Lunchtime Live

As we head into the busy wedding season and are lucky enough to be invited to a few, you’ll notice the chunk of annual leave that it uses up. Has your annual leave been eaten up by weddings, hens or stags? Do you feel comfortable declining an invite due to the days it takes up? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Dublin Airport have been given the go-ahead to start charging people for drop offs and pick ups. It’s not something they said they’re looking at rolling out straight away, but there are no guarantees it’s not coming soon. Is it fair to charge for airport drop offs? Andrea was joined by Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare and other listeners to discuss… Image: Split-screen image shows Cathal Cro...

Speaking about death is never easy, but when you’re facing it head on – there’s no avoiding it. Joe Shannon, a chef from Sligo has unfortunately been given a terminal diagnosis. Joe joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss coming to terms with his diagnosis... Image: chefjoeshannon.ie

Do you leave restaurant or pub reviews online? Or do you read them and take them as gospel? The Strawberry Hall Pub recently posted online about a bad review they received and the impact something like this can have on business. Andrea was joined by Ciara Cummins from Strawberry Hall Pub in Dublin, Aidan from Duke's Coffee Company Cork, Klara O’Leary from Care Box Collection and Sarah Hanrahan, kn...

Shopkeepers are saying there’s a wave of crime and harassment in their shops at the moment. Some are calling for the right to name and shame known shoplifters, in a bid to stop them. Andrea was joined by Shane Gleeson, who runs five Spar shops in Limerick city, Sheena Mitchell, Pharmacist in Milltown Total Health Pharmacy, Sheila Clarke, who runs Clarke’s XL shop in Ballina and Eddie in Drogheda t...

Divorce is always a hard choice but the process that is barely ever talked about is the impact it has mentally, physically and financially. Andrea Gilligan was joined on the show by John, Andrea and Mandy to discuss...

After a year of imposing a succession of huge price hikes on households and businesses around the country over the last year, the ESB reported a profit of €847m in 2022 – almost 170 million more than the year before. Have you been struggling with bills over the last year? Do you think it is fair that the ESB could have such high profits while so many people find it hard to make payments? Andrea wa...

The Government will launch a national action plan to tackle racism today It comes as a report has found that racism is embedded at every level of society and experienced by a variety of groups. What do you think, is Ireland a racist country? Andrea was joined by Toby, Eric, Sam and Cllr Úruemu Adéjinmi, Fianna Fáil Councillor in Longford to discuss… Image: Protesters gather during a Black Lives Ma...

Both parents and children with special needs are suffering from long commuting times to get to their schools due to little or none that can accommodate them in the West Cork area. Andrea was joined by Emma Howlin, Sarah O’ Donovan and Ray O’ Mahony to discuss their children’s situation…

Although the number of people attending third level education continues to rise in Ireland, there are also still many people opting for a career in entrepreneurship or an apprenticeship. However, is there a snobbery in society around people who don’t have a degree? Andrea was joined by Pamela Laird, CEO and Founder of Moxi Loves and former Apprentice candidate and other Lunchtime Live listeners to...

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by listener Alina who is having issues she’s with the home she’s renting. Nora from CATU, the Community Action Tenants Union also joined the discussion to discuss how they help tenants...

Government party leaders will meet later this evening to discuss how they will respond to Sinn Féin's motion to extend the eviction ban until the end of next January. Andrea was joined by Teresa, Emma, Aoife and John to discuss impact of lifting of the eviction ban will have on them...

Eamonn Sweeney wrote an article in the Irish Independent claiming that Andy Farrell's team is the best to ever represent Ireland - and not just in rugby. Do you agree with him? Where does this Grand Slam stand amongst Ireland’s great sporting achievements? Andrea was joined by former Irish rugby international, Shane Byrne, Liam and Jackie to discuss...

Tánaiste Micheal Martin has said that the Enoch Burke case highlights why children should be educated in schools and not in the home. Mr Burke’s mother, Martina, a qualified teacher, home-schooled all her 10 children. Micheal Martin said: “I’m not a great fan of homeschooling. I think children need to socialise” Does homeschooling your children lead to problems with socialisation? Andrea was joine...

In honour of St Patrick's Day we’re celebrating the best Irish businesses with thanks to Square – helping businesses run and grow. See square.com for more. Andrea gave a shoutout some of Lunchtime Live listeners favourite small Irish business...

Irish patients are being warned against going abroad for a weight-loss procedures. They have been warned against going abroad for a weight-loss procedure that is ineffective and at the centre of a number of cases of botulism in Turkey. Why do people feel the need to travel abroad? Are the HSE not doing enough to help overweight people in Ireland? Andrea was joined by Leanne, David, Dr Michael Crot...

With St. Patrick’s Day inching ever closer, are we patriotic enough as a nation? Or are those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day abroad more patriotic than us at home? Andrea was joined by Sean, Helen, John, Claire in America and Marina in Spain to discuss…

Off licences in Dublin won’t be selling alcohol before 4pm tomorrow. It’s a self imposed booze ban, in order to try to tame down some of the St Patricks Day celebrations. So, is this a good idea? Is it wise to restrict sales so that they city doesn’t become too messy? Andrea was joined by Lunchtime Live listeners to discuss...

Andrea Gilligan was joined by Tracy Tully, Mother of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy. Says she has lost faith in the justice system after her son’s killer, Logan Jackson was moved to an English prison... Image: Sportsfile/Seth Daly

Is there anything done in Ireland about the rise in concussion in sport? Andrea Gilligan was joined by on Lunchtime Live by Irish Times journalist, Jen Hogan, Brendan McKeogh from Cistercian College in Roscrea, Oonagh Whyte, former Dublin footballer and others to discuss... Image: Sportsfile

During her Oscar winning speech, actress Michelle Yeoh warned her fellow women to 'not let anyone say you’re past your prime’. In recent years there has been a growing change and shift in what is really deemed the prime age, which is currently 30. Have you ever been told you're past your prime? Andrea was joined by Evie, Maureen, Geraldine and Renee to discuss...

Sinn Fein have taken outs ads today in American newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post calling for a vote on Irish unity. They’re saying that as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, it’s time to hold the British Government accountable to it’s Good Friday commitments. They’ve timed it for when our Ministers are in America, and all eyes are on Ireland. An...

The HSE is today beginning a study of Long Covid in Ireland. The HSE says that they hope to use the information to help us to estimate how common Long Covid is in the community. Andrea was joined by Paul O’Connell and Tanja Buwalda to discuss...

With the eviction ban set to finish this month renters all over the country are starting to be affected. Multimedia presenter with the Limerick Leader, Meghann Scully, Catríona, a Limerick teacher who is being evicted from her Limerick annex and others joined Andrea to discuss...

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Ryan O’Neill from Retro Drive-in Movies and Leonard Russell from Sherriff YC to discuss recent incidents of vandalism at their premises…