Lunchtime Live

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...

From Nirvana to Greta Thunberg, this was a big week in pop culture history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joins Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock!

Should we be paying for TDs to keep fit? Leinster House have put up a posting for a personal trainer, needed for the next 4 years, to keep TDs and Senators in shape. And, the wage is around €190,000. Joining Andrea to discuss if this is necessary is Senator Mary Seery Kearney, Clinical Psychotherapist, Stephanie Regan, Green Party TD Steven Matthews and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Andrew Dunne, a Physiotherapist and Founder of Personal Health - Medical Exercise Clinic, to answer any of your physiotherapy questions!

It’s Love Donegal Day! Andrea’s second favourite day of the year after Christmas! What’s not to love? The beautiful beaches, the beautiful scenery, the beautiful people?! Perhaps the most loveable thing is their way of speaking. So, where does some of this Donegal slang come from? Andrea is joined by Grace Shields, owner of Social Scene PR & Marketing and Hotelier Noel Cunningham to discuss. I...

Sabrina Carpenter’s new album has raised some eyebrows for its “sexy” nature, with many parents disapproving of the former Disney Channel star’s explicit adult content. But, is it time we stopped expecting young stars to be role models? To discuss, Andrea is joined by Saoirse Hanley from the Irish Independent, Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw from @modernirishmom and Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly. Image: Island...

Ireland AM Presenter Alan Hughes and his husband Karl were at the receiving end of homophobic slurs as they walked down Grafton Street last week. Alan joins Andrea to discuss what occurred.

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. Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter of 98fm’s Big Breakfast joined Andrea this week to share all the things to make you smile! Image: Heinz

Officials from the Board of the new National Children's Hospital are being questioned by an Oireachtas Health Committee today. It comes as the contractor BAM has moved the completion date for the hospital, originally due to open in 2020, 14 times. The completion cost is now estimated to be over €2.2 billion. How has this been allowed to happen? To discuss, Andrea is joined by Kirsty Blake Knox, Jo...

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 Ciara O’Brien, Irish Times Business and Technology Correspondent and Broadcaster Padraig Wilson to review Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ ‘Wiser than Me’! Image: Lemonada

The ultimate in comfort TV returns tonight as 12 bakers take to the tent in the Great British Bake Off, but what has made it such a favourite amongst TV viewers? Andrea is joined by former contestant Rebecca Lightbody and Graham Herterich, aka ‘The Cupcake Bloke’, to discuss. Image: Channel 4

The Israeli military has said it hit dozens of Hezbollah targets in several areas of southern Lebanon overnight. Yesterday, Israeli air strikes killed at least 492 people, including 35 children, the health ministry said, marking the deadliest day of cross-border violence since the Gaza war began. A spokesperson for the Defence Forces has confirmed that all Irish soldiers currently deployed in Leba...

Cork’s water issues are unfortunately continuing - and a listener calls into the show to give their experience. John Howard from the Ballyhooly Community Council as well as Cllr Nelius Cotter join Andrea to discuss the water issues they are having in Ballyhooly in Cork.