Lunchtime Live

A new study claims The Pope could bring about a major reduction in global carbon emissions if he urged Catholics to stop eating meat on a Friday. A return to the tradition could apparently make a huge difference to the environment. Would you consider going meat free on a Friday, to cut back carbon emissions? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Darina McCafferty, owner of vegetarian restaurant C...

Do soap operas still have a place in society or are they facing extinction? Actor Claudia Carroll, who played Nicola in Fair City and Hollyoaks writer Alan Flanagan joined Andrea Gilligan to discuss. Other listeners and fans of soap operas got in touch to give their view too...

The live animal crib outside Dublin’s Mansion House has been a Christmas staple for the past 27 years. However, a decision has been made by the Lord Mayor to cancel the event. This has been met with huge disappointment by regular visitors to the annual showpiece. Andrea was joined by Former Lord Mayor and Labour Cllr, Dermot Lacey, Melanie Finn, Entertainment Correspondent with the Irish Independe...

'Tis the season of spookiness and superstitions. Black cats are on the prowl and no one wants to visit the house with 13 on the door. Is there any science behind our fears about breaking mirrors, walking under ladders or unlucky number 13? Scientist, Phil Smyth from Simply Science joined Andrea alongside some listeners to discuss...

Michaela McCollum's docuseries ‘High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule’ was released on Netflix at the weekend. Michaela, who was jailed for two years in Peru, when she and Melissa Reid dubbed the 'Peru Two' – were found with €1.6 milion worth of cocaine in 2013. Andrea was joined by Frank Greaney, Newstalk’s Courts Correspondent and Presenter of Inside the Crime, Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psyc...

The Dublin City Marathon returns this weekend after three years off due to the Covid pandemic. It’s on Sunday with apparently a record number of 25,000 entrants. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Mary Hickey, who has done every marathon since it started. Newstalk's Mike Hogan and Lochlainn Harte, who are also taking part, also popped into studio to give an insight into how their training is g...

In the past, Andrea has spoken to listeners about the reduction of fares on public transport. However, Tim got in touch with the show, he’s disgusted after a recent increase of bus fares for his daughter travelling to college. Tim and other listeners joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss their troubles with bus transport...

Port Safety Week at Dublin Port is aimed at looking at issues hauliers face – like loneliness and isolation. There are a number of jobs out there that cause isolation and mental health problems because of people having to work on their own for long periods of time. Andrea was joined by Brent Pope, rugby analyst and mental health advocate to discuss. Listeners, James, Alan, Pat and Susan also joine...

Are you an avid CD collector or do you still listen to them? Or have streaming services taken over from the traditional vinyl or CD? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Neil Watters, the owner of Classified Records in Dundalk and other listeners to discuss...

Does your child's creche or montessori have rules around what baked goods or foods can be brought in by a child? Newstalk's Simon Tierney received a notice recently from his daughter's montessori placing a ban on home baked goods for any birthday celebrations. Andrea was joined in studio by Simon to discuss. He was joined alongside listeners, Killian, Lisa, Andy and Jessica to discuss...

Pubs will be able to serve until 12.30am every night of the week under new rules proposed by Justice Minister Helen McEntee. The new legislation will also clear the way for nightclubs to stay open until 6am. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by DJ and music producer, Mark McCabe, Ronan from the Swan Bar in Dublin and other listeners to discuss...

New guidelines released by the HSE today will call for obesity to be treated as a disease. Campaigners are welcoming this and saying it will help in how the condition is managed. Roughly 1 million people in Ireland are considered obese and about a quarter of all over-15s. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Dr Cathy Breen, Chair of the Association for the Study of Obesity, Bernadette Keenan, fr...

How do you make the perfect cup of tea? Do you scald the cup first? A tweet from Sophie Grenham has caused a lot of debate in the Newstalk office this morning. Andrea was joined by Baker Catherine Leyden and Jenna, Clement & Pekoe's resident tea sommelier to discuss how to make the perfect brew...

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland has criticised the Government’s failure to provide accommodation to incoming refugees, calling it unacceptable. It comes as 43 refugees were told that there was no accommodation for them at the weekend after the Citywest transit hub was closed for new arrivals. Many of those slept in the airport. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Anastasia Sytnyk, a Ukraini...

A group of tenants living across more than 30 apartments in a Dublin city property have been served eviction notices. The landlord intends to sell the entire building and they all have to leave. Andrea was joined by one of those tenants, James O’Toole. He was joined alongside Calvin O’Brien, from the Talking Bollix podcast, and other listeners to discuss the impact of gentrification on them and th...

Are people too quick to comment on other people’s height? TV Presenter and Author Richard Osman has spoken out about how his 6’7 height has often made him feel "embarrassed". Andrea was joined by former Irish Rugby International, Devin Toner, Broadcaster, Barbara Scully and listeners to discuss...

There are new proposals to ban smoking in public parks and beaches in Ireland. It's thought of as being the next stop in Ireland’s smoking ban. Tobacco officials here have set their sights on extending a zero-tolerance approach to smoking. Andrea was joined by John Mallon, Forest Eireann, Cllr Oisín O'Connor, Green Party Councillor for Glencullen-Sandyford and listeners to discuss...

Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, who published the Derelict Ireland report, will be joined by Holly Cairns and the Social Democrats co-leaders, Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy, this weekend in Cork as they look at the harsh reality of our dereliction crisis in Cork City. Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrat TD and Brendan O'Sullivan is the Head of University College Cork’s Planning School joined A...

eBay have removed Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costumes from their online auction site. eBay say that they have a ban on items closely associated with violent felons within the past 100 years. Can you go too far with a Halloween costume? Andrea was joined by Eimear McKeon from the ‘Because You Were Home’ horror podcast, clinical psychologist, Tara Logan Buckley, make-up artist, Adrienne Kennedy Campio...

Britain's Prime Minister's announced she will resign - and a successor will be in place within a week. Andrea was joined by Newstalk's Kieran Cuddihy in London, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and London correspondent, Vincent McAvinney to discuss..

Should people who drive bigger cars have to pay more to park them? It’s one idea being floated by Dublin City Council, to disincentivise people from driving higher polluting cars into the city. Is it further punishing people who need to use bigger cars for work? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor, Civil Struct & Environmental Engineering, Donna Cooney, Gree...

Residents in Balbriggan are objecting to the construction of a new playground in the local area because they fear it’ll attract antisocial behaviour. Andrea was joined by residents Paul and Lukas to discuss. They were joined alongside Catherine, from the Liberties Residents Association and others...

What do you do with a loved ones social media accounts when they pass away? Unfortunately it was a situation Donna Ahern found herself in when her twin sister Susan died last year. Donna joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her experience...

Dublin man Edward O’Reilly says that he should have been bringing his three newborn babies home from Kenya, but instead – all he brought home is their birth certs. Edward, whose babies were born via surrogacy has been left devastated after the service he used demanded a further €16,000 despite him already paying €50,000. Edward joined Andrea on the show to tell his story...

A woman in the US has caused a storm online recently demanding a refund for having to sit between two overweight people. American Airlines in turn, provided her with a refund. Have you experienced travelling as an overweight person or have you been sat beside someone who was overweight on an airplane? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Robert and Nicola to discuss...