Lunchtime Live

Is there stigma around being an only child?   Writer and commentator Barbara Neeson talked about her experiences of growing up as an only child in Belfast in the 1980s on Newstalk Breakfast.  Are you an only child or do you have an only child?   Today FM presenter Alison Curtis joined Andrea to discuss…

Should Airbnbs be allowed have cameras? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Ian, who recently had an experience where he noticed security cameras inside his Airbnb. Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air & Travel Magazine and Liz Early, Airbnb host also joined the conversation...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit Antarctica? How about to live in the coldest place on Earth for an extended period?  What is life like as you near the South Pole? Today on Lunchtime Live’s ‘Ask Me Anything’ Andrea was joined by Gerard Ryan from Limerick, who spent three months stationed there back in 2017.  

A survey by the Irish Council for International Students on the impact of the housing crisis on International Students has revealed some stark results.   More than 1 in 10 students said that they have been a victim of an accommodation scam while 5% of those asked had either been directly offered a room in exchange for sex or seen an ad for a room in exchange for sex.  Maura, a stude...

Parents of children dealing with eating disorders are taking to the streets of Dublin today for a peaceful protest and march, calling for eating disorder services reform.  Newstalk's own Sheila Naughton and others in attendance joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live to discuss...  

Queen’s 'I Want to Break Free' has been voted the best song to clean your house to.  The 1984 track has claimed the crown as the ultimate cleaning song, followed by the likes of 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor, and Cyndi Lauper’s 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun.' The song famously has an accompanying video with Freddie Mercury vacuuming in drag – which may have helped!  Andrea Gilligan wa...

Is rural Ireland disadvantaged? Delivering for rural Ireland is the main focus of Fine Gael’s Special Conference tomorrow. Newstalk's Shane Coleman doesn’t think rural Ireland is disadvantaged. Andrea Gilligan was joined by listeners to discuss...

We have teamed up with Guaranteed Irish to bring you Newstalk’s Irish Christmas Guide. Over the next 4 weeks we'll feature ideas for gifting, decorations, and festive fare – all from Irish based businesses. Discover the best ideas to make Christmas all about supporting local enterprises, in association with guaranteedirishgifts.ie . This week we put our focus on festive decorations...

Róisín Tracey, who is a Sinn Féin Candidate for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, told Lunchtime Live presenter Andrea Gilligan that she is already began receiving abuse on social media, before she’s ever even gotten a seat.

Seagulls should be put on the pill to stop them destroying towns  according to former politician Frank Godfrey in Drogheda. He says that the birds are causing absolute chaos and a contraceptive in their food is the only way of reducing their population.

The Office for National Statistics says the average age for new fathers is now 33.7 years – the highest since data collection for paternal age began in 1964. Newspaper columnist and political commentator, Alex Kane, who had his child Indy at age 62, spoke to Andrea.

Storm Debi caused much disruption yesterday as it swept across the country.  Red weather warnings were put in place for 10 counties which played havoc with public transport and school openings.  David Quinn, columnist and Iona Institute CEO, told Andrea how he thinks Met Eireann are too quick to issue red warnings. Andrea also spoke to Alan O’Reilly, of Carlow Weather and calle...

Newstalk’s Simon Tierney says that the hair transplant industry needs to stop portraying baldness as a condition that needs to be cured 

That time of week when you have the chance to put your questions to the GP. Dr Nina Byrnes joined Jess to discuss the benefits of data in medicine as well as tackling a wide range of medical queries.

A report from iWish has revealed 67% of teenage girls lack information regarding STEM careers.  How do we break down barriers and encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM? Jess spoke to Caroline O'Driscoll, Corporate and International tax partner with Deloitte Ireland and co-founder of iWish, Eve O'Callaghan, a sixth-year student and STEM prefect at Mount Anville Secondary School, and...

TV Reviewer Sheena McGinley joined Jess to discuss her favourite boxsets to watch as the days get wintry and the evenings get dark.

It’s International Fraud Awareness Week, and we’ve teamed up with Bank of Ireland to help educate and inform how to protect our online profiles. When protecting yourself online, the rule is simple: Stop, Think, Check.  Brian Honan, CEO of BH Consulting and listeners joined Jess to discuss. 

Every week, Cut-the-Cost offers tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts. This time, Aoife Kearns joined Jess to unwrap the cost of wrapping paper ahead of Christmas.

Does your wearable tech help or hinder you? Does it encourage you on or just make you feel guilty if you don’t hit your goals? Fitness Goose Andrew Moore joined Jess to discuss.

There are 130,000 people with a gambling addiction in Ireland. We’re constantly being bombarded with ads to set up online betting accounts. It’s made very easy for us – but it is much harder to shut down an account than it is to close one. Jess spoke to Gambling Councillor Tony O'Reilly and other callers with personal experience of a gambling addiction.

We saw much disruption as Storm Debi swept across the country earlier this morning  Red weather warnings were in place for 10 counties with power supplies, school openings and public transport affected.   But how do these weather warnings work and when are they sent out?  Jess was joined by Gerry Murphy, Meteorologist and Weather Forecaster with Met Eireann. 

A letter written into the Irish Independent today detailed how someone had loaned a friend the sum of €600. The letter explained it had been two years and the friend hadn’t mentioned it since. Creating a difficult moral dilemma But is it ever a good idea to lend money to a friend? Does it lead to unhealthy Relationships? and how can you say no to a friend or loved one who has requested a loan? Joi...

Have you ever wondered how animals are supplied and trained for Films and TV shows? Well for this week's edition of Ask Me Anything Mairead Ronan was joined by Eddie Drew, Animal Wrangler and Animal Co-Ordinator from Copsewood Aviaries in Bray who has been supplying animals for productions for many years

A sober festival is happening in Cork this weekend. Ecstatic Picnic aims to create a space where people can dance and connect through the medium of rave music without the hangover. The festival is open to all but is strictly a non-drug or alcohol use event. But are Gen Z ditching alcohol in favour of healthier lifestyles? When they do drink, are they doing it in a much more balanced way? And...

Yesterday, Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering the 23-year-old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy who had gone out for a run in Tullamore, County Offaly in January last year. Mairead Ronan was joined by the CEO of Parent Line, Aileen Hickie, Gender Equality Rights Representative at UCC Alison Ní Threasaigh, Alexandra Ryan CEO of Goss.ie , Stylist Laura Mullet as well as listeners of the show...