Lunchtime Live

Ahead of the opening night of Eurovision 2024, excitement is high for the fans eager to see the production of this year's song contest in Malmö. Andrea is joined by Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean live from Malmo in Sweden and superfans of the competition to discuss what’s in store. Image credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier! Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well. Andrea was joined by Beekeeper Aoife Mac Giolla Coda, from Galtee Honey Farm to learn what the buzz is about.

Former Ireland and Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson has expressed concern over the planned television dramatisation of the controversial ­Belfast rape trial. Jackson was found not guilty of rape in 2018 by a Belfast Court which was intensely covered by the media. But should television entertainment inspired by serious cases be made? Andrea is joined by Barrister and Journalist Aileen Hickie.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.     Andrea Gilligan was joined by Charles Coyle, Managing Director of Emerald Park, to answer all of your questions.

We previously spoke to Trinity college students who were protesting at the Book of Kells over a proposal to increase some programme costs.  In an update, Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union have been issued a €214k fine by the College for financial losses incurred by disruptive protests by the union throughout the year.  Andrea is joined by Ellen Kenny, Deputy Editor with Trinity News...

Funeral notice website RIP.ie has been acquired by the Irish Times Group.  RIP.ie generates 60 million page views a month as people visit the site for information on funeral arrangements, or just to keep up with who has died.       That makes it, pretty consistently, one of the most popular websites in the country.  Are Irish people obsessed with death? Why is the sit...

With, hopefully, good weather on the way it might finally be the time to crack out the BBQ! Andrea is joined by John Relihan, Head Pitmaster at PittBros BBQ with tips and tricks to get the best out of your barbeque.

From a Buddhist centre in Tipperary, to a no fly zone over Laois: Newstalk’s Eamonn Torsney has the stories from around the country that you might have missed this week.

Secondary schools are apparently completely reliant on parental contributions to stop going into deficit. The average cost of the ‘voluntary’ contributions are around €101 per year at primary level, and €140 at secondary level.  Nationally, the Department of Education estimates that these contributions are worth about €30 million a year.  So, should they be needed at all?  Andrea is...

How should you get your patio area ready for the summer? Hardware Expert Alan Grant and Róisín Lafferty, founder and creative director of Kingston Lafferty Design join Andrea with their tips and tricks.

If you’re currently planning your summer holidays – how long are you thinking of going away for? Is it a long weekend? Or maybe a really rare full two week break?  Well, both could be a waste of time!  Apparently, the ideal holiday length is 8 days… To discuss, Andrea is joined by Sinéad Brady, Career Psychologist and author of ‘Total Reset’.

How often do you sit down as a family to eat a meal?  This May, Childline by ISPCC is calling on families, schools, clubs and workplaces throughout the country to take time for breakfast – to sit, listen and enjoy each other’s company.  But, has life become too busy to sit down as a family and have meal times together? What’s your experience? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

The debate about drinking in Croke Park is here again -   Should rugby fans be allowed to drink in Croke Park? Would it help the atmosphere or make it worse?  Andrea is joined by Gerry Thornley, Rugby Correspondent with the Irish Times as well as listeners to hear their opinions.

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history. Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live… Image: @F1 on Twitter / X

The ‘Irish Campaign to Boycott Eurovision 2024 are protesting outside RTÉ later on this evening.   They say that they don’t want “to be represented at an artwashing exercise for the genocidal apartheid state of Israel”.  What do you think? Should Ireland boycott the Eurovision? Andrea is joined by singer and songwriter Mary Coughlan as well as listeners to discuss.  Image: Alma...

From overpaying your mortgage to how to switch; for this week’s Ask the Expert, we’re putting your mortgage questions to Trevor Grant, Chairperson, Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors.

Are the Irish unable to say ‘no’? That’s what the actor Brian Cox seems to think. Is he right? Do we avoid it? Andrea is joined by Freelance Writer Niamh O’Reilly and Life Coach Mark Fennel to discuss.

Listener Ben has gotten in touch with the show because he’s having an issue with getting his son into a secondary school. He speaks with Andrea about the issue.

Funerals are becoming more and more personal, with a lot more options on how we’d like our final goodbyes to go.  And that isn’t just the funeral – you now have even more choices about what will happen to your body after you die.  And the newest option is something called ‘water cremation’. Andrea is joined by Elizabeth Oakes, founder of Pure Reflections, to learn more. Colin McAteer fro...

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…

Students blockaded the entrance to the Book of Kells exhibition in Trinity College Dublin yesterday in protest against a proposal to increase some programme costs.  Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union warned that students will take actions that are 'seriously damaging to the reputation and finances of the university' if the increases go ahead.  László Molnárfi, President of Trinity Co...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to.  Andrea was joined by Newstalk's Tech Correspondent and host of 'Tech Talk' Jess Kelly and Elaine Burke, presenter of the 'For Tech’s Sake’  podcast to discuss series 4 of 'Serial' Image: New York Times

A Dublin-based surgeon has returned to Ireland after three weeks volunteering as a doctor in Gaza.  Dr Mohammed Shaalan joins Andrea to talk about the experience.

Today marks 30 years since Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and the Riverdance Troop wowed audiences in the Point theatre and worldwide during Eurovision ‘94.  What are your memories from the time? How did Riverdance transform Irish Dancing?  Andrea is joined by multiple people to look back on Riverdance, including lead dancer Fergus Fitzpatrick, dance professional Ciara Sexton and Susan Gin...

A 14 year old boy was home alone yesterday when his house was attacked by a gang of armed raiders.  It happened in a rural part of county Louth and local Councillor John Reilly joins Andrea to discuss…