Lunchtime Live

It’s been a long few years for Westlife fans but the end is in sight and next week they are returning to stage for their The Wild Dreams Tour. Shane Filan joined Andrea to discuss how rehearsals are they going and what fans can expect from the tour.

Aer Lingus has issued an apology to the customers affected after a number of flights were cancelled this weekend. Andrea was joined by listeners affected by flight cancellations and Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air and Travel Magazine, to advice on what to do if you have had a recent issue with a flight.

On Fridays show, listener Paddy was in touch to discuss how he was taken off a waiting list because he didn’t reply to a letter that he says he didn’t get. Andrea spoke to listener on todays show to discuss the general uncertainty around waiting lists and the length of time people are waiting to receive health care.

Neil Smith was in touch with the show off the back of the Eagles’ concert at the Aviva Stadium, which he attended with his partner. He explained to Andrea, the couple ended up being unable to see large parts of the performance because of the large number of people standing in what was supposed to be a seated part of the stadium.

There was unsavory scenes in Croke Park yesterday in the clash between Armagh and Galway, with a brawl as the players entered the tunnel at the end of normal time. Andrea was joined by Nickey Brennan, former GAA president, to discuss if enough being done to stomp out violence from the GAA.

Every Friday, we search for the definitive answer to some of the most burning questions in The Big Debate. Today on our Big Debate, we want to finally get the answer to the question- ‘Is the idea of marriage outdated?’

Dr. Afif El Khuffash joined Andrea on the show who posted a painting of a breastfeeding mother and her baby on Instagram recently that was promptly flagged as inappropriate. ‘Fighting the Breastfeeding Stigma’ Opening Night takes place on July 28th from 7 pm to 10 pm with a complimentary Drinks Reception and Canapes at Copper House Gallery.

Listener Paddy joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to talk about how he was taken off a waiting list because he didn’t reply to a letter- which he says he didn’t get.

Listeners joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss their travel woes which included everything from car rental costs to hotel prices to missing luggage.

Newstalk has teamed up with Ronseal for Fix it Fortnight, two weeks of top DIY tips from the best experts in the field. This week on the Ask The Expert, Andrea was joined by Jimmy Englezos from Ronseal to answer your woodcare questions. It’s all with thanks to Ronseal, get your garden Summer Ready.

Listener Davey was in touch with Lunchtime Live to discuss the state of the city streets. He told Andrea that he has been shocked by the waste in the city center and the length of time it seems to be taking to collecting the bin bags.

Long gone are the days of just a plain, simple burger, between fancy toppings, brioche buns and being stacked up high,it’s nearly a two man job to eat a burger now. Chef Edward Hayden joined Andrea and Kevin O’Regan ,whose O’Reilly’s Foodtruck in Cork took the Munster title, about the evolution of the humble burger.

The ‘Leave our Leave’ our campaign launched outside Leinster House today, with the goal of changing legislation to allow women to defer maternity leave following a cancer diagnosis. Approximately 60 women per year face a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, including Erica Tierney , who joinsed Andrea to share her own experience.

Childcare providers, parents are protesting outside the Dail today over funding issues. Andrea was joined by providers and parent's who are out protesting today about what impacts high costs are having on the sector.

Mary, was in touch with the show to discuss the ongoing issues she has faced trying to get a vaccine booster. She told Andrea although she has been able to book an appointment, she finds she has been turned away when she shows up to attend the appointment.

Public servants including medical consultants, CEOs of State bodies, certain members of the judiciary and senior civil servants are to have their pay restored to pre-austerity levels from July. Andrea spoke to listeners who had mixed reactions to the news.

Kerry Councillors are at odds over the county's Rewilding Programme, designed to boost biodiversity in towns and villages by reducing the need to cut grass and hedging. Cllr Donal Grady is concerned that rats are ‘Playing Polka in the long grass and he joined Andrea and Eanna Ni Lamhna, Biologist and Environmental consultant, to debate the pros and cons of rewilding.

Car thefts are rife at the minute, they’re at the highest levels in 7 years. Urufa Abedin, spoke to Andrea and Joey Donnelly from Crofton Motors, about his first hand experience of having his car stole.

A campaign is underway to fund West Cork’s first special needs school. Ray O’Mahony is among those involved in fronting the initiative alongside wife Laura, and he joined Andrea to explain how challenging it has been not having access to resources near by.

With temperatures for 2022 potentially set to peak this week, Dr Catherine Norton, Performance nutritionist and registered dietitian at the University of Limerick, joined Andrea to discuss how much water we should be drinking and what issues can arise if we are not drinking enough.

An email came in from a Lunchtime Live listener, who feels punished in work for being pregnant. Richard Grogan is an employment solicitor and he joined us to talk about your employee rights if you’re pregnant.

Its that time of year again where students begin the hunt for accommodation. Andrea was joined by students who were in touch with the show from various parts of the country to describe how a lack of accommodation and high prices is leaving many of them without a place to live.

A Kerry grandmother, Fiona Griffin, is fulfilling her dreams after heading off on a J1 to America at the age of 66. She spoke to Andrea from America about her trip and decision to head over to the US.

Office workers want to ban telephone calls in the workplace because they find them ‘confrontational’ and ‘aggressive’. That is according to a survey which found that 75% of people would rather communicate by email or social media instead of answering their phone. Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss if it is time to ban phone calls all together.

Famous travel bible The Lonely Plane, has featured a list of problems with the city of Dublin in their latest guidebook. It warns potential visitors about some of the issues they might encounter, including high prices, difficultly finding seats in pubs and airport baggage chaos. Andrea was joined by Joan Scales from travel2ireland.ie and others who work in tourism to discuss if tourists have good...