Lunchtime Live

Singer RuthAnne posted a video on social media which has struck a chord with many women. She spoke about suffering a pain flare up due to endometriosis.  Andrea was joined by RuthAnne and listener Ali to discuss... Image: X via @thisisruthanne

Suella Braverman, the UK Home Secretary, has called for a new international approach to granting asylum and changes to the 1951 refugee convention.     She described uncontrolled and illegal migration is an "existential challenge for the political and cultural institutions of the West",   Adding "uncontrolled immigration, inadequate integration, and a misguided dogma...

Sally, a listener, emailed into the show about an experience of casual racism she had over the weekend. Sally joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to tell her what happened...

The greatest baking competition on the planet returns this evening. The Great British Bake Off returns to screens on Channel 4 this evening, but what makes The Great British Bake Off so appealing? Andrea was joined by Paul Kelly, Pastry Chef: Merrion Hotel and Former Judge on The Great Irish Bake Off, Graham Herterich, The Cupcake Bloke and author of ‘Bake,  Imelda McCarron, who was on the sh...

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Newstalk reporter Aoife Kearns to chat about an experience she had in which someone commented on her height and size.  Broadcaster and author, Barbara Scully and journalist Yvonne Redmond also joined Andrea on the show…

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers are currently gathered outside Leinster House in protest against what they say are low fees paid to them by the Government.   Andrea was joined by childcare providers Hazel, Fiona and Averil to discuss...

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by GP and lecturer, Dr Sumi Dunne to answer listeners health queries and questions...

Luke O’Brien was the victim of a one-punch attack which saw him lose his life in 2017.  His killer, Jack Hall Ellis was released from custody last year after serving three years and eight months of the five-year sentence he received.   Luke O’Brien’s mother, Janet, made the decision to meet with her son’s killer as part of the Irish Probation Board’s restorative justice programme.&n...

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...

Today, state funded IVF will be introduced for the first time with eligible couples receiving one publicly funded cycle. The initiative has drawn praise and criticism alike, with some citing the limits placed on age and BMI. Will it have a meaningful impact? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Was it inappropriate for Irish rugby fans to sing ‘Zombie’? As a lot of you no doubt would have heard over the weekend the sound of Ireland's rugby supporters singing The Cranberries song at the Stade de France on Saturday night, celebrating the team's World Cup win over South Africa.  However, there was a backlash over the weekend as not everyone was happy with the song choice. Andrea w...

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by mum Maggie Butler. Maggie has a son named Alex who is in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, but they're currently struggling in their attempts to get Alex home...

57-year-old Paul King, who suffered a heart attack in December, now finds himself homeless and living in the woods in County Wicklow. He joined Andrea to discuss his situation...

Should teenagers join the gym? In an Irish Independent article Mary McCarthy believes all gyms should open their doors to younger teenagers.  But is it the right place for them? Does your teen go to gym? Or is your gym overrun with teens?  Andrea was joined by Sarah Jayne Tobin, Content Editor with Evoke.ie , Shane Lynch from One Life Fitness and others to discuss...

'What is the deal with voice notes?' wonders Richard Hogan in the Irish Examiner this morning.   Do we no longer care for conversation with people? Have voice notes replaced phone calls? Texting?   Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Yesterday on Lunchtime Live, Andrea spoke to Garreth about his wife Vicki’s story. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer and decided to avail of assisted dying in her home country Belgium.  There was a huge reaction to Garreth’s interview, with many people giving their thoughts on assisted dying.  Should assisted dying be permitted in Ireland? Andrea was joined by Aontú Leader, Peadar T...

Apparently Dublin is the second biggest city in Europe for a botox obsession. This is according to a new survey by VIP Italia, second only to Amsterdam.  Dubliners youth obsessed it seems, searching for it over a thousand times a month online.  So what’s got us so hooked? Andrea was joined by Kerry Hanaphy, nurse and Owner of the Kerry Hanaphy Aestethic Clinic and listeners to discu...

Shocking scenes outside Leinster House yesterday as TDs and staff were unable to leave the grounds due to protestors. There’s videos circulating of Michael Healy Rae being jostled and harangued, verbal abuse being thrown at him.   13 people were arrested in connection with the protests. Where you there?  What do you think of these kind of demonstrations? Andrea was joined by some of...

Today marks 25 years since the launch of TV3. One of the stars that launched the station, Gráinne Seoige joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her memories...

A listener, Garret Ahern contacted Lunchtime Live to share his story of his wife availing of assisted dying. His wife, Vicky Janssens was diagnosed with terminal cancer and in her final months she decided to avail of assisted dying in her home country Belgium. He told Andrea the story of travelling to Belgium with his wife for her final days…

Vanessa Molloy in Kerry joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live. Vanessa has a big problem with rats in her house at the moment...

Former Dublin Lord Mayor Nial Ring has described Ireland’s bail system as a “complete joke”.   The Independent councillor made the comments after Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring also called on the State to do “something about bail” at a recent hearing.  This all comes after a teenager who received bail for allegedly attacking two British tourists was brought back to court four days later...

Why is it so difficult for some parents to get swimming lessons for their children?  “It feels like the Hunger Games. Fighting for this limited number of spaces. I genuinely think people would step over their own mother to get a place.”  - so tells one parent to Deirdre McArdle, writing in the Irish Examiner this week.   Andrea was joined by Deirdre, Tim Lombard, Fine Gael Sena...

Parents with children for life-altering spinal surgeries have hit out at the HSE and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) as operations have been postponed.  It comes after the HSE announced that it has commissioned a review into parts of paediatric care at Temple Street after one child died and others suffered serious post-surgery complications following spinal surgery there.  Andrea was joi...

The National Ploughing Championship kicks off its three-day festivities today. It is believed that tens of thousands of people are due to attend the Laois festival with their wellies in toe. What makes it so popular and what exactly do people do at it?   Andrea was joined by National President of Macra Na Feirme, Elaine Houlihan, Clive Carter, the Site Owner of the Ploughing Championship...