Lunchtime Live

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

In January 2023, Northern Irish MP Alex Easton got a call which would change his life forever: his parents had tragically been killed in a house fire. He joins Andrea to discuss the trauma of losing his parents, and how he has dealt with the grief since then…

Are phones dumbing down films? Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Matt Damon said that phones distract a lot of people at home, and that filmmakers now have to work around that to keep them interested, sometimes to the detriment of the movie… So, have you noticed a shift in how films on services like Netflix are telling their stories, do you put the phone away when watching a movie? Joining Andrea t...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. Host of the ‘For Techs Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke & Broadcaster Padraig Wilson McCarthy join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Mad, Sad and Bad with Paloma Faith’! Image: Jampot Productions

As the trend for “Baby Botox” continues to rise, unregulated black-market injections are putting teenagers at serious risk, including blindness and permanent tissue damage. Increasing numbers of young people, some as young as 16, are turning to these illegal treatments in an attempt to improve their skin and appear “younger.” Health experts are now calling for stronger legislation to protect vulne...

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Declan Finnegan, Funeral Director and Embalmer, joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Misdiagnosed as bipolar, 32-year-old Katie Watson spent years seeking answers to why every month, just before her period, she’d suffer crippling depression and anxiety. Katie joins Andrea to discuss Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

Have the markings on Irish roads gotten too bad? Apparently people are failing driving tests because of faded white lines and stop signs. Is this something you’ve noticed? Joining Andrea to discuss is Clodagh Branagan, Director of Ladybird Driving School, Driving Instructor Brendan Tierney and listeners.

From good news for Harry Styles fans to ‘The Only Girl in the World’ making a comeback- a lot is going on in the entertainment world. SPIN 1038’s Katie Gallagher and Bauer’s Entertainment Reporter Shannon Keenan join Andrea to run through the biggest entertainment stories of the week!

Newstalk News Anchor Eamonn Torsney joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Ireland’s chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup are just two games away. The boys in green will play Czechia in late March, with the winner of that match facing either North Macedonia or Denmark to secure a place in the finals. If Ireland are successful in making it to the World Cup, they will be heading to the US in the summer. Independent TD Barry Heneghan has called for Justice Minister...

In a very January way to make an impact, how do you make your home look good without buying new things? This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss restyling without buying! Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Interior Stylist Sarah Doyle.

Google is apparently emailing thirteen year olds to tell them how to turn off parental controls on their accounts... Joining Andrea to explain more is Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly…

When it comes to healthcare, half of the population pays twice – surely it’s time for a rethink? So writes Suzanne Crowe, Consultant in Pediatric Intensive Care. What needs to change in the system? Joining Andrea to discuss is Suzanne Crowe, Dr Brian Turner, Health Economist in Cork University Business School in UCC and listeners.

Men under 35 are now the most worried generation about hair loss, fuelling a £6 billion hair treatment global market. But how do men feel about going bald? Is there still a stigma about it, or getting hair transplants? Joining Andrea to discuss is Ciaran Bradley from the Newstalk Digital Team, Dr Maurice Collins, Medical Director & Founder of HRBR, as well as listeners.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them. What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from? Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through Thin Lizzy’s album ‘Jailbreak’!

As the Irish Open is set to take place in The Trump Hotel in Doonbeg later this year, many people will flock to West Clare to see the sport in action. Donald Trump however has caused a lot of tension over recent years with many people strongly disagreeing with some of his actions. Can we put our personal feelings for Trump aside in the name of sport? Joining Andrea to discuss is Fionn Davenport, J...

Listener Clíodhna emailed the show with an issue she is dealing with. She joins Andrea to discuss the difficulty she is facing with getting Power of Attorney. Just how hard is it? Also joining to discuss is Áine Hynes, Senior Counsel Solicitor at St. John Solicitors and Chair of the Law Society Task Force for Mental Health Law and Capacity Law.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic. 98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

North-Cork Councillors are calling for those convicted of illegal dumping to complete community service litter clean-ups. Could this effectively tackle the problem? Joining Andrea to discuss is Ian Doyle, Fianna Fáil Councillor for North Cork, Noel McCarthy, TD for Cork East and Chairman of Fermoy Tidy Towns and listeners.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies. Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between. This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and how you can manage...

Dan McDermott got in touch with the show because of his daughter Eve. Eve has had Cerebral Palsy since she was 9 weeks old, and her family are fighting to give her the treatment to help her walk. Dan joins Andrea to discuss Eve’s life, and the fundraising effort they are making. If you would like to donate, you can visit https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/SupportEvesDreamtoWalk

The Irish dental scheme is currently facing a serious crisis, with many medical card holders unable to access dental treatment. Fewer than 600 dentists nationwide are now operating under the scheme, leaving thousands of people struggling to secure appointments. As a result, many are going for years without seeing a dentist, leading to worsening oral health. Have you been affected by this? Andrea i...

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Managing Director ofInsuremyhouse.ie , Jonathan Hehir, to answer any of your questions around home insurance!

Research carried out by HelloFresh has shown that more than a third of people move their dinner time later into the evening due to busy days and commitments, yet almost half prioritise eating meals with their loved ones. The research found that 6.28pm is the perfect time to sit down for dinner, yet only about 40% of people achieve this. So, when do you sit down for dinner? Joining Andrea to discus...