Lunchtime Live

Ireland has highest levels of loneliness in Europe. That is according to the first ever EU-wide survey on loneliness which found that over 20% of respondents in Ireland responded reported feeling lonely. How hard is it to maintain friendships once you get to a certain age? Is it difficult to make new friends in midlife? Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Living with psychosis is something very few of us will understand. Psychosis refers to a collection of mental health conditions that affect the brain’s “ability to process information”. During psychosis, people experience a loss of touch with reality. Which could mean things like hallucinations – hearing voices or phones, believing you’re being watched, followed or even attacked. Andrea was joined...

Marks and Spencer have said they’re getting rid of use-by dates from its fresh milk. They’re replacing them with best-before dates. And we’re being told to use the ‘sniff test’ on milk from now on, to see if it’s still good. Milk is apparently the third most wasted food and drink product, after potatoes and bread. Should we be getting rid of best before dates everywhere? Should we be sniffing rash...

Do you take your shoes off when you go into someone else's house? Or are you annoyed when people don’t take their shoes off when they come into your house? Journalist Stefanie Preissner joined Andrea to discuss why she has a no shoes indoors policy…

Are secondary school summer holidays too long here in Ireland? Speaking to Newstalk earlier, columnist & teacher Jennifer Horgan argued that secondary school should run a month longer to ease the breakneck pace of our school year. What do you think? Are secondary school summer holidays too long? Would you support a shorter break if it meant a more relaxed pace year-round? Andrea was joined by list...

Andrea travelled through both Virginia and Carrick-on-Shannon over the weekend. The heavy traffic in both areas highlights the need for both towns to be bypassed. Plans have been in the pipeline for years but never implemented. Andrea was joined by Councillor TP Reilly, Patrick Farrelly, Chairperson of the Virginia Development Association, Carrick on Shannon Councillor Enda Stenson and other local...

Global superstar Harry Styles brings his Love On Tour show to Slane Castle this weekend. With tickets already sold out crowds are expected to descend on the Meath venue from early Saturday morning. Unfortunately for some concert-goers the majority of bus transfers to the gig have been sold out leaving many with no travel options. Sharon and Charlene joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss...

Gardaí were forced to evacuate a Burrow Beach in Sutton, Dublin over the weekend following a mass brawl which broke out between groups of teenagers. With the good weather is set to continue, is this something which is going to become more of an issue? How do we tackle this sort of behaviour on our beaches? Andrea was joined by local residents and listeners to discuss... Image: Padraig O'Reilly Pho...

Samantha O'Connor's husband Darren is suffering from Long Covid since contracting it in October 2021. 18 months on and they’re desperately trying to get him a bed in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Samantha O'Connor joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to tell her story...

Actress Scarlett Johansson has spoken out about suffering from crippling acne for years. She said that when she was 14, she was told that her face looked like the surface of a volcano. Have you suffered from the skin condition? And how has it affected you? Andrea Gilligan was joined by callers dealing with acne...

Damien a taxi driver in Dublin joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss the difficulties facing taxi drivers in dropping off and collecting passengers at Dublin Airport...

The Irish Hotels Federation has said it’s members are reporting a large increase in inquiries from people looking for pet-friendly accommodation. People are no longer willing to pay for the kennel or ask their relatives – so they are bringing their pooches with them! And in response to the demand, many hotels around the country have stepped up their doggy offerings. Andrea Gilligan was joined by c...

Weather presenter, Evelyn Cusack, announced she is retiring today after 42 years at Met Éireann. Andrea was joined by Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather to chat how obsessed Irish people are with talking about the weather.

Ireland saw one of the biggest increases in the number of adults living with their parents. Between 2010 and 2019 the number of 25–34-year-olds living with their parents increased by 6% between 2010 and 2019, according to figures released today by EU agency Eurofound . The study coincides with the publication of census findings that show a drop in overall homeownership of 4% between 2011 and 2022....

A naturist in the UK, Helen Berriman, has caused a stir on social media after appearing naked on Good Morning Britain. Currently, Irish law says being naked in itself is not illegal. In order for an offence to be committed the person exposing themselves must intend to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person. Should nude bathing be made illegal? Would you ever bare all when going for a dip?...

Road rage – is it something you have ever been on the tail end of? Two thirds of Irish motorists have experienced aggressive behaviour on the roads – a new survey has revealed. 29% of motorists have experienced verbal abuse, whilst 3.6% - 32 of those surveyed - said that they have been physically abused on the roads. Is this common on our roads? Or have you had a bad experience of this happen to y...

Tech industry leaders have issued a stark warning about the threat of Artificial Intelligence saying it could lead to the extinction of humanity. Recently, ChatGPT has been used to complete assignments, the controversial use of AI to create art and music. In the jobs market it is claimed that the use of AI could be as transformative as the Industrial Revolution - a recent report by investment bank...

The Census 2022 findings have been released today. It is the first time in 171 years that Ireland's population exceeded the five million threshold. There were 5,149,139 people in the State as of last April 2022, an 8% increase since 2016. There were more interesting findings from religion, working from home, commuting and home ownership! Andrea was joined by Newstalk’s Sean O’Regan, Father Paddy B...

Love Island is set to return to our screens on Monday. Andrea was joined by Orlaith Condon the host of the 'My Pod on Paper' podcast and listener Ben to discuss if reality TV shows like this have a role in our society. Are shows like this damaging for young viewers or do they open up conversations that we otherwise wouldn’t have?

St. Vincent de Paul has published new report today which found that 87% of parents cut back or delay spending in order to pay school voluntary contributions. The study polled 1,447 parents, who had made voluntary contributions to schools ranging between €30 to €550. Is there a pressure to pay voluntary contribution in schools? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss their experience with paying...

Andrea was joined by Frances to discuss mental health and the importance of checking in on young people. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed, there is help available at www.samaritans.ie or www.pieta.ie 

Is it time we looked at redrawing our county borders? Associate Professor of Politics at DCU, Dr Eoin O'Malley thinks so. Andrea was joined by callers to get their views...

It’s the story that just keeps rumbling on – Philip Schofield. This Morning went ahead as usual this morning, with Presenters Allison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary acknowledging that "we know we happen to be in the news at the moment". Brendan O’Loughlin, Presenter of 98FM'S Big Breakfast joined Andrea with the latest...

There are more short-term holiday lets available on Airbnb than long-term rentals listed on Daft.ie in all 26 counties. That is according to new data compiled by Newstalk Chief Reporter Barry Whyte. There are almost 100-times more properties available on Airbnb for short-term let in Co Kerry than rental properties on Daft. In west Donegal, for example, there are 572 properties available on Airbnb...

Cork woman, Georgina O’Shea and her husband Ken, have welcomed a new miracle baby girl after 23 miscarriages. Georgina joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her story...