Lunchtime Live

If you’re on a housing hunt at the moment, you may have noticed the use of AI in property advertisements. Ray Cooke, CEO of Ray Cooke Auctioneers, Ciaran Mulqueen from Crazy House Prices and Helen O’Keefe from Auctioneera joined Andrea to discuss,

Do we need more public pools in this country? Yesterday we spoke about the lack of public pool facilities after Robert got in touch with the programme....  Now this is a nationwide problem. Andrea was joined by callers to discuss.

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 Alan Buckley from the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, who’s going to talk through the life and work of Fontaines D.C.

Crime in Dublin’s south-west inner city is more than twice the national average, alongside higher deprivation, lower educational attainment, limited access to facilities, and significantly lower third-level progression rates.  Does this reflect a wider national pattern of disadvantaged areas being overlooked and under-supported?  

The Michael Jackson biopic is out today, so will you go and see it? How easy is it for you to separate the art from the artist? Joining Andrea to discuss is Dave from The Cinemile podcast, Film Reviewer Ken Doran and Music Journalist Louise Bruton. Image: Lionsgate

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…

Yesterday on the show, we discussed how PE in school often puts adults off exercise later in life. One listener texted in to say that the Government should provide more public swimming pools, if they are serious about people’s physical and mental health. Robert joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Mary McMorrow, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland, Duncan Smith, Labour TD for Dublin Fin...

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 everything you need to know about c-sections.

Is your camera roll full of pictures of your pet? A new survey has revealed that the average pet owner has 20% more pictures of their pet than their partner... So, just why is this the case? Joining Andrea to discuss this is 98FM’s Russell Alford and Broadcaster Fionnuala Moran.

Éamonn Donnelly, head of the Civil Service division of Fórsa, says something needs to be done quickly about getting people into work during the fuel crisis. He wants the Department to look at cutting back on in-office attendance and offering some support to help cover the cost of commuting when people do have to come in. What do you think? Should more people be encouraged to work from home to save...

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Kerry Hanaphy, owner of Kerry Hanaphy Aesthetic Clinic to answer any of your questions when it comes to skincare!

Some listeners may have noticed that the 90s are back. Whether it be the music, the fashion, the lack of smartphones, or all of the above, the 90s nostalgia is in full swing, but why do we seem to love this era so much? Joining Andrea to discuss is Freelance Journalist Chrissie Russell and Saoirse Hanley, Journalist at the Independent…

This next story might raise a smile - until you hear the details… Patients at a Galway hospital say they’re being terrorised by aggressive seagulls, with birds swooping and shrieking at people as they try to get in and out of the building. For some patients, it’s frightening enough that they’re afraid to step outside, and it has reignited the debate about what can actually be done when wildlife be...

Can you remember your PE lessons in school? And did they put you off sport later in life? According to research in the UK, people are scared as adults remembering getting picked last in gym class or being shouted at on the sports field, and as a result shy away from exercise when they are older… Joining Andrea to discuss this is Dr Fiona Skelly, Lecturer at the Technological University of the Shan...

Katie Gallagher, Spin News Anchor, has her finger on the pulse for what’s happening and she joins Andrea with the things you don’t want to miss this week! Image: Lionsgate

The Government has approved new rules on modular homes, meaning they can be rented out, with up to €14,000 being tax-free, and do not need planning permission. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that the decision was a practical one, but is this a reasonable response to the housing crisis? Joining Andrea to discuss is Michael Houghton, Columnist with the Irish Independent, host of the ‘Irish Fire...

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

What are your panic cleaning tricks? New research from The Brillo Cleaning Culture Report shows that panic cleaning is almost universal in Ireland, with 95% of adults admitting to last‑minute cleans before visitors arrive. Laura De Barra, AKA the ‘Gaff Goddess’ joins Andrea to discuss, and give her own last-minute cleaning tips!

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke to Matt Cooper on the ‘Path to Power’ podcast recently, and this is what he had to say about the relationship between urban and rural areas: "We’re the ones paying all the bills — you’re the ones in receipt of a lot of subsidies and a lot of tax benefits that other people don’t get.” Can you understand just why they’ve caused such controversy? Is there a rural v...

Census 1926 was released over the weekend, but where do you start if you’re trying to find family members? Or, what else can the census tell us? Joining Andrea to discuss is Eileen Murphy, Head of Census Administration & Digital Transformation at the Central Statistics Office.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. 98FM Producer Russell Alford and Newstalk Producer Caoimhe Harney join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Great Company with Jamie Laing’! Image: Jampot Productions

Yesterday the Sunday Independent reported that over 500 Aer Lingus flights will be cut amidst fuel shortage fears and aircraft maintenance… Has this impacted your summer holiday plans, or are you worried about the potential impact? Joining Andrea to discuss is Clare Dunne, Chief Executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association, Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw, @modernirishmom on Instagram and listeners.

It’s Wish Week here on Newstalk, and we are highlighting the incredible work Make-A-Wish does in helping create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses… Andrea is doing a challenge today - if she doesn’t get enough county questions right from listeners around the country, she has to wear a Kerry jersey! Let’s make 2026 the biggest Wish Week yet! Every cent matters. Donate online...

It’s Wish Week here on Newstalk, and we are highlighting the incredible work Make-A-Wish does in helping create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses… Andrea is joined by Cohen Ball and his mum Katie to hear his Make-A-Wish experience. Cohen has a rare form of cancer, and as part of his wish, he met Ed Sheeran who signed his guitar! Let’s make 2026 the biggest Wish Week yet! Ev...

Face of one of the most popular Home Renovation shows on TV: Architect Dermot Bannon joins Andrea ahead of his appearance at the PTSB Ideal Home Show! Plus, he represents Dublin for Andrea’s Make-A-Wish county challenge!