Lunchtime Live

Have you taken up a hobby in later life? Or at any stage? Where do people find enough time to take up hobbies? Comedian Bernard O’Shea says he has recently started writing poetry. Terrible poetry by his own admission, but poetry none the less.  It’s known that they’re supposed to reduce stress, and help us flex our creative muscles, but how many of us really give them any priority? ...

A study surveying academics at the University College of Los Angeles has shown that Gen Z want to see more emotional relationships in movies and less sex scenes. Is there too much sex in movies these days?  Adrian Kennedy was joined by Sarina Bellissimo, presenter of The Bellissimo Files Podcast and other listeners to discuss...

As the number of road deaths in Ireland continues to rise, what should we do about it?   Is speed the main issue? And if so, are more speed cameras the answer?  Adrian Kennedy was joined by Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty and more to discuss...

Ocotber 20th marks World Osteoporosis Day Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to a decrease in bone mass and density, meaning bones become fragile and break easily.  Andrea was joined by broadcasting legend Mary Kennedy to talk about it...

Almost 1 million people in Ireland grew up with a problem drinker in the home.  That’s according to new figures out today from Maynooth University.  They’ve also found that this can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Andrea was joined by Marion Rackard, Aisling Creegan and other listeners to discuss...

Pop princess Britney Spears has released her memoir 'Woman in Me.' Today FM’s Claire Beck joined Andrea Gilligan to chat about the book and her legendary career is

Denise Whelan, a listener got in touch as since getting her teeth done in Turkey she has had to return multiple times due to infections...

Yousef Palani has received two life sentences for the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. The 23-year-old was also handed a separate 20-year sentence for causing serious harm to Anthony Burke. He pleaded guilty to the crimes last year.  At his sentencing hearing today, the court hear how distressing details of how he used dating apps to target gay men living alone in the Sligo area.&nb...

Should we anonymise the early stages of the recruitment process?   Would it help to eliminate prejudices in hiring?   Around half or respondents to a survey from the African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI) backed the idea of anonymising the initial stages of job applications while 70% more diversity among interviewers would be a good thing.  Andrea was joined by lis...

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best ways to save on your bills. Cut-the-Cost will offer tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts. Aoife Kearns, from our news team has done the hard work and...

Between the dark mornings and short evenings, the effects of a lack of daylight can have a huge affect on our moods. 7 per cent of Irish people suffer with seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Andrea was joined by Dr Anne Kehoe, President of the Psychological Society of Ireland to discuss...

Following the pandemic there has been an increase in students expelled and suspended in secondary schools.   Expulsions and suspensions numbers are creeping back up to pre-pandemic levels, according to new figures from Tusla How can we prevent these numbers from reaching pre-pandemic levels? Andrea was joined by Pat McKenna, Former Principal of Pobailscoil Neasáin Baldoyle and Educationa...

Miriam, a listener, sent an email into Lunchtime Live about her time spent in an industrial school when she was younger. Miriam joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss her experience... Image: Children's Homes

Nowadays the world is now more divided than ever. There are a myriad of political and social issues which seem to have split the population. Whether it is politics, international conflicts, gender identity issues, immigration, the list goes on and on.  Is it possible to maintain friendships and relationship with someone who might have very different views than you?  Could you be friends...

A clean-up operation is under way in towns and villages in east Cork and west Waterford hit by flooding during Storm Babet  The storm caused millions of euro worth of damage as parts of Ireland suffered its worst rainfall-related flooding in over a decade.  Cork was worst-hit by the torrential downpours which dumped over a month's worth of rain in less than 24 hours.   Andrea w...

CEO of Merchant’s Quay, Eddie Mullins has said Ireland Irelands middle class are sustaining Irelands drug trade.   He says there are people in politics, media and An Garda Síochána who are habitual drug users.  Are drugs becoming an issue among all classes in Ireland? Eddie Mullins joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss. Andrea was also joined by other listeners to discuss....

Throughout the country during October, people will hear fireworks going off every evening – some even starting in the afternoon.  Do they bother you? Has it made it scary to go out at night? Or is it scaring the animals in your house?  Is it time for a crackdown on them? Adrian Kennedy was joined by Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn and other listeners to discuss...

Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy Ray told Newstalk Breakfast that students should be finishing school with a leaving cert and a driving license. Should driving lessons be carried out in schools? Adrian Kennedy was joined by listeners to discuss...

US President Joe Biden landed in Israel on a solidarity visit this morning. It comes after around 500 Palestinians were killed in a blast at a Gaza City hospital last night   Palestinian officials have blamed the strike on Israel who say that the blast was a result of a stray rocket from Hamas. How do we know who to believe?   What do you think of the West’s reaction to th...

On the Graham Norton Show on BBC last week, a woman who used to live in Fermoy called it a ‘horrible town’. The comments made by the woman while in the famous red chair have caused outrage among locals. Andrea was joined by Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn, Kay Dawson, Fermoy Coucillor and other listeners to discuss...

A listener emailed Lunchtime Live as she was seeking some help and guidance around her struggle with alcohol. Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinty College Dublin and listeners Declan and Pat joined Andrea to discuss...

Halloween is right around the corner, and yet shops are stocked with Christmas decorations. Brown Thomas on Grafton Street has had it’s Christmas shop open since August.   Have we all gone Christmas mad? Is October too early to be getting ready for Christmas? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

President Michael D Higgins says Ursula von der Leyen is ‘not speaking for Ireland’ following comments she made on the Palestine / Israel conflict last Friday.  He criticised the head of the European Commission for a failure to call for Israel's retaliation to conform with international law. Is President Higgins right to speak out on this? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Director and Writer Richard Curtis has promised never to make “fat” jokes in his work again.  He’s famous for films like Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill and says he feels bad about lines in his films that are no longer funny.  Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best ways to save on your bills. Cut-the-Cost will offer tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts. Aoife Kearns, from our news team has done the hard work and...