish dancer Ruth Eva McKenna to learn all about, you guessed it, Irish dancing!

Following unrest at an anti-immigration protest in Coolock yesterday, Gardaí have arrested 19 people.  Taoiseach Simon Harris thanked the Gardai for their "very swift action” in “very difficult circumstances”. He also spoke about “the benefit of the body cams” worn by Gardaí.  However, others have criticised the speed of the Garda Response. Were they fast enough? Andrea is joined by Inde...

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Anna Daly to tackle your medical queries…

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty was woken up on Sunday morning - someone nearby was mowing the grass at 8 am! His tweet has people divided on whether or not we should have noise pollution laws when it comes to mowing, or other similarly-noisy actions. What do you think? Shane, Sleep Expert Tom Coleman and listeners join Andrea to discuss.

Kerry man Bertie O’Connor's son James was stillborn in 1983. In memory of his son, Bertie would like to erect a plaque at the site where James was buried, however, the council have refused.  Bertie joins Andrea to discuss his situation.

Multiple fires have been lit at a site considered for international protection applicants in Coolock this morning. Andrea Gilligan is joined by local Councillor Daryl Barron and Newstalk Reporter Alex Rowley to learn about what’s happening and discuss. Image: Dublin Fire Brigade

Former US President Donald Trump has said he is “supposed to be dead” after surviving his assassination attempt. All of America, and even the world, was in shock over the weekend, and leaves many thinking about what this means for the election. Joining Andrea Gilligan to discuss the situation is TJ Mulloy from Democrats Abroad Ireland, as well as listeners at home and abroad. Image: Evan Vucci, AP...

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. Maybe you have a weekend unaccounted for this summer that needs inspiration, or you have no desire to get on a flight – whatever the reason, this will get you in the mood to travel. This week, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Niamh Reid Maher from @...

Families living in Direct Provision housing in Tramore have been given eviction notices - some were originally told to leave from the 5th of July, with others set to go from the 26th, and with no indication of what to do next. Because of this, they are protesting the decision. Andrea Gilligan is joined by Grace, an Ocean View Direct Provision Centre resident, Mary,  a Tramore resident and Mic...

Professor Luke O’Neill, Author, Biochemist and Newstalk fixture joined Andrea Gilligan to share some of his favourite summer memories!

Japan has brought in a new rule that everyone living there must laugh at least once a day. That’s right, they have brought in an actual rule about laughing. How will they police it? That remains to be seen, but they say it reduces the risk of heart attack. Is that true? What kind of power does laughter have? Andrea is joined by Marie Angeline Lascaux, a laughter yoga specialist, to discuss.

Diane got in touch with the show to tell how she’s facing kidney failure - and, without permanent accommodation, cannot do at-home dialysis treatments. She joins Andrea to discuss her situation, and Colm White from the National Kidney Association also joins to discuss.

Love it or loathe it: Christmas is only 166 days away! And Hallmark is on the search for their new leading man…  Nobody can claim that Hallmark movies are films for the ages – yet there’s still a huge appetite for them, why? To discuss, Andrea is joined by Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, Kathryn McKiernan, Actor and 98fm Presenter, Rebecca Finn, who visi...

From a cow making a visit to a nursing home to famous faces visiting Galway– Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty has a roundup of some of the stories you might have missed this week.

The Government is set to ban XL Bully dogs after a spike in the number of attacks in Ireland, including the fatal mauling of 23-year-old Nicole Morey in ­Limerick last month. From the 1st of October this year: breeding, selling, rehoming or importing an XL Bully will be illegal. Then, from the 1st of February, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in Ireland, unless you have an exemptio...

To wallpaper, or not to wallpaper - that is the question! Joining Andrea to talk all things wallpaper are Irish Examiner Columnist and previous ‘Home of the Year’ winner, Jennifer Sheahan and Hayley Burke from @ thediyist.com _. Image: House & Garden

Listener Neil got in touch with the programme because of a problem he has gotten himself stuck in - which involves getting a new passport, and seemingly jumping through a million hoops in the process.  He joins Andrea to share his frustration.

Have you ever gone to meet your friend for a coffee and a catch up, only to discover that they’ve brought their other half with them?  Met a friend down the pub for a drink and been stuck making small talk with their partner? Kate Lister wrote a piece in the Independent titled ‘Women who bring their husbands to lunch with the girls should be arrested (immediately)’. To discuss, Andrea is join...

In April 2017, Ainara was told she was HIV Positive, she says she never felt stigmatised over her status until she and husband sought fertility assistance.  Listener of the show Ainara joins to share her story.

It's Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Rebecca Shekleton, Co-Presenter of 98FM’s Big Breakfast joined Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock.