Lunchtime Live

Louise from Cool Running Events, James Coghlan of Astropark, and Linda Murray of Huckleberry’s Den joined Andrea Gilligan to discuss insurance premiums...

Ten years ago a law was passed that compelled tobacco companies to print photographic health warnings on cigarette packets, now as we look set to introduce similar warnings on alcohol some are calling for health labeling to also be displayed on junk food. But would this proposal actually work and what might it look like? Andrea was joined by Doctor Eva Orsmond and listeners to discuss if health la...

It’s World Breastfeeding Week. It’s a topic we cover regularly on this show, and when we do it always gets a huge response – from the lack of help for new mums to Ireland’s low uptake – it seems people have a lot of worries around breastfeeding. Andrea Gilligan was joined by Katie Mugan, Lactation Consultant, Nurse, and mum of 4 who answered all your breastfeeding questions...

It’s that time of the year again when thoughts turn to, back to school. A new survey from Barnardos shows that the average cost for a fourth-class pupil in Primary school is €320, while the amount needed for a first-year pupil is €972 and a fifth-year pupil is €863.

Parents and public representatives in Dublin 8 are calling on the Department of Education to provide new secondary schools for the area to address the dire under-provision of secondary school places locally. The stark shortfall of places in Dublin 8 means many local teenagers face 15 hours of commuting a week to get to and from school. Parents in the area are calling on the Department of Education...

Andrea was joined by mental health campaigner Daragh Fleming because of something he is currently dealing with. Daragh explained to Andrea what happened recently... If you have been affected by anything in this podcast you can contact Men's Aid on 01 554 3811.

As we finally see some sun in Ireland during the tourist season, is the price of a nice meal out just too much to enjoy it? We often talk about the cost of hotels here, but should we be doing more to keep costs down in all parts of hospitality? Andrea Gilligan was joined by callers to discuss the cost of going out for a meal...

New research from Digital Insights has found that almost one in ten people are now using Chat GPT for work High-income owners are twice as likely to use to use ChatGPT for work purposes versus the general population (8%). It is also much more popular among younger age groups. Andrea was joined by Eoghan Tomas McDermott - Managing Director of The Communications Clinic and callers to discuss if they...

A shocking report by the ERSI showed that barely a third of Irish people under 40 own their own homes. With the cost-of-living crisis, the people being hit hardest are our young people who are stuck at home, and their parents who are still housing them. Brian Jordan, president of the TU Dublin Students Union, joined Andrea on the show...

Young people’s shopping habits are increasingly shaped by social media influencers, research shows. Almost two-thirds of 16 to 24-year-olds and almost half of 25- to 34-year-olds have bought goods online because of a recommendation from an influencer or celebrity, according to a survey by An Post. Female shoppers are twice as likely to be prompted to purchase via social media.

Cork City Library on Grand Parade decided to close to the public at 12.30 pm on Saturday following ongoing protests against LGBTQ+ material in Irish libraries. Andrea was joined by Dan Boyle, Green Party Councillor and callers who were at the protests...

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  Author Sheila Flanagan joined Andrea to discuss...

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  Singer and Nolan Sister, Anne Nolan joined Andrea to discuss...

Here on Newstalk we have been covering the exclusive Newstalk poll carried out by Amárach which has found a clear divide when it comes to women’s and men’s sport in Ireland. Lunchtime Live is focusing on one of the findings, which is that over half (56%) of the 1,200 people surveyed said they do not believe we encourage young girls to play sports to the same extent as young boys. Andrea was joined...

Is there a lack of buzz for the All-Ireland Football final as usual? On Sunday Dublin face Kerry in the All Ireland Senior Football Championship, it will be only the second time in the last century a final has taken place in July rather than the traditional September. Many have criticized this change as taking the excitement away from the fixture. Andrea was joined was joined by listeners to discu...

Prisoners have been transferred to the new Limerick Women Prison during the week. One of the main priorities for the Irish Prison Service in its state-of-the-art new jail is ‘to create a safe place’ for the traumatised women. The prison includes a gym, a salon and ensuite rooms and it has met some criticism online with people comparing the prison facilities as being like a hotel. Andrea was joined...

Following on from conversations with Karen Harkin and Ciara Mangan, Andrea was joined by Noeline Blackwell, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to discuss rape culture in Ireland...

28-year-old Ciara Mangan was raped by a work colleague at a house party ten years ago. Her rapist was jailed for seven years last week. Shane Noonan was sentenced to eight years in prison with the final year suspended, at the Central Criminal Court. Ciara waived her right to anonymity so that rapist Shane Noonan could be named. Ciara joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live…

Do advertisements reinforce gender roles and stereotypes? Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have backed a report which calls for media to show men cooking and cleaning and women fixing the sink or mowing the lawn to 'break the gender binary'. Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

There was collective shock across the globe yesterday when the sad news of the death of Singer Sinead O’Connor was announced, at just the age of 56. President Michael D Higgins led tributes following her death, stating that his first reaction "was to remember her extraordinarily beautiful, unique voice." Andrea Gilligan was joined by singer, Liam Merriman, Brid Smith TD and many more to remember S...

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Karen Harkin. Her father sentenced to 11 years with six months suspended for raping and sexually assaulting her over a four-year period from the. The abuse began when Ms Harkin was nine-years-old and stopped one day short of her 13th birthday. Karen waived her right to anonymity so that her father could be named...

Ahead of Ireland's second World Cup clash against Canada in Perth, Andrea was joined by Kathleen McNamee, Off The Ball and Presenter of the COYGIG Podcast to preview the game. Andrea also spoke to Irish fans in Australia, Su Keating, Community Ambassador for the Irish team in Perth, Neil Sherwin is Editor of Back Page Football, Robbie from Morley Gaels GFC and Laura from Western Shamrocks GAA...

Is it ever OK to ask to swap seats, take off your socks or do basic body maintenance on a flight? Andrea was joined by Irish Independent journalist Kirsty Blake Knox and other listeners to discuss...

Gardaí are investigating reports of two assaults in Dublin City Centre over the past 24 hours. The two separate incidents comes just days after an American tourist was left in a serious condition in hospital. Do you feel safe in our capital? Andrea was joined by Padraig O'Reilly, crime photojournalist and listeners to discuss...

Do you have a secret bank account? New research from Aviva shows that more than 1 in 10 adults in relationships have a bank or savings account that their partner doesn’t know about. Andrea was joined by Life Coach, Mark Fennell to discuss...